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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to be surprised at the idea of seven year olds in pushchairs?

86 replies

QualiaQuale · 20/05/2011 13:07

I was posting on another forum (not parenting related) and a query was posted about whether a certain airline allowed pushchairs/prams for free. OP was told yes, but in a follow up post said the child was 6. I said that since the clause about free pushchairs was on a page regarding carriage of infants, they might want to check with the airline.

There were then several posts about how wrong I was, how pushchairs are essential mobility equipment (I said that equating them with wheelchairs was quite insulting), and how even seven year olds have pushchairs on holidays since they can't walk with adults in the evening if tired.

I wasn't judgemental, I was just surprised. Is this commonplace? I have a seven year old, its about 4 years since he last sat in a pushchair, I can't imagine him even fitting in one!

OP posts:
Original poster
QualiaQuale · 20/05/2011 13:08

*should have added, I did say at the time that I was assuming no SN, which I was informed was the case in the query. Obviously thats an entirely different issue and I only refer to able-bodied, NT etc etc children.

OP posts:
LyingWitchInTheWardrobe2726 · 20/05/2011 13:10

What are you asking? Is it unusual? Probably. Does it ever happen? It would seem so. Confused

GypsyMoth · 20/05/2011 13:10

ridiculous!!!

meditrina · 20/05/2011 13:10

Assuming the child does not have a medical condition, then yes 7 is far too old!

My 7 year old sometimes gets into visitors' pushchairs for a little joke. But she'd be too mortified to actually use one for real.

FunnysInTheGarden · 20/05/2011 13:12

YANBU. DS1 is 5 and hasn't used a pushcahir for a good 2 years, even so there is a girl in his class who still uses a pushchair (not SN etc) and I was surprised by this when I first saw it.

Besides which DS1 would be mortified if I tried to put him in a pushchair!

BelfastBloke · 20/05/2011 13:13

what you want is the blog too big for stroller

lesley33 · 20/05/2011 13:13

7 is too old.

GoFullForce · 20/05/2011 13:14

they child might have a hidden disability, and needs the chair, in the same way a passenger can take a wheelchair on, whilst walking to the airplane etc..

My child is 5, we still take a chair for him, as he cant walk far at time, but then again one more isnt much, I already take a wheelchair, a disabled pushchair, my ds2 pushchair and a lightweight stroller for ds1. I dont pay for any of these.

ZZZenAgain · 20/05/2011 13:14

maybe they just want the pushchair to cart things about , not necessarily dc? Seven seems a bit too old to me. Don't think I have ever seen a dc that age in a pushchair

Original poster
QualiaQuale · 20/05/2011 13:14

I was just questioning myself, as I was informed that it was entirely normal and I would understand if I was a parent. I pointed out I have 4 children, and was told to bugger off.
Just thought perhaps I am cruel to my children making them walk (and turfing them out of the pram as soon as they get a sibling, as I never wanted a double buggy! Grin)

OP posts:
smashingtime · 20/05/2011 13:14

It could be a holiday to Disneyworld in which case yes, I have heard of some parents taking pushchairs for older kids cos there is so much walking. Totally depends on the child though doesn't it!

ImeldaM · 20/05/2011 13:15

My DS (6) would be mortified too, he occasionally says he's too tired to walk & I joke that I'll get his old pushchair out. Lots of laughing and 'Don't be silly, Mummy!'

redskyatnight · 20/05/2011 13:15

Wasn't a Disney forum was it? Got a number of very surprised responses on there when I said that I wasn't taking a pushchair for my 6 and 5 year olds and that I would stop for a rest if they got tired.

JackyJax · 20/05/2011 13:16

My child would remain in his pushchair until he was 16 if given half a chance. In fact, I often think he'll be in one when he's dating and his poor old girlfriend will be pushing the bleedin' thing up the hill.

He started school this year so there's no more pushchair for him but if I have the pushchair with me for his younger brother, he'll try to get in it. Have some shame, I say, wait until we're clear of the school yard. He looks at me as if I'm mad, lies back and waits for me to push him home.

And do I? Well I'm not saying anything...

TheBride · 20/05/2011 13:17

SN aside (incl. hidden ones), a 7 yr old shouldn't need a frikkin pushchair at Disney or anywhere else. If they do, then the parents need to take a long hard look at the physical activity levels of the child because they are seriously unfit.

ImeldaM · 20/05/2011 13:17

Obviously if child has SN, disability of any sort then that is different

AlpinePony · 20/05/2011 13:21

You didn't judge? Shock My judgey-pants would be hoiked so far up my arsecrack that I'd not be able to walk myself - pass the pushchair eh!?

Original poster
QualiaQuale · 20/05/2011 13:22

not Disney, regular family holiday stuff, and I did enquire as to any SN, as the point on mobility equipment was in contention, and no, they were talking about regular able children.

No skin off my nose at all

OP posts:
TheBride · 20/05/2011 13:24

All I can say is I don't want to go on holiday anywhere where the strollerphiles are.

If the children are too tired to walk in the evening, they should put them in bed and hire a babysitter.

dixiechick1975 · 20/05/2011 13:24

If a disney forum then very common to see people using strollers in the Orlando parks for 6 and 7 yr olds.

They hire them out but cost $20 or so a day so if the child will still fit in an umbrella stroller then a big saving to be made.

Day in day out walking miles in the heat is very different to normal walking.

If people are on a once in a lifetime holiday with perhaphs a big family group and are trying to do 7 or 8 parks in two weeks then I can see why they can be useful.

DilysPrice · 20/05/2011 13:24

My 6 yr old goes in the pushchair for the school run (dropping off DD) if he's ill, but never if he's well, not for years - I got a lot of flack from the school nursery for taking him in a buggy when he was 3.1 yrs old because they weren't geared up to have them left there.
I think that "it's a lot of walking" is a rubbish excuse for a 7 yr old with no disabilities - a full day's sightseeing is the same amount of walking/on your feet whether you're in Disneyland or London, and I'd expect my DCs to be able to walk all day with breaks for meals in London.

Possibly the difference is the heat, but I'm still Hmm.

harassedinherpants · 20/05/2011 13:25

I thought I was pushing it last year taking one for dd when she was 3.10. Dh was very Hmm about it all, but in the end it was very handy as she'd nap after lunch when it was really hot.

We got rid of it shortly after..... she never used it at home tbh.

7 is far too old imo. I agree with TheBride above.

feckwit · 20/05/2011 13:29

No wonder so many kids are crap at walking anywhere...

Ragwort · 20/05/2011 13:29

I think that is absolutely ridiculous to take a pushchair to a disney type park for a 6 or 7 year old (special needs excepted of course) - the thought that a child of that age can't walk around but can go on all the 'exciting' rides and no doubt eat huge quantities of food but not use their own two legs - words fail me.

twolittlemonkeys · 20/05/2011 13:31

YANBU - I was Hmm when we went to Disney a year and a half ago and there were 7 year olds (often rather overweight it must be said) in pushchairs to go between rides. Considering my 3 year old was fine with walking all round the park (maybe had a piggy back ride from DH on one occasion) I thought it was ridiculous. BIL & SIL were on holiday with their kids recently and put pictures on FB of their 6.5 year old in a buggy. DH was Shock