The thing that annoys me is people who don't know you are too quick to judge, a couple of years ago my friend bought a buggy for her 7 year old dd (shock horror), the reason being she was a few weeks away from having major heart surgery and was struggling to walk to the end of the street without getting very tired, naturally a buggy was the simplest option to save the poor child from having to drain her energy walking everywhere, unfortunately there were many comments received calling her daughter lazy "that child should be able to walk long distances by herself" type of thing. IMO people who see a 7 yr old in a buggy without realising that there must actually be a genuine reason are just ignorant and narrow minded.

I'm surprised anyone would think 22 months is too old for a buggy! Its the norm as far as Im concerned

If they say 'arent you getting too big for that now?'
Reply with 'God, no, he's still a baby, he's not 2 yet!' and just look at them s if they are crazy

the 21 month old i childmind is a runner and i tried once to walk with her from the car to the door of DS's preschool. the walk would usually be 2 minutes. i know use the buggy again.

i don't have any advice about what to say to the busybodies that make their comments, but you have my understanding!

OMG a unanimous AIBU!!

Loving the dark callar comeback.

I cant believe I havent posted on here yet. How did that happen?

I keep my kids in buggies for as long as I can. I hate it when they get to big for me to physically push. Like when their feet drag along the ground because their legs are too long .

Despite this terrible parenting all of my kids are able to walk, jump and climb at an astonishing rate.

I am not very good at walking along the road with meandering toddlers (I do have the good grace to feel guilty about that), kids running about in supermarkets etc and I always seem to leave the house just in time so the poor little buggers would be dragged along till their arms were elongated.

My OH has mobility problems too. He finds the buggy useful as a steading aid.

I knew of a mum who made a brilliant device out of a 'rollater' mobility aid and a small garden chair. She could push her older child in safety and it helped her with her walking.

YANBU also have a 22mo she likes walking but I put her in the buggy when I need to (near roads, when in a hurry, when can't be bothered to stop to look at every flower/stone/dog/etc) Never have any comments where I live-must be lazy here too Puppy! My sister does the school run with her nearly 4 year old in a double with her little sister as her eldest would more than likely never get to school if she didn't!

Tell them you want to get your money's worth out of the pushchair!!

Tell them he is unsteady on his feet due to being locked in a dark cellar all day!

WRT the SPD Betty try getting a pilates DVD, the 'floor' exercises do help, but I am too far gone for much help now as I am 13 years down the line.

My DS2 is just three and I have recently put him back in the buggy for the school run as I just can't cope. he runs so fast. He's slipped out of my hand and run across the road three times in the last three weeks. It's terrifying. He is incredibly strong and agile. My nerves can't take the strain. The school is very busy at pick-up time (400 children) and if he hasn't had a nap he is just too silly for words and will not stay near me. I lost him last week which was awful. He darted off amongst the crowds as I collected lunch box and book bag from DS1.

Their safety matters most of all. Bolters are terrifying. I have tried, I really have. He knows why he's in the buggy and he knows we'll try again in a few weeks if he's sensible the rest of the time.

But at 22 months? Loads of toddlers don't have an inkling about safety. Yes, the only way you can teach them is to do that but if your mobility is impaired (as mine has been for a long time) you just cannot take that risk. Safety training can come later.

My ds is 3 this month and if he wasn't so bloody heavy then there are times I would love to pop him in his buggy.
It is misery walking at 1 mile an hour in the pissing rain or when you are knackered and just want to get home. And then there is the whole "Carry me!" fiasco. (No, darling, Mummy cna't carry you as her back is jiggered).

Jesus, your ds is only 22 mths - just a wee tot imo and certainly normal to see kids that age in a buggy the majority of the time. Ignore the judgey buggers!

My dd bought a double buggy when dgs1 was 2.5 and dgs2 was newborn-he likes a little sleep after racing round the park for a couple of hours.22months?YANBU

Hmm, maybe they do assume he's older (dunno how, I have lived here for 100 years) there are plenty of other people wheeling 3 and 4 yo round, so I think it's because DH sometimes takes him for a walk, they assume that as DS can obv walk well, he should be doing it constantly.

I did think of asking to see the nosy bugger's invisibility cloak. Y'know, the one they wear while following me round all day, as they know I never let DS out of the buggy .

i feel your pain, DD is 2.8, but looks 4, she didn't walk until 2 due to low muscle tone and possibly has ASD, and I get comments, and am also expected to fold my buggy on the bus readily, which is nearly impossible as she falls over a lot and cant sit on a seat

I wondered the same as puppy monkey about them thinking he was older than he is? I had this a lot with my DS.

Not that it makes any difference, they should just mind their own business. Don't know why people see fit to comment on perfectly normal behaviour, yet all stay quiet when we see something terrible.

Just ignore, literally pretend you haven't heard them and enjoy the smugness of rising above their interfering comments and knowing, they must truly live a boring life if they have the time and energy to comment on yours.

It would make me so annoyed though.

My DD2 is 27 months and I still am mostly taking her round town in a pushchair... never had any derogatory comments where I live. Perhaps I live in a lazier area than you.

I wonder are they actually aware how old your ds is? Maybe they think he's a bit older or something. Still none of their damn business mind.

My DD had only just started walking at that age - I would have been in trouble without a buggy! Time yet to ditch it.. DD out of hers about 6 months now at 3.5.

None of their fekkin business! I still take my 4 yr old out in her buggy, tell them to piss off and be thankful they havent got more important things to worry about!

I had to start letting DS walk because he not only took the shoulder straps off, but has started to actually climb out of the pushchair (upwards, out of the harness) when he wants out. Actually he's getting better at admitting when he is tired and sitting back in the pushchair, but it was tricky in early pregnancy to have to deal with him lying down on the floor and refusing to get back up. I need to get him walking more anyway as DC2 is on the way and I think at nearly 3 I can't justify buying a double buggy (also skint) can I?!?

lol thumb will try it!!!

I never had to use them with ds1 he was a good boy and was walking most places by now, But ds2 well you have never seen 2 children so so different!!!

My friend used to put reins on her DS, then stapped the reins to the reins on the buggy!!! He really was Houdini!!

Thanks Thumbwitch, that last one looks promising.

put his shirt on AFTER you've strapped him in - that'll sort him!

I dunno tbh - I never use the shoulder straps on DS in the pushchair [bad mummy emoticon].

DS2 is 21m and I cannot be without his buggy because
1- he is too heavy at 2st 8lb to carry when he gets tired
2- he runs away
3- he is still a baby
4- ITS NO OTHER FECKERS BUSINESS SO TELL THEM TO GO AND DO ONE!!!!

Any ideas on how to stop him getting the shoulder straps off? he even manages if i cross them over!!!!
its not so bad in the urban detour but in the graco he leans over the side nabbing things off the shelves in the stores.

Gosh, 22 months and they criticise? My DS is 29 months and he only just now is getting any stamina for walking. I don't drive and use a lot of buses, plus am pregnant, so am afraid I bring the pushchair everywhere. As someone else said, if you don't bring it, what happens when they lie on the floor and refuse to move? He's too heavy to carry (and I have preexisting sciatica which I don't want to flare up in pregnancy so I don't tend to carry him far).

I have found one of those little toddler backpacks with a parent strap very handy when taking the pushchair as I can let him walk alongside me safely and still have most of 2 hands to push with while I hold the strap. We live in a city and there's lots of traffic so I can't face letting him loose.

Stretch, this is the sort of thing I have but it doesn't say anything about it being useful for SPD, only for SI and general pelvic support.

this one and this one are more specifically for SPD, the latter one being similar to the one I have in size.

You can buy them yourself but (depending on how long you have to wait), it might be an idea to see the physio first to make sure you get the right sort for you.

Just think of all the things you must be doing well that this is the only thing they can think of to criticise.

Can I buy them without the physio?? From Mothercare or someplace?? I don't really fancy having to wait for the referaal. I thought they may be massive, like corsets?? Or not!!
My mum suggested support tights, but it's a bit hot for them!!

- sorry, stupid computer!

Stretch, it depends on what type of belt it is - there are quite narrow ones that go under the bump, just around the hips, to hold everything together. I have one that I used before I was even pg (didn't need it in pg, thank goodness, but needed it again post-delivery!)
Tis only about 3" wide.

Stretch, it depends on what type of belt it is - there are quite narrow ones that go under the bump, just around the hips, to hold everything together. I have one that I used before I was even pg (didn't need it in pg, thank goodness, but needed it again post-delivery!)
Tis only about 3" wide.

mmmm...witty comebacks...

Feck orf you cheeky bugger!

Excuse me but would you please mind your own business?

That's very rude y'know.

Ok maybe not witty.

taking the pushchair does have the excellent advantage of me not having to carry any shopping home as well - in fact, to the extent that the other day I needed to go to Tesco, DS was asleep on the sofa and I almost took the pushchair without him, just so I could put the shopping in it!

I didn't though. DH wouldn't let me.

MW has put in a referral, so we shall see. what happens. I thought a girdle thing would be a good idea. Just sounds hideous!!

FWIW, none of the DCs aged under 3 at DDs school walk, well apart from a couple of metres from the car. They are all in buggies. And it's all well and good saying put reins on them, but when they sit and refuse to budge, well you aren't going to get anywhere in a hurry!!

When DD1 was small, I used to walk the few metres to the bus stop and people used to moan that she was so little to be walking such distances!!!

Nothing is ever simple is it!!

I was going to suggest what thumbwitch said: take the pushchair when walking. If I go for a walk with DD (25 months) she holds the pushchair and a doll goes in it. If she plays up e.g. lets go or gets tired then she sits in the pushchair. I'm training her for when DC2 comes in October!
I have SPD too, rubbish isn't it?!

thumbwitch, Ive been back to physio, they did manipulation massage and gave me exercises which helped. Problem is, I started to lapse a bit with them and now cant remember half of what I should be doing .
Its bearable though, as long as I dont set out on a 10k hike or anything.

none of their fecking business.

DS is 19mo and not a runner (yet) but I have back ishoos so whenever I take him out, walking or not, the pushchair comes too because if he DOES get tired (which he does quite a lot, or lazy, which he does more) and refuses to walk further, I can't carry him.

He has his own method of stopping us carrying on - he's tried the sitting down one (I hold his hand AND have him on reins cos I can't move fast enough to catch him if he slipped out of my hand) but now he just runs round the front of me and grasps both knees. We think he might be in training for rugby

If you don't get any help from physio, osteopaths can usually give relief from SPD as well.

yanbu

DD3 is 29 months (I think.. ) and I can't take her to the shops without a buggy to restrain the little minx. She's well able for the walk, it's just she doesn't stop when I tell her/tries to refuse my hand crossing the road/hides etc - she's a danger to her self (and bloody annoying!)

Stretch, have you been referred to physio?
Mine gave me girdle belt thing and crutches which helped massively.
Paracetamol???? FFS have these people no idea?

PMSL at sleeps and has his tea in there too!

And yes, I do take him to the park, just prefer to drive to the big one a couple of miles away, better equipment for littlies and more space to run.
We spend a fair bit of time playing in the garden and when I take him for walks round here, I ty to steer him towards the quieter areas rather that the village 'center' (the co-op lol)

Not far off TSM!!!
I thought I would be safe as I was still bf DS!!! <<whoops!>>

BettySwollux ( cool name) I used to get sciatica after DCs, but never had spd this bad before. I was given paracetemol for it

Oops - Freudian slip - in the buggy - not bugger

Stretch it is a million times better since almost immediately after the birth, but sadly still have pain sometimes . It usually does get better though.

YANBU - dd is 26 months and also a runner. She loves walking and its fine providing I don't actually need to go anywhere or do anything, otherwise, she's in the bugger.

<<hijack alert>> - Congrats Stretch - honeymoon baby ?? Hope SPD is not too bad

How about,

"That would be great if it were any of your business!"
"Shut up you feckin nosey cow!"
"He sleeps and has his tea in there too!"

My ds1 is 23 months, and although I'm trying to get him to walk as much as possible (only because I hate having a double pushchair) there is no way I would go anywhere without it.
Everyone else is being unreasonable.

Agree, it's none of their fecking business.

I got this with all of ours - then six months later when they were out of buggies and walking up a steep hill home, I used to hear 'poor little thing walking up that steep hill, aren't you tired [DC]?'

Judged with a 22 month old.

Blimey, people must have been EXPLODING with suppressed judgeyness at the sight of me and my 3 and a half year old !

YANBU and it is none of their fecking business

DD is also 22 months and I always take her in her buggy when walking in the village as the roads are too bloody busy, and pavements too narrow, to risk her being able to run off (ugh, the thought sends shivers through me). I am sure that your DS gets ample time to run around as much as he wants to, so in his buggy for a quick stroll to the shops is fine.

The latter

i cannot believe anyone thinks you would be able to do anything with a 22 mth old runner without a pushchair tbh!

Thanks all, am starting to feel like they are all turning their noses up at me.
Any ideas for quick comebacks?

I thought

Jesus! My DD2 was still in her buggy at 3! DD1 was out of it by 24 months, but we didn't have to walk as much then. We have to trek about 1 mile to DD1s school and back again twice a day.

I'd say mind their own bloody business.

Oh, and you have my sympathy with SPD. I am 29 weeks and in agony now. Has it really not gone after having your DS?? I though it would go after birth!

YANBU. (well, as long as you also take him to the park sometimes!)
I always have DS in buggy for shops, then a trip to the park on way home if at all possible. You are forgetting, other people just LIVE to pass judgement on you!

None of their fecking business

in my world(sn) I never judge little people in buggies
you could be really mean and tell them a sob story

YANBU - my dd has just turned 4 and still goes in the buggy sometimes to take her brothers to school for the same reasons you've mentioned! Admittedly we do it less often now but it wouldn't have crossed my mind not to take it when she was 22mths!

I did judge and tut at bit at pictures of Bryan mcFaddens children being prammed around Sydney (at ages 5 and 6!!) but 22 months sounds completely pram worthy, so I can't understand what they are fussing about.

So just ignore if you can, but i appreciate it must be infuriating.

DS2 is 22 months old. He is a 'runner'. I live in a smallish village where everybody knows each other's business.
If I go to the shop, I put DS in pushchair, as a) we would never get there, b)I have shopping to carry home, c) we are going somewhere else after, d) he is tired, e) he bloody legs it.
DH sometimes takes him for a stroll while I make tea/wash the floors etc (as do I when I have time) and we let him decide the route - within reason.

More often I am getting comments such as (directed to DS) "Ooh, you'll be too big for your pushchair soon, wont you?"
"Oh, I bet you'd rather walk wouldnt you?
"Daddy lets you walk doesnt he?"

DH took him to be weighed last week while I was on a course, lady () in shop said, "How lovely you have him out today, Betty never lets him out of the buggy"

DH gave her a look and said "how ridiculous, of course she does".

I have tried reins on him, which is ok as long as you want to walk round and round the mini bus parked up the street, but head somewhere he's not keen on and he sits down, same with hand holding, he wrenches hand from mine and takes off giggling.

I am so pissed off with it now, as I get it at least a few times a week.

I also have problems from SPD when I was pg, so seize up occasionally and cant run after him, and he is quite heavy to carry.

So........AIBU to have him in the buggy? Or is it none of their fecking business?