What's too old for a stroller?

[AlexTina]

I'm debating the stroller thing myself. We are going in June this year and my tendency is to bring the stroller, DD will be 3 3/4 at the time and I worry that she'll get tired before everyone else is ready to leave (also have an 8 year old and a 5 year old). On the other hand she walked almost the whole time last year and was only in the stroller on rare occasions at the end of the day. IMHO a stroller at the world is a huge pain. I have to gate check it on the plane, then when we land we have to wait until they bring it up. Then I've got to go park it prior to getting on the rides, when were done I've got to go fetch it and it's never where I left it, so then I get to play treasure hunt. Another problem is DS (5) likes to ride on the stand on the back (it's a pliko) and between him and DD (3) I wind up pushing close to 100 pounds all over WDW. I honestly cannot wait for the day that I don't have to have a stroller at WDW but I'm just not sure if this is the year. We're staying at BLT and are not commando's so when the kids are tired we have no problem going back to the room for a rest/swim. I'm pretty close to commiting myself to a stroller free trip!

Tina

 

[leebee]

Were they tired at the end of the night? Yes, and so was I. Did their feet hurt sometimes? Yes, and so did mine. Did they whine about waiting fro the bus? Yes, and so did I. Were they grumpy when I woke them up to get off the bus and walk to the hotel room? YES!

I know a lot of folks have expressed the sentiment that it is easier to push their kids in a stroller then have them whine and complain and ruin the families trip, but that is not the way things work here. Here adults make the decisions, and are not, generally, manipulated by children.

WHY do people have to make the stroller issue into a character judgement? It certainly is no reflection on anyone's ability to parent, or on who makes the decisions in the family! That's ridiculous, and insulting.

I cannot imagine WHY anyone would be happy listening to their children complain and be grumpy at the end of the day. That's when I am tired and grumpy too, and simply want to minimize my discomfort. At MY house, the adults make the decisions and are not manipulated by the children. It was MY decision to take the stroller when DD was 6, and I was the happiest mom in the sore, tired, cranky bunch because I wasn't being annoyed by a cranky kid on the way out of the park! Sorry, but I don't see why you need to make using a stroller a character judgement. There's no gold medal being awarded for making your kids tough it out, and I don't think it builds character to make kids "suffer" if it's not necessary. I think you are crazy to want to listen to cranky kids, and quite frankly feel sorry for the kids. I figure one of my jobs as a mom is to make things easier on my kids than it is for me. It's no skin off my nose to push a stroller around a theme park. We didn't use it a whole lot, but it was great to have a place to hang my backpack and stash my packages, to lean on when I was walking and tired, and for DD to take a break now and then. I miss the stroller, now that DD is almost 17!

 

[FlightlessDuck]

For me, any age is too old for a stroller. I'd rather carry a two year old on my hip or shoulders than navigate around with a stroller.

And anybody four or older can walk.

But that's just me.

 

[maxiesmom]

WHY do people have to make the stroller issue into a character judgement? It certainly is no reflection on anyone's ability to parent, or on who makes the decisions in the family! That's ridiculous, and insulting.

I agree, it is insulting. What works for your family may not work for someone else's.

And if I saw someone with whining, crying kids I wouldn't be thinking how great their parenting skills were. Or that they were awesome for not letting their kids manipulate them. I would probably be thinking that they all were over-tired and need a break.

 

[Lisa0620]

Our first trip our older son was 7 and younger son 4. We brought a stroller for DS4 because I knew he would really slow us down if walking and it was really nice to have drink holders and the basket storage for a soft cooler. It was SO hot when we were there and we ended up renting a Disney stroller for DS7 for one day in Epcot which was worth every penny. We will not be bringing a stroller for DS who will be five for the next trip. Not because I have any problem with it, but because it's a LOT of work to push and steer a 40 pound kid in a stroller! We felt like rickshaw drivers hauling him around! I'm going to have an envelope in my purse with stroller rental cash and be prepared to spend it when we get there after trying it without. The rental strollers are a DREAM to push by the way and I love the idea of not having to haul it on/off the bus. Since it doesn't cost anything to gate check your own stroller (usually) I would go ahead and take at least one, but I don't know that I'd bring two. Maybe set up some expectations before you leave about taking turns and sharing the one?

 

[jagruti6]

We will be bringing a stroller for DS6. He hasn't used a stroller since he was 3.
While he is more then capable of walking the parks (he is an extremely active child) he gets leg pains/growing pains at night when he has been especially active. Its not every night, but when it happens He wakes up crying and needs someone to massage his legs and occasionally give him Tylenol. Since its a foreseeable problem I have no problem bring a stroller to ensure his comfort. Also now i think of it our comfort, since we'll be in one bedroom and his crying would probably wake up DD2 as well. Lugging around 2 strollers is definitely going to be a pain the whole week, but in our case worth it. I don't think I would even notice if people were criticizing us for having DS6 in a stroller as we'll be to busy having time of our lives!
I say if you think your child needs one take one.

 

[livie1205]

I agree, it is insulting. What works for your family may not work for someone else's.

And if I saw someone with whining, crying kids I wouldn't be thinking how great their parenting skills were. Or that they were awesome for not letting their kids manipulate them. I would probably be thinking that they all were over-tired and need a break.

so your kids never whine or cry? i dont use a stroller for my dd4 at home and we just went for a week and did not even take the stroller at all...she did fine, no crying or being grumpy at all...she held up better then us.I wanted to go back to the room and she wanted to stay and ride at 9 pm! She is a healthy 4 yr old who runs and plays and gets plenty of excercise at home so she did fine at wdw.I dont care if I get flamed or not but 6 and 7 (not talking about anyone just in general) are waaaayy to old to be pushed around....alot of kids that age play sports and play outside alot so why cant they walk in a park?
I think as long as you dont stay from open to close kids are fine to walk around.It was great not to have to find stroller parking and play find the missing stroller after each ride.

 

[maxiesmom]

so your kids never whine or cry? i dont use a stroller for my dd4 at home and we just went for a week and did not even take the stroller at all...she did fine, no crying or being grumpy at all...she held up better then us.I wanted to go back to the room and she wanted to stay and ride at 9 pm! She is a healthy 4 yr old who runs and plays and gets plenty of excercise at home so she did fine at wdw.I dont care if I get flamed or not but 6 and 7 (not talking about anyone just in general) are waaaayy to old to be pushed around....alot of kids that age play sports and play outside alot so why cant they walk in a park?
I think as long as you dont stay from open to close kids are fine to walk around.It was great not to have to find stroller parking and play find the missing stroller after each ride.

Did I ever say anything like that? Nope. I said that if I saw your child whining and crying I wouldn't think that made you a better parent than those who have happy, well rested children in strollers. A whining and crying child at Disney World is usually one who is in need of a break or a nap. And many of those breaks could be avoided by using a stroller. But if you choose to not use one, more power to you! But it does not mean you are better than the parents who use them. And that is how many posts from non stroller parents are coming across. Like they think they are superior simply because they make their children walk the parks. Which is stupid.

Like I said, children are not all the same. And what may be best for one child may not be for another. Choose for your own children and leave everyone else to chose for their own.

 

[badblackpug]

WHY do people have to make the stroller issue into a character judgement? It certainly is no reflection on anyone's ability to parent, or on who makes the decisions in the family! That's ridiculous, and insulting.

I cannot imagine WHY anyone would be happy listening to their children complain and be grumpy at the end of the day. That's when I am tired and grumpy too, and simply want to minimize my discomfort. At MY house, the adults make the decisions and are not manipulated by the children. It was MY decision to take the stroller when DD was 6, and I was the happiest mom in the sore, tired, cranky bunch because I wasn't being annoyed by a cranky kid on the way out of the park! Sorry, but I don't see why you need to make using a stroller a character judgement. There's no gold medal being awarded for making your kids tough it out, and I don't think it builds character to make kids "suffer" if it's not necessary. I think you are crazy to want to listen to cranky kids, and quite frankly feel sorry for the kids. I figure one of my jobs as a mom is to make things easier on my kids than it is for me. It's no skin off my nose to push a stroller around a theme park. We didn't use it a whole lot, but it was great to have a place to hang my backpack and stash my packages, to lean on when I was walking and tired, and for DD to take a break now and then. I miss the stroller, now that DD is almost 17!

Oooh...talk about character judgments! Wow! I think you are a little sensitive about something. My kids don't suffer, they love DW and truthfully, the only time they complain is at the end of the night when we say we have to leave, and when I wake them up to walk from the bus to the hotel room. (and, frankly, I'm exhausted at that time, too) They would never even think about throwing a tantrum because they had to walk, and the thought of using a stroller past the time they used it at home never even crossed their minds. We just don't tolerate tantrums and whining. I have 4 kids (5mos-12y) if everyone got their way every time they whined and complained I would have one chaotic household. If you want to wear yourself out pushing a big child in a big stroller, have at it! That's your problem, not mine.

My opinion stand, OP. My kids aren't in great shape and they walk. It doesn't hurt them, they don't suffer, and the exercise is good for us all, considering all the junk food we eat!

 

[ekball]

OP - do what works best for you and your family. If you do that, stroller or not, you'll be happy, kids will be happy, and the vacation will be great. Who cares what other people think - my kids are fit, healthy, and don't rule the house. But if I feel like a stroller will help make life easier for all of us during vacation, then I'll break it out and use it. I'm fit enough to push it.

 

[mom2twokids]

We take 2 smaller umbrella strollers. My kids are 4 and 5. They don't use a stroller anymore for anything at home.
My thoughts are, when they get tired of walking, it is so nice to have somewhere for them to sit. I am fine with them sitting the stroller all day if they desire. Not because I am a bad mom, but because it keeps us all sane. I want to make it as easy as possible. They get plenty of exercise at home, it won't hurt them to spend a few days in the stroller if they so desire.
Plus, it's so nice having somewhere to put all of our stuff.

Obviously it's a personal decision. We have never had any problems pushing a stroller around through crowds. I dread the day when I have to accept they are too old for a stroller!! Who cares what other people think, do what is best for you and your family!

 

[livie1205]

Did I ever say anything like that? Nope. I said that if I saw your child whining and crying I wouldn't think that made you a better parent than those who have happy, well rested children in strollers. A whining and crying child at Disney World is usually one who is in need of a break or a nap. And many of those breaks could be avoided by using a stroller. But if you choose to not use one, more power to you! But it does not mean you are better than the parents who use them. And that is how many posts from non stroller parents are coming across. Like they think they are superior simply because they make their children walk the parks. Which is stupid.

Like I said, children are not all the same. And what may be best for one child may not be for another. Choose for your own children and leave everyone else to chose for their own.

NO ONE on here said anything about being better because they made their kids walk...I dont MAKE my dd4 walk, she CHOOSES to...she does not want to be confined in a stroller when she can walk and keep up fine.I dont give a flip that someone is pushing their 6 yr old in a stroller at wdw because I am to busy with my family but I still think kids that old can walk, if a child that age can not walk for a few hours without getting tired and grumpy I would think that is a bigger issue.My healthy 4 yr old is just fine without a stroller and does not get grumpy or cry...by the way kids cry for other reasons then being over tired from bad parents that didnt bring a stroller,maybe they did not getbthat toy they wanted or feel at bump their knee ect ect ect...
NO ONE told you not to take a stroller...and NO ONE is trying to make that choice for you...you are being DRAMATIC.

 

[livie1205]

Oooh...talk about character judgments! Wow! I think you are a little sensitive about something. My kids don't suffer, they love DW and truthfully, the only time they complain is at the end of the night when we say we have to leave, and when I wake them up to walk from the bus to the hotel room. (and, frankly, I'm exhausted at that time, too) They would never even think about throwing a tantrum because they had to walk, and the thought of using a stroller past the time they used it at home never even crossed their minds. We just don't tolerate tantrums and whining. I have 4 kids (5mos-12y) if everyone got their way every time they whined and complained I would have one chaotic household. If you want to wear yourself out pushing a big child in a big stroller, have at it! That's your problem, not mine.

My opinion stand, OP. My kids aren't in great shape and they walk. It doesn't hurt them, they don't suffer, and the exercise is good for us all, considering all the junk food we eat!

 

[livie1205]

:double post

 

[livie1205]

Like I said, children are not all the same. And what may be best for one child may not be for another. Choose for your own children and leave everyone else to chose for their own.[/QUOTE]

WHERE is my post was I trying to tell someone what they should do? MY opinion is that is waaayy to old...STILL IS ....but hey if you want to push your child around go ahead..if I am not mistaken I was ONLY choosing for MY family....how can I choose for anyone else?

 

[heatherleigh]

7-years old is too old, for my family. 6 would even be pushing it. I would definitely do a 5-yr old though.

My girlfriend brought her big, huge, 9-year old last year and he was in a stroller. He has no disabilities (except for the ones she concocts in her own head. She has munchausen by proxy). So sad.

 

[CADisneyMom]

Personally, I think once they turn 5 then they should be fine without a stroller. I work at an airport and I see so many kids in strollers that are really too big for them (their knees are into their chest). I've also been run down and hit with so many strollers while walking in the parks. Some people use those strollers as battering rams and to just push their way through crowds, not caring who they run into.

If you know that you're kids are going to be getting tired while you're in the park, then leave and have them take a nap and return later after they're well rested. That's what I did when my daughter was younger. We went when the park opened, stayed until about noon or 1, went back to the hotel to go swimming and possibly a nap and then returned in the evening. This worked for us. Once they start to get cranky then it's time to leave for awhile.

 

[superwy]

So many things to think about. We are going again this year with a soon to be 7 and a 5 year old. We've always used a double stroller (but they were 5 and 3 last time we went). I think that I am so used to having a place to put all of our stuff (changes of clothes, drinks, etc.) that I am not sure what I would do without the stroller. I don't see our 7 year old using it much, if at all, but wonder if it will be good to have it for those late nights. We'll be staying at the Beach Club and will likely walk home late at night from Epcot more than once. My kids are usually in bed by 8:00 pm, and in the past have fallen asleep while we enjoy some time in the countries. I would suggest that you know your family best and if you think it will help, why not. If you don't, there are always options once you get there. I hope you have a great trip.

 

[Dorisk3]

Not taking a stroller, much less 2 strollers is a wonderful thing. When we travelled with strollers, I always carried way too many things with us in the parks. Now I have a mini backpack that holds 2 autograph books, sunscreen and a bottle of water, maybe some purell, and that's it! Also, with kids walking, you aren't constantly looking for somewhere to park the stroller, and with 2 older kids, shoving that heavy thing around.

Every family is different, and everyone knows what is right for them, but the I love not having to deal with strollers, it's very liberating.

As far as the kid complaining issue goes, sometimes you really do need to take a rest/break and leave the parks. Smashing a kid in a stroller and then soldiering on isn't really fun anyway.

 

[HdnMickeyGrl]

When your kids' knees hit their chin when they sit in a stroller, they're too big.

I used to think it was absurd to put an older child in a stroller. But you know what; why should I care? If you want to bring a stroller or pay $15 -$31 to rent one for your kid. That's your choice. Don't worry about what other people think. I think 7 is too old but who knows what I'll think when my 9mo is 7. So do what you want. Live and let live.