when do you stop needing a stroller?

[mill4023]

Maybe I should start her marathon training now, huh?

What? You mean you don't have her running 10 miles a day yet? What is wrong with you? You obviously coddle her too much and clearly you don't push you kids enough. In fact, no disrespect meant of course, but most people like you are horrible parents who are raising followers instead of leaders. I mean, not you of course. I would NEVER judge an individual situation. Just speaking generally here.
I mean really, what do you want? An average child?
Maybe you should push her harder. You might be surprised and she might be able to do/endure/survive more than you expect. I mean, just generally speaking of course. Obviously I'm not making any assumptions about you or how you raise your kids.

 

[mill4023]

"Just because you see a child in a stroller you can't say they are NOT physically fit. Remember, what you see is just a snippet if time."

How many times do I have to say I would not judge an individual case ever?!

Most people who have user names starting with "Daisy" aren't particularly bright.
Obviously I would not judge an individual case ever, so of course I'm not talking about you.

 

[DaisyMaisie]

If i kid really needs a rest, isn't that what the hall of presidents is for? j/k

 

[DaisyMaisie]

"Most people who have user names starting with "Daisy" aren't particularly bright.
Obviously I would not judge an individual case ever, so of course I'm not talking about you."

You are right my concern that kids in general are not as physically fit as they were 20 years ago, makes no more sense than your conclusion about the name Daisy. And of course commenting on a sad trend means that I actively judge every single child in a stroller. Silly me.

 

[TinyDancer]

I love that people are saying that it would be sooooooooooooo humiliating for the older child to be in the stroller, as if the parents are putting them in the stroller against their will, strapping them in with duct tape, and force feeding them churros. If the kid didn't want to be in the stroller, they wouldn't be - they would get out and walk. I personally see nothing against kids in strollers - I had one for my 4 year old DD when we went last time, actually it was a double since I also had a 8 month old.

When we go back in Feb 2013, she'll be 7.5 years old, and I'll probably still bring a stroller. Her sister will be 3.5 years, but the older one will probably see some use of it as she tires much more easily than the younger one. Maybe I should start her marathon training now, huh?

Our past two trips we have used a double stroller (kids were 21 months & 4.5, then 2.5 & 5). My next trip, we'll have FOUR kids and they will be ages 1,2, almost 4 and 7.5. I will be bringing a double stroller, probably TWO double strollers!

My kids get worn out at the parks, and we do take midday breaks. But, 7-13 miles a day is alot of walking, even for adults.
AND the Unofficial Guide recommends bringing a stroller until your child is at least 8.

 

[drew-in-KY]

I love that people are saying that it would be sooooooooooooo humiliating for the older child to be in the stroller, as if the parents are putting them in the stroller against their will, strapping them in with duct tape, and force feeding them churros. If the kid didn't want to be in the stroller, they wouldn't be - they would get out and walk.

This, exactly. Not going to force either of my children to use it, but if they want or need it, it will be there for them.

 

[jayandstacey]

If putting an able bodied ten year old in a a stroller is a good strategy in order to go 16 hours straight w/o a break, maybe another good strategy would be to keep 4-5 year olds in diapers. That would save a lot of time. Just at Disney of course. You could even wear adult diapers yourself. so you don't have to get out of line. Definitely a strategy. You wouldn't judge someone who did that would you?

I wouldn't judge, but it wouldn't save me time, because the diapers then have to be cleaned/changed - which is less efficient than just going to the bathroom. It is why we all go to the bathroom the way we do - it is the most efficient way to take care of that necessity. A diaper doesn't net me any benefit.

And the whole point of a stroller is that it IS a break - but a break without leaving the park. I don't need a nap, but my kid might take one - the stroller allows that. And more importantly, it allows a nap:
- when the kid wants it, not necessarily on a schedule.
- it allows either or both to nap.
- it carts around the rest of our stuff (what little we carry) when the kids aren't napping. Generally, they are walking if not napping.
- it saves us all the (longish) walk in and out of the park to take a midday break.

Other things that accomplish the same goals:
- fast passes
- rope drop
- enough of a plan
- exercise before going

A stroller is just one of those advantages.

 

[mill4023]

AND the Unofficial Guide recommends bringing a stroller until your child is at least 8.

Quick, someone email Len and tell him to stop encouraging coddling, the raising of fat, average, following children, and the overall downfall of society!

 

[jayandstacey]

This, exactly. Not going to force either of my children to use it, but if they want or need it, it will be there for them.

Ditto. My kids rarely use it. But they do just a bit, and that bit makes a big difference in how our day goes.

 

[bellelab]

Just want to add the comment regarding strollers and scooters that not all disabilities are able to be seen. Some are invisible. That does not make them any less of a disability.

To the poster about the 6 yr old that whines because the 3 yr old is in the stroller; if you are looking for advice......
I just tell my DD8 that she had the same things when she was that age and now she is just too old for it. She asks this a lot when I help her brother (3) clean his room and not hers. I tell her she was treated the same at that age but she's a big girl now and can do things herself. If you weren't looking for advice; just ignore.

I actually appreciate the advice, thank you! I'll take more if you have it. I have tried this but it doesn't really work even mentioning things like he still has to take naps and she doesn't, she gets to stay up later, etc. I think it's more a jealousy thing than anything so that is where it is frustrating.

 

[bellelab]

I love that people are saying that it would be sooooooooooooo humiliating for the older child to be in the stroller, as if the parents are putting them in the stroller against their will, strapping them in with duct tape, and force feeding them churros. If the kid didn't want to be in the stroller, they wouldn't be - they would get out and walk. I personally see nothing against kids in strollers - I had one for my 4 year old DD when we went last time, actually it was a double since I also had a 8 month old.

When we go back in Feb 2013, she'll be 7.5 years old, and I'll probably still bring a stroller. Her sister will be 3.5 years, but the older one will probably see some use of it as she tires much more easily than the younger one. Maybe I should start her marathon training now, huh?

I totally agree with you. My 6-year-old will be almost 7 when we go and she loves being in the stroller. My younger one also has more stamina than she does so I'm sure she will be in it more. I don't get it though, DD is on swim team and a dance team and has more energy than any kid I know! When it comes to just plain on walking though...... I think Disneyworld is super overstimulating so not only will they be physically tired (walking A LOT more than they are used to even with breaks in between) over an entire week, but they will be emotionally exhausted too so I see no harm in a stroller for older children (maybe up to age 8) to take a break in.

 

[bellelab]

Ditto. My kids rarely use it. But they do just a bit, and that bit makes a big difference in how our day goes.

Completely agree!

 

[ccgirl]

I actually appreciate the advice, thank you! I'll take more if you have it. I have tried this but it doesn't really work even mentioning things like he still has to take naps and she doesn't, she gets to stay up later, etc. I think it's more a jealousy thing than anything so that is where it is frustrating.

A little OT but, You hit the nail on the head with the bolded. I hear that all time, "you love him more than me because you help him more." I still don't give in though. I just tell her it is my job to raise someone who can be a productive member of society and if I always do things for her she won't be. Another thing we try to do is have "date night" with each one of our children individually. Good luck. I know it's not always easy sticking to our guns!

Back OT, this thread has gotten crazy. While, personally, I would not have my able bodied older child in a stroller if someone else wants to that's their right. We are an exercise family. I can understand not all families are and get tired. For us, that doesn't happen so no need for the stroller. Heck, I even make my DD8 take her turn with the family backpack. I guess it comes down to a personal decision.

 

[jayandstacey]

For us, that doesn't happen so no need for the stroller. Heck, I even make my DD8 take her turn with the family backpack. I guess it comes down to a personal decision.

Not to pick on you, but in these two sentences you hit on the assumption that (I believe) is wrong.

My family doesn't NEED a stroller either. But since the option exists, we take it - as we believe it adds to our overall enjoyment.

Just as your DD8 takes a turn with the backpack - you are in effect saying the parents get a break every now and then - and the kids pick up the slack. That's a good thing...with a stroller, the kids get a break every now and then. Not that they aren't capable of walking, not that they aren't fit. But just as with passing your backpack, the stroller is simply a strategy that helps us overall. We don't NEED to do it - just as you are fully capable of carrying the backpack the whole day. But it helps. So we do it.

 

[I-Bike]

The year we used the stroller was because we felt it would be easier on us, as parents. I guess you can call it laziness, but it's so much harder to weave in and out of crowds holding a little ones hand than it is to strap them in a stroller for the day. Even at 4 years old, mine was perfectly capable of walking but we still used the stroller.

I personally don't care if a 15 year old gets wheeled around in a stroller, but people should be honest with themselves about the reason they are using the stroller. Any normal 8 year old child has more stamina and energy than an average 35 year old adult and is perfectly capable of walking for 6 hours at a time.

And a little off topic, but there are far more strollers being wheeled around now than there was 15 or 20 years ago. Matter of fact, there was a time when kids were out of strollers as soon as they started walking and there certainly weren't kids collapsing of heat exhaustion either.

 

[jayandstacey]

I personally don't care if a 15 year old gets wheeled around in a stroller, but people should be honest with themselves about the reason they are using the stroller. Any normal 8 year old child has more stamina and energy than an average 35 year old adult and is perfectly capable of walking for 6 hours at a time.

Agreed. If they made adult-sized stollers, we'd get one of those, and everyone would get a turn - despite the fact that we're all perfectly capable of not having one.

I'm also perfectly capable of sleeping on a board, and my kids are perfectly capable of walking from the far reaches of the parking lot to the grocery store. But I have a comfy bed, and we park close to the store's front door. Not because we need to, but because we can.

 

[jayandstacey]

And a little off topic, but there are far more strollers being wheeled around now than there was 15 or 20 years ago. Matter of fact, there was a time when kids were out of strollers as soon as they started walking and there certainly weren't kids collapsing of heat exhaustion either.

There were far less parks 15 or 20 years ago. Outside of Disney, my kids were out of strollers quickly; they didn't want to be in the stroller. Inside of Disney, same story...until about 10 hours into the day. That's when it matters, especially on day 8 or a 10 day Disney trip.

 

[goofyernmost]

It is, of course, an individual decision. When I first took my kids to WDW they were 6 & 8 years old. To be honest the thought of a stroller didn't even enter our minds, honestly, never even occurred to us that it might even be slightly necessary. They hadn't had or used a stroller since they were toddlers. The idea that they might be forced to ride in one would be an insult to their self image that they were pretty much grown up now. We were lucky enough to have healthy kids and we just assumed that they could walk wherever we wanted to go. They did and never once heard the words "tired" or "legs hurt". And if they did, it would be quickly forgotten as soon as we would get back to the hotel and the pool was in sight.

Personally, I think that by age 6 they ought to be ready (providing no physical issue is involved) to walk. If anyone needs the stroller ride it's the parents. One does get fatigued but it is a happy fatigue. I've heard the argument that it is easier to keep track of the kids, they are less likely to run off, etc. I don't understand that at all. If I told my kids to stay with us, that's what they did. To me it would have been much more tiring to be pushing those non-motorized Hummers around the parks.

Anyway, to each his own. If you want one get one. It's really no one else's business and I am amazed that anyone would even notice, much less be critical of it to the individuals using one.

 

[finedice]

You are making huge assumptions and we all know the saying.

Do you really think you can accurately judge how a person raises their child and how much they "coddle" them, based on whether they let them sit in a stroller on vacation at WDW?
If the answer is yes, you should probably be more worried about your own children and what you will do to help them overcome the IQ that they have inherited from you.

Wow, you're obviously such a great judge of character. I am fully entitled to an opinion on issues. Sorry you don't like it

I don't care how people raise their kids. That's theirs to decide. Yet I do recognize social issues with kids, the huge obesity problem in our country, and the lack of independence in the millenium generation.

I also don't enjoy being stuck in back of a double wide stroller blocking the path when it is TOTALLY not needed for a couple of older children.

 

[jayandstacey]

Wow, you're obviously such a great judge of character. I am fully entitled to an opinion on issues. Sorry you don't like it

I don't care how people raise their kids. That's theirs to decide. Yet I do recognize social issues with kids, the huge obesity problem in our country, and the lack of independence in the millenium generation.

I also don't enjoy being stuck in back of a double wide stroller blocking the path when it is TOTALLY not needed for a couple of older children.

And as I'm blocking said path with said stroller containing said kids, I think to myself "the folks behind me are fully entitled to their opinion on this issue."

just kidding...

The thing that bothers me about the anti-stroller comments are the appeals to the greater good - kids' weight, independence, etc.

I look at it completely from completely the opposite direction. By getting a stroller, I believe I'm teaching my kids to:

• Not be swayed by others' opinions.
• Think of creative ways to tackle challenges - like using a rented stroller in a different way than the rest of the crowd
• Think of money as a tool, as a means to other goals, and to carefully weigh cost vs. benefit.
• Look at the big picture, that every minute saved off the feet when the opportunity is available, is happier times on the feet when the opportunity isn't there.
• Share, as we have two kids and get one stroller.
• Take responsibility, as they will push and remember to grab it as we exit rides.

There's no prize for the person who stood longest in the park - that's not a test of adulthood or responsibility, it is at best a meaningless pat on one's own back.

Who, for instance, stands while riding a bus if no one else is aboard? Sitting isn't a crime, it doesn't make one obese or dependant. It is, however, a great way to regain some energy and dive back into the park.