Kids' and Strollers

Updated on November 05, 2013
A.F. asks from Bellmore, NY
13 answers

My daughter is four and a half years old. She still uses a stroller at times as she tells me she is tired or she doesn't want to walk. I realize that as every first time mom makes mistakes, perhaps this was one of them. At what point do you start to wean your child from relying on a stroller?

I think I always relied on the stroller because I used to walk my sixty-five pound dog a lot (before I started working again) and a two/three year old could not walk ten blocks or more. But I find now even at four and a half, Alyssa is so reliant on the stroller that when we attempt to walk the dog without it, she'll walk half a block and not want to continue.

I am expecting a second child in the spring and just would like to know what parents think about weaning children off strollers. I still usually bring it to the mall and of course the Bronx Zoo. Alyssa often falls asleep in it to this day so I guess I relied on the stroller for that reason too.

P.S. I have tried encouraging Alyssa to ride her bike while we walk the dog but I haven't been successful for long. Needless to say, I usually walk the dog when Alyssa is in daycare.

Thank you!

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Featured Answers

M.B.

answers from Seattle on

Just tell her she's too big to be in a stroller anymore.

I had the opposite problem. both of my kids learned to walk before their first birthdays, and HATED strollers after that.

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M.H.

answers from Washington DC on

Hubby and I enjoy going on longer neighborhood walks (3+miles) on the weekends and let our 4.5 year old still use the stroller. She says she gets tired too. Its funny cause she learned to walk she hated it but she's back come around :) We do encourage her to walk and set markers for her to accomplish before she can get in and rest. We've told her that when the stroller breaks (its on its last leg) that's it, she will need to walk like a big girl. She's getting a scooter for Christmas so hopefully that will convince her to kick the stroller once and for all.

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S.H.

answers from Honolulu on

By that age both my kids did not use a stroller.
They did not want to.
And they walked.
If they needed to stop or rest, we did.
My daughter has a lot of stamina, my son does not.
So we rest/stop as needed.
My kids did not want to be in a stroller at that age.
They felt too big/older, for it.

Or maybe get her a kiddie scooter.
A 3 or 4 wheeled "Razor" type scooter.
Those are fun.

Then, it also depends on how long... you are walking when you are with her.
10 blocks is a long haul. For a little kid.
Maybe it is the "thought" of the "long" walk that tires her out.
Maybe walk for a shorter distance, and tell her it won't be a "long" walk.
And then don't walk when it is nap time or she is tired.
Go when her energy is better. Usually mornings are when kids are fuller of energy etc. not at the end of the day.
Or can she stay home with Daddy when you walk the dog?

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G.B.

answers from Oklahoma City on

I don't know why you'd want to. Really, it's so much easier to go places and have a double stroller and both kids are confined.

I used my double stroller with the kids until they didn't fit anymore. I loved taking them to the fair, Walmart, out to eat at the schools, etc....it was super easy and I loved using it.

Updated

I don't know why you'd want to. Really, it's so much easier to go places and have a double stroller and both kids are confined.

I used my double stroller with the kids until they didn't fit anymore. I loved taking them to the fair, Walmart, out to eat at the schools, etc....it was super easy and I loved using it.

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H.W.

answers from Portland on

Perhaps because I was a nanny, and my back would get tired, I had some hard and fast rules about the stroller.

If you are three years old, and it's a hill, you can get out and walk. You may get back in at the top of the hill.

If you are four, you will walk part of the time. Esp. if mom needs a break from pushing.

If you are five, the stroller goes goodbye. Freecycle it or give it away. At five, we were doing our zoo visits on foot. It helps to have a membership, I do need to say, because we could do a one-hour trip and then come back another time. If you like to go there, consider a membership for more frequent, shorter trips. That way you don't feel like you have to see everything.

Nearly all of my traveling with Kiddo is done via public transport during the week, as my husband takes the car in.

No judgment about what other parents are doing. I just find that, because my son was doing 1+ mile walks at five, he did have an advantage-- on field trips with lots of walking, he had the stamina to enjoy the trip while a lot of his classmates were complaining. Heck, we have had kids over to our house who have complained about the walk (it's about seven or ten city blocks). I like that 99% of the time, Kiddo is ready for an adventure, longer walks-- last summer, we did so many fun walks. When we get tired, true, there is likely a bus line not too far away... I just really enjoy my time out with him.... and without the stroller in tow.

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L.C.

answers from Los Angeles on

A stroller is just as much a convenience for you as it is for your daughter. My five year old son still loves sitting in the stroller! I make him take turns with his two year old brother, who is more willing to walk than his older brother :-)

As long as your daughter doesn't look like a full grown adult with her feet dragging on the ground, I would say that it's fine to let her sit in the stroller. Plus, you can hang all of your bags off it. I find that *I* rely on the stroller more than my kids do. I like to keep them contained and can move faster when I don't have to slow down to their walking pace.

I think most kids wean themselves off the stroller by kindergarten, because they realize that strollers are for babies.

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P.K.

answers from New York on

She needs to be walking. Ditch the stroller. My kids were a year apart so they were walking at three and four. Two and one year old would share stroller. We did not have double strollers back then. Well there was one but it weighed like 50 lbs and huge.

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S.L.

answers from Rochester on

My daughter is 5 and we still occasionally use a stroller. She complains about the same thing at times. I wouldn't worry too much about it, myself. She'll out grow it eventually. She is little and little legs get tired too just like adults. And, if u want her to stop using the stroller, either use it less or get one of these sit-stand strollers. That way, u can have it for the new baby and one for her.
Hope this is helpful.

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J.O.

answers from Detroit on

Mine won't use them past 2, and it's a nightmare with parking lots. You are lucky! I say use it as long as your daughter wants. She'll be in school soon and it won't be such an issue.

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E.S.

answers from Jacksonville on

My older son always wants to ride in the stroller if the younger son is in it. We ended up buying a double stroller (on craigslist) so they could both ride. My oldest is 4.5 and the baby is 2. It really depends on how far we are going to go and whether I feel like getting it out.

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A.V.

answers from Washington DC on

I would start leaving it home when you run errands. And I would plan the walks with the dog where you might drop in at a playground or something. Give her a chance to break it up. If she falls asleep in the stroller, is it the stroller or time of day? Does she need a nap? You can also get a sit and stand stroller, with the expectation that the older child can STAND or walk, but the baby rides. Or wear the baby.

If she walks half a block and stops, what happens? Does she win? Can you leave her home? Would she care?

I started by having an umbrella stroller in my car but not telling DD about it. If we really needed it, we'd use it but otherwise she was in a cart (less comfortable) or she walked. If I left the stroller in the car and we went to the mall, I realized it might take longer to get somewhere, but it was important for DD to walk. I started this when she was 3ish. And, yes, I did end up carrying her sometimes, but she is 5 now and increasingly harder for me to carry. If she is out doing something fun and whines about wanting to be carried, we go home. If she is too tired to play, she is done. Funny how often she finds the strength to walk a little more.

It also helps you streamline your outings without the stroller. Like if you are at the mall and you see one of those trains and decide to let your kid ride it, you should say, "DD, isn't this fun? If we had a stroller with us, we wouldn't be able to bring it and ride the train." Of course that works when you don't have a stroller for the baby.

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A.R.

answers from New York on

I read the responses and I see that the answers are as varied as children are.

My youngest is 3.5 and still very attached to the stroller. Also a big napper, so like you, we often bring the stroller so he will fall asleep.
My oldest has a very different energy level than his younger brother, and gave up the stroller around 2.5, when he gave up napping.

My youngest gets plenty of exercise; his energy just comes in bursts. I encourage walking but don't force the issue. The stroller is still almost always with us.

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D.K.

answers from Pittsburgh on

We gave up the stroller at 18 months. My son could manage the zoo and the mall at this age. I can't even picture my son in a stroller at 4 years old. Isn't she beyond the weight limit of your stroller - good reason to tell her she can't use it any more. Kids should be walking, running and exercising.

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