Age to Stop "Strollering"?

She is passed old enough for all of this. At 4 my children could hike 8 miles. we got rid of the strollers before age 3, and used a wagon at all day events (like the air show) until 4. And as for eating out behavior, that too should have changed a long time ago IMO. My children always sit up at the table.

Wow, we gave up the stroller between 18 months and 2 years (we took it to the airport and the zoo from 18-24 months, otherwise he walked). Walking is great exercise (yes, pushing a 5 year old is great exercise for you, but not so much for her). DS is 5. He sits on my lap for stories before bedtime and sometimes when he wants a hug.

My kids were all out of the stroller by three with the exception of long walks or big outings. By the time they were five even long walks or big outings we went stroller free. You may think you will miss the stroller, but once you ditch it, you will be so happy you do not have anything to push!!!

5 is definitely old enough to stop!! I would say 2 is old enough.

Lie down at restaurants?? Wha?

I think 5 is PLENTY old enough to not be hauled around in a stroller. I think my kid stopped at two wanting to be strolled everywhere. Our kids have never sat on our laps or lied down at restaraunts, so imo, this should have stopped a long time ago. I'm not trying to sound rude at all, but I guess I'm shocked that a five yo even wants to be in a stroller and that you are still allowing it.. Doesn't she like to run around and have her freedom?

I would say she's well beyond the age to be in the stroller (with the exception of Disney or other places where you literally walk all day). She is also more than old enough to be expected to sit up to the table at a restaurant and at home! Time to tell her "you're a big girl now and you're going to start acting like one".

I think that he should encourage her to walk more, to sit right in restaurants and basically stop babying her and praise her for age-appropriate behaviors. If he doesn't want to encourage her to grow up (who likes to see their baby not need them so much?) is it really about HIM or is it HER. All the little things we teach kids, from potty training, to shoe tying, to walking - they are to teach and guide our children so that they can be fully functioning people. Her teachers are not going to carry her in school. She does these things because they get attention. Find new ways to give her attention. Your husband may enjoy the freedom of movement without the stroller most of the time.

I just went with a friend and her kids and I will not miss the days of walking around the block to the accessible entrance for the strollers. My DD is 2.5 and we took the stroller b/c we'd be doing a lot of city walking, but I folded it up (umbrella) for most of the museum stuff and she walked much of the day.

More than the stroller, though, I think she needs to sit in her own chair when out and about and not on someone's lap or laying down. When my stepdaughter decided when she was younger to slide under the table, we got our check and left. No dessert that night. We were done. It's not mean to teach appropriate behavior and have expectations.

My two are 5 and 3. The only strollers they have been in for the last year or so have been my husband's jogging stroller, and the strollers we used at Disneyworld last year. Can she pull the wagon or ride in it to the Farmer's Market? Then you can put the produce in it for the way back.
We've always been averse to letting the kids lie down at restaurants. It does seem impolite to us, too. And worse, the couple times we've relaxed that rule, they've found some nasty gum stuck to the underside of the table! And we don't really have them sit in our laps at restaurants...the 5 year old doesn't even ask anymore and the 3 year old occasionally asks and we let her if everyone is done eating and we're waiting for our check.

My 2.5 year old very rarely rides in a stroller, having him walk around wherever we go is how he gets lots of exercise. They're not exercising their bodies at all riding in a stroller. We never really were big stroller users, I wore him in a carrier until he could walk and then he just started walking wherever we went or would ride on mine or daddy's shoulders when he got too tired. My 8 month old rides in a stroller a little more often than he did but we will probably start to ditch it when she starts walking, too. 5 is pretty old to be riding in one, and it is too old for them to be doing anything at a restaraunt besides sitting up at the table with everyone else.

I let mine ride in the stoller as long as they wanted too. One, I don't have to chance them around, two they can't wonder off and three I have that huge basket to carry all of my purchases. :) Other wise I would have ditched the stroller much sooner, but that basket is just so big and nice.

Oh, how I wish some days I could put my 14 year old in a stroller when he comes shopping with me. He lollygags, and wanders off to look at things- the teen version of hiding in the clothing racks. LOL

I think mine started walking, sans stroller, when he was about 4. I did learn that I would have to either shorten my trips or take more frequent breaks. Bikes, skateboards, and scooters are great alternatives. My son used to take his scooter when we walked the dog.

Just try out various options and see what works best for you and your daughter.

Good Luck and God Bless

He definitely was not sitting on laps in restaurants at that age- I don't think I ever let him do that. And he was not lying down - occasionally he would rest his head on the table, school style, and fall asleep after a particularly long day.

Obviously, go with what works for you and you daughter. But as a former teacher, I'm thinking there's quite a few 5 year olds in kindergarten... and they're capable and expected to walk there, so maybe 5 is a tad old?

Personally, I ditched the stroller when my daughter was an infant for an Ergo--it just worked better for us. She's 3 and I still break it out on very rare occasions (e.g., a cave tour with stairs and poor railing), but for the most part she walks and has since she was 2 1/2 (even a day at the zoo/grocery shopping/etc).

As for laying down at restaurants & sitting in my lap, this is my personal belief, I expect my daughter to learn to eat with the family and have table manners. My husband and I use dinner/eating out as informal manner-teaching time and never allowed that to happen. But again, that's what worked for us, it doesn't mean that it's right for everyone.

I see a lot responses that age 5 is probably the limit and is pretty accurate. However, We are taking a trip where we will be doing a lot of walking and the tourist thing...I have a five year old and I know she will get tired from all the walking. We intend to take an umbrella stroller for her when she gets tired :) so we can keep going if we are not close to the hotel or have a long way back to the car.

Way too old to be lying down in restaurants and old enough to sit either on her own or in a booster seat.

As for the stroller, it's really a matter of what works for you all. My son is almost 3 and we rarely use it anymore b/c he prefers to walk with us. If we need to "rush" through somewhere, we use it. If it's going to be very crowded and we need the storage bin, we use it. Most times, though we do not.

We just bought a tricycle that has a push handle attached to the seat so we can go for walks and he can ride his bike. He pedals and we "push" if needed. Same convenience as the stroller, but more "big boy".

My DD is 3 and doesn't do the stroller at all anymore. If we go to the zoo I'll take the wagon.
As for the restaurant...I've never held her in my lap. She sat in a high chair, and then went from that to a booster and now sits by herself. I'm kind of suprised a 5 year old would not have her own seat!

I am on my last stroller-er. I am excited. I only have to pull it out when we are doing alot of walking. Or in places where i have issues with him not staying with..i.e. the mall. He is three.

Five i think it is safe to say they can be walking. If you want, take the wagon with you to the farmers market. Have her pull it. She can be in charge on making sure the all your goodies are safe. This will encourage her to stay close to you!!

The bike would be a good thing for her to do when you guys are out walking or something along those lines.

You may find that she fights this at first. She has gotten pretty cozy with you guys strolling her around. She may not like the change. It is time though!!

Good luck and dont let her pluck your heart strings, if that turns into the case!!

I would think it's partly because I have always had a handful of little ones (my kids are all about 18mo apart), but I can't imagine having a 5yr old in a stroller or being carried or still sitting on laps at restaurants! by the time my kids are 3 they are walking, sitting on their own, and carrying is a rare thing. The exception would be somewhere like Disneyland when we are walking ALL day, in which case we will still let the 3yr old take a turn in the stroller for a bit because their little legs just get worn out!
Maybe it's because we do things like hiking and long walks with our little ones that it seems strange to still be carting a 5yr old around.....I just can't imagine doing this with my kindergartener!
If she wants to get out of walking by asking to be carried, make it a game to see how far she can go without being carried. "Let's see if we can take 30 steps together first!" and have her count with you. Or "Let's see if we can set a new record of how many minutes we can go first"....make it a challenge and achievement that she is going on her own and let her take pride in accomplishing that!

Okay, so it looks like A LOT of people have responded and I haven't actually read them. I just want to give my 2 cents! :) We told our daughter (now 5yo) that her stroller was being put away in the basement after she turned 3. She reminded me to put it in the basement before her birthday even arrived! She has done a lot of walking with us from very early on - neighborhood walks, the mall, and LOTS of hiking. I understand the fact that you'll miss the carrying capabilities of the stroller. However, if you have a wagon you can always take that to the Farmer's Market. My daughter and I walk to our grocery store (1.5 miles each way) with the wagon and I use that as my grocery cart in the store and carry the groceries home that way. Sometimes I let me daughter ride in the wagon on the way there, but she obviously walks home since the wagon is full of bags of food! As for restaurants, I totally agree about not liking when kids are lying down in booths. Our daughter never liked boosters since they are so wobbly so she learned pretty early (2yo) how to sit appropriately at restaurants.
I too have stopped carrying my daughter because she's too heavy and my husband will occasionally cave and carry her, but he just keeps reminding her that she's such a big girl now that she can walk just like mom and dad. Her bike is a great alternative to get places. My daughter rode her bike with training wheels everywhere, including the grocery store, but decided she wanted her training wheels off when she turned 5 so now we're kind of back to square one, but quickly making progress with that too!
Good luck and remember, it is teaching her great exercise habits!

Funny that you asked that because just yesterday a lady in the neighborhood was walking down the sidewalk with an empty stroller. I noticed it, but didn't have time to wonder why because I was busy. 10 minutes later, she comes walking back pushing her SCHOOL AGED KID (6-ish?) in the stupid stroller. I did a double take and my 4 year old laughed and said "mommy, look at that big baby!" Sorry but I was inclined to agree.
If your child is old enough to read and attend school, she should also know how to sit long enough for a meal and walk decent distances. If your child can ride a bike, then oh my goodness she can walk.
The last time my 4 year old rode in a stroller (just a little bit) was when he was ALMOST 3 years old. I was in my 3rd trimester, pregnant with my 2nd child, and I had two 2 year olds and a 6 year old and we went to the zoo for the whole day. We carried a big blanket, a picnic basket big enough for all of us and drinks, and I rented a double stroller for the 2 little guys. But they walked pretty much the whole day. They would, at 2 years old, walk 3/4 mile to the pond, spray park, and playground. I brought a wagon for drinks, cups, towels, water guns, camera, sunblock, first aid kit, etc and they could ride in it if they wanted to on the way home, but that was very rare. Children need exercise. Besides, in a stroller they're missing out on discovering things they should be able to see and inspect (a snail, a dandelion, a trail of ants, etc).
As for the restaurant, that is not ok. Neither of my children do that (not even the 17 month old). First, use common sense when choosing a restaurant or what time to go and make sure it works with your baby's schedule (a 5 year old should be much easier, I'm thinking of my 17 month old), and my kids are expected to eat like normal people. They can color or play quietly with an airplane or hotwheel (or my 4 year old brings a kiddie comic book), we engage them in conversation too, and we eat together. I help the little one by cutting his food before he starts to eat. I don't see why that would be such a problem......but maybe they're calmer because they get their energy out by running and playing instead of being carried everywhere.

My son is 5, and we still use a stroller for some things... I love having someplace to put our drinks, hold my heavy purse, put some bags, etc. And my son still appreciates the luxury of riding instead of walking all the time. We still love it, and will continue to use it until he doesn't want to anymore, or is just too big to fit in it. I will say that I did buy a Maclaren stroller a year or so ago, because it has a higher weight limit, but folds like an umbrella stroller taking up less space, and is really lightweight. I got it because I knew we would get at least a year's use out of it, probably more, and I'm soooo glad we got it. I love it.

By her age, she's well past stroller stage. I'd get rid of it, cold turkey, and ignore any pleas or whining to get it out -- in fact, just sell it rather than store it, so it's truly no longer there to tempt either of you. She needs the independence and exercise, especially these days when we're all concerned with getting our kids enough exercise daily.

She also is past lap stage in a restaurant (though it's lovely to hold them plenty at home!). She should be learning how to sit up, stay in a restaurant seat, eat her own food and keep her hands and fork to herself, and generally behave more maturely when out in public, so start now. Be sure to bring things to occupy her when you're on a restaurant visit -- at five they still need some distractions if you're going to sit for a while at dinner out, and if you don't have anything, she is likelier to whine to get up in your lap.

She definitely should not be lying down in restaurants. Would you want to lie down on a booth seat considering who knows what has been spilled there, what bags have been plunked down on it, etc.?

You'll be glad you made the changes. But don't replace the stroller with always carting her around in the wagon - she could pull it with toys to the park, or home from the market loaded with veggies, but please don't let her ride in it and turn it into just another stroller.

My oldest son is 4/1/2 and he never uses a stroller anymore. We would up until about 6 months ago if needed to go to the mall or to the zoo but only in an umbrella stroller. I would say she is totally old enough to walk on her own and even sit at a resturant for a dinner without needing to lie down or need to sit on anyone.

I bought a jogging stroller for my grand daughter when she was 1, so I could take her with me when I walked the mall. (yes Im a mall walker) I used to meet a friend in the mornings and walk 2 1/2 miles in the mall. It was great taking her along and still be able to get in my exercise while babysitting. I then had to stop due to foot problems. Well the foot problems are gone now and I want to start walking the mall again. We took a trip to Disneyland a month ago and rented a stroller for her. I wondered if she would think she was being treated like a baby, but she was all excited to ride so it worked out great. I had a place for all the "stuff" too. Now that we are back and I want to start walking, I plan to take her along in the jogging stroller again. Shes almost 4 now and I dont think she will want to walk all 2 1/2 miles as fast as my friend and I do, and cant just let her sit and wait for me in center court. I think she will want to walk part of the way and I will let her. But when she wants to take a break I want that stroller with me. When Im done, I like the cool down period in the kids play area in our mall where she can climb and jump and play while I sit. This stroller is big enough for her now and maybe another year. So by 5 she wont need it. Plus she will be in school and not go with me anyway. As for sitting up in restaurants, my kids had high chairs up to about 2 and then sat in thier own seats. She does too, but if its a bench seat in a booth and its late and shes tired, she can lay down. My kids didnt, but then we didnt go out that often when they were little. If mommy is with us its her choice how she handles it. If shes just with grampa and me, she sits up. (o:

My 7 year old still asks to ride in a stroller too bad for her I got rid of my stroller when she was 5 i was just so done with it- takes up too much room and was a pain to get out open & close and 1/2 the time she wanted to get up & walk and there I was pushing an empty stroller. Of course now 1/2 the time she is whining I'm tired can you carry me? can I sit down for a sec? lol

I quit the stroller when the girls could walk well, definately by 2 years old. Big kids, 3 & up, look ridiculous in a stroller, and is a huge pet peeve. (of mine) Sitting on a lap, ok, laying down in a restaraunt, well unless you are keeping long late hours in the restaraunt, no, she should be sitting up.

We stopped putting my son in a stroller a little before he was 3. However, he has low muscle tone and did not start walking until after 2 so we are constantly trying to get him as much excercise as we can. But it seems to me that 5 is definitely old enough to not be in a stroller, or laying down in a restaurant!

She is definitely done with the stroller. I think we finish with them around 4, and by 5 they never even get in the stroller. I also do not use an alternative, 5 is plenty old enough to walk. That being said, we plan days and trips around what a 5 year old can tolerate. I wouldn't consider having them go shopping for 5 hours without a lot of breaks.

As far as the carrying, just let it be. I am like you, when they get too heavy, I am done carrying, but my husband continues. I say let your husband carry her as long as he can bare. Kids grow up so fast, enjoy what you can when you can. Your daughter and your husband will grow out of it and they can never go back.

For the restaurant behavior, I get loony with this one too. I like kids to sit there and not crawl under the table, lay down, jump on my lap, etc. I am, however, a realist too, it happens. I have found that my kids are pretty nutty in restaurants, then slowly start to settle down starting around 2 1/2 or 3. By 5, they are pretty much expected to sit in their chairs and behave themselves. I do allow them to bring stuff for entertainment, e.g., coloring book, small figurines, etc. I also know that we do still get breakdowns on occasion, but hardly ever after 5. One last thing we do is make sure we limit out dinners out to 45 minutes, maximum, 1 hour. Anything longer than that is painful and restless.

Good luck to you.

Call me an oddball, but I didn't care what people thought! When I had toddlers and slightly older kids, I couldn't handle them all at places like busy malls and things like zoos, parks, and street fairs.

To manage all of my gear, unpredictible toddlers, and whiney, tired 6 year-olds, I used my sit n' stand stroller (the two seater model that can handle 3 kids, with a platform on the back) ! I think my oldest rode our sit n' stand until he was a mature 6...about the time the wheels would squeak because the stroller couldn't handle the weight from the toddlers AND the 6 year old anymore. LOL!

Get her out of that stroller. My kids were out by 3 yo. I would be embarrassed having a 5 yo in a stroller. Get her out and walking. In the
beginning she may not have the stamina for long walks. Start with shorter
ones and get the stroller out of the house.

I think it depends on where you live. I live in the city and walk everywhere. Even though my son is only 2, we use the stroller everyday. Now if I was in the burbs, we would probably drive everywhere, so a stroller wouldnt be a must.

I think she is old enough, she will have to develop stamina if she is not used to walking for long periods of time... so be patient :)

Think of her going to school in the Fall, and teach her to behave appropriately. I have a 5 year old (he turned 5 last week) and he is HUGE so he hasn't been in a stroller for years. He outgrew the 40 lb weight limit when he was just 3 1/2, I think. it was tough for him to give up the stroller at that age, but he finally accepted that he was too heavy, and it was going to bend the stroller. He actually did bend our stroller! It wasn't a cheapy, either, but it is an umbrella (jeep brand).
Now he weighs 52 lbs and there's no way we carry him!
And there's no way he would fit on my lap if I were sitting at a table.
As for laying down, I suppose laying down on a booth seat would be okay with me, but definitely not on the floor. I have had to teach my kids this, though, because they love to lay on the floor! But I don't allow it in stores or restaurants, only at home. I just tell them to get up off the floor, and sometimes show them how dirty the floor is in public places (usually when the dirt gets all over their clothes when they do get down on the floor.) That seems to have stemmed that tendency!

I definately would try and let her walk much more than she is. I still use our double stroller for zoo trips and things like that, but I do it more for my 3 year old than my 4 year old. My 3 yr old (turns 3 next week) is very heavy and I am trying to break him of wanting to be held everywhere. I know, I am a sucker just like your husband! He is my last baby and he is so sweet. Sometimes I just cannot resist!!!

I'd keep her in the stroller for distances as opposed to carrying her. The sitting on lap thing is a way to get cuddled. I dont know what her living arrangements are but maybe she feels she needs more Daddy time. Or maybe she feels insecure living in two homes. Maybe she's smart to find ways to get what she needs now and not grow into a teen age girl desperately seeking attention. Before you know it she'll outgrow laps and you'll all miss it!

Good grief let that child walk! God gave her legs, let her use them!!!

My girls were out of the stroller (except for LONG distances) by the time they were 18 months. I might occassionally be able to get them into a shopping cart, but mostly they walked.

Same thing with restaurants. As soon as they could sit well unassisted, they were in highchairs, so by 9 months. My oldest is 4.5 and still needs a booster, but I can't IMAGINE the two of us trying to eat our meals with her sitting on my lap!

It depends on age, size, how far you're going to walk, the temperament of your child, the stoller you're using... It's your choice.

At five, I got my daughter a "Tag-along" bike that fastened onto the back of my bike to make a tandem. We got around our neighborhood really well on that, until she was able to ride a two-wheeler well enough to keep up with me. And it was fun!

Just plan shorter trips until she builds up more stamina to walk longer distances. And take breaks. I would get rid of the stroller. I used a jogging stroller for my baby when I brought my older DD to preschool when she was 3 and 4. If she sat down in the stroller, some of the kids would outright ask her, "why are you in that baby seat?" The only place I would put a 5 year old in a stroller is DisneyWorld. If your husband wants to carry her, I guess that's his choice. I wouldn't weigh in on that one, but I would not carry her myself.

I stopped my daughter when she turned 2 and was able to behave when we went out. Everytime I put her in the stroller she just wanted out and I ended up pushing a empty stroller all over the place. When she gets tired we just stop and rest a bit. Then she's off again. The other day she spotted it in storage and wanted it. She got in and strapped herself in and we went for a walk. When we got to the end of the driveway she got out and said that she wanted to push it to practice for when her brover or sister comes. She is 3 and I thought that was so cute that she wants to push the stroller. She is already taking charge of the baby and it won't be here until Oct! I think she is going to be mommy's little helper.

The stroller should go now. My just-turned-six year old walks (with us, of course) a little over .5 miles to school and does just fine. She could go farther without complaining if there was a reason (not just "out for a walk.") Even her 3 year old brother won't ride in one.

As for carrying, he can carry her as long as he wants, as long as you don't need him to hold something else. When she gets too heavy, he'll have to tell her. Both of my kids, who are enormous, stopped getting carried when they got too big. Honestly, I felt a little sad about that, but I really couldn't carry them anymore.

Your five year old will get in the stroller??

Maybe it's a gender thing, but my two year old son will not even consider it. He walks EVERYWHERE and just as far as I walk.

We went to a theme park the other day without a stroller and he walked the whole day.

Sometimes, I would love to pop him in a stroller and go for a walk. We could move about 100 mph quicker. :)

I say when they exceed the weight limit of the stroller it's time to start walking. Five years old is old enough to walk for an extended period though. She is definitely beyond the age of lap sitting and lying down.