Stroller Use?

hopecounts

DD is getting close to outgrowing our city mini by height, her head is laying on the sun shade when it's back, she's fine when it's up.

I am going back and forth on whether we should go ahead and invest in a stroller with a higher back or just use the current one for another year or so.

Right now she still needs it because she gets worn out walking a lot (low muscle tone issue I assume) but that's only for big outings like the zoo/museum.

It's nice to have for containment purposes but not really necessary since she is pretty good about staying with us/holding hands though she definitely has her moments. I can usually give her the expectations and she'll listen (at least as much as any 3 yr old does   )

Any experience or thoughts?

hopecounts

DD loves to 'hibernate' with the sunshade down, it basically  gives her a break when she starts to get overstimulated or is struggling with something sensory in the environment, she asks for us to 'close it please' when she needs a break. So if we are going to get one a sunshade would be important. 

The lower sunshade is great for that because with it pulled down she feels snuggly and enclosed in a safe place and when she's ready she pushes it back up and rejoins whatever we are doing. 

Typing this out made me realize we do need one at least right now while she uses it to help process certain environments. 

Now to find a stroller that works and convince DH that we need it.

I think we'll rent a City Elite for WDW in the fall and see how it fits/works for us and go from there.

Thanks.

MirandaHobbes

What auntie said- we had to wean DS off the stroller by age 5. We used a Bob which still fit him fine. He loved snuggling down inside the huge sunshade. Our DS is very low-tone but he has to get stronger and learn how to keep himself composed in public.

I'm still guilty of putting him in the cart at the grocery store from time to time when I'm busy which I really need to stop doing (he's 6, and very tall!). It sucks to have him whining and dragging along, but it is what it is.

angiek1

I have a wagon that we use for DD#1 and it has a shade thing. We really like it. When DD#2 gets bigger they'll both ride around it in (at zoo, park, etc).

hopecounts

-auntie- said:

She's almost 4, no?

At four, if she's headed toward mainstreaming, I might find another way for her to be OK from a sensory standpoint that help her become more resilient and cope in a more age appropriate manner. But that's always my spin.

A wagon looks more age appropriate at 4.

Good point and a wagon would work well. Make a good bday present too.

kcisthebombdotcom

A different idea--we use a kinder pack preschool carrier for longer outings. I keep it in a backpack along with other stuff we'd bring like water bottles, snacks, etc. Dd usually lasts about ninety minutes walking around but ds has much more energy so it works well for managing both their needs and if dd doesn't get tired I wasn't stuck pushing around a stroller for nothing.