A silly question about stroller
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| Thu, 04-19-2007 - 5:58pm |
I know I shouldn't compare myself to other moms or compare my kids to other kids, but sometimes it just happens.
Background: DS is almost 5 and DD is almost 3. We have 2 double strollers, an older model jogger from a yard sale, and a sit/stand model. Each useful in different circumstances. It keeps them from running away and it keeps me from losing one while dealing with the other. Plus we sometimes go places that would just be too much for the kids to walk and it gives DH and I chance to talk with each other while the kids are sightseeing.
We know a family w/ kids about the same age as mine. They don't use a stroller and haven't for quite some time. Their kids don't wander away and to hear the mom tell it they are perfect wherever they go. I assume this isn't 100% true but still it gets to me. I know she thinks that 5 is far to old to be pushed around but I figure if it works for us then why should age matter? And of course I get mad at myself for caring. But she is just one of those people with a perfect life and she gets to me.
So, did you use a stroller or kid leash or anything similar for longer than other people thought necessary? How long? We have 20 more pounds til we max out either stroller and I figure we'll probably use them til then.
Thanks again for making me feel so welcome.
Heather

Well my kids are 5 and 3.
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I agree. My kids are older but its really your measure of safty with them that matters. I remember using a kid leash, because both were bolters. I knew I would of never lived with myself if I lost one just because I wanted to pick out some oranges in the store.
People stared, oh well. I figured If I lost one of my guys they would be sad but it wouldn't devaste their life. If I lost my one of my guys IT WOULD devastate my life. So I figured my feelings outruled theirs lol. Thats how I got thru it.
Lainie
Henry was always so content to be in his stroller that I used it all the time until he was 4 1/2 or so--in public places like the mall or the zoo. Even at 5 1/2, I used the stroller at the zoo because that's a lot of walking. Plus, it had a clean tray for his snacks and lunch, *and* it had a nice storage space underneath for water bottles and sack lunches.
When Henry was 5 1/2, I had Mark. I certainly wasn't going to buy a double stroller then. So poor Henry got booted from the stroller rather abruptly.
I think you should do whatever works for you and
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I think you should do whatever works for your family. If you and your kids feel safer, by all means use the strollers.
Weston was climbing out of the stroller when he was 13 months. He HATED the motion and feeling of riding -- we tried the stroller, wagon, anything, everything-- hated it all and would walk the entire mile to and from school 2x every day or be piggy backed but would NOT ride in the stroller (my then kindergartener and 4 yr old would ride tho). It was very frustrating! we had no idea why he refused to ride but he did and would tantrum the entire time if I tried to make him. aahh hindsight, SID was very real even then! Owen refused to ride in the stroller after he was 2 as well-- the only way I could get him to ride in the jogger at 2 & 3 was to feed him popscicles as soon as the treat was gone he'd be climbing out. He wasn't quite as bad as Weston tho. My 7 1/2 yr old would still ride in the stroller if I let her.
Betsy
We used a stroller for a long time with my low-energy AS kids, and my 3yo still loves hers even tho' she likes to get out and run around a lot. My 8yo AS ds rode in a stroller until kindergarten, but he would have loved to have been in it longer. He rode a school bus to school then walked 1/2 mile home with his older siblings. It would take them soooooo long to get home 'cus ds would stop every several feet to rest. Even nowadays he'll complain of sore ankles after walking for any length of time. I wouldn't mind letting him share the 3yo stroller except the 8yo is almost 100 lbs.
We went to the zoo a couple of weeks ago, and I saw a lot of kids walking all over the place. I was alternately jealous, impressed, and wishing some of the parents of dragging/crying kids would have just brought their stroller. I'd much rather pack a stroller than have to try to force an over-tired, screaming child to walk or alternately have to lug a child for miles 'cus I didn't want to tote a stroller. This way we're all much happier. There have been the odd comments from people when they thought my child(ren) were too old to be pushed, but fortunately not too many.
Heather,
I was still putting my son in the grocery basket at 10 (bottom part, he is big) and still have on occasion. To heck with what everyone else thinks. You need to do what works for your family.
BTW, saw another really big kid in a basket at costco the other day and he looked completely typical from what I could tell.
It is a tough part of this being a mom to a special needs kid thing, but if you can it helps so much to just concentrate on your kids needs and not worry what others are thinking about us. I lost way to much time worrying about that in earlier years.
Renee