double stroller w/ kids who argue.....

[Jenny]

i have a side by side & a front/back double stroller & in both of them, my 2 DDs, now ages 2 & 4, always have the hands & feet on each other, bothering one another so i try not to use a double. in recent Disney trips, we always bring 2 separate strollers. they're both getting big for our strollers, both in height & weight. i'd like to rent a disney stroller but it looks like with the exception of the MGM one that they'd be right next to each other in a double.

has anyone ever rented a double & wished that they had rented 2 singles due to arguing siblings?

 

[aes74]

Sure, so just go buy one of those long Haunted Mansion ghost dog leashes and whack em with it if they start fighting. Or buy a Mickey bar, eat it veerrryy slowly and really enjoy it in front of them. And tell them they only get one when your blood pressure goes down.

Ahhh, the joys of parenting on vacation. Seriously, seriously. I live here in FL so I have almost always only brought my own double. The one time we did rent one at the MK, holy cow, my youngest picked so many fights. And let me tell you something, I pride myself on having very well behaved children, but I guess there is something about being tired, hot, and sticky that brings it out. So I don't know, I suggest either bringing your own again (might help you get through airports easier) or sit them down in the morning and explain how it's going to work. Good luck! Remember, this is FUN!

 

[seashoreCM]

Do you have any other way of making them behave? Would a cardboard partition taped between them help?

Other unrelated hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/family.htm

 

[Hannathy]

What about keep your hands to yourself or you don't ride and this is important you have to mean it! The 4 yr old is plenty old enough to walk so I would lay down the law. The 2 yr old can walk also, my 2 yr old was out more than he was in. Being pushed is a luxury if they don't want it don't waste your energy and money. When they are tired they will appreciate it more.

 

[CJMickeyMouse]

We went without any stroller when our boys were 2 and 4..... they walked the whole time. We returned to the room for a mid-day break, and then headed back out when they were well rested. They were very tired so they slept very well!

As for the fighting thing if you do choose to use a stroller.... this mean mom would be headed back to the room with the offender(s).

 

[aes74]

What about keep your hands to yourself or you don't ride and this is important you have to mean it! The 4 yr old is plenty old enough to walk so I would lay down the law. The 2 yr old can walk also, my 2 yr old was out more than he was in. Being pushed is a luxury if they don't want it don't waste your energy and money. When they are tired they will appreciate it more.

Yeah, I have to say I agree. Nip it in the bud while in the beginning. And I would definitely have that "This is a priviledge just to be here" talk. I love that one.

 

[Luv Bunnies]

You can try using reinforcements like we do in my preschool class. When you catch them being good, give them something little like an M&M and tell them how nicely they're behaving. When one starts a fight, reward the other one for good behavior. You can start this technique before the trip so they get used to it. You could even get some Mickey & Friends cookies to use as rewards during the trip. It doesn't take a big reward to get the message across. We use little pieces of cookies or 1/2 a gummy bear. It's not so much the food that matters to them. It's the fact that you're recognizing them for good behavior that makes them proud.

Or, you can tell them that fighting is not allowed at Disneyworld and the first one to pick a fight will be carried out by a guy in a giant mouse suit. That should make them behave!!!!

 

[Mouse House Mama]

Duct tape- in fashion colors!!! Simply duct tape their hands to their sides!!! OKay just kidding there- I couldn't resist!

I have 3 kids close in age with a 4th on the way. . We've been very lucky in that they don't really fight with each other. -But- there is the occassional day where they are tired and cranky and this one is touching me or looking at me or breathing near me etc. Usually when that happens we know it's time for a rest and then we let them know in no uncertain terms that while we undersatnd that they are tired etc. but that they have to suck it up or walk. Then we usually get them a drink and a snack and everyone feels better. We use a side by side and a single since we have 3. Our kids are 4.5,3,15months. Distraction usually works but there is now perfect answer. I would sugggst taking some dry runs to the mall, around the block etc. before you go this way you can find what works for you. Good luck.

 

[va32h]

Yes, I have had this problem, and unfortunately it was the little one bullying the big one. I couldn't really kick her out of the stroller (she was 2, too young to hoof it for long) and I felt badly making the older one walk when he wasn't the one misbehaving.

As it was, that was just one of many things that particular 2 yo was doing that was sucking the fun out of our Disney trip. So we ended up splitting up with one adult taking her back to the hotel and the other one taking the behaving children to the park.

Not our most enjoyable trip, I have to admit. But thankfully, she's my youngest, so until I have grandchildren I will never have to set foot in a Disney park with a 2 year old again!

 

[glass slipper girl]

My 4 and 6 year old sons shared a double on our trip this past May. They are both big kids so the size of 6 and 7 year olds. We had lots of "he's touching me" and "make him move his foot back over there" sort of things. I ended up creating an "if you whine we will go back to the room" rule. I was willing to do it but they were both so afraid I would follow through that they cut it out. We did do a lot of taking turns being the only one in the stroller while brother walks as well but there were times where they both needed to ride. When I took them to an evening EMH by myself so it was just them and me I explained that they both HAD to ride b/c it was crowded and I was the only adult (and was 6 months pregnant at the time) so if they wanted to do the the park and get to do more rides they had better cooperate and behave in the stroller. They were perfect angels. That would never happen at home.

 

[Jenny]

thanks for all of the replies....i definitely need to just pick a plan then stick to it....i'll practice around here but i think it'll be that much more difficult here since i'm usually alone w/ the kids. in disney, i'll be w/ my DH so it'll be that much easier to separate them if needed. i'm going to go ahead & rent the double & have them walk as much as possible so that they're only using it to rest & to get through thick crowds.

if i rent the double for a length of stay but then change my mind & want to cancel it, can i get a refund?