What age were they done with a stroller?

[confustication]

I babywear whenever I can- and while I have a stroller, I really don't use it much.

A friend and I want to take a day trip together, and she wants to make sure I bring a double stroller for my kids because it's a hassle if I don't. (?) My 2 yo walks most of the time, though he does tire quickly- he loves to be worn when that happens. My 1 yo is still not walking and is worn most of the time when we are out. I don't have a problem wearing both at once.

I don't *have* a double stroller.. and I don't have the money to buy one. Is this really a 'hill to die on' so to speak?

FWIW, the friend is planning to bring her stroller for her 5.5 year old. We will be walking some, but not more than about a mile at a time- at most. My 2 yo has done many 1+ mile hikes. If he tires, I usually just slow down and let him explore until he is ready to move on.

(The trip is to a nearby city to go to the childrens' museum and to deliver some community donations to the Domestic Violence program there as well as to do a 'family meet and greet' thing they throw for employees and volunteers- very kid friendly, bounce houses etc.)

Point two is that- is either of us brings a stroller, we have to take two vehicles instead of one as the donations will not fit with the stroller. The city is about 300 miles away, while taking two vehicles could work, it seems odd to me to do so unnecessarily.

[gbailey]

I think if you're comfortable without the stroller don't bring it. You seem to be doing fine with carrying and letting your little one take a rest and explore when tired out.

I stopped baby wearing a couple of months ago because DD was just too heavy and even in my Ergo my back was always sore. We use the stroller but less and less because she prefers to walk.

Personally, I don't want her to be 5.5 and being pushed in a stroller.

[confustication]

My 2 yo would prefer to be worn more, but as long as we stop here and there if he tires, he does just fine. The combined 50-60 lbs of kid when I wear both makes for great strength training. I suspect that once my 1yo walks well- he will not want to be worn at all- it's just his personality. I also suspect/know that my older son will need to be worn here and there for years to come because he has very low core strength and muscle tone.
\Mine will tolerate a stroller for very brief periods of time, but after about 10 minutes they squirm and try to get out.

[gbailey]

Originally Posted by confustication

My 2 yo would prefer to be worn more, but as long as we stop here and there if he tires, he does just fine. The combined 50-60 lbs of kid when I wear both makes for great strength training. I suspect that once my 1yo walks well- he will not want to be worn at all- it's just his personality. I also suspect/know that my older son will need to be worn here and there for years to come because he has very low core strength and muscle tone.
\Mine will tolerate a stroller for very brief periods of time, but after about 10 minutes they squirm and try to get out.

That's great and I love that you carry them both!

[freestylemama]

If you don't think you'll need one, don't take one.

My only concern is whether you'll be in a big city with big, busy street corners and if so, can you carry both kids to make sure they get across safely?

I'm pretty pro-stroller, but that's because we need one with our life style. My 3 yo still goes in the stroller regularly. We live in an urban area and only have one car. My back can't take her 35lbs and whatever bag (books, groceries, etc) we're carrying. She definitely rides more in the stroller now than when she was tiny and easily worn. I usually let her walk or push the empty stroller, but she almost always needs it during an outing. This summer, I had a bunch of people comment that she was "too old" for the stroller. I didn't take one on a trip to the library and regretted it so much on the walk home. I'm also still really reluctant to allow her to walk across the very busy street we have to cross.

[tallulahma]

i can wear my 2.5yo and 10mo old at the same time when necessary... but I dont know if I would want to all day... like on a day trip.

she probably means that she is going to want to walk faster than a 2yo tends to walk... and maybe doesnt want to have to stop as often as you might have to.

but she should probably just say that. lol.

when we go into the city to museums and such we always bring the double stroller. but I have 3 kids. My 5 year old gets tired after a couple hours of walking. She might only jump in and sit down for a little while, but the times we have gone on a day long trip without the stroller she complains about her feet getting tired after about 3-4 hours of walking/standing.

my 5 year old can hike her little heart out... 3miles isnt a problem. But day trip/sight seeing, etc can include lots of standing around... which is different to her.

nak

[ellemenope]

Unless we are going to be logging miles and miles (like when we take the subway into the city and just walk around all day) we never break out the stroller. We use the ergo or nothing for trips to the mall etc. She has always had a hard time staying in the stroller.

However, in the last few weeks DD (2.25) has been so interested in the stroller (BOB) that we have just been walking around the block with her in it for no reason but to do the stroller. So, I would have said she was done a couple of weeks ago, but now the stroller seems to have become really novel to her.

But, you should do whatever you want. Don't let someone tell you you have to have a double stroller. I think you need to show her how its done!

[tallulahma]

Originally Posted by freestylemama

If you don't think you'll need one, don't take one.

My only concern is whether you'll be in a big city with big, busy street corners and if so, can you carry both kids to make sure they get across safely?

I'm pretty pro-stroller, but that's because we need one with our life style. My 3 yo still goes in the stroller regularly. We live in an urban area and only have one car. My back can't take her 35lbs and whatever bag (books, groceries, etc) we're carrying. She definitely rides more in the stroller now than when she was tiny and easily worn. I usually let her walk or push the empty stroller, but she almost always needs it during an outing. This summer, I had a bunch of people comment that she was "too old" for the stroller. I didn't take one on a trip to the library and regretted it so much on the walk home. I'm also still really reluctant to allow her to walk across the very busy street we have to cross.

same here.

to go anywhere we are walking at least a 3mile round trip...the park/library/store... they are always fine on the way there and i push an empty stroller... but after a few hours at the library or park?

its like herding cats. tired, cranky cats.

[DevaMajka]

Ds1 was 3 or 4 before he'd walk any distance without wanting to be in a stroller at some point.

If it were me, I'd take an umbrella stroller (they fold up quite compact). But if you are comfortable not taking one, then there ya go.

[confustication]

Hm, maybe I will see if I can borrow an umbrella stroller from someone just in case. I know I can carry DS 2 all day without a problem. DS 1 likes to walk, but if he is very tired- the herding cats analogy may kick in.

I should also qualify that 'city' here is relative. Just under 100K people.

[crunchy_mommy]

Originally Posted by confustication

If he tires, I usually just slow down and let him explore until he is ready to move on.

I imagine this is what she feels the "hassle" would be? Maybe she just doesn't want to be slowly wandering around. Some people can't stand to walk at a distracted toddler's pace. But I certainly wouldn't go out & buy a stroller just for this occasion, that seems silly, just tell her you don't have a double stroller & if has an issue with it you'd be happy to split up & meet back at the car later or something.

Anyway, I hate strollers. Despise them. Not so much because I'm against kids riding in them (though I do prefer for my DS to walk) but because I just feel they are so big & awkward and slow me down too much and then you end up at the bottom of a huge flight of stairs with no ramp and trying to carry a toddler (who doesn't want to ride in the stroller) while pulling the thing up the stairs.... OK I'm being a bit dramatic but you get my point.

So we have a small stroller that I've used maybe 5 times since DS was born. And I don't think even ONCE he stayed in it, and it was always just a huge pain for me. I'd really rather give him lots of opportunities to walk anyway. The only time it makes any sense to me is when you're taking a fast-paced walk/jog around the block or something. For errands and activities and events it's just annoying to deal with. But if you don't share my disdain for the thing, and can come across a cheap one, go for it. Or get one as a donation to the shelter & just use it yourself until you drop it off??

[globe-trotter]

I don't even own a stroller. LOL I would see WHY she thinks you HAVE to have one and go from there.

[confustication]

So- I called to ask more specifics about her concerns. I kind of wish I hadn't.

She doesn't want people to think she is weird because I babywear. She thinks it is weird and mean to the kids to 'tie them on like a bag'.


She has some major challenges with having to fit into the mainstream culture in many ways, but I didn't know that her fears went so far as to make her uncomfortable being with someone who is a little crunchy around the edges.

Blech. I feel icky about the whole exchange.

[crunchy_mommy]

Awww I was thinking it just seemed inconvenient to her... I'm so sorry that she's... embarrassed... about babywearing, How did you respond?

[limabean]

Originally Posted by confustication

So- I called to ask more specifics about her concerns. I kind of wish I hadn't.

She doesn't want people to think she is weird because I babywear. She thinks it is weird and mean to the kids to 'tie them on like a bag'.


She has some major challenges with having to fit into the mainstream culture in many ways, but I didn't know that her fears went so far as to make her uncomfortable being with someone who is a little crunchy around the edges.

Blech. I feel icky about the whole exchange.

Whoa. I was all ready to be sympathetic to her, thinking it would be tough to walk a full mile at a 2yo's pace, but this is really hurtful. I'm sorry she said that to you.

The mean part of me would want to say, "I'd actually be embarrassed to be seen pushing a double stroller."

[earthmama369]

DD was done with the stroller by the time she was 2.5. She was also doing several-mile hikes by that point. She's got a lot of energy and a lot of stamina. DS is 4 and still uses a stroller occasionally. He's just got a different level of stamina and walking isn't really his "thing."

[earthmama369]

I missed the part where she wants you to bring a stroller for *your* kids. That's pretty weird. I've never had a friend try to dictate how I travel with my kids. I would be ok with someone saying "you might want to bring some kind of stroller or carrier because we're going to be going pretty far/fast," but it seems really pushy to tell you specifically what to bring.

[confustication]

http://www.mothering.com/discussions/clear.gif

Originally Posted by limabean

Whoa. I was all ready to be sympathetic to her, thinking it would be tough to walk a full mile at a 2yo's pace, but this is really hurtful. I'm sorry she said that to you.

The mean part of me would want to say, "I'd actually be embarrassed to be seen pushing a double stroller."

I would love to say that, I wouldn't, but I want to!

I'm feeling pretty bummed by the whole exchange, but I'm trying to remember that it is her hangup- not mine. I'll try to find a way to make things work for her because- goodness knows why, but because that's what I do.

[starling&diesel]

Originally Posted by confustication

So- I called to ask more specifics about her concerns. I kind of wish I hadn't.

She doesn't want people to think she is weird because I babywear. She thinks it is weird and mean to the kids to 'tie them on like a bag'.


She has some major challenges with having to fit into the mainstream culture in many ways, but I didn't know that her fears went so far as to make her uncomfortable being with someone who is a little crunchy around the edges.

Blech. I feel icky about the whole exchange.

If I were you, I'd feel so icky about the exchange that I would cancel the outing. I think I'd say something along the lines of, "It seems that this trip is getting to be more complicated than I'm comfortable with, so let's cancel it, okay?" See where she takes it from there.

[freestylemama]

Oh my gosh. That's horrible. I hope you guys run into lots of baby wearing parents on your trip. If that's the only reason why and you're cool without a stroller, I would totally not take one. I'm kind of contrary like that though.