Stroller for older child

I used to post here a little a few years back, then went into lurk mode
for awhile.

Anyhow: my daughter is now 4 and about 35 pounds. I don't have a car,
and (unlike my spouse) I'm not stable enough on a bicycle to ride in
bad city traffic with my daughter on a bike. When I take my daughter to
preschool or pick her up, I have to walk more than a mile and cross a
number of notoriously dangerous intersections.

Some questions:

1. I know a lot of people here hate putting older kids in strollers.
Would you apply the "no strollers" rule to this sort of situation? If
so, what would you do? (For practical reasons, buying a car, moving and
changing schools aren't options at the moment.)

2. Aside from the Maclaren Volo, which goes up to 55 pounds, are there
any reasonably priced umbrella strollers that are suitable for bigger
kids?

wrote in message
oups.com...
I used to post here a little a few years back, then went into lurk mode
for awhile.

Anyhow: my daughter is now 4 and about 35 pounds. I don't have a car,
and (unlike my spouse) I'm not stable enough on a bicycle to ride in
bad city traffic with my daughter on a bike. When I take my daughter to
preschool or pick her up, I have to walk more than a mile and cross a
number of notoriously dangerous intersections.

Some questions:

1. I know a lot of people here hate putting older kids in strollers.
Would you apply the "no strollers" rule to this sort of situation? If
so, what would you do? (For practical reasons, buying a car, moving and
changing schools aren't options at the moment.)

Our children, by age 4, could walk quite a ways. If this is going to be a
long term thing, for instance if when she is in kindergarten she will still
be walking a long distance to school, you might want to start getting her
used to walking. If you are thinking she'll be walking part of the way, a
wagon may be an option. We used to have a wagon we would go on long walks
with. Accessories, or groceries would go in the wagon. If the kids got
very tired, and there was room, they would go in the wagon too.

Another option is a jogging stroller. In general they hold much bigger
kids. They might not have all the recline features you'd want for a younger
child, and the less expensive models don't fold up and fit in a car very
easily, but if you are walking from your doorstep to the school they carry
larger children and are very easy to get up and down curbs.

2. Aside from the Maclaren Volo, which goes up to 55 pounds, are there
any reasonably priced umbrella strollers that are suitable for bigger
kids?

I'd agree on the jogging stroller, with the added thought of making it a
swivel-front-wheel jogger, as they steer *very* easily, which is great
for busy urban streets. I had a double for my guys - ds1 was 4 when ds2
came along. We had the InStep double swivel wheel jogger, and I loved,
loved, loved it. The ride was smooth and it handled beautifully. I sold
it this summer, after ds1 turned 6 and I did think he was too old to be
seen in it by 1st grade friends. I replaced it with a single of the same
for ds2 who is now 2.5, and again, love it. They take up to 50 pounds
and cost anywhere from around $150 to $3-400 . Ds1 now rides his bike
while adults walk and toddler either is pushed on his tricycle or rides
in the stroller. I am considering a wagon, also. (I've been through
every manner of child conveyance device, from sling, to backpack, to a
variety of strollers and bike trailers...)

We were walking about 1/2 hour each way to preschool at the time, much
too far to expect him to have energy for school and playing on the
playground afterwards. So no, I don't think 4 is necessarily too old for
a stroller, if you are doing serious walking on a regular basis. I
didn't have a car either, until just recently, and walked and used
public transit daily. I bought a Maclaren Day Tripper umbrella stroller
for use when going on and off trains and buses and dealing with long
stairways and such, and after a lot of abuse and heavy urban use, it's
still in good working order. I'm not sure about he weight limit on it,
but it was probably relatively high as my boys were big babies. They ran
about $125 when I bought mine, and the guy in the store pointed out that
you could buy one umbrella stroller at a high price that would last, or
a series of cheap ones that may end up adding up to what you would have
paid anyway, and I have to say, I agree wholeheartedly that I've gotten
my money's worth out of it. But I bought mine when ds1 was about 2.5, at
age 4, it might not be worth the investment for you.

Regarding bikes, you could try a bike trailer, it's a much more stable
ride than with a kid on a seat over your back wheel, but you said you
would be in heavy city traffic, so unless there were a back way, I
wouldn't do it with my kid involved, and I'm a reasonably confident
bicyclist. Let me know if I can give you any more info. As I said, I've
definitely been there, done that in an urban situation with no car, etc.

Karen

Cathy Kearns wrote:
wrote in message
oups.com...
I used to post here a little a few years back, then went into lurk mode
for awhile.

Anyhow: my daughter is now 4 and about 35 pounds. I don't have a car,
and (unlike my spouse) I'm not stable enough on a bicycle to ride in
bad city traffic with my daughter on a bike. When I take my daughter to
preschool or pick her up, I have to walk more than a mile and cross a
number of notoriously dangerous intersections.

Some questions:

1. I know a lot of people here hate putting older kids in strollers.
Would you apply the "no strollers" rule to this sort of situation? If
so, what would you do? (For practical reasons, buying a car, moving and
changing schools aren't options at the moment.)

Our children, by age 4, could walk quite a ways. If this is going to be a
long term thing, for instance if when she is in kindergarten she will still
be walking a long distance to school, you might want to start getting her
used to walking. If you are thinking she'll be walking part of the way, a
wagon may be an option. We used to have a wagon we would go on long walks
with. Accessories, or groceries would go in the wagon. If the kids got
very tired, and there was room, they would go in the wagon too.

Another option is a jogging stroller. In general they hold much bigger
kids. They might not have all the recline features you'd want for a younger
child, and the less expensive models don't fold up and fit in a car very
easily, but if you are walking from your doorstep to the school they carry
larger children and are very easy to get up and down curbs.
2. Aside from the Maclaren Volo, which goes up to 55 pounds, are there
any reasonably priced umbrella strollers that are suitable for bigger
kids?

wrote:

I used to post here a little a few years back, then went into lurk mode
for awhile.

Anyhow: my daughter is now 4 and about 35 pounds. I don't have a car,
and (unlike my spouse) I'm not stable enough on a bicycle to ride in
bad city traffic with my daughter on a bike. When I take my daughter to
preschool or pick her up, I have to walk more than a mile and cross a
number of notoriously dangerous intersections.

Some questions:

1. I know a lot of people here hate putting older kids in strollers.
Would you apply the "no strollers" rule to this sort of situation? If
so, what would you do? (For practical reasons, buying a car, moving and
changing schools aren't options at the moment.)

I think using a stroller for your purposes is totally acceptable. At
least it provides an option if your daughter gets tired of walking. As
she gets older, you could even try getting her one of those scooters
(razor, or similar 2 wheel scooter) to use part or all of the way. Its
easier than bikes, and allows you to briskly walk and keep up.

2. Aside from the Maclaren Volo, which goes up to 55 pounds, are there
any reasonably priced umbrella strollers that are suitable for bigger
kids?

We have a Maclaren, I think its a volo and our 55 lb 6 year old still
rides fairly comfortably in it from time to time. It folds up easily,
rolls remarkably well on lots of surfaces with a heavier load, and is
really durable, so that would be my recommendation. Joggers are nice
too, although bulky.

cara

wrote in message
oups.com...
I used to post here a little a few years back, then went into lurk mode
for awhile.

Anyhow: my daughter is now 4 and about 35 pounds. I don't have a car,
and (unlike my spouse) I'm not stable enough on a bicycle to ride in
bad city traffic with my daughter on a bike. When I take my daughter to
preschool or pick her up, I have to walk more than a mile and cross a
number of notoriously dangerous intersections.

I'm in the same situation. I don't drive and there are times when I'm
walking (sometimes up against time restraints) quite a long way to get
somewhere. I have cycled, but once #2 came along I couldn't use the seat for
both of them.

Some questions:

1. I know a lot of people here hate putting older kids in strollers.
Would you apply the "no strollers" rule to this sort of situation? If
so, what would you do? (For practical reasons, buying a car, moving and
changing schools aren't options at the moment.)
It probably depends on your daughter. #1 hasn't got a lot of stamina. She
could walk the distance to school, but I'd be worried that she would then
struggle to get through the day on the energy levels she has.
#2 on the other hand will walk for ever, but is independant and much less
reliable. I wouldn't worry about the distances, but crossing dangerous
intersections would be bad news with her.
If your child has a lot of stamina and is sensible about crossings then I
wouldn't worry about a stroller at all!
I have had to be fairly strict with #1 that she only goes in the buggy at
particular times. I would suggest that this works fairly well. For #1 going
in (at that age) it had to be a long walk with something she needs energy
for when she gets there, like walking to her swimming lesson after a day at
school.


2. Aside from the Maclaren Volo, which goes up to 55 pounds, are there
any reasonably priced umbrella strollers that are suitable for bigger
kids?

I've a Maclaren Techno, which puts up occasionally with the combined weights
of my 6yo and 3yo. If you try the internet you may be able to get last
season's colours much cheaper.
Debbie

As
she gets older, you could even try getting her one of those scooters
(razor, or similar 2 wheel scooter) to use part or all of the way. Its
easier than bikes, and allows you to briskly walk and keep up.

This is a great idea - those Razr ones fold up I think, and would be
easy to carry back and forth after you leave her and go back to pick her
up. They're also not that expensive, at least not as expensive as a new
stroller.

Karen

Welches wrote:


I'm in the same situation. I don't drive and there are times when I'm
walking (sometimes up against time restraints) quite a long way to get
somewhere.

Definitely easier to get somewhere quickly on a long walk to meet a
scheduled bus, train, or get to a class with the child in a stroller!



I have cycled, but once #2 came along I couldn't use the seat for
both of them.

Many bike trailers can accommodate two children plus cargo for a total
of 100 pounds of weight.

Karen

"dkhedmo" wrote in message
ink.net...
Welches wrote:


I'm in the same situation. I don't drive and there are times when I'm
walking (sometimes up against time restraints) quite a long way to get
somewhere.

Definitely easier to get somewhere quickly on a long walk to meet a
scheduled bus, train, or get to a class with the child in a stroller!



I have cycled, but once #2 came along I couldn't use the seat for
both of them.

Many bike trailers can accommodate two children plus cargo for a total of
100 pounds of weight.

Yes, I know, but I'm not a strong cycler and having considered that as an
option I decided against it. We don't have the space to store it for the
amount we'd have used it.
Debbie

dkhedmo wrote:
As
she gets older, you could even try getting her one of those scooters
(razor, or similar 2 wheel scooter) to use part or all of the way.
Its easier than bikes, and allows you to briskly walk and keep up.

This is a great idea - those Razr ones fold up I think, and would be
easy to carry back and forth after you leave her and go back to pick her
up. They're also not that expensive, at least not as expensive as a new
stroller.

While some 4yos can manage those scooters, not all
can, so it might be a couple of years before it would work,
by which time walking might be just fine (and she presumably
wouldn't be at the preschool anymore). Also, I'd be a bit
worried about a scooter-enabled child at dangerous intersections.
And while the scooters do fold up, they're not all *that*
lightweight. I wouldn't be particularly keen on hauling
it home afterwards (though one might be able to leave it at school).

Best wishes,
Ericka

"Ericka Kammerer" wrote in message
. ..
And while the scooters do fold up, they're not all *that*
lightweight. I wouldn't be particularly keen on hauling
it home afterwards (though one might be able to leave it at school).

In all the cases I've seen, the mom rides it home :-)