6 year old: To stroller or not to stroller. . .

[Jeneliz]

So the big question.....DOUBLE or @ singles? I'm thinking of renting a double Citi mini for my 18 month old and almost 6 year old.

Thoughts??

 

[ammag]

search the family board for double or single, I asked this a few months ago and got good answers! i am actually on the fence still but it was helpful

 

[AliceIn]

When my kids were 6 they would have been mortified to be seen in a stroller. My youngest just turned 7 two weeks ago, and I don't think she's been in a stroller for at least 3-4 years now. There's no way I'd put a child that old into a stroller unless there was some developmental or other disability that makes mobility an issue.

We just got back from our trip and our 7 year old had no issues at all walking around all day at all the parks.

 

[Phatoomch]

When my kids were 6 they would have been mortified to be seen in a stroller. My youngest just turned 7 two weeks ago, and I don't think she's been in a stroller for at least 3-4 years now. There's no way I'd put a child that old into a stroller unless there was some developmental or other disability that makes mobility an issue.

We just got back from our trip and our 7 year old had no issues at all walking around all day at all the parks.

I agree. I'm a great believer in the fact that us parents create laziness because we think 'awwww but they are so ickle, they can't possibly walk that far'. The fact is, a healthy child can. Much like a dummy (pacifier) I put my daughters stroller away when she could walk. When doing anything with a her that included lots of walking we just took the pace slow. In Disney you are sitting down so often with rides, shows etc. Yeah, she might say her feet hurt a couple of times but she'll live!

 

[brymolmom]

I agree. I'm a great believer in the fact that us parents create laziness because we think 'awwww but they are so ickle, they can't possibly walk that far'. The fact is, a healthy child can. Much like a dummy (pacifier) I put my daughters stroller away when she could walk. When doing anything with a her that included lots of walking we just took the pace slow. In Disney you are sitting down so often with rides, shows etc. Yeah, she might say her feet hurt a couple of times but she'll live!

I'm with you on this one. Plus - if my kid gets too whiny - she doesn't deserve to be at WDW anyway. And at that age she shouldn't be whiny even if I'm not the one doing her walking for her.

Lots of people say 'To heck what others think' - that never entered my mind when I made our family rule to be done with strollers at WDW - it was only what was best for our family and for my kids. I just never thought that teaching them that you can sit and relax while mom/dad do all the work and you just get all the rewards without working for them was a good thing. I would have loved to use a stroller for longer - I used to love bringing lots of stuff with us. But I just didn't feel like I was instilling the right things in my kids (kind of like when they say 'can YOU make lunch for me? and even though it's easier and quicker for me to do it - it's better for THEM for me to make them do it themselves). Plus dd was a whiner and a bit lazy...Obviously it would have been tons easier for me to keep her in a stroller until she was 8 or 9....but it was also obvious to me that it wasn't the best for her for me to allow that.

My stroller rule was no stroller after age 5. Even when ds was 6 and dd was 5 - he went without because he was older than the 5.

My biggest point here is that I LOVE being stroller-free. You can get around the parks so much more easily - not having to scramble to stroller parking, etc. And I have learned to carry less so the 'stuff' factor is not a big deal anymore.

 

[Average Joes]

I agree. I'm a great believer in the fact that us parents create laziness because we think 'awwww but they are so ickle, they can't possibly walk that far'. The fact is, a healthy child can. Much like a dummy (pacifier) I put my daughters stroller away when she could walk. When doing anything with a her that included lots of walking we just took the pace slow. In Disney you are sitting down so often with rides, shows etc. Yeah, she might say her feet hurt a couple of times but she'll live!

I agree. We took our 4 yr old to zoo with about 3-4 hours of walking. She walked of course. I was really surprised at how many kids were in strollers. Including 5-7 year olds. Unfortunately there were a lot of overweight kids.

Perhaps some kids could benefit from some long family walks before they go. When we go in October we are bringing a stroller for our 14 month old only. However, I will probably rent a stroller at Epcot for the 4 yr old.

 

[Hannathy]

I agree. I'm a great believer in the fact that us parents create laziness because we think 'awwww but they are so ickle, they can't possibly walk that far'. The fact is, a healthy child can. Much like a dummy (pacifier) I put my daughters stroller away when she could walk. When doing anything with a her that included lots of walking we just took the pace slow. In Disney you are sitting down so often with rides, shows etc. Yeah, she might say her feet hurt a couple of times but she'll live!

I agree

And I find it so ironic that this generation of parents are so into "health" and staying fit, gog to the gym,running and eating right and then they put there elementary aged kids in strollers!!
AND insist that our taxes have to be used to give these same kids Phys Ed in school 3 or more times a week!

Here's an idea and it is free, let them walk!

 

[blondemom]

We didn't do the stroller after age 3. We do, however, take it slow. We take a lot of breaks. If the youngest child is tired, either mom or dad will take him back to the resort for a rest/swim. We stopped doing the whole commando trip many years ago. It's just not for us. I learned the hard way after watching a video of my poor (then) 3-year old screaming because he was tired (after doing 3 parks in one day...ooops!). We pace ourselves and realize that there are just some things we won't be able to see on that particular trip. Gives me an excuse to book another one!

I don't criticize or judge other families by what they do with their children. Each child is different. See how the child does. If they need a stroller for a day, rent one. Trust me, you will not be alone! Have a wonderful trip.

 

[Bonniec]

My biggest point here is that I LOVE being stroller-free. You can get around the parks so much more easily - not having to scramble to stroller parking, etc. And I have learned to carry less so the 'stuff' factor is not a big deal anymore.

Yep, same here. I love not carrying anything. I only carry a wallet (I got from Disney) that fits in my pocket along with my cell phone. No bag checks for me. I just get free ice water from vendors so don't bother with water bottles. As for rain ponchos...meh, it's Fl. I just get wait.

 

[HHSTigerFan]

To any parent that thinks my kid is lazy and we are encouraging it because WE would rather have him in a stroller when he is tired and WE don't want to take breaks....

Bring your 6 year old over, put the pads on and I bet my kid whips your kid up and down the football field all day long...

And when we are done with that, can drag the mats out and let them wrestle for a bit..

 

[Nutz4Dizney]

In 2007, my son was 6 1/2 years old for our trip, and we were unsure about a stroller because he didn't use one at home. Disney is a very large place so we decided to go out, buy one & take it with us just in case. We thought since he is not very active, he would whine about walking, and I didn't want to make myself miserable listening to him. Well, to our surprise the stroller spent more time parked then with him in it. We would park the stroller in Fantasyland, do all of Magic Kingdom then go look for the stroller. We did push it through Showcase, but it was empty.

It was great to go shopping in Downtown Disney knowing I didn't have to lug any bags, but that's all it lugged.

My son is 11 and whines when we walk the mall, but doesn't say a peep when walking Disney.

If you are on the fence, then take it with you just to be safe. If you use it great, if you don't better LOL

Some people will have opinions about 6 years being in a stroller, but all 6 year olds are different. You know your child and what he might need.

Good Luck with your decision.

 

[mejo]

I'm not sure that makes me feel any better. Not only are you forcing your 6 year old to use a stroller when they would be humiliated if their friends saw them in one but you are teaching them to beat other kids up????

 

[princessaloha]

I'm in the "what's best for your family" camp.

Although all my children stopped using strollers around 1 year (early walkers at 8/9 months). For us, we WILL be getting a double stroller for our very tall, skinny, active and incredibly healthy 2 and 5 year olds (just in case anyone was worried that we were breeding lazy slugs). Mainly because there is a 6 hour time difference. 8am rope drop is 2am to us. Even if we waited until noon, that is still only 6 am to us. Any way you look at it, their schedule will be significantly off and if providing a comfortable way for them to take a rest while we sit quietly in some shaded area then as a loving parent, I'm doing it. We thought about just carrying two resting children across the parks to the entrance, getting on the transportation and returning to our rooms to then have them wake up and immediately have to return to the parks each and every time, but that's just ridiculous. And yes, we have built in mandatory afternoon breaks in our rooms every afternoon but with the time difference we are unsure of how their little bodies will behave through out the day.

Plus I get an upper body and thigh work out, which will help keep me in my bikini form while dinning on the deluxe dining plan. So it's a win/win situation all around for our family.

Good luck with your decision and ENJOY your trip!

 

[HHSTigerFan]

I'm not sure that makes me feel any better. Not only are you forcing your 6 year old to use a stroller when they would be humiliated if their friends saw them in one but you are teaching them to beat other kids up????

Who said anything about beating other kids up?

I feel lucky for my son, while your kid is resting, our kid hops in a stroller and heads off for the next attraction..we teach him to be comfortable in his own skin, why would he feel humiliated?

 

[lustergirl]

My 2 sons didnt start going to disney until they were teenagers. Even when they was 6 years old they would not have been in a stroller. I would of conditioned them beforehand to all of the walking required. I would have also stepped up as a parent and not let them get away with the whining by making them stop or taking a break. It is a shame to look at the alarming rate of childhood obesity and I guess alot of it is contributed to threads like this where sometimes the parent does not want to put up with little Johnny or Susie having a fit because they dont want to walk.

 

[HHSTigerFan]

My 2 sons didnt start going to disney until they were teenagers. Even when they was 6 years old they would not have been in a stroller. I would of conditioned them beforehand to all of the walking required. I would have also stepped up as a parent and not let them get away with the whining by making them stop or taking a break. It is a shame to look at the alarming rate of childhood obesity and I guess alot of it is contributed to threads like this where sometimes the parent does not want to put up with little Johnny or Susie having a fit because they dont want to walk.

So says the mother that didn't take her kids until they were teenagers!!!

 

[lustergirl]

So says the mother that didn't take her kids until they were teenagers!!!

And??? You sure are making friends around here fast arent's you? If it is any of your business: I was too busy educating myself with a Bachelor's, and Master's Degree.

 

[Phatoomch]

To any parent that thinks my kid is lazy and we are encouraging it because WE would rather have him in a stroller when he is tired and WE don't want to take breaks....

Bring your 6 year old over, put the pads on and I bet my kid whips your kid up and down the football field all day long...

And when we are done with that, can drag the mats out and let them wrestle for a bit..

If that's the case and your kid is that fit, he shouldn't need a stroller - the 'breaks' you get on rides/attractions should be sufficient

 

[believinthemagic]

Oh for goodness sake! Can someone PLEASE close this thread!!! It is debates like this that make me think maybe I shouldn't bother being on disboards. A mature adult can give an opinion without degrading all parents who don't agree with them!!

 

[GillianP1301]

I'm not sure that makes me feel any better. Not only are you forcing your 6 year old to use a stroller when they would be humiliated if their friends saw them in one but you are teaching them to beat other kids up????

I didn't see any comments about beating other kids up. As for the first part of the statement, I'd be far more concerned about the parents out there who let their kids go around humiliating other kids because they do something different than they are used to. That to me is a far bigger problem than whether or not a parent wants to help their child feel comfortable by giving them the option of a stroller on a day they'll be walking 8 or 10 miles. I say spend less time judging other people (and by doing so, teaching your kids to be judgemental) and more time being being compassionate and empathetic.