Too Old for a Stroller?

I sold my stroller when my daughter was two. Kids need to walk regularly to build up stamina, start with short stretches and let them become longer and longer.
My daughter is now almost 4 and easily walks 4 miles (running and skipping for most of it).
I still have a jogging stroller but we are now transitioning her to riding her bike beside me. I think a stroller at that age should be the exception, maybe if you're going for a day hike or a day at Disneyland.
Getting her to walk more is part of teaching healthy habits: humans are born to walk/run and sitting around all day in cars/at home is bad for us! Establishing early in childhood that walking is the way we get around will get her set up for a more active adult life.
Good luck!

If she's happy riding and you're happy pushing then other people need to mind their business. You don't fix what ain't broke! lol

Whatever made life easy worked for me, as far as the stroller goes. We used it for shopping, airports, etc. until he couldn't fit anymore. Why drag a child around walking and tired when they are happy as clams in the stroller with a drink, snack or toy?

I don't understand why someone would comment about something like that. Don't you just want to tell them to mind their own beeswax?!

The only problem I would see is if your child became lazy from always being in the stroller. I had a SIL that would always push her son and he never had to walk. She either drove him or pushed. When he was 5, a block was too far for him and she would actually drive the 1 1/2 blocks to school. At 7, his step dad threw out the stroller because he got tired of it.

Push her as long as it works for you,. My daughter is 3 1/2 almost and sometimes it is very tempting to pull it out and use it. A friend bought a wagon when her MIL had a fit about her 3 yr old in a stroller. For some reasona wagon is fine but a stroller is wrong. Never understood that one.

I agree that 3 is too old for a stroller unless you are in a very crowded area,walking/jogging exercise or vacation I quit using mine right around 21/2 by 3 mine have went to preschool for a few hrs./days a week & putting them in a stroller just doesn't feel right to me they look too big to be in one,plus they need to learn to or should have laready learned to stay by our side & not run off by age 3 anyway.

Yikes at 3 I always had a stroller with me. At 4 it depends on the situation. Mall no, day at the fair - for sure.

I don't think she is too old for a stroller. I think once they turn 4 that is to the age where they shouldn't need one anymore. She could start riding a trike to the park if you wanted.

I think it depends what your doing... When I walk our dog, my almost 3 y/o must be in the stroller. I don't know about your kid, but my child stops at every stick, bug and blade of grass. Poor doggie (and mommy) don't burn ANY energy, and seriously it can take us over 1 hour to go around our block. I stick child in the stroller and we've gone around 2 times in 25 mins! BTW, we do a second walk with the dog after dinner and I let her walk this time. ;)
Going to a theme park, YES, you need a stroller. Our little kids get tired! If I go to the mall and need to try clothes on, YES I bring it, otherwise she'd be all over the place and I couldn't get anything. But, if I'm going to the mall just to browse and walk around, then no, I don't use the stroller.
Don't worry what other people tell you. You know your kid... do what works for you. I'm sure you won't be pushing your kids around when their 13.

I think it depends. My 3 yr old (newly minted) still sometimes rolls in a stroller. If we are at the fair or in the city I might bring the umbrella stroller because she's not going to keep up all day. But if we're just out and about, I tend to leave it home or in the car. I would keep encouraging her to walk when you can. Maybe push the stroller some and feel like a big girl doing it (my DD loves to push the stroller).

Also, is your DD bigger than average? They may think she's older than she is. My DD is smaller, so people think she shouldn't do the things she can.

Rediculous. She's fine. If you're walking really far, why torture her and yourself? Sometimes it's just easier on everyone to do a stroller, especially if your time is limited, if you have stuff to carry, etc. It's convenience. Those people can just bugger off. :P

My daughyer is 4 and the lightweight umbrella stroller stays in the trunk. Yes she can walk but she gets tired and she is heavy and im not carrying her! Period! We went to get my sons hs schedule for school and she has a summer cold since tuesday and not feeling well with the combo of all those people, oh yes! Break out that stroller! Who cares what someone else says. If it works for you, do it!

I will use my stroller as long as my son fits in it. And it's more for my convenience than his (place to put my drink, bags, purse, etc.) and he can have a ride if he wants. He is free to get in and out as he pleases, but I like to have the stroller. And I don't care what other people think about it. :)

So I say do what works for you, and everyone else is free to do the same! And I'd tell them so, if they felt obliged to comment on my stroller usage. "You don't have to use one, but we like ours." Enough said.

Totally fine. We actually went to the zoo yesterday & I didn't bring a stroller for my almost 4 year old. It wasn't bad but we ended up taking turns carrying her. I didn't even think about bringing one but for a lot of walking, it would have saved my back had I brought one. If her feet are dragging on the ground, then she may be too big. Who cares what others think anyways. Kids are only little once.

We gave up ours for daily use at about 20 months and stopped taking it to the airport at 24 months. At 3 my son could walk as far (not as fast) as an adult - he does our entire zoo, could keep up at the airport, etc. It's way healthier for her to walk (although pushing the stroller certainly is good exercise).

My husband used to tell me that, so I made him carry her. If it was just us, I would still take the stroller. As long as she fit in it comfortably and her feet didnt drag the ground, I didn't see a problem with it. I stopped using it when she would try and get in and out of it constantly. For instance, Ive got my purse and thier little bag hanging off the back and she would see something cool and stand up and plop, over would fall the stroller.

I think you know your child best. Our daughter did great out of a stroller after she turned 2. She held my hand, she kept up.

Also it is hot here most of the year and she is hot natured so the stroller was too warm for her. She asked to walk and we areed as long as she help our hands at all times.

My thought is anyone who wants to criticize can carry the child for me. If the critic is not a family member or friend that I would allow to carry the child they can keep the comment to themselves. In my family we never did get a double stroller and my son is 2 years and 9 months older than my daughter. It was kind of a good test if we should be done with an outing when he was too tired to go any further on foot. My daughter turned 4 earlier in the summer and occasionally on long walks we still use the stroller because her brother can go a lot further than she is comfortable with at times. Again, ignore the critics or enlist their help

Do what you need to do for your daughter. I think its fine if she needs to----I just don't like seeing 5 and 6 year olds in the stroller when they are strong enough and big enough to walk. 3 is still small and young. Don't worry about comments---they are not her parent- you are~

M

No, she's not to old at all! My little one is almost 4 and is still in a stroller that she can get in and out of as she wants.

If your daughter will sit in a stroller I guess you can use it. By 3, my kids wanted to be out of it far more than in it. I'm not sure how far away your park is, but my kids could walk to the park and back at 3. The more exercise they get the better they sleep and the healthier they are. If she really needs it then ok, but if you are using it for your convenience ( to be more efficient getting places instead of letting her learn how to get places when walking with others or to avoid having to teach her crossing the street rules or to have a stoller to keep snacks/jackets etc. instead of using a backpack yourself) then I suggest you stop using it. You are not doing her any favors. If you choose to quit the stoller, do it in stages. Go to a few more places without it. Then add more places without it. Regarding the park, give your child a rest period at the park before heading home. Stop and sit on the curb a few minutes on the way home if needed. Do the park at her most active times, not close to nap time. Make sure she has a healthy snack at the park to keep her energy up as well. Whatever you choose, good luck!

My 5 and 3 year old still sit in the double stroller. If it's somewhere close or a regular outing, then they can walk, but if I'm going to the mall or zoo or something with lots of walking all day, then they go in the stroller.

I just recently stopped using the stroller for my 4 year old at the mall. If I didn't then he would get into everything and run off and I am totally against those leash things. But the last few times, he has been walking and has done great. So I think he is ready to walk full time now. 3 is not too old to be in a stroller. Their little legs get tired after a while

My daughter had just turned 7 yrs old when we went to Disney with a stroller. I really don't care what people think or say:) My daughter loved her stroller and it was convenient for us to have her in it. Additionally it gave us a place to put our stuff.

Both my kids were not in strollers at that age.
They liked to walk.
BUT... if we were going someplace that was crowded or that we would be on our feet a LONG time or walking, we brought the stroller for our child, in case they got tired or worn out.
We'd just use an umbrella stroller at that point and age.
Not a regular stroller.

My 4yr old neice still strollers. She can walk just fine but sometimes she gets tired & just wants to ride...its also so handy for stashing stuff in when shes not in it! I say stroller on as long as you want

It depends on the child. My ADHD girl was done with it as soon as she could walk!
I think they are officially "too old" when they obviously don't fit in it anymore, but that's just my opinion :)

as long as she fits into it i would say okay. 3 year olds dont have the stamina for super long walks, especially the park where she is going to be playing and get all tuckered out. Ignore the people who say she is too old. strollers are vital in some places and events, like to the park or zoo or a childrens musuem etc...

I usually stop around 3, that seems to be when they have the stamina to keep up, unless we're doing a long day excursion like Disneyland where they will tire out. It really depends, though, I have seen some hefty, lazy kids who expect and demand to be strolled around when they're already in school, hmmmmmm, but depending on the situation a 3 or even a small 4 year old is fine.

I would just thank people for their opinion, smile, and say, "I really don't mind!" and walk away. You're doing the pushing, not them.

I don't know how old is too old per se, but my youngest is 3 1/2 and I got rid of the strollers at a yard sale shortly after she turned 2. We never used it, as soon as my kids were walking, they walked everywhere! IMHO, it's really good exercise for them to be walking and not in the stroller. Yes you may have to go at a slower pace, but it's worth the sacrifice.

My son transitioned from a stroller to my old Radio Flyer wagon around 2-2.5 years old. Then he still could walk and jump in for a ride for when he got tired.

Get a jogging stroller if you do not have one already. They accomdate up to fifty pounds.I would not worry about hte comments. They will not have to carry her. The only person it should suit is you. My son is four and if we are walking alot he goes in a stroller. If we go to any store he goes in the shopping cart. I do not want him getting into things in the store and I do not want to hear him whine he tired and then have to carry them. Bottom line they can kiss your tush if they do not like it.

Those people are wrong. 3 years old is fine to still be in a stroller. Even a few years older is still fine.

My six year old daughter used a stroller until her sister was born. She was five when we stopped using one. I do NOT think three is to old (or four or five.) Granted, when we were just going for a walk, I'd have her walk a mile or two, but if we were going to be gone on some trip all day we would take the stroller.

Use the stroller! Why do people think it's their business to tell you anything? I just can't get over that. :)

I went to disneyland. My son will be going into the 3rd grade. And he is really tall of his age. He have a stroller for my daughter. Just brought at night in case they got tired. My son didn't really fit. But he was so tired. he fell asleep in it. I don't care. It's better than carring a 70 pound kid. But they have stollers for older kids. where it is reversed where they can stand up or sit toward you. But I did get rid of our strollers around age 4 for my daughter. she usually rides her bike to the school. or walks. but on long walking trips. my husband would carry her if she got tired. my son would walk but around 7pm he just just dead beat tired.

Three is too old? Nah.

Every year I go to Great America with a friend and her kids. She always has brought her stroller -- first for her son years ago, and most recently to just pile things on like jackets, water bottles, etc. Her son actually rode in the stupid thing up until last summer. He was in 3rd grade and big for his age. Imagine how dumb that looked!

I say you are the parent, its your child and therefore your choice. In my opinion the child is too old for a stroller when they obviously don't fit comfortably anymore. I think 3 yrs old in a stroller is perfectly fine. I think my son was close to 4 before we gave up on the stroller altogether. I hated to see it go because, he hated to shop with me at the mall and at least in the stroller he could "sit". LOL I say you do what you feel comfortable with and if you get comments from other people, just remind them that is their opinion and no two people parent the same way. :) Oh and have a nice day. LOL
Good Luck.

I can't believe people voiced their opinion on this. Who do they think they are to have an opinion on what you do or don't do with your child? My nearly 4 1/2 year old still uses his stroller. We walk 6 miles into town and back and because its my exercise for the day I want to move faster than his little legs will carry him. I will continue to use it as long as I feel like it. As long as your child isn't sedentary and is getting plenty of exercise elsewhere, you use your stroller for as long as you like. It's for you to decide when she's too big for it. x

it depends on what you are doing... if you are walking several miles... I think a stroller is a good idea... if you are just cruising the mall, maybe not. My daughter is 2.5 and if we are going on a walk for exercise, she goes in the stroller. We cant walk miles at her pace, and it is unfair to expect her to walk at ours, or the distance we plan to walk.

I think at 6 or 7 kids are too old for a stroller (at any time with the possible exception of places like Disneyland when you may be walking for hours and hours) before that, it depends on what is going on. I do think kids should be encouraged to walk most of the time though!

-M.

I'm glad to see that you've gotten some encouraging responses, and I just wanted to add that my son will be 5 in a couple months, and we still use the double stroller. He usually prefers to walk, but we all like having the jump seat as an option for him (mall, long walks, day trip, etc). It's also really helpful when we travel because he can sit while we walk through the airport, and I don't have to worry about where he is :)

i used a stroller at age five for long walks.
I just went to an amusement/water park and thought WHere will I keep towels and snacks and water?? so we dug out the stroller from the shed and took it!

First of all, it's your kid so & it's not an ethical or moral issue, so do whatever the heck you wanna do. Second of all, a stroller is used for transporting children at any age, as long as they fit properly. So stroll away, mama!!

I don't think there's any cut-off for using strollers. As long as the child fits comfortably, use it. Strollers are for use when walking too far or too fast for the child to keep up. Even though a child can walk, their legs are short and their muscles not completely developed and walking long distances or at a fast pace can be difficult. Who cares what others think! If you want and need to use a stroller, go for it!

No not at all some kids get tired easy and its best to have the stroller just in case, i know my son is to heavy to carry lol

I do not think she is too old at all. I have 4 kids and for my younger three age 5,4 & 1 I use a stroller at times. When we are going to the busy mall we will put the 5 & 4 year old in the double stroller and the 1 year old is still in the infant carseat with his stroller. Most of the time my kids will walk but I use the stroller as needed for quick trips or where there will be alot of walking.

A friend of mine just spent a week at Disney World they took the umbrella stroller for their recently turned 5 year old. They told her this was her last trip with the stroller, but I am sure it made their trip more enjoyable. They were not having to carry her around and they didn't have to listen to the complaining of her legs hurting or being too tired to walk. When she started in they told her to hop in the stroller for a ride.

I do find most of the time my kids choose to walk over the stroller.

That's silly of folks to say. My 4 year old will still rest in the stroller for long walks. The strollers have weight limits, sometimes up 65 lbs on the double strollers. Obviously the weight limits imply older kids can still use. Don't worry about the "back-seat" mommies. If your kid likes it and the stroller can handle their weight, it's fine :)

My daughter would walk at this point most of the time, but id use a shopping cart seat, or "little car" at the mall...and my oldest even though she was tall used the racing stroller till 4 1/2 when i wanted to run or rollerblade....

its really up to you

We stopped using a stroller when each of my girls turned 3. We get Cedar Point passes every year so for my oldest we bought a wagon to use for Cedar Point. But we ended up only using it a couple times. With my youngest we never used the wagon at Cedar Point.

Anywhere else we went, the girls walked.

Now my niece, on the other hand, used a stroller for her boys at Cedar Point until they were at least 6, if not 7. Her oldest is 6 months older than my oldest dd.

For me, it makes sense that if your child still takes a daily nap, then your child may still be in need of a stroller. How many times has my daughter (she'll be 3 next month) fallen asleep on our way back from ____________(park, coffee shop, zoo, grocery store, etc.)? So, it's nice to have the stroller. I wasn't even thinking of ditching that thing until she's closer to 4!

Not too old at all. my 2.5 yr old will probably still be in a stroller when we go places that have a lot of walking until she can longer fit confortably into the stroller just in case she gets tired this way me or dad doesnt have to carry her

I think only you know what your daughter needs and doesn't need. My daughter was three when my son was born, and I bought one of those strollers with the platform on the back that she could sit or stand on. I used that for years. I would use it to go to the park and to walk around the mall, etc. She was tiny, and her little legs got tired quickly trying to keep up with us adults. If she gets her exercise running around, I don't see anything wrong with using the stroller to make your trip to and from easier for both of you.

I don't think 3yrs old is too old. My kids were walking on a regular basis and NOT using the stroller probably at the age of 4yrs. IF they were in a stroller, it would ONLY be when I wanted a good work out. Pushing a stroller w/a heavy child in it can really get you in great shape!

I think it depends on where you are. 3 is old enough to start being a little more independent and for learning to stay with mom at the store or park, but if you are taking a long walk, shopping all day at the mall, or doing a theme park or zoo, I would use the stroller at that age too. For those types of things, if she does start to get too big, you can also use a wagon.

No, that's ridiculous people have said that. My son is 3 and I don't think I could go to the mall or a zoo or any place like that without one! He would just wander away, and I'd end up having to carry him. If fact, the one I have is so awful, I've thought about getting a new umbrella stroller, even though I don't think he'll be using it for a long time.

My youngest just turned five, and I occasianally use the stroller at amusement parks, zoo, etc. I bring it along and when he gets tired, he gets in (and might fall asleep). WIth that said, I have brought the stroller on some occasions, and the only thing in it was our sweatshirts and a backpack full of snacks and water. Either way, it is a back saver. Also, we went to Disney World/Universal Studios last year for six days. After one full day at one of the park, we decide to rent one of the large stroller for when my seven year old got tired. He could rest while we still walked, so we still got through everything we wanted to see and ride.

It depends. Certainly, there are times you may still want to use a stroller. However, are you using it at times when she could, and maybe should, be walking? How far is the park you go to? We found that the grandkids and daycare kids were more ready to get out and walk than we were to let them. All of them have been walking places a lot since they were 18 months old. We usually walk about a mile with them every day... not including the running around they do once they get to the park. The park is just around the corner from our house, but we take the long way to get there, stroll through the neigborhood and just enjoy the time together. It's different, too, if you're walking with a destination in mind and just walking quickly to get there. Those are times when the stroller may be important.
Gauge your trips, and decide when it's a good idea to let her just walk and when you do need the stroller. Then don't worry about what other people think. It's kinda like a friend of mine said one time when an older lady reprimanded her for the way she was dealing with her sassy teen in a store... "If you don't like the way I'm doing it, do you want to take her and raise her yourself?" Not that I'd advise actually saying that to someone, but you sure might be thinking it!

It's really no one else's business! That being said, I agree with those who say walking is great exercise and doing it builds stamina. My girls both stopped using a stroller at 2 1/2. We go to the mall, the zoo, and long walks all the time. A stroller would be SO much more convenient (I miss it for the storage alone), but walking is healthy, as is learning proper boundaries (ie, we don't play in clothing racks, etc). We went to Disneyland last year and the girls were 3 1/2 and 5 1/2...we were there from open (9:00) to close (8:30) and they walked the entire time all 3 days we were there. Such little rockstars! =)

My daugher was done with the stroller before age 3. My son was 3. I didn't go anyplace that required a stroller on my own, and if my husband was along, he'd just shoulder the small kid. We never went to malls.

One? I kept my son in the stroller until about 3 1/2 when he got too big to fit in it!