22.5.15

Mama rant: How old is too old for a stroller?

Both my children are pretty tall for their age and their speech is quite developed, so they are frequently mistaken for being older than their years ( or year in Rufie's case!). My daughter is three but she is the average height of a five year old and since before her second birthday, I have consistently received negative comments from people about her using a buggy. I mean back then we were talking about a toddler here who hadn't even been walking for twelve months at the time! Those people were always shocked when I replied telling them how old she actually was.





We live in London and can't always drive everywhere so often we'll need to walk long distances which a three year old couldn't manage. These days we use a lightweight pushchair ( check out the range at Tesco online, they have a huge selection!) Occasionally we do still use the double stroller, although these instances are getting more and more rare as she prefers to use the buggy board these days. If we're going out for the day, we will always have one of our strollers with us. Strollers really are lifesavers because as all mamas know, tired kiddiewinks equals a higher chance of a mega meltdown, so it's great for them to be able to take a break and relax or sleep.

Aside from the convenience factor, puschair use often comes down to a safety issue too. The roads of London are busy and there are some crazy drivers. I generally feel safer with them strapped in the buggy rather than risking them running in the road. Busy pavements aren't very child friendly either with people often in a hurry or not looking where they are going, the children will get bumped or bashed on the head with bags, my oldest has even been knocked over, so at least in the stroller they are protected somewhat. 

I get that with rising child obesity rates in this country, it is important that children get plenty of exercise so I do take them for plenty of trips to the part where they can run freely and they both also attend regular toddler classes that involve dance & exercise, my oldest does ballet classes too.

I really don't understand why people have such an issue with this or why they feel the need to pass judgement. It's not really anyone's business but mine! So, over to you now. Do your childrenstill use strollers and if not, when and why did you stop?


6 comments

  1. We live in London too, Boo's not had a stroller since she was 2 1/2 (she's 4 in July). If we're out doing errands then she'll take her scooter but other than that she pretty much walks everywhere I do. She's very small for her age so sometimes we get the opposite reaction.

    Whilst the thought of having to use a stroller now fills me with dread, it's like most things when it comes to children... Whatever works for you and your family. I can't stand the way people feel they can pass judgement

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    1. Thanks for your comment Rosie. My two both use scooters too and E usually scoots to nursery although we live right in the centre of London so I usually end up on the verge of a panic attack when they race off in the street! Were we to live in a leafier suburb I think I'd feel a lot more comfortable with them using scooters to get about so for now I quite like being able to strap the youngest especially in to a buggy and also having space to stash all our bits and bobs. We have A LOT of baggage, lol!! xx

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  2. I also don't know why people judge when they don't even know anything about the situation. My son was 32 months when Sophie was born, so almost 3. I initially considered a double buggy, but thought maybe people would think he was too big (he is also much bigger than his age suggests). I tried a buggy board. I tried just having him have to walk, but he just got too tired or, like you, it was safer to have them in a buggy. I ended up with a double anyway! Harry is now almost 4 so we're back to using the single just for Sophie, but even now we occasionally get caught out and Harry wants to sit down or sometimes sleep, and we end up carrying Sophie! :) x

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    1. Michelle that sounds something like us! Whenever we decide to just chance it and take the Maclaren out sans buggy board, my oldest will get tired and one of us ends up having to carry her. She's not small either so it's quite a workout. It would be easier to swap and carry Rufus who is younger but ironically he wants to walk everywhere if he's not in the buggy, which takes forever!! especially when you're in a hurry!! xx

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  3. I think it varies on the child as well. Mitch was out of the stroller by 2 and Frank was still in it the month before he started school! Maybe I kept him in it so I didn't have to carry all the bags, coats and random toys they would pick up on their way out of the house! X

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    1. Yep, my buggy does end up being a stash for all sorts of bits n bobs like coats, umbrellas, potties, toys, nappy bags. I'm not sure what I'll do when we no longer need the buggy, I'll probably walk around looking like a mobile coat stand instead! xx

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