How old is your oldest kid that you put in a stroller?

[Manda]

My almost-6 year old will most likely be in a stroller at Disney in a few weeks. I didn't think we'd need it after our last trip, but I was wrong. So now I'll be stroller shopping again.

And just to address previous posts:

1 - My kid walks everywhere, all the time. We rarely drive. We walk to school, the grocery store, out to dinner, etc. His regular home life has him walking a couple miles a day at least.

2 - He also is in a running club and spends his Thursday lunch recess running laps. He's not a lazy, unfit kid at all. He's used to using his body.

3 - We nap for 3 hours or more nearly every afternoon at Disney. He still naps whenever he gets a chance at home, too. We totally follow his lead on vacation and never push him to stay longer or stay out late.

He's not lazy at all. He's used to walking. It's just a little much and if he feels safer in a stroller, than I guess that's fine with me. It also gives him a chair for parade-watching.

 

[Missus Toad]

We'll bring strollers for my 5 and 4 year olds this next trip. They haven't ridden in a stroller since their last trip to WDW, and it is the only place they've consented to use one since they were 2. No matter how independent the kid, all bets are off at WDW. The heat, the humidity, the crowds, the stimulation, and the walking make it a very different experience. As an experiment, we're gonna do one day without the strollers and see how far we get. If things go well, we'll do it again. If not, we'll be very glad to have the strollers.

 

[princessmom29]

We did the exact same thing with our daughter the first time she went to Disney, took walks around the neighborhood, a little longer every day, and I kept telling her there would be alot of walking at Disney. She was great for our whole trip. We got to Disney, met up with our friends, who had a son my daughters age (6) and his little sister 3. They both fought and whined for the stroller. My daughter thought they were nuts. If your child is too tired to walk, when they do not use a stroller at home, then it's time to head back to the hotel. I imagine the kids that conned the adults to 'carry them' were raring to go, to the pool, the ice cream stand, the whatever, once they got back to the hotel. My opinion, if your child is over 4, then they should be walking. Walking won't kill you, obesity will.

Wow, that's harsh. Just b/c I use a stroller does not mean that my kid is obese. Mine is actually very small for her age (5 1/2 and just broke 40 lbs) I think her size leads to her tiring more easily. She has to take 2 steps for every one for me or her dad. Going back to the hotel does us no good as she will not rest at the hotel and just gets more cranky. She is not "conning us" at all she genuinely gets worn out. The stroller lets her get 30 min off her feet for a quick recharge and makes the day sooo much more plesant for all of us.

Hmmm... I'm not sure what obesity has to do with asking about strollers for kids. I say do whatever works for you family. It sounds like for your family that means no strollers once they hit four. Good for you; if that makes you happy. It certainly doesn't mean that for my family though. I can't imagine going to WDW with a 4 year old and no stroller (and no, no one in my family is obese, nor are either of my children, DH or myself overweight-again not sure what that has to do with this situation, but you seem to think it means something) Like I said, OP do whatever you think is best. I know for us, I loved having a spot for DS to sit; I loved having the peace of mind to be able to have him in it during crowds, closing ect. You know your kiddo, do what you think will make the trip more enjoyable for your family, but if your wondering if ppl. will think you're crazy for having a 6 year old in a stroller; I would assume the majority of ppl. probably don't care, and there will be many kids older than 6 in a stroller, and again it's your vacation, so do what's best for you. If other ppl. are concerned about a kid in a stroller; I'd imagine they're way too busy worrying about others, and should try to have fun.

Exactly!!!!

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

And we wonder why our children are overweight and in poor condition...

 

[babydovesx2]

We went last Nov. My daughters were 8 and 4. We purchased 2 umbrella strollers at the park entrance on our first day. My 8 year old rode the whole time. She is very small for her age (she is about the size of a 6 year old) so she was able to sit in the unbrella stroller fine. It was easier to move around with 2 smaller stroller than one big stroller. It was so much easier to keep track of them in the crowded parks and at the end of the day they were not as tired as they would have been if they had walked. Each night my yougest would fall asleep in her stroller on the monorail back to Poly. It also helped DH from having to carry the youngest when she fell asleep. On our way out of the park our last day we found a family that was turning in a double rented stroller. They had just arrived that day and did not rent the stroller for the week. We gave them our umbrella strollers. I just asked them to do the same when they were ready to leave.

The way I feel about it is if the child can fit in the stroller and wants to ride let her ride. It will help everyone enjoy the trip so much better.

 

[jennypenny]

We have always rented a double stroller at WDW. We've had several kids with us on each trip. The oldest child to use it occassionally was 9. There are several reasons to use a stroller in WDW--

1. You know where they are! Especially after fireworks, parades, and other crowd situations.

2. They can get out of the sun. And I don't mean in lieu of sunscreen. That sun takes a toll on you and kids can't tolerate it as well.

3. Then can get out of the noise. WDW is a busy, overstimulating place. Someone wrote that you should just leave the park for a while. But we have a DS that just needs to check out for 20-30 minutes (usually while the older kids are on a roller coaster or something) and then he's ready to go. Why leave? It would take that long to get to the front of the park.

4. They can get out of the rain. DH and I can throw on ponchos but the kids are happier under cover.

Also, I've read some posts about *training* kids to get ready for the walking. Well, my DS who is 10 now used the stroller intermittantly until he was 9. He runs track and cross country and does VERY well. It is not always about stamina.

WDW is a place to be comfortable so you can enjoy your vacation. I live in teva's and sneakers in disneyworld. Do I live in them at home? Of course not! It's the same for your kids. Make them comfortable and they will enjoy it more--whether it's a stroller, carrying around a favorite toy in a fanny pack, making sure you have their favorite juice in boxes in you bag, etc.

 

[paintnolish]

We have always rented a double stroller at WDW. We've had several kids with us on each trip. The oldest child to use it occassionally was 9. There are several reasons to use a stroller in WDW--

1. You know where they are! Especially after fireworks, parades, and other crowd situations.

2. They can get out of the sun. And I don't mean in lieu of sunscreen. That sun takes a toll on you and kids can't tolerate it as well.

3. Then can get out of the noise. WDW is a busy, overstimulating place. Someone wrote that you should just leave the park for a while. But we have a DS that just needs to check out for 20-30 minutes (usually while the older kids are on a roller coaster or something) and then he's ready to go. Why leave? It would take that long to get to the front of the park.

4. They can get out of the rain. DH and I can throw on ponchos but the kids are happier under cover.

Also, I've read some posts about *training* kids to get ready for the walking. Well, my DS who is 10 now used the stroller intermittantly until he was 9. He runs track and cross country and does VERY well. It is not always about stamina.

WDW is a place to be comfortable so you can enjoy your vacation. I live in teva's and sneakers in disneyworld. Do I live in them at home? Of course not! It's the same for your kids. Make them comfortable and they will enjoy it more--whether it's a stroller, carrying around a favorite toy in a fanny pack, making sure you have their favorite juice in boxes in you bag, etc.

I don't understand why people get so worked up about bigger kids riding in strollers at WDW. It is not the same thing at all as walking around the mall or grocery store. Did my kids ride in a stroller at the mall at 5 and 6? No! At WDW? Heck, yes! We don't go back to the room, so this lets them conserve their energy! Also, my younger one still needed a nap occasionally and this let the older one continue having fun while Grandma sat with the napping dd-gave them both a break!
OP- Bringing your own collapsible has its pros and cons. It is bulky, hard to fold quickly, and a pain to haul down the bus aisles. I had my leg gouged by one last trip! A rented one you don't have to worry about and I think they maneuver well, too. The only thing is, you will have to carry, or attempt to wake a sleeping kid, back to the hotel room at the end of the night. Not too bad when we were at a close stop at CSR but a nightmare when we were at ASMo, far from the front!

 

[Orlando313]

Ok, here's my take on the stroller situation. The first time we went to Disney, I was 8 and my sister was 4. Strollers were not even an option for either of us, nor were they mentioned by my parents, or by us. I can guarantee you that at the end of the day, my parents were more tired than us. Kids have SO much energy. And we would have never asked our parents to hold us, because that was cut out at an early age as well. As soon as my children are old enough to walk on their own comfortably, they will be walking, a stroller will not be an option. For me, it's a fitness thing. I know for some people it's not, but I don't want to encourage my children that it's ok to be pushed, when they should be exerting their own energy. Again, that is my opinion, I know others think differently about it, and that is fine.

Just a few tips:

To all stroller users: Please remember that just because you're pushing a stroller does not always give you the right away nor does it give you a good excuse to ram it into people to get through a crowd. Please be gentle and conscious of your stroller. I can't tell you how many times I've come home with bloodied and bruised ankles because someone was disrespectful with their stroller. And one time, it was from a child's shoe, where the child was oozing out of the stroller and their tennis shoe cut me.

To those people who are just putting their child in a stroller because they want to know where their child is, have you considered one of those cute leashes? It allows and encourages the child to walk, yet you always know where your child is. The leash is not that long, so they can't go that far. My friend had to use one on her 8 year old son because he wouldn't stay with her and kept darting away. He was kinda bratty for doing that, but the leash was necessary in that case, and he would have NEVER sat in a stroller, too much energy.

Just some friendly suggestions from me. I feel sad when I see 10 year olds in strollers because I think it teaches a child to be lazy, and I think it's disrespectful to the parent to make the parent exert all that energy, but again, there's nothing I can do to change that, and that's just how I feel about it. If a parent is willing to allow that, then so be it. No one can help how they feel about something.

 

[buffettgirl]

Ok, here's my take on the stroller situation. The first time we went to Disney, I was 8 and my sister was 4. Strollers were not even an option for either of us, nor were they mentioned by my parents, or by us. I can guarantee you that at the end of the day, my parents were more tired than us. Kids have SO much energy. And we would have never asked our parents to hold us, because that was cut out at an early age as well. As soon as my children are old enough to walk on their own comfortably, they will be walking, a stroller will not be an option. For me, it's a fitness thing. I know for some people it's not, but I don't want to encourage my children that it's ok to be pushed, when they should be exerting their own energy. Again, that is my opinion, I know others think differently about it, and that is fine.

Just a few tips:

To all stroller users: Please remember that just because you're pushing a stroller does not always give you the right away nor does it give you a good excuse to ram it into people to get through a crowd. Please be gentle and conscious of your stroller. I can't tell you how many times I've come home with bloodied and bruised ankles because someone was disrespectful with their stroller. And one time, it was from a child's shoe, where the child was oozing out of the stroller and their tennis shoe cut me.

To those people who are just putting their child in a stroller because they want to know where their child is, have you considered one of those cute leashes? It allows and encourages the child to walk, yet you always know where your child is. The leash is not that long, so they can't go that far. My friend had to use one on her 8 year old son because he wouldn't stay with her and kept darting away. He was kinda bratty for doing that, but the leash was necessary in that case, and he would have NEVER sat in a stroller, too much energy.

Just some friendly suggestions from me. I feel sad when I see 10 year olds in strollers because I think it teaches a child to be lazy, and I think it's disrespectful to the parent to make the parent exert all that energy, but again, there's nothing I can do to change that, and that's just how I feel about it. If a parent is willing to allow that, then so be it. No one can help how they feel about something.

 

[Ktharee]

I think children should not be in strollers past 5 years old unless they have a medical condition.
Seriously kids can walk better than adults at times.
I find parents will spend the whole day at parks with younger children and just stick them in strollers when they are tired, what's the point of that? If they are tired they need a break, there is so much stimulus at the parks, if they are tired a stroller is not the answer.
We go to the park in the morning and after lunch we are at the resort for a break and then we will head back if need be.
This may be a good thread

So every kid, at 5, gets cut off huh? Strange statement. People don't "stick" kids in the stroller, the put them in to give their little legs a rest, give them a break from the sun, have a chance to have a snack and a drink without having to stop walking to the next destination and for a comfortable place to sit as needed. I get a feeling you don't have children.

OP-do what's best for you. My DD will be just shy of 6 when we go. Going to play it by ear. If it's too much walking and sun-I'll rent one as needed. EVERY kid is different and they don't magically gain stamina and adult leg muscles at 5 years old.

 

[Hollytigs]

I respect everyone's personal preferences, and I expect before I had children, I would be of the 'mine are walking' camp!

However, now I have a six year old who only stopped using her special needs pushchair 18 months ago. She can walk short distances (up to an hour or so), but struggles with longer periods and heat. She also is very prone to sore feet and blisters because she walks awkwardly and normal shoes/sandals don't support her properly (she wears Piedro boots most of the time but they are too much for hot weather). Am I renting her and DD1 a double stroller? You bet I am!

If you see an overweight (as per PP 'obese' and 'lazy') (also part of her condition) nearly 7 year old in a stroller in August - don't judge, it's only us!

By the way, her cousin of the same age who has no problems was complaining about a walk to the park the other day that my DD managed with no problem - so just goes to show, it can happen to anyone!

 

[Ktharee]

I don't understand why people get so worked up about bigger kids riding in strollers at WDW. It is not the same thing at all as walking around the mall or grocery store. Did my kids ride in a stroller at the mall at 5 and 6? No! At WDW? Heck, yes! We don't go back to the room, so this lets them conserve their energy! Also, my younger one still needed a nap occasionally and this let the older one continue having fun while Grandma sat with the napping dd-gave them both a break!
OP- Bringing your own collapsible has its pros and cons. It is bulky, hard to fold quickly, and a pain to haul down the bus aisles. I had my leg gouged by one last trip! A rented one you don't have to worry about and I think they maneuver well, too. The only thing is, you will have to carry, or attempt to wake a sleeping kid, back to the hotel room at the end of the night. Not too bad when we were at a close stop at CSR but a nightmare when we were at ASMo, far from the front!

I agree with you. Chill out people. The only thing these STROLLER people are guilty of is trying to make their EXTREMELY costly vacation as magical as possible. Getting worked up over people making their children comfortable is kinda ridiculous.

 

[Aliceacc]

I can't tell you how many times I've come home with bloodied and bruised ankles because someone was disrespectful with their stroller. And one time, it was from a child's shoe, where the child was oozing out of the stroller and their tennis shoe cut me. I'm sorry, I simply don't understand how you can get a "bloodied and bruised ankle" from the tennis shoe of an oozing child

To those people who are just putting their child in a stroller because they want to know where their child is, have you considered one of those cute leashes? It allows and encourages the child to walk, yet you always know where your child is. The leash is not that long, so they can't go that far. Oh, just wait until the child authorities on the DIS get a hold of this one!!!My friend had to use one on her 8 year old son because he wouldn't stay with her and kept darting away. He was kinda bratty for doing that, but the leash was necessary in that case, and he would have NEVER sat in a stroller, too much energy.

Just some friendly suggestions from me. I feel sad when I see 10 year olds in strollers because I think it teaches a child to be lazy, and I think it's disrespectful to the parent to make the parent exert all that energy, but again, there's nothing I can do to change that, and that's just how I feel about it.Unless, of course, there's a medical reason that the parent somehow neglected to inform you of. And I'm not sure how you can determine that the child is 10, much less an able bodied 10. If a parent is willing to allow that, then so be it. No one can help how they feel about something.

To the OP and any other parent with this dilemma: Ignore all those who judge what you do. Go for what makes you and your family most comfortable.

Most of those judging have never walked a mile (or 6 or 10 in the Florida heat with children) in your footsteps. Many are very sure of what they WILL do, and are free to pass on their words of wisdom. When your stroller-less hot exhausted child has the predictable meltdown, those same authorities will judge you again. Ignore them and do what's right for your family.

 

[Colleen27]

We've never used a stroller at Disney, and my older two were 4 & 7 on our first trip. I didn't want to hassle with a stroller, particularly since they hadn't used one at home in a couple years and I had long since given ours away. We started walking together as a family about 4-5 months before the trip to get them used to the amount of walking we'd be likely to do at Disney, and they did fine. They got plenty of time to sit and rest during rides, shows, and meals.

I'm actually a little apprehensive about having a stroller for the first time on our next trip, but our youngest will be 14mo when we go so there's no way to avoid it this time!

 

[maxiesmom]

Ok, here's my take on the stroller situation. The first time we went to Disney, I was 8 and my sister was 4. Strollers were not even an option for either of us, nor were they mentioned by my parents, or by us. I can guarantee you that at the end of the day, my parents were more tired than us. Kids have SO much energy. And we would have never asked our parents to hold us, because that was cut out at an early age as well. As soon as my children are old enough to walk on their own comfortably, they will be walking, a stroller will not be an option. For me, it's a fitness thing. I know for some people it's not, but I don't want to encourage my children that it's ok to be pushed, when they should be exerting their own energy. Again, that is my opinion, I know others think differently about it, and that is fine.

Just a few tips:

To all stroller users: Please remember that just because you're pushing a stroller does not always give you the right away nor does it give you a good excuse to ram it into people to get through a crowd. Please be gentle and conscious of your stroller. I can't tell you how many times I've come home with bloodied and bruised ankles because someone was disrespectful with their stroller. And one time, it was from a child's shoe, where the child was oozing out of the stroller and their tennis shoe cut me.

To those people who are just putting their child in a stroller because they want to know where their child is, have you considered one of those cute leashes? It allows and encourages the child to walk, yet you always know where your child is. The leash is not that long, so they can't go that far. My friend had to use one on her 8 year old son because he wouldn't stay with her and kept darting away. He was kinda bratty for doing that, but the leash was necessary in that case, and he would have NEVER sat in a stroller, too much energy.

Just some friendly suggestions from me. I feel sad when I see 10 year olds in strollers because I think it teaches a child to be lazy, and I think it's disrespectful to the parent to make the parent exert all that energy, but again, there's nothing I can do to change that, and that's just how I feel about it. If a parent is willing to allow that, then so be it. No one can help how they feel about something.

Whoa there! I don't think letting a child use a stroller at Disney World is going to make them lazy. It is just going to make them a happy, well rested child. Instead of an exhausted, cranky one. And it is not like they sit in their strollers like slugs, and have everything handed to them. Most kids do get out of them and run around a bit.

As far as all the stroller/pedestrian accidents go, I'm sure the walkers cause as much of the problem as those pushing the strollers. You see people all the time trying to just quick cut in front of someone pushing a stroller. People have even posted about others jumping over their strollers! Stroller accidents are not just caused by those with the strollers.

Don't use them if you don't want to. But there is not need to insult those who do.

 

[Ktharee]

And we wonder why our children are overweight and in poor condition...

What? I don't even know how to respond to the thought that renting a stroller at Disney World is the reason for childhood obesity and poor health.

Let me pose this question...how many of US jump in our car to go to the store that is under 2 miles away? Or even 1 mile away? Sounds like a HUGE case of the DOUBLE STANDARDS!

 

[Colleen27]

I find parents will spend the whole day at parks with younger children and just stick them in strollers when they are tired, what's the point of that? If they are tired they need a break, there is so much stimulus at the parks, if they are tired a stroller is not the answer.

We've found that a stroller is a GREAT answer to a tired child! Our stroller has a canopy that basically closes completely, blocking out light and visual stimulus so that the baby can nap without interrupting whatever it is that we're doing with the big kids. She's happy napping on the go, and that means we don't have to make our whole day revolve around her schedule. I'm sure we'd take midday rest breaks if it were just her, but we also have an 11yo and a 7yo who would be less than thrilled to lose every afternoon to transportation and rest time.

 

[goofy4tink]

To the OP and any other parent with this dilemma: Ignore all those who judge what you do. Go for what makes you and your family most comfortable.

Most of those judging have never walked a mile (or 6 or 10 in the Florida heat with children) in your footsteps. Many are very sure of what they WILL do, and are free to pass on their words of wisdom. When your stroller-less hot exhausted child has the predictable meltdown, those same authorities will judge you again. Ignore them and do what's right for your family.

I normally try to stay out of the fray, but I have to say that it isn't the tennis shod foot of a child in a stroller that gives you that bloodied ankle/foot..it's the stroller itself. Yes, I have had run-ins with strollers...one mother literally used her stroller as a battering ram. Okay, maybe that's a stretch, but that mom was rushing down Main St., yelling 'excuse me, excuse me..have to get through.'...well so do the rest of us!! We all have someplace to be. And to bang into people is just rude!!! And that's what she did to me....clipped me from behind, bloodied my shin where the stroller grazed it as she rushed past me...only to come to a complete stop about 10' away. We were headed towards the Castle, so it wasn't an emergency exit type thing!!!

I've had kids being allowed to run around, pushing their siblings in strollers. Actually witnessed one group of kids having a race with the three strollers...over in front of Le Cellier headed towards the Rose Garden area..that was just plain scary.

Are parents who use strollers (no matter what the age of the kids) all rude and 'entitled'? No, of course not. Not any more so than the ECV users. But, there will always be a few bad apples that color everyone's opinions.
It's up to each family to decide the best way to handle the stroller issue. Me? I don't care what you do, or how old your child is. Just don't try to shove past me with that stroller...I'm moving as fast as I can!!!

 

[disgrajak]

If you choose to put your child in a stroller it is simply no one else's business, period.

For those who are forcing your "lazy" 4 year olds to get out and walk five miles---please don't reprimand them in front of me when they get tired. My personal pet peeve is hearing crabby and unprepared parents yelling at their children when I and my children are trying to happily enjoy our vacation. (Actually I despise hearing parents yell at their children anywhere---it makes me sad.)

 

[AlohaAnnie]

Our DS was 11 on our last trip (he is the size of 8 year old) we let him ride in our stroller and our DD was 6.

This year we are going to go w/o a stroller.