The age of kids in strollers

[princess jackson]

A bit of an odd question, what is the oldest you let a child be pushed around in a pushchair/stroller.

I know when we are in WDW we do tend to see children up to the age of 8ish sitting in strollers.

I had a brainwave, DD is 4 and gets tired and asks to be carried, sometimes her leg is the problem. I was thinking about buying a very cheap stroller just for the evening. WOULD NEVER BRING IT OUT FOR THE DAYTIME.

Just thinking about the evening when at DTD, just so we can stay out a little later, i found we tend to be back in the hotel by 9, and i said DH that if we got a cheap stroller she could maybe fall asleep.

I know you can hire them from the parks, but at $8 or so dollars it is a waste, i know the toy barn sells strollers for $40.

I know this may saound lazy, but trying to save my sanity and my back, she is 2 stone 10

 

[Netty]

our daughter went in a stroller when she was 6 years old. In the day around the theme parks. she was so hot and tired in the heat that we rented a stroller, you can buy a cheap stroller in wal mart, theres nothing wrong with a child being too old to be in one, the heat and humidity takes it out on kids that they do get very tired easily!

 

[princess jackson]

Did not give a thought about the heat and humity, as in Dec it was chilly.

She used a pushchair last march, we bought a one for £10 from mothercare, it was okay, did not have stivel wheels and did not recline, so it hurt my back trying to keep her lying back.

Is there a chair for me, the heat gets to me

DH can push us both!!!!!

 

[JohnnySharp2]

Joshua is 8, and we do have an over-size stroller.

Although he is fully mobile he is Autistic so we do use it on holiday although we never use it at home at all.
He just wouldn't be up to walking for long periods - especially in the summer heat, so we have to have one with us, we only use it around the airport and theme parks.

It depends on your child's needs - to be honest we don't really think twice about it, why is it a problem using it in the daytime?

As Jeanette says there are children of all ages with strollers around the parks and if it makes it easier to enjoy yourselves and have a good time then so be it - I have never thought people may look at us and think Josh is to old to be pushed around (although technically I guess he is)..he is registered disabled and we have a blue badge etc...

If it makes touring the parks or touring anywhere easier I don't see a problem, daytime or nightime - if other people see you and think it looks wrong, that's their problem

 

[Desire 2b a princess]

Hi

Our DD is 4 and we bought a stroller from Walmart for $20 and we used it at all the parks, we would not think of entering the parks without one due to the heat as DD complains she's tired pretty quickly. It also had a basket underneath and cup holders so was very useful.

 

[princess jackson]

Another great reason for a pushchair is the basket at the bottom.

The reason why we try and keep DD out of a chair during the day. She has very mild cerebal palsy, which looking at her they is no problem, apart from her right leg, she trips herself up and is behind in the ability to jump, skip and run.

This might sound harsh, but we try and get her to walk as much as possible to strenghen her leg muscles. Might just have a look around the shops at prices, we tend not to go to wal-mart.

I know yesterday she wanted carried most of the day. But there was a reason for this, we got her feet measured and ended up buying new shoes, yep too small

 

[JohnnySharp2]

Another great reason for a pushchair is the basket at the bottom.

The reason why we try and keep DD out of a chair during the day. She has very mild cerebal palsy, which looking at her they is no problem, apart from her right leg, she trips herself up and is behind in the ability to jump, skip and run.

This might sound harsh, but we try and get her to walk as much as possible to strenghen her leg muscles. Might just have a look around the shops at prices, we tend not to go to wal-mart.

I know yesterday she wanted carried most of the day. But there was a reason for this, we got her feet measured and ended up buying new shoes, yep too small

You are right about the basket, and you can also put your bag or rucksack etc on it too..I think with your child it sounds like like you need a balance between exercise and rest...our stroller is bigger than the average one, to be honest next year will be difficult because I think Joshua may be too big for it.

Certainly from a getting around the park perspective like I say loads of people have their kid's in strollers so it's not like we stand out from the crowd or anything.
If anyone gave us a 'that child is too big to be pushed around' sort of look, which to be honest I have never noticed (though it has probably happened) then tough!!

An advantage we have with having a blue badge is better car parking access wherever we go.

I could not imagine Josh having to walk around MK or anywhere, although we do encourage him to walk (and run) as much as possible.
Fortunatley he is very mobile and active at home so he is very slim, and doesn't look his age , obviously gets his boyish looks from his dad

 

[princess jackson]

DD gets her good looks from her mom!, and the red hair and temper from DAD's side.

 

[DebIreland]

I wouldn't think twice about using a stroller for a 4 year old. Not just in WDW but even on holidays in Italy and Spain when our boys were that age we used strollers at night. In WDW I'd use a stroller for a 4 year old for the theme parks too, with the understanding that she would have to walk at least some of the time. lol! I would say it's not just a good idea, it's essential. Even in the parks when you want to stop for a coffee or lunch and your DD is tired, it would be so relaxing for her to snooze or just chill out in the buggy while you drink your coffee. God I sound all me, me, me You know what I mean I'm sure. Argos have really cheap lightweight buggies if you wanted to buy it before going, or indeed as already mentioned I hear Walmart has them for 20 dollars or so. Good luck!

EDITED TO ADD: Look out for the strollers with the shoulder strap - very handy for getting on busses and for when the crowds are too thick to push the buggy and look after the child. Another advantage of a buggy is you can attach one of those stroller fans (they're brilliant!!) and keep her cool at all times though I just read now you're going in December so that might not be an issue.

 

[princess jackson]

Nope been in Dec, and it was chilly, we are due back in 17 days.

Had a look at the buggy's in mothercare, does anyone do a bigger more roomy chair.

They had one for 30quid, DD loved it, did not tell what we are planning, but getting her out of it was a big problem and tears.

 

[DebIreland]

One thing about using the buggy at WDW is that, as you probably know, you need to park it outside each attraction so perhaps that will work out well for you and encourage your DD to not stay in it all the time? You could always park it at the back of the buggy park each time, further away from the queue to get more walking/exercise done or even, park it in a spot and walk to 2 or 3 attractions at once and have someone run back and get it, sounds messy but it might get the exercise bit covered.

 

[princess jackson]

Yep, last year we did this we parked it by carosel, and went on pooh, small world, peter pan, snow white and dumbo before we went back to get the chair.

The only downside is the crowds ie after a parade trying to get through to the entrance, i know it needs more logical thinking to sit in a better position.

Just sitting here smiling thinking maybe i can stay up later than 9pm lol

 

[mrs-mac]

We hired a double stroller last year and the 2 DS's were 8 & 6. Maybe some would say a bit old but when you are walking around all day, they need a bit of time out. Also like said earlier its handy to put your bags on!

They only time we came across any of those looks was when we were watching the Wishes fireworks, it was 10pm and we'd been in the park all day, it was very crowded so we told the DS's to watch from the stroller. An American woman in front of us turned round and said to her partner 'Look at the age of those kids, they are just plain lazy'! I was furious But it didnt stop us from hiring one the next day or the day after that

 

[jns]

we missed the buggy last time
no place to keep bags ,drinks and everything but the kitcken sink

we did hire one some nights as DS 6 did get tired and that let us stay out until the parks closed
that and power aid

funnyest thing we seen was two kids pushing a sleeping granny down main street and she was no spring chicken

 

[JohnnySharp2]

We hired a double stroller last year and the 2 DS's were 8 & 6. Maybe some would say a bit old but when you are walking around all day, they need a bit of time out. Also like said earlier its handy to put your bags on!

They only time we came across any of those looks was when we were watching the Wishes fireworks, it was 10pm and we'd been in the park all day, it was very crowded so we told the DS's to watch from the stroller. An American woman in front of us turned round and said to her partner 'Look at the age of those kids, they are just plain lazy'! I was furious But it didnt stop us from hiring one the next day or the day after that

I would never worry about what ignorant people like that think, fortunatley they are in the minority...not that I wouldn't have had a word with her.
She would have to watch that our stroller didn't whack her in the shin, an accident honest, these wheels just have 'minds of their own'

 

[mushumadness]

sometimes we have no option but to get a stroller for joely whos 7, she has a skelital defect of the right foot meaning the bones are in the wrong place and can be v painfull, we get some right looks and comments, ahh well. but she is due reconstructive surgery in may, so she may be able to walk this year

I wouldnt push a child older than 5 normaly, unless there were issues with the childs rnage of walking ability.

Plush we havnt got enough hands to push jordan in her wheel chair, joely in a chair and erin in a buggy lol, so heres hoping the surgery works (as she is very aware that she doesnt like being in a stroller)

 

[JohnnySharp2]

With Joshua being Autistic I guess we tend to be extra protective, although as I said earlier he is perfectly mobile..however, a stroller around the parks is essential for us and like I say we really don't give any thoughts about what anybody would think.

Anna I really don't think you (or us) should get any looks or comments from anyone , to be honest we genuinely do not notice as we are there to have a great time after all...but if anyone did comment they better make sure I don't hear them.
I am sure 99.999% of people would agree with us - at the end of the day we know what's best for our children.

 

[mushumadness]

very true johnny, some people are horrible about jordan and her chair (she has downs) the first year she went with us in her special needs buggy, somebody asked me to my face why we had fetched a child like her to a familypark well i hit orbit (good job her dad wasnt their as he may of hit them) chris had to take me away before verbally flipped

some peopl just dont understand

 

[shellbell]

Lucy will be just 5 when we go in Ocotber, and we will be taking a light weight stroller. Although she is going to be 5, walking round the parks all day (and late into the evening) she will get tired. If we have the pram for her to take a few rests in, it will be far easier than having a stroppy, tired 5 yr old to put up with

When we were there we saw children of all ages in strollers and to be honest i didnt think anything of it.

 

[mushumadness]

luckily jordan graduated from stroller to wheel chair this year, so it may be better,