When should a child stop using a stroller?

[Shootingstar2289]

My son is 3.3 years. He walks quite a lot - to nursery, to the park, to visit friends and family if we aren't taking the car. But sometimes I still use the stroller for long shopping trips as he likes to run off which is a bit of a nightmare. I keep him out of the stroller when we just nip to the local spar to grab something.

Over the summer holidays, I was thinking of using it more. He's only got little legs and gets tired easily, he also likes to sit in his stroller to drink and eat if we are out. (It's also handy to put stuff on when we are out for the day).

But is he too old to be using it? I don't want people commenting on how he should be walking everywhere - which he does the majority of the time.

He's only little - isn't very tall and he's slim and fits comfortably into it and doesn't look too big at all. He also looks younger than 3.

Any advice?

Keep it for a while longer yet. You'll be glad of it when he's feeling poorly or lacking in energy on odd off days.

If you're happy and he's happy why stop?

Use it for as long as you need to use it and he is happy to use it.

What other people think of you is none of your business. I just love that saying.
Use it if it makes yours and his life nicer.

I still have a 6 year old with one.

Its completely up to you. If its useful use it! Mine stopped buggies quite early but I can see why theyd be useful, especially on long days.

When he can't physically fit into it any more is probably the point at which you'd be unreasonable to continue using it.

I think as long as its safe carry on using it as its long Aas you want. I take ours even though ds2 is often in a sling as so useful for luggage/ shopping.

My dd2 is 3.9 and we have only recently stopped taking it on short days out. If we go out for the whole day it comes with us. I also find it really useful for bags, jumpers, toys, rain coats, drinks etc. if we don't have the buggy, I have to carry all those items and it's a pain. So, keep using the buggy as long as you need to and even when you think you are done with it, keep it a bit longer just in case.

Forget what other people think.

My 6yo DC1 still climbs into DC2's pushchair sometimes if we are out and about and feeling tired.

You often see parents with older DCs still using them in places like theme parks as yes, they are handy to put stuff on!