Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2 3 4

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:

ScousyFogarty · 20/05/2011 16:17

when I was about that age I was a bit ill. Mother pushed me in a pram with the guts ripped out

hanaka88 · 20/05/2011 16:23

Actually there are SN buggys that are essentially wheelchairs.

takethisonehereforastart · 20/05/2011 16:26

Pagwitch "Everyone on the thread has been clear that they are not talking about children with disabilities. Of any kind."

I was, but only because the OP said in her first post that she felt equating pushchairs to wheelchairs was insulting.

The only family I know who (sometimes) use a pushchair for an older child do so because they want to use it in place of a wheelchair so I thought it might help her to know that some people with disabilties wouldn't feel insulted at the suggestion.

Pagwatch · 20/05/2011 16:30

Ok.

It sounded as if you were explaining why a child with disabilities may be in a buggy rather than a wheelchair. Which most people can figure out. If they think about it. Although of course many don't.

My mistake

Original poster

QualiaQuale · 20/05/2011 16:39

By insulting I meant that arguing that a perfectly able-bodied older child's pushchair is essential mobility equipment was insulting to anyone who actually needs essential mobility equipment, whether that be a wheelchair, or an adapted or regualr buggy. Sorry I wasn't clear.

I'm glad I asked though as I was doubting myself!

OP posts:

lljkk · 20/05/2011 16:40

This one, isn't it?

hulababy · 20/05/2011 16:45

Have seen loads of children of this age using them in Disney. We took the pushchair when DD was 4y there as they are very long days but she hardly used it. It was the first time we'd used it for a long time though. When we went last time DD was 7y there was no chance we would have dreamt of taking a pushchair or hiring one for her. There is no chance she'd have gone in one either.

HRHShoesytwoesy · 20/05/2011 16:48

wow parents do like to make it hard for themselves a 7 yr old with no sn does not need a push cahir

worraliberty · 20/05/2011 16:48

I can't imagine any self respecting 7yr old would want to be seen dead in a pushchair!!

hulababy · 20/05/2011 16:49

I agree with those who say even in the heat of Disney I can't see my DD wanting a pushchair at 7y. She's 9y now and I can only imagine the look onher face if I suggested hiring one for her this summer! Yes it is very hot. It is very humid. It s very busy. e do very full days round the parks, every day too. And we walk a long way. It is very different to most holidays ime - I think the humid heat makes a huge differece. But even at 4y DD spent the vast majority of her time running full steam ahead. She only used her pushchair on the few times we took it late at night, and then more as a seat during the parades or fireworks.

millie30 · 20/05/2011 16:50

7 is too old for a pushchair. DS was 2.5 in December when we went to Centerparcs and I didn't take one with us then. He walked miles everyday. I do have a friend though who sometimes takes her 5 year old to school in a buggy. She complains that her DD walks too slowly so she has always used a buggy for everything, more for her benefit and ease than her DD's, who has now become really lazy. It really annoys me!

fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 20/05/2011 16:50

people say "oh children with SN aren't included" but if its an invisible disability then you can be sure people will look at a child in a buggy with a real cats bum face..my DD is very tall for her age..hasn't gone in a buggy since she was 3, but she then looked 5 and we got all sorts of glares..until people realised she has quite severe SN. SO maybe try not to judge quite so much.

fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 20/05/2011 16:51

in fact we might get a special needs buggy soon for DD, who now looks at least 6, can just imagine the looks we will get.

Original poster

QualiaQuale · 20/05/2011 17:00

I think thats why this surprised me though Fanjo, as if I saw a large child (4+) I would have assumed they had some kind of special need, and certainly wouldn't be judging them. The idea that people would use them for a NT, able child of 5, 6, 7 etc just seems bizarre.

We are going away in a few weeks and were considering hiring a buggy for our 3 year old, but thought he was too old for one! And he's small you could easily msitake him for 2.

OP posts:

worraliberty · 20/05/2011 17:02

The child in the query didn't have SN according to the OP.

fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 20/05/2011 17:08

i know that. But if a disability is hidden then people, judging by the views on this thread, will be judging away if they see a larger child in a buggy, and believe me it shows on your face.

oxfordlass · 20/05/2011 17:12

Agree with Fanjo, that there are many children who are SN, but may have an "invisible" disability.

There is also a special needs buggy, Maclaren Major, which at first glance does not look like an SN buggy. However, many children may be using these for their own safety, ie no sense of danger, etc

fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 20/05/2011 17:12

am not saying people here would judge a child with SN in a pushchair..just that you can't always tell if they have SN, so try not to glower at people with bigger kids in buggies

kaumana · 20/05/2011 17:15

I think theDibb is fairly normal, below is for the die hard Disney fans

www.disboards.com

GrimmaTheNome · 20/05/2011 17:19

By the age of 6 a child with no SN is capable of climbing a mountain. My (small, not uber-fit) DD did the Yorkshire three peaks over the course of two weekends before she was 7. (each seperately, not the trek between them! )

If I see an apparently older child in a buggy, my assumption is either they are huge for their age (I had a whopping nephew, my poor SIL used to get judgy looks when her apparently school-aged child was throwing a toddler tantrum), or that they have some SN.

bibbitybobbityhat · 20/05/2011 17:20

I am utterly intrigued that there is such a thing as a Disney forum.

GrimmaTheNome · 20/05/2011 17:23

well, its a bit of a Mickey Mouse affair..

soverylucky · 20/05/2011 17:23

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

kaumana · 20/05/2011 17:24

Check out the Disney for Familes forum, on the Disboards.There are a couple of threads debating bringing strollers for their older children inc one who is 9, btw no SN

Pagwatch · 20/05/2011 17:25

Ds2 has ' invisible' disabilities.

I would never judge a child on the street in a buggy - any size , any age.

What I am prepared to get WTF about are the people the op has described who assert via the Internet that their child without any sn or disabilities uses a buggy aged 7 and older.

Two completely different scenarios.

Flip

1 2 3 4

Swipe left for the next trending thread