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18 month old DS can now get out of buggy without any problem. Once out he is almost impossible to put back in against his will and in any case just gets out again. He's been doing this on shopping trips/walks and nursery pick up for a week or two. Happy for him to walk and help when he can and he has reins but I am simply unable to shop for food, carry heavy bags, push buggy, manage toddler having a tantrum and walk down the very steep hill home at the same time.
Just had a horrible horrible shopping experience. I don't think I've ever felt so close to smacking him - though I didn't. I almost gave up, tempted to leave the shopping in basket and run (tempted to leave the toddler too).
Please advise, those with older kids. What can I do to manage him. He is too strong and capable to restrain in the buggy but a bit too young to be able to manage walking around the shops without being distracted by every little thing and periodically sitting down etc. I can't reason with him as you would an older child.
BTW - he's not generally naughty or difficult to manage, just a normal child. i suppose really what I'm asking is what tricks are available to control him while out.
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The worst shopping trip ever - buggy escapee unmanageable Advice please |
(31 Posts) |
The knee works as does folding them in half (very gentle. Tickle first so bend over then grap in this position and quick transfer if your quick they're stuck before they realise)
We still cross the straps. all the buggies we've had (and we've had 4 in 4 year as ds is rough with them) have top straps that will unclip, so we unclip and switch which hinders progress. The double up harness works.
Fluffy's idea of hunting cards and activities can work as does a snack pot which is shoved into little mit at start of trip (carrot sticks, raisins what ever is small and picky and takes a lot of eating) works plus has the benefit of keeping mouth busy so less risk of the shouting that can happily accompany shopping trips with LOs.
We still cross the straps. all the buggies we've had (and we've had 4 in 4 year as ds is rough with them) have top straps that will unclip, so we unclip and switch which hinders progress. The double up harness works.
Fluffy's idea of hunting cards and activities can work as does a snack pot which is shoved into little mit at start of trip (carrot sticks, raisins what ever is small and picky and takes a lot of eating) works plus has the benefit of keeping mouth busy so less risk of the shouting that can happily accompany shopping trips with LOs.
If you can manage it I would try to find a comfortable carrier, like an ergo or structured backpack and a wheeled shopping trolley. Carry him to shops, let him walk or sit in the store trolley at shops, carry him home with shopping in trolley.
Also Ocado is fabulous.
Also Ocado is fabulous.
Thanks very much for all the tips but especially to the person who suggested crossing the buggy straps over his chest. I'm sure he'll find a way around this soon enough but for now it seems to be holding him in.
Good old mumsnet...
Good old mumsnet...
yy reins & d-rings
but best of all, I'm afraid, is a friend of the same age and a trolley with a double seat...
but best of all, I'm afraid, is a friend of the same age and a trolley with a double seat...
aha,i see the thread has moved on since i started tea 
however, as he escapes the harness you could use the duct tape to join the harness above the front clip,so you have to take it over his head (obviously not too tight!) iyswim.
however, as he escapes the harness you could use the duct tape to join the harness above the front clip,so you have to take it over his head (obviously not too tight!) iyswim.
the way i read the duct tape idea, was that the tape was put over the clips,not the child
domesticslattern Oh yes, the old knee-in-the-stomach trick - I remember it well 
Don't jump on me either.
Don't jump on me either.
With ds it is a Mountain Buggy. I have to strap him in and then use the reins as an extra harness It's the same in the Maclaren. We do use an Ergo carrier though, which he loves and I think part of his problem is that he much prefers to be carried, but in this weather he can forget it
It's the same in the Maclaren. We do use an Ergo carrier though, which he loves and I think part of his problem is that he much prefers to be carried, but in this weather he can forget it I feel for you. I also recommend Ocado.
BTW I don't know what kind of buggy you have but have you tried him in other styles? (Maybe borrow for an afternoon from a friend to try?) DD can't escape from her Maclaren if it is done up tight. Though she may not be such a Houdini, I appreciate.
Also, in terms of getting him back in again, a friend taught me how to pin them using your knee on their tummy, while you quickly do up the harness. Before anyone says
this is not brutal, you are just doing it to hold them in as you would do if you had three hands.
I also sometimes use a fairly structured backpack, which works brilliantly for toddlers especially the slender variety. Fine if you are just going to nursery but probably not a go-er with the shopping, I appreciate.
BTW I don't know what kind of buggy you have but have you tried him in other styles? (Maybe borrow for an afternoon from a friend to try?) DD can't escape from her Maclaren if it is done up tight. Though she may not be such a Houdini, I appreciate.
Also, in terms of getting him back in again, a friend taught me how to pin them using your knee on their tummy, while you quickly do up the harness. Before anyone says
this is not brutal, you are just doing it to hold them in as you would do if you had three hands. I also sometimes use a fairly structured backpack, which works brilliantly for toddlers especially the slender variety. Fine if you are just going to nursery but probably not a go-er with the shopping, I appreciate.
Just a thought, you think that maybe the duct tape was just over the clip of the harness, not round the child?
Sounds like a good plan if all else fails.
Online shopping is great if you do it in advance but if you run out of milk/bread you still need to pop to shops.
I feel your pain. At least in winter I could park right outside the Spar and pop in leaving dcs (1 and 2)in the car. (Where I could see them, no one jump down my throat).Such a bugger when it's too hot to do that.
Sounds like a good plan if all else fails.
Online shopping is great if you do it in advance but if you run out of milk/bread you still need to pop to shops.
I feel your pain. At least in winter I could park right outside the Spar and pop in leaving dcs (1 and 2)in the car. (Where I could see them, no one jump down my throat).Such a bugger when it's too hot to do that.
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