What is reasonable to expect - stroller

[Yooper]

My dd is 4+ yo. I use a stroller quite a bit with her still. She can walk up to one mile but at a very slow and meandering pace. I walk as my sole form of exercise. I typically walk 3-4 miles a day and that takes about 1-1.5 hours. I also usually do not have a car and use these walks to do my errands. Most of the errands I do are 1+ miles from my house (one way) so still out of range for dd's walking comfort. Dd is still happy with the arrangement. She has books on tape that she listens to on her walkman and I usually bring a snack too. She is small child and still fits in our jogging stroller although this will probably be the last winter that she will fit comfortably with the wind/rain cover. I am thinking forward to summer and realize that if I keep this up, I will have an almost 5 yo in a stroller!

Does this seem unreasonable to anyone? If she is happy and I am happy, is there anything "wrong" with having a 5 yo in a stroller? And if not, is there some age in which I should put an end to it?

FTR, we also usually take daily shorter walks without the stroller. These walks have no purpose other than exploring, exercise for dd, or getting to the park/friends. So it is not as if she never gets to walk anywhere without the stroller.

I also have the bigger question for btdt parents of what to do when dd is no longer in the stroller. For car-free parents, how to you do errands, like grocery shop, to places 2+ miles round trip with a small child? I am confident that dd could walk that far but the pace kills me! I cannot spend the entire afternoon on it nor am I too keen on meandering along with 25 pounds of melting groceries on my back. I was thinking that many parents make this work with the child biking, but we walk on very steep city streets with no sidewalks. It is not very bike friendly, even for adults. And of course, we need to eat, library books need to be returned, and the bills have to be mailed even when it is raining and snowing

And exercise is a whole other issue.....

[mamazee]

I think whatever works for you and her is fine, and if she gets too big you could use a wagon, though pulling a wagon behind is harder than pushing a stroller.

[thismama]

I think it's fine! People who get weirded out are used to car culture. I drive a lot myself, but apart from that either DD walks (which yes is painstakingly slow and meandering), I push her in the stroller, or I bike with her in the bike trailer. If you want actual exercise, you need to get her pace up to match yours. I think a stroller is a great way to do that.

[Best Feeling]

I don't see a problem with it at all. I think it's awesome that you walk everywhere

[zeldamomma]

Is there public transit you could use to get your melting groceries home?

I wouldn't push a 5 year old in a stroller for errands. A 5 year old is capable of walking at a reasonable, non-meandering pace. If your lifestyle involves a lot of walking, I would begin phasing out the stroller now.

My kids were able to walk 2 miles roundtrip at age 3, though we live in a flat area. I think a 5 year old is capable of the amount of walking you're talking about, though you both may need to adjust your pace somewhat (her to stay on task, and you to allow for her shorter legs).

I might push a 5 year old in a stroller just for exercise, but I would prefer to find a method of exercising that lets her exercise at the same time.

ZM

[thismama]

But how is riding on a bus more exercise than riding in a stroller?

[mamazee]

And why is the fact that most 5-year-olds are "capable" of walking mean that she *should* walk?

[thismama]

They aren't capable of walking in a forward direction at a non-sanity-inducing pace, that's for sure.

[Best Feeling]

Originally Posted by zeldamomma

I might push a 5 year old in a stroller just for exercise, but I would prefer to find a method of exercising that lets her exercise at the same time.

ZM

It sounds to me like they are getting exercise in other ways too. This is just one part of their day.

[rmzbm]

I see nothing wrong with it & it kind of boggles my mind that anyone else could.

[Yooper]

Originally Posted by zeldamomma

Is there public transit you could use to get your melting groceries home?

I wouldn't push a 5 year old in a stroller for errands. A 5 year old is capable of walking at a reasonable, non-meandering pace. If your lifestyle involves a lot of walking, I would begin phasing out the stroller now.

My kids were able to walk 2 miles roundtrip at age 3, though we live in a flat area. I think a 5 year old is capable of the amount of walking you're talking about, though you both may need to adjust your pace somewhat (her to stay on task, and you to allow for her shorter legs).

I might push a 5 year old in a stroller just for exercise, but I would prefer to find a method of exercising that lets her exercise at the same time.

ZM

We do not have public transit We do have cabs and I do use them when necessary but I could not afford to use them for every errand.

Dd is definately capable of walking to the places I go, just not in a timely fashion. I have long legs and tend to walk very fast. I do not see her being able to keep a reasonable pace anytime soon. Plus she really does not enjoy walks unless she can stop and smell every_single_rose In the winter (5 months of the year here), I *do* think it is unreasonable to ask her to walk that far in bulky clothing and boots.

But you are right, our lifestyle does involve a lot of walking and getting her more and more used to long walks is something I should put more effort into. I guess I am struggling with where the line is between getting what I want and need (exercise and errands) and honoring what is reasonable for dd.

[Yooper]

Originally Posted by thismama

They aren't capable of walking in a forward direction at a non-sanity-inducing pace, that's for sure.

You said it!!!!

[zeldamomma]

Originally Posted by mamazee

And why is the fact that most 5-year-olds are "capable" of walking mean that she *should* walk?

Because its healthy and gives her an age-appropriate amount of responsibility for herself during the errand (kids in strollers can be completely mentally checked-out). Riding a bus and then walking is inherently more exercise than sitting in a stroller for the entire errand.

Zooper asked for opinions. I gave mine. I appreciate that your is different.

ZM

[Yooper]

Originally Posted by rmzbm

I see nothing wrong with it & it kind of boggles my mind that anyone else could.

One big reason I started this thread was because I have been getting more and more "isn't she too old to be in a stroller" comments. I really do not give a rip what other people think about it. But I am looking to find a way to get from here (stroller rides almost every day) to there (dd walking herself everywhere) without going insane, getting all of our needs met, getting exercise for both of us, and keeping dd happy and comfortable. I seem to be stuck at "here" and cannot figure how and when to start moving to "there".

[zeldamomma]

Originally Posted by Yooper

We do not have public transit We do have cabs and I do use them when necessary but I could not afford to use them for every errand.

Ah, in that case I'd use a stroller, especially while she's still 4.

ZM

[mamazee]

Originally Posted by Yooper

One big reason I started this thread was because I have been getting more and more "isn't she too old to be in a stroller" comments. I really do not give a rip what other people think about it. But I am looking to find a way to get from here (stroller rides almost every day) to there (dd walking herself everywhere) without going insane, getting all of our needs met, getting exercise for both of us, and keeping dd happy and comfortable. I seem to be stuck at "here" and cannot figure how and when to start moving to "there".

I bet at some point she'll simply refuse to sit in a stroller, and "there" you will be.

[4evermom]

I'm getting a lot less exercise since ds got too big for our jogging stroller. He rode in it until he was turning 5. He still napped at that age so he might have been fine walking someplace but not home again.

You can buy those insulated bags to help with the melting grocery issue. You can also get one of those wheeled folding grocery carts.

[4evermom]

Originally Posted by Yooper

One big reason I started this thread was because I have been getting more and more "isn't she too old to be in a stroller" comments.

Just ask them if they are offering to buy you a car or babysit while you go work out.

[Yooper]

Originally Posted by zeldamomma

Because its healthy and gives her an age-appropriate amount of responsibility for herself during the errand (kids in strollers can be completely mentally checked-out). Riding a bus and then walking is inherently more exercise than sitting in a stroller for the entire errand.

Zooper asked for opinions. I gave mine. I appreciate that your is different.

ZM

I agree that children walking is healthy for them in many ways.

The bus is not an option as we do not have one.

And the more I think about it, this is more about the exercise walks rather than errands. Technically, I could do all of the errands in the evenings and weekends when I can use dh's car. I just happen to walk right past many of these places while on my fitness walk that it is easy to kill two birds with one stone. And it opens up the weekends and evenings for family fun rather than errands. Not to mention better for the environment. But really this is about the fitness. I seem to physically and spiritually need daily outdoor fitness time and I do not see that need going away anytime soon. I just cannot seem to figure out how to continue my walking for fitness habit once dd is too big/old for the stroller yet not fast enough or agreeable to walking those distances herself.

[Yooper]

Originally Posted by mamazee

I bet at some point she'll simply refuse to sit in a stroller, and "there" you will be.

That day may never come. She loves riding in the stroller. However, she will outgrow the cover by next winter and then I will be "there". I am just afraid "there" means forfeiting my walks