Many parents have a love-hate relationship with their strollers. This week we asked our Parenting Panel: When do you leave the stroller behind? How do you decide that a child doesn't need it any more? Or why have you not given it up yet?
Jen, also known as *Nala*, is an engineer, a Disney fan, and a MouseAdventure fanatic. She lives in Southern California with her husband and two future MouseAdventurers, ages 2 and 4. Jen writes:
Like most families with young children, we always bring a stroller on our trips to Disney Parks. It's useful for carrying extra stuff and a necessity for small tired legs after a long day. Though it's hard to picture now, there will someday be a time when we won't need a stroller. Here are a few things we'll think about when deciding when it's time to leave the wheels at home.
Naps – For all-day trips to the Disney Parks, it goes without saying that naps are essential for little kids. Our kids have taken many naps in their stroller and know that naptime follows lunch, even at Disneyland. As long as we have at least one napping child, we'll continue to bring a stroller. The 4-year-old doesn't nap often anymore, but if he's overly tired or cranky, we'll still have him lay down and rest in the stroller for a short time while his younger sister sleeps.
Disneyland vs. Walt Disney World – Many Disneyland locals aren't prepared for the sheer size of the Walt Disney World Resort (WDW). While the Disneyland Resort consists of two parks, one of which used to be the parking lot for the other park, WDW is big enough that runDisney can hold an entire full-length marathon within Disney property. Even when our kids no longer need strollers at Disneyland, we'll probably bring at least a small umbrella stroller for another year or two of WDW trips. I don't have a particular age in mind, but the stroller will be with us until the little legs are long enough to keep up on the 1.5 mile loop around Epcot's World Showcase.
Length of Trip – This summer I took my 4-year-old son on a quick weekend trip to WDW for the Harambe Nights Lion King 20th Anniversary celebration. I decided to try a stroller-free trip since we'd only be at the parks for 2 days. He held up quite well for the most part, but I did end up giving him a few piggyback rides and occasionally decided to skip an attraction that was at the other end of the park. While I'd probably go without the stroller for a day or two again, I wouldn't try it for a much longer trip at this point. For now, we'd rather push a stroller and let the kids save their energy for the fun stuff.
Chris, also known as GusMan, is always planning his next family trip to the Walt Disney World Resort and loves to help others plan their trips, as well sharing his experiences. Chris writes:
There are so many things to celebrate during a Disney vacation. It could be your first trip, someone's birthday, or even accomplishing a milestone in life. But similar to the idea of a youngster finally getting totally potty trained, the next milestone is one that you hope is not too far off: Going stroller-less at Disney theme parks.
This is a common dilemma between visiting parents, for many reasons. Granted, having a stroller can have its advantages and disadvantages. They come in handy when a child gets tired. Equally so when you want to easily carry purchases around. However, they can be problematic on transportation. At the same time, you wonder if your child is just too big to be toted around. I have to admit, while I have some fond memories scooting my son around in his stroller, it was not easy to get him to go without once he got old enough. Here are some thoughts that we used to determine if a stroller is still necessary, as well as ideas on breaking the stroller habit.
- Many strollers have a weight limit. If your child is approaching that limit, it might be time to talk to them about going without. The key here is to help communicate this change in a way where its acceptable to the child. Like a favorite bear or blanket, they might have grown accustomed to having it around. Sure, there are larger strollers out there, but consider if going up that extra size is going to be good for you and your child. Don't forget – you will be carrying it around – and in some tight places like buses.
- Break the habit at home. If you tend to take the stroller shopping, practice by going on outings without the stroller and see how things work out. It can be a way to help transition without causing a lot of anxiety. Simple walking around the mall can be a great way to practice… especially if you are shopping for your upcoming trip.
- If they are nervous about getting tired, maybe help them get used to walking around long distances by going on daily walks around the neighborhood. Just like adults need to train for Disney, so do your children. In essence, if they can walk for 15 minutes at a time, chances are, they will do just fine at the parks.
- Consider your touring plan carefully. If you are on the edge regarding taking the stroller, and you have some late nights planned, you might need it one more time. Otherwise, if you plan breaks during your day and pay close attention to your child's energy levels, you might be able to still go without. Just know that you might have to go slower and take more breaks than past trips, which may be a bit concerning at times. But know it's all for the greater good.
- Most of all – celebrate the accomplishment. This is a big step for you as a parent and for your child. Get a celebration button and make them proud!
I know that none of us want to see our kids grow up, and ditching the stroller is one of the signs that they are. A Disney trip without a stroller is a big deal and it changes a lot of how you do things. Just remember to follow the lead of your child, but guide them accordingly. You will quickly learn that after the stroller is gone, you now have a new favorite activity while on vacation – holding your child's hand while walking down Main Street, U.S.A.
Sheena, also known as Mermaid, teaches first grade in Arizona where she lives with her husband and two children, Matthew (4) and Katie (2). She visits Disneyland as often as she can and has passed on her love of the parks to her little Mouseketeers. Sheena writes:
This is such a timely topic for us as we are in the midst of this debate in our house. Our next Disneyland trip is scheduled for February, about a week before my daughter turns 3. I know she still needs the stroller. She likes to be carried and tires easily. For her, the stroller is a no brainer.
We have been debating whether to bring one for my son, who will be almost 4.5 when we travel. He is a walker. Maybe because my kids are 17 months apart, I needed him to walk. Maybe it is that he is my active kid. Maybe he has cool light up shoes that flash when he steps. Whatever it is–this kid likes to walk. He has not used a stroller for regular use since he was about 20 months old. So… does he need one in Disneyland? That is the question.
So, I got to thinking, why does a kid need a stroller?
- They can not physically walk. OK, that's not us. But, a stroller is a must have for a young baby. When we traveled with our babies, I brought the Ergo to carry them, but we still brought the stroller as an alternative when needed.
- They can not walk long distances. Hmmmmm&hellp; Well, he walks all over the mall, but Disneyland is not the mall. It is long days with lots of walking. I know my feet are really tired at the end of a Disney day. We are planning on going for three to four days. We can take breaks and maybe he can handle it, I thought. Then we did a 1-mile walk in August. Now, walking a mile at 10 a.m. in Phoenix is a very different than walking a mile Disneyland in February. And he will be eight months older when we go, but he was miserable during the walk. He whined and complained the whole time. His whining made my husband and I very cranky with him and each other. This was the day we started thinking, “maybe we will need a stroller for Disneyland.” A stroller may leave him less tired and in a better mood. Traveling with a cranky kid is no fun for anyone.
- You need a place to put your stuff. Young kids need a lot of stuff. My kids are out of diapers, so I see these days ending soon, but, for a winter trip, it will be nice to have a place to stash sweatshirts. We have a rule that we don't leave anything in the stroller we would be devastated to lose, but, if we have to use one, it would be nice to have the space. For our decision, this was sort of a wash, since we are deciding between a single and a double stroller.
- You need to contain your child. I think this is an often overlooked benefit to a stroller. It gives your child a place to go when it is very crowded or they are very tired. My son is pretty good about staying with us, but I could see him wandering in a place with as much stimulation as Disneyland. We went to Sea World this past July and he sat in the stroller for longer walks, like one land to another. We could move at a quicker pace and he could rest his feet. Neither of my kids are good stroller nappers. I look longingly at the children slumped over in their umbrella stroller while mine are reclined with the shade down, and wide awake. But for most kids, the stroller can also be a good place to take a little snooze and recharge for the day.
In the end, we decided that since we need to have a stroller for my daughter, my son will complain way more about walking then he would if the stroller was not an option at all. We had great luck with renting a City Mini Double off site for our last trip and have decided to go that route again. I think my son will only ride in it when we are traveling long distances or later in the day and we plan to park it and walk a lot of the time. This will probably be our last stroller trip. I look forward to the day when we are free to walk unencumbered, but I will miss the space and the long walks around the park with my reclined, shaded but awake kids.
It's your turn—keep the discussion flowing!
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