Why do parents do this at the mall??

[DISNEYFANRI]

I was at the mall with DS the other day and could not help but notice 2 things....

#1 parents that have strollers but the little ones aren't in the strollers they are walking or running.

#2 parents that dont' have strollers and the little ones are walking/wandering what i consider to be way too far ahead of the parents.

Now by little ones I mean @ 2 yr olds. I don't pretend to be a "model" parent but I do know that when my kids were little and we went to the mall they knew if we brought the stroller they were to stay in it - in fact my son used to say "bring the stroller I'm gonna be tired" and we joke about it to this day everytime we go to the mall. And if I didn't bring the stroller they were right next to me at all times - no wandering allowed.

Just something that made me think.....

 

[Serena]

Many times the children have been in the stroller but had to get out and walk a little.
Many times I see parents let their children run all over the place without so much as a glance in their direction. I try not to say anything, but it doesn't always work.
One child last year was messing with some glass shelves, he tried to climb it. The entire shelving unit fell. But he was in just the right spot that all the glass missed him. He got cut when he panicked and tried to get out of it all. There was glass all around him. It wasn't serious though, thank goodness.

 

[julia & nicks mom]

#1 parents that have strollers but the little ones aren't in the strollers they are walking or running.

#2 parents that dont' have strollers and the little ones are walking/wandering what i consider to be way too far ahead of the parents.

I am the parent of two VERY spirited toddlers - if I could keep them in the stroller the whole time I was there I would - but sometimes they get too ansy and leaving them in could cause them to hurt themselves - Nick climbs right out while it is moving -

I only go to the mall if I HAVE to now - so before you get too upset with the parents - think about the fact that they might really need something and that there are children in this world - despite their parents best intentions are just ansy -

my kids aren't bad - just very active!

 

[*Fantasia*]

When my kids were little, they would be in the stroller. But not during the whole time that I am shopping. Sometimes they need a rest from sitting for a long time. It's like taking a long flight, don't you just want to stretch your leggs? The same thing with the children.

Just like at WDW, when I used to rent the double stroller, my kids were not always in the stroller, but most of the time they would be in the stroller except during rides or when dining.

As far as letting the kids roam around or let them walk waaay ahead of you, no, cause I know sometimes the mall can get busy and the little one can just get shuffled right in the crowds and you might not be able to see the child from the crowds.

 

[the kabuki]

When my kids were little, they would be in the stroller. But not during the whole time that I am shopping. Sometimes they need a rest from sitting for a long time. It's like taking a long flight, don't you just want to stretch your leggs? The same thing with the children.

Just like at WDW, when I used to rent the double stroller, my kids were not always in the stroller, but most of the time they would be in the stroller except during rides or when dining.

As far as letting the kids roam around or let them walk waaay ahead of you, no, cause I know sometimes the mall can get busy and the little one can just get shuffled right in the crowds and you might not be able to see the child from the crowds.

Exactly what I would've said

 

[ChrisnSteph]

I used to always be critical of parents with out of control children - until I actually had two little hell spawn myself. (no flames, I LOVE my kiddos).

I have a 2, 3 and 5 month old. I can't push two strollers. Therefore my older ones have to walk. When my dh is with me we'll push strollers, but it's almost impossible to keep a 2 or 3 year old in a stroller the entire time. I try my best, but they are sometimes impossible to control on my own, so I usually avoid malls and stores if I have all of them by myself. They're good kids, but busy and full of energy. I used to cringe when I saw people using them, but I'm seriously considering getting a couple of those kid leashes. I'd rather offend people than lose my kids in a crowd.

 

[TinkerBess_SnowTori]

"Little Hell Spawn" That cracked me up!!!

 

[gshoemate]

We always bring a stoller because we never know when DS will get tired of walking. His little legs can only walk so much. We bring a stoller to WDW with us but rarely use it. Better to have it then to not have it.

 

[Rowena]

If i'd only one child...Oh who am I kidding??!
I brought the stroller for just the one, he rode it from that parking lot to store, jumped out and hid in the round racks of clothes in the store!
The only way I could cajole him back was let HIM push the stroller! Even my daughter age seven and autistic, rides in the shopping cart at grocery but will walk the cart to the car when the bags overload the space she was occupying.
Whe we went to Six Flags this past summer, I wished we had a wheeld place to let her rest. Didn't need it, but I wanted it. We may have stayed ther longer if we had it.

 

[swilphil]

I want my kids to get out and walk a little bit--get some exercise and show a little independence. My oldest, age 4 1/2, still wants to be held a lot in public. He usually sits in the stroller without any problem, but he's starting to get to be too old to use a stroller in many circumstances.

As far as running ahead, that can be a problem, but I'd give a parent the benefit of the doubt if I saw that. We really don't know the circumstances. I try not to be judgmental of other parents. We are all just trying our best, aren't we?

 

[hppy2bhome]

Isn't the stroller to hold all the bags while shopping??

Seriously just because a parent brings a stroller doesn't mean the child should be in it. I agree with the walking to far ahead my daughter will do this but I let her, we always go to the mall as soon as it opens not a lot of people and she's free to walk ahead a bit. She's 3.

christina

 

[bgirldeb]

. I used to cringe when I saw people using them, but I'm seriously considering getting a couple of those kid leashes. I'd rather offend people than lose my kids in a crowd.

I was like that until I had my "spirited" 2 year-old son. The leash worked like a charm with him . A friend of mine also used one with her son, who loved it because he knew his boundaries.

 

[aprilgail2]

Isn't the stroller to hold all the bags while shopping??

Seriously just because a parent brings a stroller doesn't mean the child should be in it. I agree with the walking to far ahead my daughter will do this but I let her, we always go to the mall as soon as it opens not a lot of people and she's free to walk ahead a bit. She's 3.

christina

My daughter is 5 and I still bring the stroller into the mall with us! She doesn't sit in it most times but I use it to carry all the packages! And there are times when she gets tired of standing around watching me shop and she sits in it, but when we are walking around in the mall she walks and I push the packages!

 

[chobie]

My DH and I use to fight about this all the time. I would say why bring the stroller when we are going to end up holding the kids and pushing a stroller? Both my kids by 7-8 months, could contort themselves and slide out of the straps of their strollers or stand up in them. The either wanted to walk or be held. I used a sling to hold them on my hips until they were about 4 or so. That way I knew they were safe and it freed up my arms a bit.

Is not forcing you child to sit in a stroller going to be added now to the list of "Things that bad parents do"? I'm glad my kids are older. Now I only have to worry about being judged for letting them play on no-scoring sports teams.

 

[TheOtherVillainess]

I wonder the same thing. I see it all the time.

Something fairly alarming that I saw the other day freaked me out. The stroller was filled with shopping bags, diaperbag, etc and the child (who looked to be between 6-8 mos or so)was laying face down on the COVER part of the stroller. You know, the little shade thing that folds out to cover up the stroller to keep the kid out of the sun/rain/whatever. Made me wonder what was more important..the bags or the kid!

I also see parents who (instead of taking the elevator, like they should)put their strollers on the escalators (even though it says not to). Eek. That makes me nervous just thinking about it. Oi.

I know I also get yelled at a fair amount for asking kids (politely) to get down off my counter at work. It's only about 8 inches wide and I don't want anybody falling off and getting hurt because I know as soon as somebody does, we'll get sued for letting them up there in the first place!



TOV

 

[Danvers]

Getting ready for the flames.....


I personally would never use a "kid leash". I think they're degrading and just plain lazy. If they want to get out of the stroller and walk, fine. But I can't put a leash on someone.

 

[IceQueen777]

What is wrong with letting your child walk a little bit, but having the stroller there as backup if they won't behave or if they get tired?

Childhood obesity is becoming a problem in this country. I would never deny my child the chance to walk in the mall if they want to. If they can't stay by my side and behave, then they go in the stroller.

Most of the time they stay with me, so I end up using the stroller very rarely. It is a good thing that I don't care what people think, or else I would have to add "pushing an empty stroller" to the list of things that people will judge me on.

 

[disneygals]

I get that it might bother you if kids are far from their parents and not being watched, but why do you care if someone brings a stroller and doesn't keep their kids in it the whole time. My first two kids hated the stroller. If you never let them out, how will they learn to behave in public?

As for the "leashes", there are toddlers who just RUN the second they can...if it's for their safety, I don't see the problem. Sometimes parents HAVE to go out and kids are just not always perfect.

 

[disney4us2002]

Whatever works for people. I suppose most would consider me hard or inflexible as a parent of a young child. When mine were under three they stayed in the stroller or we went home. Period. I also believe in cyo and leaving restaurants when they cried or carried on. I didn't expect my kids to be perfect angels and didn't try restaurants or malls on overtired kids but mine knew from an early age that I wanted them to act a certain way for an hour or two and if they couldn't do it we would leave.

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

When my boys were really young, like 1 and 2, they would ride in the stroller at the mall most of the time. But we still let them out to walk a little too. Like someone else said, it's good for them to stretch their legs and get in a little practice walking at that age. Most kids don't like being strapped into a stroller for hour after hour.