Age to stop strollers .... is age 6 normal??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It depends on what you use a stroller for. We definitively barred our oldest from the stroller at age 5.5, a year ago. We occasionally need to walk 1.5 miles or even a little more, one way, as a family, and I have not found that it's realistic to expect a 3 or 4 year old to consistently make such a walk without a break. And definitely not at a speed that is practical for the adults.

My 3.5 year old can do this and has been able to since about 2. Because we stopped using the stroller and taught him to walk places...

How long does it take him to walk 1.5 miles?

I budget 20-30 minutes per mile, with the awareness that some children will be running ahead, some with drag their feet, and others will need to be carried partway. 45 minutes to walk 1.5 miles is plenty.

[Anonymous]

We walked everywhere from a young age and now they just trot everywhere. Our basic rule is that we walk if it is less than a couple of miles or so. It builds up a nice endurance and leg muscles.

[Anonymous]

Omg no. She rode in one at age 7 at Disneyland (Rented it our second day bc her feet hurt so bad) but that was a special situation. And I felt ridiculous doing it even then.

[Anonymous]

I live in a major city and most kids from the age of three ride scooters. The younger ones have straps on their scooter so parents can pull them along, slow them down, or pull up hills. Some even have seats so the child can sit while mom pulls. It’s impossible to go into most shops/restaurants with a large stroller. Carrying a stroller up and down stairs to the tube is a huge hassle. Most of the corner shops and local cafes/restaurants can’t fit strollers. And it’s so much easier to carry a scooter up the steps into your walk up than a stroller.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can the kids walk? Then they walk as far as they can, and I will carry them or we’ll stop.

That's a great approach for non-essential walking, but doesn't work as well for those of us who walk to accomplish essential tasks.

I've never had a problem with it. I've carried a 2yo on my hip and 4yo on my back, in addition to a backpack and a couple grocery bags. It's a good workout for me, and it forces them to walk as much as they possibly can.

This reminds me of the mid-aughts when a certain subset of mommies got really into handwashing laundry. Just do a simple setup in your yard! It only takes a day to wash your family's laundry (including cloth diapers of course) and it is SO fulfilling!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Omg no. She rode in one at age 7 at Disneyland (Rented it our second day bc her feet hurt so bad) but that was a special situation. And I felt ridiculous doing it even then.

I just want to say, if my 7 year old's feet hurt, then MINE WOULD TOO! There's no way I'd keep on slogging around and in addition push a second grader in a stroller.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can the kids walk? Then they walk as far as they can, and I will carry them or we’ll stop.

That's a great approach for non-essential walking, but doesn't work as well for those of us who walk to accomplish essential tasks.

I've never had a problem with it. I've carried a 2yo on my hip and 4yo on my back, in addition to a backpack and a couple grocery bags. It's a good workout for me, and it forces them to walk as much as they possibly can.

This reminds me of the mid-aughts when a certain subset of mommies got really into handwashing laundry. Just do a simple setup in your yard! It only takes a day to wash your family's laundry (including cloth diapers of course) and it is SO fulfilling!

Yeah, I'm a big proponent of walking, and even that sounded absurd to me Maybe it's ok if they are in Manhattan and the store is down the block. But even then, I think I'd probably just order groceries online.

I do remember fondly the days when I strolled my child to the grocery store and stashed the groceries in the bottom on the way home. Once they were too big for the stroller (3.5) I just made other arrangements for grocery shopping - went alone, went online, took an Uber home, sent my DH to the store without me. The awkward period for being car-free with a kid was really from around 3-5 when my DS was too big for the stroller, but too small to put in an Uber without a booster. I can see the appeal of keeping a kid in a stroller slightly longer if you're car free in a less dense city like DC, but at a certain point, it becomes more convenient to ditch the stroller and just have another little city walker!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My neighbor has a (huge!) almost- 2 year old and I have not seen him in a stroller this year.

oops this should have been "almost-3 year old." He is now 2 but looks a solid 3. He is always walking or on one of those "fake bikes" were you push with your feet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Omg no. She rode in one at age 7 at Disneyland (Rented it our second day bc her feet hurt so bad) but that was a special situation. And I felt ridiculous doing it even then.

I just want to say, if my 7 year old's feet hurt, then MINE WOULD TOO! There's no way I'd keep on slogging around and in addition push a second grader in a stroller.

Never fear. That was dads job 😂 Honestly it was fine and nice to have something to hold our stuff. Even the 10 year old took a turn, she’s a skinny kid though.

[Anonymous]

I don't think I used one after 3 to be honest-way easier to make to do without.