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.

does your buggy harness have D rings on that you could attach the reins harness to?

My ds is the same. He is 12 months old and can get out of his highchair and buggy straps no problem. What we have to do is use seperate reins and then attatch them with d rings so there is no way he can get out. I do sympathise, my ds is a very awkward strong willed little chap and was trying his best to do his escaping act yesterday when an old man behind me started singing 'there may be trouble ahead' I swung around and gave him the look of death

shop online? honestly, you have to readjust to his crazy pace.

I agree with using the harness for his reins, combined with bribery. I used to feed DD raisins / cheesy fishes / grapes / whatever else it took to keep her in the buggy. Plus toys tied to the buggy (securely)

i use duck tape with my ds buggy as he can get out to with the duck tape wrapped round he cant get it open

Mega sympathies, BTDT. Another endorsement for REINS.

You duct tape your ds into his buggy

or buy a Maclaren stroller with the round harness, they need to press both under and over it to get it open, very tricky!

Ah, the problem with my ds isn't that he can open the harness. It's that he's so skinny he can just twist himself round and stand up backwards and step out of them iyswim