Comments on: They’re big. They’re bulky. They’re part of life

By: SUZANNE

SUZANNE — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 21:09:50 +0000

Véronique: I’ve had three kids, and I’ve never felt the need to overload my stroller. The typical umbrella stroller is sufficient for all my needs (although my #3 feels uncomfortable for it now, so I use the Avalon).

I think the stroller design is the problem. You don’t need a giant stroller to carry a 10-pound baby.

It seems logical to me that blocking the bus aisle shouldn’t be allowed, whatever the cause.

And my policy is: if the store isn’t child-friendly, I don’t go there.

By: Christy

Christy — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 18:00:20 +0000

I can understand that there is a problem when the walkway gets blocked.

What I don’t understand is why they think that limiting strollers is the solution. Maybe they need to create more handicapt spaces on the busses, so that the strollers can be placed out of the way?

I have a fairly small stroller, for which I am glad, because I used to take it on the Montreal Metro where I’d have to carry it (and my child) up or down two or three flights of stairs. When I had one child, that worked. Going out with two children, I would often need a bag of extra clothes for the kids, as well as diapers, food, a toy or book, and whatever I needed for myself. Having carrying space on the stroller is necessary, and the cheap umbrella ones don’t have carrying space.

By: Elizabeth

Elizabeth — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 17:56:50 +0000

Wow. I cannot believe those comments on cbc.ca. Especially one man you wrote that he hated parents – and received tons of thumbs up. Do people forget that they were once a baby? What a selfish society we have become – with such little thought to the needs of children.

I empathize with all of those moms – especially the single ones trying to get to daycare and work/school during rush hour. I live in the middle of nowhere, which I am thankful for after reading this story. I will be travelling solely by car when my little one arrives in April.

By: Andrea Mrozek

Andrea Mrozek — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 17:51:09 +0000

I might add that privately one notes a difference between Canada and the United States on this front. In travelling in the US with pregnant friends or friends with kids, one notes a whole lot more respect. A lot more of the Hey–are you pregnant, Congratulations! And more attempts to help. That’s just my (limited) personal experience. I wonder what others think.

By: Andrea Mrozek

Andrea Mrozek — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 15:42:33 +0000

And Lauri, no problem for me there–some venues are meant for adults and should cater to adults and that’s fine. Fine dining? Absolutely. I don’t pay good money for a fancy dinner out (a treat and a break) and expect to sit with crying babies. It’s my guess the average mom feels the same way. The bus system, on the other hand–if that isn’t meant for children/families/everyone–then I don’t know what is. Finally-I’m pretty sure I know the Thai restaurant Veronique tried to get chicken and rice in and it ain’t no high-class fancy adult-only venue. They should be able to accommodate a customer on a small request like that and that they couldn’t is a sign they are at very, very least, not very creative.

By: Lauri Friesen

Lauri Friesen — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 13:58:19 +0000

Why does the whole world have to accommodate young children? If a restaurant chooses not to alter its menu, likely in the hope that you and your children will not return, that is a leigitimate choice. I have no children and do my level best to be at least tolerant of their noise and behaviour in such places as airplanes, buses and restaurants. However, I admit that I would willingly patronize such of those venues, and pay more for the privilege, that catered solely to adults.

By: SUZANNE

SUZANNE — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 22:18:24 +0000

I’ve been on both sides of the issues. The big strollers are humungous pain in my point of view, but I’ve had to take a stroller on the bus. I try to stick to low-ridership routes, but even when you try to plan to not be in the way, stuff happens.

Why do strollers have to be so humungous? That’s what I want to know. When will someone invent a stroller than folds up conveniently by itself? Someone MUST of thought of it by now.