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Behaviour/development

Is it reasonable for me to expect my 3.8yr old dd to walk now that baby has the buggy?

34 replies

Mandymoo · 21/07/2006 20:43

She is being a little pita about walking atm - is 3.8 still quite young to expect to walk everywhere?

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lacrimosa · 21/07/2006 20:45

I threw out the prams as soon as they were 1 1/2! I have to walk everywhere and didnt want kids that would complain about it so made them do it from an age that they could not voice their opinion! Now when we go on holiday they happily will do a 25 mile hike with me and daddy! Persist and the rewards will be plenty xx

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gigglinggoblin · 21/07/2006 20:45

no its not young at all (unless you are doing a 5 mile hike). you just have to get them used to it, which could take a while unfortunately. i find bribery works a treat - packet of chocolate raisins or something and give her one at the end of each street

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leggymamba · 21/07/2006 20:46

My 3.1 walks every where and has done for a year (gave up on the buggy board after 2 outtings) - she does moan sometimes but so do I

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popsycal · 21/07/2006 20:46

absoolutely not too young
ds1 was 2 year 7 months when ds2 arrived and has not been near the buggy since!

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gigglinggoblin · 21/07/2006 20:46

25 miles! too slow typing there, i thought mine were good at walking - i dont think even i could cope with that

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FrannyandZooey · 21/07/2006 20:46

Depends how far / how fast / how often you expect her to walk, really. In theory, she's not too young, but if you are great trekkers or want to whizz round town, yes it probably is too much to expect her to walk and keep up at your pace.

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lacrimosa · 21/07/2006 20:47

sorry forgot to say ds is 6 1/2 and dd has just turned 5 so they are a bit older now

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poisson · 21/07/2006 20:47

yes
bribe her

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tortoise · 21/07/2006 20:48

My 3 yr old walks and has done for ages.She gets tired and grumpy and sometimes she goes in the buggy while dd2 walks.Ive got a harder job of keeping dd2 age 2 in a buggy!She wants to walk everywhere but takes hours.

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Mandymoo · 21/07/2006 20:49

I mean just going for a walk to the park, around the shops etc - nothing too grand!

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lacrimosa · 21/07/2006 20:49

Yep! 25 miles I am very proud of them but we do walk a minimum of 6 miles a day at the moment. Though I have a date for my driving test and I might just be tempted to give up walking for a bit. It does help us all sleep well also!

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ills · 21/07/2006 20:53

dd 3.8 walks but moans often goes in buggy when ds nearly 2 gets out.

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poisson · 21/07/2006 20:54

how old ar ethe 25 mile w alking kids

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popsycal · 21/07/2006 20:57

i cant imagine ds1 in a buggy,,,, although several children from u=his ursery get picked up in a buggy...

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lunavix · 21/07/2006 21:00

I personally think 3.8 is a little old for a buggy without a good reason, sorry.

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MummyPig · 21/07/2006 21:04

Ds1 started to walk around a lot when he was under 2, in preparation for ds2 coming along. Until about 3 1/2 yrs old he still occasionally went in buggy if incredibly tired, but now none of us would expect it and ds2 (just turned 2) walks as well, more and more.

I have found I have to be realistic about how much they will both manage, and if your dd is not used to it you will probably have to build it up - perhaps with rewards if she walks to certain landmarks?

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Dottydot · 21/07/2006 21:05

I reckon that's a good age to get rid of the buggy. We're just starting to cut ours out - in fact we moved it into the garage (= holding bay for the charity shop!) this weekend and ds2 is 2.3. He can probably walk 1/2 a mile, which means playgroup, ds1's school, local shops and park are all within reach. Dp doesn't drive (yet!), so if she walks to her parents she'll probably use it as that's about a mile and a half away, but I think it'll get used less and less over the coming months. We had aimed to get rid of it completely by the summer so we're nearly there!

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FrannyandZooey · 21/07/2006 21:05

It depends whether you have a car, or not, I think. If you don't drive, and do a lot of walking, then I find a buggy is better unless you have a lot of time on your hands. But I agree it is not essential, and at 3.8 most children would be walking.

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Enid · 21/07/2006 21:17

lol

my 3.8 year old is also a PITA about walkign

tough though

if she throws herself to the ground I just walk off and leave her

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goshme · 21/07/2006 21:48

Would have to say dsitch the buggy!! My dd2 who is juxt 3 has had to learn the art of walking everywhere & it's done her no end of good e.g earlier bedtimes!! god luck"!"

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Rosieglow · 21/07/2006 22:00

My DS (3.8) walks now DD has the buggy but he still sometimes uses the buggy board. Mainly cos we're always running late and we need to get somewhere fast. Sometimes he's really whacked after going to the park too.
Round the shops he walks with me or pesters DH to carry him on his shoulders if he's with us - don't start that one!

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harpsichordcarrier · 21/07/2006 22:18

yes, I like to have the buggy as an option if ypu need to get somewhere fast or to contain everyone in one place in a busy place. but I think it very much depends how much you walk/whether you are often in a hurry....

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scully · 21/07/2006 22:27

dd1 was 3.8yrs when dd2 was born. For the first 4mths or so I would alternate between dd2 in a pouch or dd1 on the buggy board. Now that dd1 is 4.3yrs, she is 95% happy to walk next to the pram and hold my hand, and have dd2 in the pram. Occassionally complains of having tired legs but that's if we've done lots and she's got a good reason to be tired Nothing an ice cream or hot chocolate for both us fixes

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nikki48023506 · 21/07/2006 22:42

My eldest is 4 in a couple of weeks and will walk a fiar way before he moans as such. However, when I go and pick him up from nursery school, a boy in his class still uses a buggy to walk a very short distance. I guess it depends on the child, but where do you draw the line that they are too old for it?

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lacrimosa · 22/07/2006 22:34

do the treats not defeat the point of walking?

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