This is my third child, so I should have things sussed, but......This one is the hardest by far. He has no fear, which doesn't help when out and about, espcially at places like parks, shopping centres etc. going to friends houses are out as he just tears around like a lunatic. I've tried reins, but he just swings on them, I've tried the pushchair, but he screams and rocks it til it topples over sideways! I feel like a prisoner as I find i'm avoiding going out anywhere. Has anyone else had this problem and how did you solve it?

wish i had some advise but all i can think of is by saying if you run off we go home and actually take him home if he does

myn ds wasnt as bad but went through a stage of not wanting to hold my hand so i said if you dont we go home gave 2 warning sthen took him home few times of doing this he got the message and asks for my hand when we leave the house

pre warn friends of your plan so you dont feel silly for leaving they will understand and hopefully so will he

good luck

My ds (also a third child) is very similar. He will sit in th buggy as long as it is moving, but gets out (despite vaious straps)as soon as I stop.

I am hoping as he gets older I can reason with him but at the moment am persisting with reins and/or buggy when out, and as much time as I can manage in safe evironments for hm to run free.

I also have friends with similar boys so we can visit each other in relative safety

Sory for lack of useful advice but I will be watching this thread for tips.....

ds was like this i can't really offer any advice except reins when near busy roads but please console yourself with the fact that he will grow out of it, ds (6) is now a pleasure to take anywhere really well behaved just took a while

dd is nothing like this at all must be a boy thing!!

My DD used to leg it at the slightest opportunity. Unfortunately, absolutely nothing I did seemed to make the slightest difference. Luckily, six months down the line she just stopped of her own accord. At 2 1/2 she was very impulsive and active and had no real idea of consequences and absolutelly no fear. By 3 (and a bit), she was less impulsive, more fearful and had a much better understanding of what would befall on her if she crossed the line.

So there is hope then???? Not trying to be pedantic, but when you (neolara) say 3 and a (bit) do you mean almost 4? I can't bear nearly 2 more years of being a prisoner.

Both of mine are like this. DD has just started to calm down a bit. (just turned three) so I think you just have to sweat it out. She still refuses to hold hands though.

My ds2 (21months) is like this and is also my third child.

He climbed a five foot fence yesterday!

@ 5foot fence climbing!

Dsis a climber, but more of a runner (straight into the road if I'm not quick enough)

Wow! climbed a 5' fence? , and I thought I had it bad! Mine is definately a runner, although come to think of it I did catch him trying to climb out the living room window when it was warm the other day. I suppose he thought ' I want to go out'? So he made positive steps to do so.

If you avoid going out then it probably is making the problem worse when you do go out because he has so much pent up energy.
Do you have room for a trampoline in the garden? If you do then I would get one (look on freecycle if you can't afford it.) Get him on it first thing in the morning before you go out to burn some energy off.
Check he isn't getting hidden E numbers from anything. Then try to go out.
Encourage him to walk nicely by offering a treat such as messy play/paint/draw/bake when you get back if he's good.
You can try distraction by saying shall we count xyz so he has to slow down to count with you/ get him to collect things for a collage like leaves or flowers along the way iyswim.