(Possible Debate)How old is too old for to ride in a stroller

[Figaro]

I have a question! (Well, I have many, but just one at the moment)(smile). Where are the lines drawn as far as doing what any one individual parent believes is best for their particular child and doing what makes things better for the entire group of people? If everyone only thinks of themselves, then being out in public is going to get worse and worse for everyone. But parents do have legitimate reasons for many of the decisions that they make.

And I would love to know how we as a society decide. I was reading a book by Miss Manners (I love her dry sense of humor) and she said something about how we used to have private places (in the home) where certain behavior was allowed that wouldn't be tolerated in public places. And that now days it seemed like people really didn't see any difference between private behavior at home and public behavior unless there was a law (like going to the bathroom in public) about it.

 

[tonyswife]

Originally posted by Figaro
And that now days it seemed like people really didn't see any difference between private behavior at home and public behavior unless there was a law (like going to the bathroom in public) about it.

Like what, for example? The only person I ever saw go to the bathroom in piblic was a homeless man in San Francisco.

 

[KatelynnsAuntie]

I just had to chime in that I took my niece, who had just turned 7, to WDW last summer and she used a stroller. It was great! I got to go at my own pace, plus I could put the backpack in the basket in the back instead of carrying it. She was never too tired, and she would have been had she been walking the whole time, which would not have been fun for either of us.

We will probably go back next summer, when she's 9, but I very much doubt we'll be using a stroller then.

 

[katerkat]

I think 11 is too old. And I think that kid has way more problems than being in a stroller at that age.

 

[hipporina]

It certainly sounds like there are some issues there, but I won't get into that.

One thing I know for sure, 40 is too old. When we were at the zoo a couple of weeks ago, I saw this 40-ish woman in an UMBRELLA stroller! She didn't seem to have any problems, and if she did a wheelchair or something would have probably been used, so I don't know why she was in it. It was really funny!

 

[Figaro]

"Like what, for example?"

(Sorry, I've never been able to figure out quotes!")

Eating in public other than when on picnics. Drinking and eating stuff from the grocery shelves at the grocery store and then paying for the emptied containers at the check-out. Talking on cell phones while in line at convenience stores or in cars and not being aware of people around them. Having children old enough to walk using strollers in crowded areas(smile), which is this debate topic. She had a whole list of stuff that used to be considered private. Heck, look at the etiquette on mass transit thread...the clipping nails, grooming, and other personal hygiene things that never used to be done out in public.

And I am really not trying to fight...I am trying to understand where the line is between self-centered behavior and socially appropriate behavior. (If that makes ANY sense)(smile).

 

[tonyswife]

Originally posted by Figaro
"Like what, for example?"

(Sorry, I've never been able to figure out quotes!")

Eating in public other than when on picnics. Drinking and eating stuff from the grocery shelves at the grocery store and then paying for the emptied containers at the check-out. Talking on cell phones while in line at convenience stores or in cars and not being aware of people around them. Having children old enough to walk using strollers in crowded areas(smile), which is this debate topic. She had a whole list of stuff that used to be considered private. Heck, look at the etiquette on mass transit thread...the clipping nails, grooming, and other personal hygiene things that never used to be done out in public.

Ok, I see.

And I am really not trying to fight...

I didn't think you were, I just didn't understnad where you were going with your comments, but I do now.

I am trying to understand where the line is between self-centered behavior and socially appropriate behavior. (If that makes ANY sense)(smile).

Yup, it does. That is a very interesting topic to me as well.

 

[coliebird]

Originally posted by Figaro
"
Eating in public other than when on picnics. Drinking and eating stuff from the grocery shelves at the grocery store and then paying for the emptied containers at the check-out.

I just want to say that I do this. My daughter sometimes gets hungry in the grocery store. If I don't have a snack for her, I open something that I bought for her that is in the cart and I let her eat it. I then pay for it at the register. I don't see the problem as long as I am paying for it. It's not like I am stealing, but then I also let my daughter have a pacifier and she will be 2 in 2 weeks so maybe I am just a bad mom with no manners, oh well.

As for the original topic, I think 11 is definitely too old for a stroller.

 

[Figaro]

coliebird, I really don't know that it is wrong either. It's just that people never used to eat in grocery stores and so there were no crumbs or pieces of food on the floor and no spilled drinks. If we were hungry or thirsty at a grocery store, Mom would just tell us we had to wait until we got home. And I guess that's part of what I meant about how private "home" behaviors are now acceptable in public.

And while we can all probably agree that an 11 year old non-disabled child shouldn't be in a stroller. How about an overweight 7 year old? Do we as a society have the right (or obligation) to be disapproving because we now know that kids not exercising is a good part of the cause of them being overweight and that carrying around that extra weight is going to increase the cost of health care? Same thing for kids snacking all of the time...is that appropriate?

Most of us are pretty comfortable with parents making the best decisions for their own kids, but what happens when they aren't and when there is no law that says they should?

(And I'm not trying to pick on parents here as there is quite enough of that in other places(smile), just using that as an example.

 

[leahannpen]

I think 11 is to old. Where to draw the line exactly is hard, but an able bodied, healthy 11 year old? Nope.

I'm not exactly sure where to draw the line, I think it's hard to say, but personally, for US, I'd say maybe 5, 6 or possibly even 7...but for all I know, at age 4 or 5, my DS may say he dosen't want to. At that point I'd evaluate if "I" think he'd be able to handel it (let's say we plan on going back to the hotel and resting or whatever)...then I'd give it a try. OR if it's super busy (mobs and mobs of people) I'd feel a bit safer WITH the stroller. But again, only until a certain age...at some point they are just too big or old. I would think an 11 year old would not only be able to handel a day at Disney, but know to stick by mom and dad. As my son's not 11 yet, I guess I can't be sure, but I'd hope so.

 

[coliebird]

Figaro, I understand where you are coming from. Sorry if I sounded defensive. I get annoyed sometimes reading these boards, so many people want to be the parent police and tell you everything you are doing wrong for your child and I know that wasn't your intention.

As for the stroller issue, I don't know where to draw the line, I have not yet had to make that decision. When we go next October (2005) my daughter will be 3. I'm sure I will bring the umbrella stroller. As for beyond that, I guess it's a wait and see kind of thing.

 

[mermaidlady]

I think this whole family needs to be in therapy esp Mom. The whole idea of childhood is to teach children to be independant. This is done by allowing them to take risks as age approprate. Mom running onto the field because sonny had a ball thrown at him is not teaching him to cope with life. What happens when he plays little league and gets hit with the ball while batting? Cutting another child's cake at a birthday part is not teaching him to share and wait his turn. If he can't walk that far at Disney stop and sit on one the many benches. Teach the child life is not about his convience and comfort but how to cope when inconvience and discomfort happens. It's hard as parents sometimes to let go but it needs to happen

 

[Melora]

I have a 3 year old and he does NOT want to ride in stroller. No problem... BUT........ When we go to WDW next month I am sure as heck renting one because there is no way he will make it through the whole day without needing a rest and I am not going to carry him for any length of time.

I know he will fall asleep once in awhile too.

Now I also have a 9 year old who I would never dream of getting a stroller for. But if I have a double stroller (sometimes get one to hold everyones items they feel the need to carry with us,) I'll let him have a seat for very short periods of time. Often the 3 year will sit only if his brother sits with him (that happened last Dec when we were there). So if I am trying to get through a crowded locale its easier to have them tucked into the storller than telling them to stop walking in front of people and trying to trip them. If I only had the 9 year old with me,.. NO WAY would I rent him his own stroller.

 

[KristiKelly]

When we went to WDW last fall, we decided on only renting a single stroller for DD3, DS 6 we felt big enough to walk. However, day 1, DS wore the wrong socks for his new shoes & ended up with nickel size blisters on each foot, so it was a double stroller for the next few days.

As far as the pacifier goes, I think some folks misunderstood, you never mentioned sucking a thumb - which is a part of the human body that without a great deal of pain, is not removable. A paicfier however, IS. DS stopped sucking his paci@ 2-1/2 -& DD stopped sucking her 2 fingers @ 2 years 8 monthes, both had come down with an ulcer virus type thing in their mouthes & it caused to much pain to suck. If however, that had not been the case, there is no way I'd go to WalMart to buy new paci's for my 5-6 year old child - NO WAY. Both my kids by 18 monthes knew that paci's / fingers were for bed/nap time & didn't suck them unless they were sleepy, they didn't just walk around with them in their mouthes. 5-6 years old is too old for a paci, in my opinion.

 

[Jenn Lynn]

11 is to old for a stroller.

DD only took a pacifier for 30 seconds one night when she was 1 day old. That was before my milk came in and she would not go to sleep. 30 seconds on the pacifier and she was out. Never offered it to her again and she never needed it. She didn't suck her thumb either. So I don't really know what is a good age for the child to give it up.

 

[Betsyt82]

For me and mine we got rid of the strollers when the kids were about three. At WDW I still will get a stroller for the 5 year old for the long haul of the day and maybe a double so the 7 year old can hop in and grab a break to keep going. I suspect that if I did not have a 5yr and only had the 7yr I would not get a stroller at all.

For that matter at WDW there are times I wish I had a stroller for me. ............ it would have to come with a very, very nice stroller driver though......scenery can be everything!!

 

[Lachesis00]

I know someone w/a 4yo and a 9yo.... A double stroller was bought this past spring... she'd rather have them ride (the 9yo is quite... a handful... no mental or physical challanges).

 

[Kallison]

Personally I stopped at the age of 4. I had 3 kids in 4 years, I wasn't going to push all three of them around forever! I basically told them when they were 4 they could no longer use a stroller, no one had a problem with it. In fact my youngest DD stopped when her older brother did, so she was 3 and a few months.

 

[SueM in MN]

Originally posted by hipporina
It certainly sounds like there are some issues there, but I won't get into that.

One thing I know for sure, 40 is too old. When we were at the zoo a couple of weeks ago, I saw this 40-ish woman in an UMBRELLA stroller! She didn't seem to have any problems, and if she did a wheelchair or something would have probably been used, so I don't know why she was in it. It was really funny!

A 40 year old is rather large to be in an umbrella stroller (heck, people are posting all the time on the Family Board looking for an umbrella stroller large enough to fit their 4 year old). So, I think what you saw might have been a transport wheelchair or a special needs stroller. Transport wheelchairs don't look like regular wheelchairs because they don't have the large back tires. Because they are light weight and can fold up small, they are used by people who need an easily portable wheelchair and won't be propelling it themselves. To someone who has never seen one before, they would look like a stroller.
Special needs strollers look just like regular umbrella or jogging strollers, just much bigger. In fact, some of the most popular special needs strollers are made by Maclaren and Baby Jogger and are just larger copies of their regular strollers.

 

[Disney Doll]

I think a healthy 11 year old is too old to be pushed around in a stroller. I would say probably 5 or 6 is about the oldest I would go for at WDW being pushed in a stroller...their legs are shorter, so they do tire more quickly. Now, if I had a babay who was out of the stroller and my older child sat in it for a few minutes, I probably wouldn't lose any sleep over it. I wouldn't rent a stroller for an 11 year old though.

I also think a 5 or 6 year old is too old to be using a pacifier. At that age, they should be being taught other ways to comfort themselves and cope with life.

The problem with the children you refer to is their mother. She sounds like someone who can't let go. Does she have any other life outside of her children, or is she one of those moms who revolve their entire existence around their kids so when they kids start to grow and become more independent, she has nothing left?