When should you stop putting kids in a stroller?

Question

My girls will be two and three next month and now is the time I usually start taking them for walks daily. Is three years old too old to be in a stroller?

Answer 1

i think it is personal preference , you know your child abilitys better then anyone , take the stroller along if they want in let them in if they want out let them out ....

Answer 2

I have a four year old and I always take a stroller as back up when I go to the mall or on a walk somewhere because she gets tired and wants to be carried. Everyone is different if you feel your child is to big for the stroller and she is fine with walking long distances then don't use the stroller. I still use a compact double stroller when I'm out. A wagon is also a good option.

Answer 3

Some people are very strange about picking up and carrying or strollering kids. They simply do not have the endurance we have and it's absurd to make them suffer.

On little walks around the neighborhood, no stroller needed - go at their pace and help them build endurance slowly. On big outings, to the zoo and such - they'll want to walk, then have the stroller as a back up. It will make it more pleasant for all of you.

For our firstborn, we had a stroller. For the second born, I was lucky enough to learn about slings. We got rid of the stroller. Kids want to walk when they have energy, they need to be held when they're tired. So, with a sling, lightweight fabric I can carry or wear, they are running when they have energy, and then I have a great, protective, portable carrier when they need to be held.

I was able to hold my 3 or 4 year old in the sling for the end of the visit walk back to the car at the zoo or on the way back on long hikes.

A three year old is not to old to be held or be in a stroller if they're tired. Meet and respect their needs - that's how you make them independent and strong. Give them the message that when they are just tired they are somehow lacking, somehow failing, somehow not good enough, and you wound them. There's no reason to hurt them that way.


This general attitude should inform our treatment of our children well beyond issues of little kids being tired after long walks.

Answer 4

If you are taking a long walk - i think it is fine to put them in a stroller up to age 5.... maybe get one of those cool 2 seater pull-wagons, so they can walk part of the time, and then just plop them in there when they whine that they are tired. You don't want to get stuck out on a walk with preschoolers whining that they are too tired and need to be held.... but it is also good for them to walk some. Yes... I think you need a wagon. I take my 3 year old to the park in one... he always has the energy to walk TO the park.... but after running and playing he is so tuckered out he won't walk all the way home. The one I have is called a "Radio Flyer Pathfinder Wagon" - I got it from Target. I think it was about 60 or 70 bucks. It is really cool and fits 2 kids great.

Answer 5

When they can walk. Yes, the 3 y/o is too old to be in a stroller. I stop putting my daughter in a stroller when she started walking (right before she turned 1). I started off by taking short walks ( 1 block) then increased the length of the walks. My daughter LOVED walking. When she turned 3 she started wanting to go back to being in a stroller. I told her the stroller is for babies and if she wanted to get in one we were going home. That always worked. She never wanted to go home.

Answer 6

My son is 4 and nevertheless sits interior the back of the grocery cart sometimes (under no circumstances a stroller anymore - he's long outgrown that). We stopped making use of the stroller with him via age 3 or so. My 2 3 hundred and sixty 5 days previous daughter nevertheless sits interior the front of the grocery cart and in a stroller on the mall.

Answer 7

Depends on where you are. If at a large park or have to walk a long way to get somewhere it might be easier to put them in a stroller but if a short walk then they could walk themselves. If its gonna be a long day then use the stroller and save yourself some whining.

Answer 8

It really depends on the child (and the weight limit of your stroller) - I don't think three is too old for the stroller. My son just turned 4, and I still will put him in the stroller occasionally.
Its really just a matter of when they physically outgrow a stroller.

Answer 9

If you are going for daily walks I would let both of your girls walk. It will be good exercise for them and it will help with any extra energy they might need to release. I wouldn't say that she is too old for the stroller but both of them are old enough to not ride in a stroller, as long as it isn't too far.

Answer 10

If that child can 'walk on two feet' it's time to take it out of the stroller! When my husband and I were watching our grandaughter, we got her 'out of the stroller' by the time she was 18 months old ... we bought her a little 'backpack' she could carry herself, and put a 'leash' on her so she couldn't escape, and just walked more slowly and let her 'look in windows and explore' ... and she would see an 'older kid' of three or four or six in a stroller and 'point' and LAUGH because she realized that she was 'bigger' than they were. So take BOTH of your daughters out of their stroller, and walk a bit more slowly ... you will ALL appreciate it and you (the mom and dad) will find out that you will 'learn' a lot more about your children if they are 'walking beside you' and feel 'grown up' because they will 'talk more' and expect you to 'understand' ...

Answer 11

It just depends on how wild your kids are. My son still uses a stroller when we go shopping and stuff. If we didn't use a stroller or cart we would lose him. But if your lucky enough to have a kids who don't run off then let them walk.