Do big kids in strollers?

[tracer]

I would rather see a 4 yr old in a shopping cart seat, than see that 4 yr old running up and down the isle, touching their nose, then fruit/vegetables, then nose, etc. Just me.
To each their own. If just resting their feet vs a full blown nap, hey what ever works for a family to have an enjoyable trip to Disneyland.

Well said, DL is a vacation spot...sit back and relax if needed. Some parents need to enjoy their time too and if the only way is to have their older children hop in a stroller...so be it. I'ts none of our business and who are we too judge. As long as MY trip with MY family is going well, I don't care about worring about those I don't know.

 

[bumbershoot]

Thanks for the suggestion! I considered it but my 5 year old is over 45 lbs - she's about 56 lbs.

Seriously don't worry about it. If you just stroll along and never want to hurry, and take lots of sitting breaks the 5 year old might be fine.

But if you ever find yourself wanting her to go faster, or if you're staying a 10 minute walk away along with all the walking, if you are a zippier type of park touring person, just bring or rent the stroller. I can't find my rental ticket right now but the rental strollers go up VERY high in weight.

Don't let what others are going to do dictate what your 5 year old needs to do. We know you're not going to strap her in and keep her there ALL day, we know that she'll be running around (er, walking with purpose? I keep trying to keep DS to that walking thing but he does insist on being a 4 year old and trying to run, and at the very least he takes approx 18,000 more steps than he needs to at any given moment, LOL) when she wants to and resting when she needs to. You know her, you know what's right for your own particular kiddie.

 

[bumbershoot]

Yes, I meant the infant seat.

I thought you did.

Some grocery stores don't even have those, so I figured that might not be seen or understood by those who don't have them in their stores.

 

[jenpace]

I am Mom to 5 and my youngest is 6 y/o. She needs a stroller at DL because she has mild scoliosis and hip dysplasia. Under normal every day circumstances she's fine but the extensive walking at DL is just too much for her so she rides in a stroller while we get around the park and to and from the hotel.

Honestly, I had no idea there were so many people "peeved" by seeing bigger kids in strollers. Yes, my daughter has some medical issues but to look at her you wouldn't know.

Unless we hang a big sign on her stroller spelling out the details I guess it's going to bother a portion of the other DL guests. Or maybe everyone could go about enjoying The Happiest Place On Earth without passing judgment on children and their parents...just a thought

 

[adorelc]

I still have a stroller for my daughter that just turned 6. We have a double jogging stroller and it is terrific. She walks around most of the time in Disneyland, but it is getting in and out of the park where it is a lifesaver. When it is crowded getting out of the park she is safe in the stroller and when my kids are tired I am so thankful to have it on the walk back to the hotel. We do the same as other posters that we park it in a one spot and then walk to all of the nearby rides. I have seen many tired children getting dragged around. My strategy is to have a great time and keep everyone happy! That is my take on it!

 

[cccdisney]

Honestly, I had no idea there were so many people "peeved" by seeing bigger kids in strollers. Yes, my daughter has some medical issues but to look at her you wouldn't know.

I agree with you here! My 5 1/2 yr old has autism and although he has more energy than we know what to do with he MUST be in a stroller at DL because he is likes to take off and he is non-verbal! He also looks like any typical 5 yr old - so believe me - I have seen the looks! Especially when we use a GAC where we have stroller=wheelchair. OK - I will stop ranting now.

 

[usschmidt]

Unless we hang a big sign on her stroller spelling out the details I guess it's going to bother a portion of the other DL guests. Or maybe everyone could go about enjoying The Happiest Place On Earth without passing judgment on children and their parents...just a thought

Thanks jenpace for saying this...I was trying really hard not to take offense to the pp. I feel no need to explain myself or my parenting choices, but jeez! who cares unless I'm running you over with said stroller.

 

[DMP]

We'll use our Dis VISA and get one... Our DD just turned 8 (and is tiny at about 41lbs) and will not likely ride in it, but, seriously - can't beat it for holding your stuff.

 

[SurfinStitch]

I have no shame in admitting that I let my 10 year old (skinny little thing with stamina issues) ride in a DL stroller during the late afternoons/evenings after being up since 6 am. Shoot, if I could fit in a stroller and someone would push me, I'd do it!

lol if you want to get even cheaper... I have tendonitis in my left ankle and walking for 3 days straight on it will KILL my leg and result in me not being able to walk, since i'm 19 i'm too old for the strollers (even tho i fit in one and only weigh 75lbs lol) we get a wheel chair for $12 and its actually the best 12bucks you can spend... you get right up in the front of the lines for handicap access and you can take turns with who gets to push who around...

altho i'm not sure if you have to have like a doctors note or something specific to get one, i had crutches when i went so the wheelchair was no problemo... in fact, we're planning on getting on this feb trip too... 4 days of walking isnt good on my small messed up legs lol

 

[Mugglemama]

we were there in september too and also saw many older children (4+) in strollers. i would have rented one for my own 3 year old, but we had brought an umbrella stroller thinking that the rental strollers looked small on the website. (he's not a moose, but our trip was just before a little before his 4th b-day and he was 40" and 43 lbs....and i was just concerned that the rentals would be too small). however when we got there, and i took notice, it was clear that the rental strollers could accommodate a much larger child than i thought. i saw kids probably as old as 8 or 9 in them.

we have 4 children, and have not used a stroller at DL for any of them once they are about 4 or 5. but this last time when we were there, i thought maybe i should consider it on future trips. having a stroller for a young child can really help, as another poster said, with safety in the crowds. lots of guests at DL on busy days are rude and pushy, and don't bother not to step on and shove small children. plus, as another poster also said, we like to get from one ride to another, not waste time resting (we consider our time sitting on the actual ride our "rest"), or moving slowly along so as not to drag the poor little members of our group who may have little legs, lol.

i can't believe some people here are actually griping about seeing bigger kids in strollers at DLR! wow. i can't imagine having any reason to actually put forth the energy to be bothered about others toting their kids around in strollers, lol. (and no, my kids are not chubby - they are little stick people - to whoever insinuated that somehow using a stroller at DLR must contribute to childhood obesity).

now, i did notice a woman in her 20's had stuffed herself in to her child's stroller while the husband pushed and the daughter walked, lol, and okay, THAT seemed a little silly. but hey, she wasn't kicking people as she passed them and the stroller wasn't running over anyone, so who cares?

 

[mommaU4]

Unless we hang a big sign on her stroller spelling out the details I guess it's going to bother a portion of the other DL guests.

Well, I say then just let it bother them. You know why your child is in that stroller and certainly don't owe anyone an explanation. If they choose to be annoyed with it that's their issue to deal with, not yours. Right? You are there to enjoy your trip and who cares what anyone else thinks. You are not hurting them, so have fun and don't worry about it.
And I totally agree with your comment that people should really refrain from passing judgements on situations they may know nothing about.

He also looks like any typical 5 yr old - so believe me - I have seen the looks!

That's really a shame that anyone would feel the need to give you any looks at all. I for one do not understand that.
I was trying to think back to the numerous trips we've taken to DL as annual passholders, and I could not for the life of me think of one single time when I even gave so much as an extra glance to a larger/older child in a stroller. It's just not something I'd notice or care about. I'm on vacation. Unless someone else is doing something that affects me directly or somehow threatens my family, I do not pay any attention to what others are doing.

And I'm sorry you've been on the receiving end of any disapproving looks. I hope you were able to ignore them and continue to have a wonderful time.

 

[bumbershoot]

we were there in september too and also saw many older children (4+) in strollers. i would have rented one for my own 3 year old, but we had brought an umbrella stroller thinking that the rental strollers looked small on the website. (he's not a moose, but our trip was just before a little before his 4th b-day and he was 40" and 43 lbs....and i was just concerned that the rentals would be too small). however when we got there, and i took notice, it was clear that the rental strollers could accommodate a much larger child than i thought. i saw kids probably as old as 8 or 9 in them.

When DS was 2, he barely could get his shoulders into the rental stroller. He has his dad's broad shoulders, and the height his torso was at the time was hitting low in the stroller. When we went when he was 3, he fit just fine, as his shoulders were up higher in the stroller. That's how tall, but still light, children can fit in them when much older, b/c it makes a V from the seat, getting broader as you sit taller in the seat.

 

[tracer]

I still have a stroller for my daughter that just turned 6. We have a double jogging stroller and it is terrific. She walks around most of the time in Disneyland, but it is getting in and out of the park where it is a lifesaver. When it is crowded getting out of the park she is safe in the stroller and when my kids are tired I am so thankful to have it on the walk back to the hotel. We do the same as other posters that we park it in a one spot and then walk to all of the nearby rides. I have seen many tired children getting dragged around. My strategy is to have a great time and keep everyone happy! That is my take on it!

 

[Lynzer Torte]

now, i did notice a woman in her 20's had stuffed herself in to her child's stroller while the husband pushed and the daughter walked, lol, and okay, THAT seemed a little silly. but hey, she wasn't kicking people as she passed them and the stroller wasn't running over anyone, so who cares?

LOL!

When my first son was a baby, sometimes I couldn't find a place to sit and nurse him so I'd sit in his stroller. I probably looked just as silly but hey-he had to eat!

 

[DangerMouse]

To be honest, I think big kids in strollers (with certain exceptions) is part of the problem of kids not getting as much physical activity these days. A lot of kids today don't have the physical stamina kids had in the past because for various reasons, they don't have the exposure to exercise. There is no real reason why older kids shouldn't be able to walk around DL. My personal opinion is that it is best to avoid strollers. I'm not talking about toddlers, small children or special needs kids. Of course there are exceptions, too, but I am saying that overall, kids are perfectly capable of walking around DL. To me, stroller use encourages the idea that physical exertion is a bad thing. Most kids get enough sedentary time--part of the DL experience is walking! I realize it's hard when you have younger ones in your party. We've never had any of our 5 in a stroller, but we don't take them until they are 4.

When I was a kid, many eons ago, we would not have been caught dead in a stroller at age 8!! Oh, the humiliation! But my 8-year-old would probably love it if we got her a stroller

Just to be clear, my older child does exercise, she runs dog agility (lots and lots of running), participates in swim team and rides mountain bikes. We have her involved in these activities in order to help improve her stamina. However, after 8-10 hours of walking around DLR I'm prone to give her a break (and that doesn't mean sitting on a bench). If the adults are still up to moving, and she isn't, we snag her a free Disney Visa stroller. Normally our other two younger kids (8 and 6) hang in for the duration without a stroller or sometimes the youngest and oldest take turns. I'm all for doing what is best for the individual child so everyone can enjoy their DLR vacation to the fullest.

 

[jenpace]

Well, I say then just let it bother them. You know why your child is in that stroller and certainly don't owe anyone an explanation. If they choose to be annoyed with it that's their issue to deal with, not yours. Right? You are there to enjoy your trip and who cares what anyone else thinks. You are not hurting them, so have fun and don't worry about it.
And I totally agree with your comment that people should really refrain from passing judgements on situations they may know nothing about.

It doesn't bother me for myself when others have a "peeve" with my tall 6 y/o in a stroller but it might make me really, really upset if my daughter picked up on an adult's disapproval of her for something that's none of their business. She's a sensitive kid and it would affect her so part of me is on the look out for any funny looks directed toward her.

I know this thread took a different course that the OP intended but maybe it will make some people think twice before passing judgment on kids they don't even know

 

[bumbershoot]

I do have to jump in and remind people that a "look" they think they are getting from someone might not mean anything like what they think the look means.

Hubby absolutely loves seeing babies being nursed. He's so happy to see it, and he *thinks* he's giving kind, reassuring, nice looks towards the nursing pair.

However, I've SEEN that look, and he just flat out looks creepy AND angry! When I notice this, I smile BIG in the general vicinity (I never paid attention to other people while nursing, and don't find that women enjoy people looking at them while nursing, so I just look near them) and nudge him and remind him to smile, not do whatever his face is doing at the moment.

The woman might think he's glaring, but he's truly not, he's happy for the baby and for the woman.

So a look you think you're getting about a bigger kid in a stroller might be...gas from all the food the person is eating, thinking about their children when they were their age, being sad about something (not even necessarily SEEING you or your child), and countless other things going on in their heads having nothing to do with the then and now of your kiddo.

I myself come from long line of stern-faced women, and I tell ya it takes a strong man to be with us (or woman, if any of us were so inclined) b/c they have to get the "stern face means angry" idea out of their heads entirely. In chiropractic school I often though I had a happy, beatific expression on my face, but then someone would walk by and tell me to SMILE or ask "what's the matter, why are you mad?". So someone passing by me might think I'm angry at the moment, when I might actually be so joyous I'm like to burst.


So really, don't pay any attention to "looks" from people, because I would bet that quite often they don't mean anything like what you might think you mean. THey might not even *see* you or your kiddo....

 

[jenpace]

I do have to jump in and remind people that a "look" they think they are getting from someone might not mean anything like what they think the look means.

Hubby absolutely loves seeing babies being nursed. He's so happy to see it, and he *thinks* he's giving kind, reassuring, nice looks towards the nursing pair.

However, I've SEEN that look, and he just flat out looks creepy AND angry! When I notice this, I smile BIG in the general vicinity (I never paid attention to other people while nursing, and don't find that women enjoy people looking at them while nursing, so I just look near them) and nudge him and remind him to smile, not do whatever his face is doing at the moment.

You husband sounds like a great guy and I agree, not many things are more beautiful than a nursing baby...

I too can have a "stern" facial expression like the one you described having. Maybe that's why I don't usually catch anyone looking sideways at my daughter in the stroller... They might be afraid of her mother

 

[julw]

we get strollers for our kids every time we go and they are older, 6 and 8. We get looks sometimes, but I don't care at all. Like others have said, for us it provides a huge peace of mind in large crowds (safety issue). They also hold all of our stuff. Our last trip some days we just got one and had them take turns walking and riding. Sometimes, they want to walk and that is ok, but other times especially at the end of the day there legs are just tired out and they love the rest, and I don't blame them a bit.

 

[mama2twoluvbugs]

honestly my family can spend up to 16 hrs in teh park, asking my 7 yr old to walk that entire time is an awful lot, so if he wants to ride, i throw his one yr old brother in the sling and let him have seat, i mean he isnt gonna wanna ride long as soon as he sees something exciting, out he goes...but at midnight when we leave the park and have to walk either to the tram or our hotel, i have no qualms with my 7 yr old 54 lb son riding in the stroller if he gets tired...amd i have seen even older kids in them as well so I know I am not alone! plus having the extra storage of the stroller is nice!!!