Anonymommmy wrote:

What DH and I think is strange is "very old" children, like maybe 5
years old or older, in strollers. It seems as if maybe people don't
want to have to deal with the 5-year-old's free will so they confine
the child in the stroller for the parent's convenience. Does this
seem weird to anyone else? What do people who have (or have had) a
preschooler/school age child think about this?

IME children want to walk and be free of the stroller up through the age of
two. Then they suddenly get very tired and want to be carried everywhere
again ;-) Not easy so a stroller works nicely for the pokey or tired older
child, especially if the trip requires a lot of walking.

I don't know if I live in a weird place or if other people do but I just do
not see babies left to cry in car seats, I don't see kids in strollers when
they don't want to be, I've never had a negative comment when breastfeeding
in public. If a child is happy then I don't see a problem. Lots of babies
*prefer* sitting in a carseat or stroller versus being juggled around in
mothers arms.

My first was in my arms 24/7. Not even dad would do. I carried him
constantly at home and when we were out. He cried in the car seat during
the ride, he cried at home if I sat him down for 10 seconds. So when I had
number two I carried him (without a car seat) when we were out. He was such
a crab when we were out. I finally got a car seat because he fell asleep in
the car and I hated to wake him up each time we got out of the car and it
was hard to help Hunter and hold a floppy newborn that I couldn't set
anywhere. Low and behold, he was a much happier camper when he was left in
peice rather then be fussed with and get hot in my arms.

--
Nikki
Mama to Hunter (4) and Luke (2)