How old is too old for stroller/pram?

[MummytoSummer]

My dd1 is 26 months and though she walks fantastically and wants to walk everywhere the fact is she gets tired out very quickly and on the odd occasion ive risked it and gone out with just a single pushchair, halfway there she's wanted me to pick her up or asked to go in the pushchair. That's when it's hard work, carrying a heavy 2 year old while trying to manoeuvre a pram with one hand!

I will just let her lead me, I'm sure there will come a point when she will realise she's a 'big girl' and won't even want to go in it anymore but until then I'm not bothered. I'd rather her be happy and comfortable than force her to walk too far when she's tired.

My nephew is 4 and starts school next week but we were out only a few weeks ago and he went in the stroller and fell asleep. My friends little boy is 5 and a half and we were out at a show a couple of months back and he was being pushed in the stroller while his little brother was being carried!

X

 

[missbabypo]

We have a double buggy and even though Riley almost never goes in it I always keep the back seat on for him just incase. The only times he goes in it really are if it is raining, he is tired or he has sprained his ankle or knee which seems to happen quite a bit at the moment.x

 

[aliss]

All kids are different.

I have been asked why my 3 & 4 year old is in a back carrier (I don't use a stroller), and I simply respond that he's a 39lb hulk of barely 2 years old.

He can walk physically, yes, in fact he can run a mile straight if it's safe enough & clear (he does this every morning on our walks), but in public with cars & other dangers, I'm simply in no mood to wrestle him at 8 months pregnant.

Having an oversize (+100th percentile) child has it's disadvantages for sure. I don't use "reigns" because honestly reigns are just not done here and that would involve dragging him on the floor...lol

 

[aliss]

And of course the old rule applies, toddlers will walk & run all day, if it gets them where THEY want to go But if it's where mom wants to go (and especially if it's where she NEEDS to go, especially at a certain time!) then... it ain't happening!!

 

[freckleonear]

My children have been walking for miles since before they were 2 BUT my 4.5 year old still needs to go in his sister's pushchair sometimes when he gets tired. Pushchairs are a very practical option if you need to get somewhere fast, go out for a long time or deal multiple children.

 

[Natasha2605]

And of course the old rule applies, toddlers will walk & run all day, if it gets them where THEY want to go But if it's where mom wants to go (and especially if it's where she NEEDS to go, especially at a certain time!) then... it ain't happening!!

This is sooooo true! They will talk miles when there's something for them at the end of it!

 

[Blondy27]

My eldest dd walked good distances from 2, but only stopped having the stroller at 3, when dd2 was born and we went back to the big pushchair, didn't really matter as she was mainly walking everywhere. Did get a few comments sometimes as she is very tall for her age and very articulate, just before we stopped putting her in the stroller I had quite a few people ask pointedly which school she goes to, I calmly explained she wasn't quite 3, lol!

 

[loverguts]

My little man is almost 2 and a half and he still definitely needs a pram when we're out. He doesn't sit in it an awful lot but we have no car so its quite a necessity if we've gone on a long journey somewhere, and especially on days out. If we had a car then i wouldn't put him in it anywhere near as much and i'd say he would be very close to not needing it.

He also is tall for his age and is always mistaken for being older, so maybe a lot of children you see are actually younger but look older?

My sisters DS is 4 and he still occasionally goes in a buggy if its on a long day out, but i think around that age really should be the cut off. I don't think kids should ever be walked to school in a buggy - that is just too much!

 

[KathrynW]

My oldest 2 both stopped using a pushchair when they were about 3. Although my oldest daughter, now 4 still goes in occasionally depending on what we're doing, and if it's been a long day, etc. X

 

[sapphire1]

I'd be surprised if I've ditched the pushchair by the time Holly is 2. She is 20 months and we went for a walk today, she got tired after 10 minutes and I had to carry her. Nearer to 3 might be more likely. It also depends where you live. I live in the middle of a city, so there's lots of traffic and people about. A pushchair is infinitely more practical than trying to get her to walk in a straight line.

 

[lindseymw]

We stopped using the pushchair for Joshua when he was 2.5yrs. Bought a P&T double & maybe used it twice as a double?!

He's been able to walk long distances quite easily. The last time we used a double was when we went to Alton Towers, Josh was 2.5 years & we put him in it to walk back to the car but wouldn't say he needed to, it was just easier for us.

 

[lauren10]

I have a 2 year old and we're not ready to give it up yet by any means! She's hard to control in a crowd so she's much safer in the stroller.

 

[freckleonear]

See I always wonder what people who say "my child can walk long distances" actually mean by a long distance? We don't have a car and we very rarely use public transport, so we literally do walk everywhere. That can be miles and miles each day, and even though my 4 year old has been doing it since he was tiny, he still gets tired. Sure, he probably could do it without be carried or having a quick rest in the pushchair, but it would be mean to him and the whining would drive me absolutely insane!

 

[LittleBoo]

Honestly? I don't care how old they are, as long as it's their choice to sit in it.

 

[Tacey]

If the place we're going is within 2 miles, Alice will happily walk there and back. Further than that, and we'd get a bus for some of the journey. I am impressed, as she walks much further due to all that running backwards and forwards bit that toddlers do! Her legs are like little rocks. I think she's much fitter than me!

See I always wonder what people who say "my child can walk long distances" actually mean by a long distance? We don't have a car and we very rarely use public transport, so we literally do walk everywhere. That can be miles and miles each day, and even though my 4 year old has been doing it since he was tiny, he still gets tired. Sure, he probably could do it without be carried or having a quick rest in the pushchair, but it would be mean to him and the whining would drive me absolutely insane!

 

[aimee-lou]

We more or less ditched the pushchair when Earl was 2 as he wanted to walk anyway. I used to take a stroller if we needed to be somewhere on a schedule when I was PG as I couldn't carry Earl if he got tired etc, but tbh he didn't need it. It was more a convenience thing.

I bought a buggy board for the back of my pushchair and I've used it all of 3 times since Eddy was born. Earl is happy to walk anywhere and everywhere!

I will confess I'm not a fan of seeing older children in them. I know someone who still puts their 4yo in one and it just seems a waste and not good for them, especially where we live so close to everything (the local shop is 3/4 of a mile away and the bus stop is 300 yards away max).

 

[Dk1234]

I think it depends on where you are. I mean seriously if a 3-4 year old has to be in a stroller at a store for a few minutes, that is stunting them IMO. My boy is probably tonna be huge so if I had my 4 yo in a stroller it will probably look like a 6 year old ha ha.

 

[leahsbabybump]

i say you should use a stroler till your kid can walk were ever you are going without getting tired i dnt think size or age has anything to do with it if there is loads of walking involved a 3 year old is going to tire easily i think school age is pushing it a bit but uptill then i dnt see why not
like a pp said perhaps they was big kids my daughter is only 14 months old but she is so tall she takes 2-3 years clothes in some shops

 

[Seity]

When they can walk confidently on their own. We never really used our stroller because we found it easier to carry him and then when he started walking, he preferred to walk. So, he's been walking on his own since 14 months. By 18 months he could easily walk a mile. By 2 he could go 2-3 miles. If he gets tired. I'll carry him for a little while and then he'll walk again.
I'd probably bring one to a fair or the zoo or something just to have somewhere to hang the diaper bag.

 

[vintage67]

You never know what the reasons are. Best not to judge. Child could have a developmental issue or hyperactivity issue that would pose a safety risk.
Parents could be physcially unable to "run" if the child bolted and had to be chased. We are older parents of young children. We will be using whatever practical means that work for us to keep our children safe. My bad back can't support babywearing, so right now that means a stroller. When he's 3 or 4 and able to easily outrun me in a crowded area, you can be sure he'll be iin a stroller.