Help!! Need Some Advice On Stroller Footrest For 4 Yr Old Dd!!

[princess crazy]

I have a somewhat different stroller dillema and was wondering if anyone here could give me some advice.

We are going to WDW in December and from just returning in April of this year I know for sure we will be taking our stroller. Our DD will be almost 4 and half when we go -- the problem is the brand new replacement stroller we just got from the one we used in April is starting to become smaller as she is growing. She is extremely tall for her age and people always ask me if she is in first grade when she's really only just starting pre-school this year.

We sorta had this problem in April where when she would fall asleep in the stroller her feet would hang because the footrest is'nt big enough. Because her legs are longer they have no where to go. She otherwise fits fine in the rest of the stroller and tells me that she has plenty of room. Believe me she definitely wants her own stroller and I am so glad we brought it in April.

I guess I'm just wondering if there is any product out there or a way that I can temporarily extend the footrest once she's in it so her feet are'nt dragging on the wheels. I would need a way to modify it after we get to WDW because we will be gate checking it and would'nt want to have anything sticking out that would break off.

Maybe this is'nt even doable but this is a brand new stroller and I got it for around $10 at K-mart(Long Story) and when we returned from out trip in April there was a problem on a part of the stroller and the company sent me a brand new one! So needless to say I'm going to make it work because this stroller worked great on our last trip. She probably won't sleep much while we are there but I',m afraid if she slouches down in any way her feet might get accidently caught in one of the wheels and we will be doing MVMCP one night so if she wanted to sleep I want her to be comfortable.

I realize this will probably be the last time she will be able to use this stroller but I'm sure there's got to be some way I can make it work. I'd truly appreciate any suggestions or comments you would have on my situation. Thanks!!

 

[NandP]

I just posted a stroller question...
My 4 year old is about 42 inches tall, and I have the same problems, and he looks funny in a little stroller... What brands/ models do you like?
Did you look into a jogging stroller? (the 3-wheel type)
Is it a pain to lug a stroller around?

Feel free to email me and maybe if we put our heads together, we can find the perfect solution.



Nick and Paula....My Email

 

[SueM in MN]

I would suggest something attached with velcro. They use a lot of velcro to attach things to wheelchairs (you wouldn't think so, but they do. you might be able to attach a piece of wood or something the size of a clipboard to the footrests with velcro. That way it would be easily removable for transport and folding. They have extra strength velcro that should do the trick.

 

[princess crazy]

To NandP: Thanks for your reply I'm sure you can relate. Just so you know I am not looking into any other stroller options because this one is Brand New and we'll make it work somehow for this one last time. I will tell you that I would go no other way then to take my own stroller with me. We just went in April and you don't know how many times I was saying to everyone I am so glad we brought our own stroller!! The one we have is a Cosco with a snack tray on the front that comes off and holds a drink or juice box and snacks invaluable!! and it also has a removable tray for the parents at the top that holds your camera, drink,etc..
It also has a basket which we put our own collapsible cooler in and we're able to put all of our extra stuff in a behind the car seat storage thing I bought at Walmart that attaches to the back of the stroller. I was watching all of the other kids in the rental strolllers and know my DD would not have been happy. They don't look comfortable at all!!!! So I guess I'm just saying whatever you do take your own. Regardless of what anyone else says there are so many more benfits of taking your own. Like a previous poster said you can just gate check it at the airport which we did and it's waiting for you when you get off the plane. Also you can just wheel you child right onto the monorail and if they're sleeping you dont have to wake them up. We stayed at the Contemp last time as we are this time and it was so nice to have a stroller all the way back to the resort. Whether we took the monorail or walked back if we would have rented we would have had to carry our DD!!! So definitely take a stroller--besides you never know how clean the rentals are either!!

SueM in MN:Thanks for your thoughts I did'nt think of velcro! We have sort of devised an extra piece of footrest from the stroller that was damaged but we would have to drill holes and then take a screw driver with us to put it on and plus it's not really all that much more extended the way we have to put it on so if there are any more ideas on what we could use I'd appreciate it!

 

[kissafrog]

Just a thought, but what about using a piece of heavy canvas and attaching it with velcro? You should be able to devise a footrest out of canvas or another heavyweight material, then just use the velcro to attach/remove it when needed. If you made it either an 'L' shape or just a bottom strip of fabric, it might do the job for you. HTH!

 

[LMHB]

Maybe you can attach (super glue) velcro to both the end of the stroller and the snack tray, or an old snack tray from another stroller. Or, just drill and screw and old snack tray on to the end. Does that make sense? I wouldn't use anything wood, that would be too heavy, and not as durable, plus it could splinter. I know it sounds like you are in love with your stroller, but if there is any way you can borrow a jogger stroller from someone, they allow for longer leg room, although it is best to keep their legs a little off to one side (my son has long legs).

 

[clutter]

My dd was over 40" when we went a month after her third birthday. She hit 44" at 4, and is pushing 46" and isn't even 4.5 yet!

When dd was born, I got one of the Century 4in1 strollers (I think the Sport something), that you could put the carseat in. Once she outgrew the infant carseat, I didn't like the stroller, it didn't have a lap bar. (which was the beginning of my many stroller saga.)

HOWEVER, somewhere around 3, I started using it again - it's not too terribly heavy, she likes climbing in and out, it reclines and is super sturdy. Plus, it's got a handle that extends a little bit, so you can take big strides while pushing it. Gone to WDW three times now! It's also big enough for her (well close enough. She gets a rats nest in her hair from the canopy) and has a big foot rest.

Anyway, maybe you know someone that has one you can borrow from. They were sold in '97.

 

[R4racing]

Not sure how handy you are, but maybe if you have a thin piece of plywood or plastic about the size of the footrest or a little bigger where the length of her feet would go, drill or cut holes on each side, you could loop some strong velcro through those holes and around the posts of the stroller, then another loop or 2 around the original footrest and that piece. Not sure if that would work for you, but might be worth a try. This could flip up when not in use or be taken off easily. You could pack the extra piece in your luggage along with the velcro. Either that or if she is willing maybe try something like those slings you can get for arms and velcro or tie that to the stroller tight enough that it won't sag down to the ground, but she would have to be willing to put her feet in there.

 

[skeezixspud]

One of the requirements I always have for strollers is that they must have an extendable legrest (meant for younger children who are lying down.) When my 44" DS sleeps in his stroller we pull out the footrest and and cross his legs indian-style, and the legrest holds them just fine.

So, here's your solution, get your velcro ready. Two pieces of pressboard about 1/8 in thick, each half the width of the seat, and lengthwise, as long as the length from the top of your child's leg to the middle of her calves. Make a foam-padded sleeve for them, with a line of stitching between the pieces, so that they fold lengthwise. Put two lengths of velcro loop side onto the seat interior, and put matching hook strips on the padded board set. When your child sleeps, put the extension under her tush, so that the board supports her legs.

BTW, Chicco and Peg Perego Pliko strollers are the largest on the market that fold compactly. The new umbrella-fold jogger by Kelty is also very nice, and will hold up to 75 lbs. (Don't say I didn't warn you, it retails for $300)