All parents, the moment their baby is born, can’t wait to carry it around and show it to the world. But when and at what age to use the stroller? It is a useful means of transport to satisfy the baby’s need for rest but not only. It is also a very convenient solution for parents, who can do their shopping at the supermarket or take a long walk without having to hold the baby in their arms.
However, there is a very specific age group in which to use the stroller and limited situations in which to use it. Let’s see when is baby too big for bassinet.
When to use the stroller?
As already noted, the stroller is a means of transport. It has a very specific function, which is to take the child out of the house. This is for various reasons, the main ones being:
- Running errands, such as daily shopping or shopping in stores
- Let the child discover the world around him, thanks to walks in the city or in the park
- Move from one place to another (going to grandparents, for example), with the possibility of carrying the bag with everything you need on foot, a blanket and some of his toys
- Allow parents to do physical activity since there are special sports strollers on the market designed to meet this type of need (which is well suited to children’s outdoor play)
- In light of these considerations, it goes without saying that it is preferable not to use the stroller at home, for example, to make the child sleep.
It may happen that the little one takes a nap when you are outside, but in the home, it is good to store it. This also prevents the child from using it as a “toy,” exposing himself to the risk of falls.
At what age to use the stroller
During the first months of life, the child stays in the pram, with his face turned to the reassuring one of his mother or of whoever takes care of him.
Subsequently, it is the little one who manifests the need for new stimuli and to want to “open up” to the world. It is the ideal time to start using the stroller, around 5-6 months of age. It is precisely in this phase of life that the child begins to want to sit and wean himself.
In this regard, however, it is important to underline that the backrest of the stroller must always be kept slightly reclined. In fact, the baby’s back is not yet able to support the weight on the spine for a long time and the baby could find himself bent face down!
Furthermore, as regards the first few times, it is preferable to plan short walks so as not to force the child in the same (new) position for too long.
Until when to use the stroller?
Pediatricians and psychologists agree that the child should begin to gradually detach himself from the stroller around the age of two and then abandon it definitively around the age of 3-4.
In general, these are indications that are valid for most children, although there are also exceptions that confirm the rule. In fact, there are children who, as soon as they start to walk, no longer want to go in the stroller and show a real intolerance (complete with whims) at the mother’s attempt to arrange them inside her.
In other cases, however, we see children who, well over the age of four (even 5-6, therefore a step away from school age) still do not want to know how to walk and only go out if carried with a stroller. Keep reading https://awoc.org/what-is-the-difference-between-an-air-purifier-and-a-humidifier/
Obviously, these are excesses but from which we take inspiration for some further consideration.
The first concerns the need to always carry the stroller with you until your child is about two years old. This is for the simple reason that, even if he refuses to use it, the child is at an age where he gets tired easily. Without the stroller, the only alternative left is to hold it in your arms while walking home or queuing at the supermarket checkout.
The second consideration, on the other hand, concerns the importance of remaining resolute in removing the stroller from the child when he reaches the maximum of three years of age. It may happen, for example, if a little brother has been born in the meantime, that the child wants to get on the special platform and be carried around by his mother for a while. But in principle, it is good not to exceed this age limit, as some sector studies show.
It seems that prolonged use of the stroller compromises the child’s psychomotor development and promotes a sedentary lifestyle. The fact of not walking, running and moving when leaving the house can compromise the increase (which instead is physiological in the growth phase) both in muscle strength and physical endurance, especially at the respiratory level.
Even prolonging the use of the stroller after four years of age predisposes to laziness and childhood obesity.
Finally, there is another reflection to share in this regard. Detaching from the stroller also has implications on a psychological level. In fact, this means of transport still remains a link between the child and his parents. Arriving at this age, however, children must develop their autonomy, as well as parents, gradually regain possession of their own spaces.
How to convince the child to abandon the stroller?
But in case of reticence or whims, how to convince the child to detach from the stroller? The excellent idea is to resort to some funny and nice “expedient” to attract his attention and curiosity.
For example, you can give him a tricycle or a scooter up to the bicycle, to be chosen gradually in proportion to his age. Keep reading How to Improve Your Home for a New Baby
