Should Strollers Be Banned in Certain Places?

@Anne- With an 8 month old, I could TOTALLY understand why you have a cart for just a gallon of milk. :)

Anyway, while I think there reasoning is pretty sound (it's only for the first couple of weeks, right?) I have to agree that baby wearing is not always an option. What about new moms who've had a c-section and are having a difficult recovery? And as Anne pointed out, some babies just don't LIKE carriers.

If it was a permanent ban, I'd muster the energy to get a lot more upset about it- that would be horrifically insensitive and un-family friendly. As it is, though, I wouldn't want to take my kids during the opening weeks anyway- it's going to be crowded no matter what. So asking people to wait a few weeks for the crowds to die down doesn't seem like a particularly unreasonable request.

I think that a flat-out ban on strollers in a public attraction like the aquarium - which is definitely going to be pushing for kid- and family-appea - is overkill. However, there is the reality that having too many strollers in one place can pose a safety or fire hazard.

I volunteer at the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto, Ontario, and this is one of the reasons why there are some sections of the museum where we encourage parents to park their strollers in a designated area and carry their children in the galleries in question (for instance, areas where there are likely going to be a high volume of families and children, such as the hands-on play areas). This is done to ensure that there would be a clear pathway to the exits in case of a fire or emergency.

However, what I like about the ROM is that they are aware there are exceptions to every rule - so staff and volunteers will also issue "Sleeping Baby Passes" to parents with infants in their strollers or sleeping children. This allows them to bring their strollers even into restricted areas, as we believe it is more important for the children to be supervised in the long run.

Perhaps the Greater Cleveland Aquarium could consider a policy like this one.

I'm all for carrying a baby in a sling. But sometimes it's just so #$%$ unwieldy; baby on the front, diaper bag slung over the shoulder, big brother or sister hanging off the other hand. It's nice to be able to toss all the baby accoutrement in the basket under the stroller and roll. Of course, there's no way in heck I'd go to a museum the opening week cause it's a super hassle trying to keep track of my three little ones, be courteous to other patrons and maintain my sanity. It's unfortunate that people lack the judgment to determine when a stroller is appropriate and when it's not, thereby causing facilities to create a ban. I'll take me, my kids and my stroller a few weeks later. : )

Yeah, strollers SHOULD be banned in certain places, and according to me those places are:

Anyplace whre liquor is served.........not just because the stroller is more cumbersome at a bar,but also if you're out drinking WITH YOUR BABY there's something wrong with you;

Large department stores......all too often I've seen parents LEAVE THE STROLLER, WITH THE BABY IN IT, unattended while they browse the sale rack, go into the fitting room, or try on shoes. When you leave your child unattended, you run a greater than usual risk of someone (other than you or your significant other) taking the child, & store salespeople and/or security guards are not your personal babysitting service.

Crowded restaurants......there's just no room for a stroller, and very often you inconvenience other diners, and the waitstaff by plopping a stroller in someone's way.

Please remember that not everyone can wear their babies due to disability or weight restrictions. Not all babies tolerate (or fit in) slings either. That said, there are absolutely places that strollers should be banned, not only for space reasons but for safety. There are some places that my daughter and I might have to wait until she's older to attend, but it's not the end of the world.

The ban was only temporary, it's not like they did it forever. Considering how packed some places can get on opening days I can see why they did this. Some parents (not all) use their strollers like a battering ram when they get in a packed place. You wouldn't believe how many times I have had my ankles rammed,feet ran over(actually had a pinkie toe broken), or hit in the legs by someone using a stroller in a place that was way too packed for that type of thing. Sometimes parents will have to make sacrifices that they may not like but they have to deal with because it comes along with having kids.

If you don't like a rule, don't be a patron.

I fully support the aquarium's temporary ban on strollers. I'm a mother of an 8 month old and I understand how cumbersome they can be for the parent and others around the stroller.
With that said, your idea of wearing the child doesn't always work. I think it's great that your child enjoys being in a baby carrier. Mine does not. Even as a newborn he hated it. He loved the stroller, hated the carrier. Every so often I would try to break out the carrier again, but to no avail. I finally gave up. Which wasn't fun when I had to travel through the airport with him twice in the past 3 months. My arms just about gave out, but wasn't about to pay a fee for taking a stroller.
I tried 2 very different baby carriers, but neither worked. That's why I am so glad for grocery carts at stores. I am one of the parents you can't understand why they have a grocery cart for just a gallon of milk.

It's kinda rude to people who have back issues or other health problems that limit the ammount of weight they can lift. I would personally be offended.

Since when are babies a "disability"?? You CHOSE to make the baby.

Judgement for the defendant.

How do they see banning strollers as a thing that makes everyone more comfortable? Places like this can take hours to walk through if you want to actually observe and get a good look at the aquatic life. Who in the world would be comfortable doing so by carrying a baby the entire time? Strollers are convenient for us parents as it leaves our arms free, keeps us from getting too warn out, and gives the child a comfortable place to sit and maybe sleep in when they need a nap. The only time a stroller should be banned is if the place you are in is not a family place, but one for adults, or in already crowded restaurants. Its easy to just sit a car seat in a booth with you, you do not need a bulky stroller in your waiters way.

That's #$%$ If strollers are in the way, then ban wheelchairs, too! Oh, wait, you can't do that due to the ADA.... well, having a baby in a stroller is a special need, too. I'd boycott the hell out of that place.