Preschooler in a stroller question

TheBub

We will be staying downtown in a large city for a weekend.  Everything we are doing is in a 1 mi radius from our hotel.  We will park at the hotel and leave the car there.  DD is a great stroller rider, so she will definitely ride everywhere.  DS will be 5 by then and is very tall, so more like the size of a 6/7yo.  Is it silly to want to bring the double stroller for him to be able to ride too?  He fits fine, I just didn't know if it would look too silly to push around a kid that big.  Could your kid handle that much walking...probably a total of two miles per day?

virgin4lyfe

I would bring it, if he wants to ride he will, if he wants to walk, he will. But I don't think it's weird, kids have different tolerances for walking.

Libby1978

I say bring it and play it by ear.  He will likely want a break from walking at some point.

mrs.schmitty

I'm obviously not at that stage yet but I think I would rather have people look at me funny then deal with a tired and cranky 5 year old who doesn't want to walk anymore.

Of course, I'm 30 and sometimes I still wish someone would push me around in a stroller : )

LaurelBee

Does your single stroller have a sit n stand attachment you can buy? That way he can ride along when he's tired, but you don't have to lug the double everywhere. Fwiw, my 3yo barely ever rides anymore. The only time he wants to use the stroller attachment is a long day at the zoo.

monkeybutt61612

Who cares if he looks silly. Better safe than sorry

TheBub

I want to bring it, but I know DH will want him to walk.  If he doesn't ride, then that means there is more room for shopping bags!

EMOmamma

I wouldn't b/c I hate dealing with the double anywhere other than open places (like the park or zoo). I would only take an umbrella stroller.

Nechie122

My 2 year old can easily walk a mile (not necessarily at the pace I would like or without stopping to pick up every leaf and stray branch!) I would assume a 5 year old could handle it just fine. Do you think all city parents are pushing 50 lb. kids around?

Walking is also good for kids. So much focus on calorie control, not enough on exercise.

LaurelBee

@nechie122 Who is calorie counting for their LOs??! That's messed up

PunkyBooster

DS walked around most of NYC with me. He's 2.5. We walked for hours. I did have a stroller for Times Square crowds and wore him toward the evenings.

TheBub

Nechie122 said:

My 2 year old can easily walk a mile (not necessarily at the pace I would like or without stopping to pick up every leaf and stray branch!) I would assume a 5 year old could handle it just fine. Do you think all city parents are pushing 50 lb. kids around? Walking is also good for kids. So much focus on calorie control, not enough on exercise.

Which is exactly why I would think I would want the stroller.  I'm not talking about everyday use.  This is for a two-day mini vacation.

RayRay007

Libby1978 said:

I say bring it and play it by ear.  He will likely want a break from walking at some point.

This and if it's a touristy place it probably wouldn't look out of place - people will probably assume you've been walking all day and he needs a break. 

MrsWindyCity

I probably would not want to navigate the city in a double stroller, so I'd probably have him walk. We live in the city and DS is almost 3.5. His school is about a mile away and he walks there and back every day.

OhSewCrafty

Pre-kids I would totally judge parents who had "big kids" in strollers. Then I had kids and realized A) How slow kids walk and How fast they get tired and inevitably whiny.

I say bring it. It just might save your sanity.

Nechie122

LaurelBee said:

@nechie122 Who is calorie counting for their LOs??! That's messed up

Eh, I didn't say that clearly. I just meant that so many Bumpies get up in arms about things like fast food and sugar but no one thinks it's strange that a 5 year old can't be expected to walk a mile or two?

I walk a mile with my 2 year old at least twice a week. By 5, I couldn't even imagine this even being an issue.

TheBub

Nechie122 said:

LaurelBee said:

@nechie122 Who is calorie counting for their LOs??! That's messed up

Eh, I didn't say that clearly. I just meant that so many Bumpies get up in arms about things like fast food and sugar but no one thinks it's strange that a 5 year old can't be expected to walk a mile or two?

I walk a mile with my 2 year old at least twice a week. By 5, I couldn't even imagine this even being an issue.

Maybe I didn't phrase mine right...I know that he is physically capable of walking that distance. I wanted to know if he (and we) would have a better time if he could ride. I just want to have a enjoyable weekend. We can train for the 5k later.

Nechie122

TheBub said:

Nechie122 said:

LaurelBee said:

@nechie122 Who is calorie counting for their LOs??! That's messed up

Eh, I didn't say that clearly. I just meant that so many Bumpies get up in arms about things like fast food and sugar but no one thinks it's strange that a 5 year old can't be expected to walk a mile or two?

I walk a mile with my 2 year old at least twice a week. By 5, I couldn't even imagine this even being an issue.

Maybe I didn't phrase mine right...I know that he is physically capable of walking that distance. I wanted to know if he (and we) would have a better time if he could ride. I just want to have a enjoyable weekend. We can train for the 5k later.

Sigh. You asked for opinions and I'm giving you my opinion as a New Yorker. Urban kids walk. If your kid can't handle it, bring the stroller.

klondikebar

We have season passes to an amusement park. My youngest is 5 and hasn't used a stroller in years. We definitely cover more than 2 miles when we go and he's fine, but we get to sleep at home and aren't traveling. Being on vacation can create overtired children with lower tolerance though and only you know your kid.  If you are worried about it, I'd go with a sit and stand. I wouldn't want to navigate a city with a double.

mrebecca

Lol @ "urban kids walk."

Us Southern hicks all ride tractors 'round town, y'all.

[Deleted User]

A double is way too cumbersome to take if you don't have to.  I would make him walk.

[Deleted User]

Also...a side-by-side on a crowded city sidewalk is in general kind of a dick move.

ougrad1

Two miles a day walking in a 24 hour period?  Yes, my kids could handle that.   However, we are going to Disney in December and I am renting a single and a double stroller.   Who cares how it "looks".   If you think your big boy would be more comfortable in a stroller, by all means, get the stroller.  

Have fun on your trip.  

zeptattoo

I see nothing wrong with it.  I walk to get my kid from preschool sometimes and I always bring the stroller with me.