Refusing pram but gets tired of walking very quickly (& is very slow!)

[rowtunda]

Hi folks just wondering if anyone else has tackled this stage and what you have done. Any advice greatly appreciated.

DS is 19 months and now very confident on his feet, he seems to run more than he walks and has the odd fall but dusts himself back off again.

Anyway he has decided he hates the pram and wants to walk everywhere. I can get him in it in the morning but once we are out and about he will point blank refuse to get back in it - huge tantrums. The only way to get him in it is with distraction (raisins/ police car going past). The problem is that he is still getting tired quite quickly and can't walk far. He is also obviously very slow and likes to go his own route! I'm also a bit anxious about controlling him on a pavement still as his perception of danger is not great.

At the moment I have resorted to pushing an empty pram whilst carrying him and sort of perching him on the handlebar. DS thinks this is great as he can kiss me as we walk along - I'm not so thrilled with the arrangement, particularly as I'm pregnant and only going to get bigger!

We have tried reins which he hates, I was thinking of getting one of those backpack rein sets to see if he prefers that. I was also considering a buggy board.

Is it a phase? How long with it last? Is it worth me buying a sling? Will he just stop using the pram all together soon - it seems to be ridiculous pushing round an empty pram all the time!

[fuzzywuzzy]

My friends dd did this, she carried her everywhere, her dd would have tantrums when she got tired and her mum wouldnt carry her because she herself would be laden with shopping etc.

Instead of carrying him when he's tired can you not put him back in the puschair, does he refuse to go in even when he's exhasuted (my friends dd did this and insisted on being carried instead). What if you offered either buggy or walking and refused to carry him?

Sorry I'm no help.

[Ledkr]

Totally normal and very annoying.
My dd is 2 and very similar but she wants to be carried rather than get in the buggy.
I have had some success with the back pack and my other tip is when you need him to be in the buggy eg school run or in town don't let him out at all. Just plough on regardless and offer snacks.
I only let her out if I'm not in a rush or anywhere dangerous

[Yama]

I too push round at empty pushchair. However, I never carry ds. If he tires, or wants to go in the opposite direction he goes in the pushchair. He has no choice.

[rowtunda]

That's what I tried to start off with - if I say walk or pram - he will walk for another few steps and then arms up to be carried again. Then I try and put him in the pram & massive tantrum, arches his back so I can't clip him in. Then we are back to square one walk or pram - few more steps then arms up to be carried again. - grrrr so infuriating!

Do you think I need to just be firmer and just keep trying to put him in the pram. The problem is that it always happens when we are out and about in public with things to do so I just end up carrying him so I can get to where we need to go or to prevent full on public meltdown!

[Forester]

I can't be the only one who's manhandled their little one into their pushchair

[Jojay]

I'm afraid I'd say tough, in the buggy you go my love.

I agree with Ledkr, either make it a buggy only trip, or a walking only trip. if he thinks you might let him out of the buggy in a minute, he'll carry on moaning about it, but once he realises that buggy trips are just that, hopefully he'll give in.

Mine went on to micro scooters at around 2 ish and they were fab.

[rowtunda]

There's manhandling and then there is ramming him in and having to sort of put a knee on his chest to stop him from squirming out before I can get the clip on, all the time whilst he is screaming blue murder! I wonder what passersby must think of me.

Honestly I'm not the gently gently type but it seems neither is my DS and he can put up an amazing fight!

Maybe I just need to beef up

[Jojay]

Who cares about full on public meltdown? Honestly, no-one else will give two hoots what your lo is up to. You're in charge, remember? If you want him in the buggy, put him in the buggy.

[rowtunda]

Oh yes and the other issue I forgot to mention with live in London and don't have a car.

[Eskarina]

My dd is the same age and I'm also heavily pregnant. She loves walking but we have a lot of the behaviour you are describing. I am very strict on the "buggy or walk but I'm not carrying you". Yes she has a tantrum but at that stage she goes back in the buggy. Does your buggy lie flat? I find it much easier to get her into the seat/harness if I lay the seat back first when she does the rigid arching thing. In my case I'm enormous as expecting twins and have SPD. I physically cant carry her so she just has to play by my rules whether she likes it or not. After a few times of having to briskly push a screaming toddler round the rest of our chores she seems to accept it once she's in.

Good luck!

[sleepythegiraffe]

We have a similar problem and i am very strict - buggy or walk. I use distraction to get him in and make sure i have an exciting snack if i anticipate major problems. Also he is more willing to go in if he has something to hold, a shopping list or some of the shopping.

[WhyMeWhyNot]

I was lucky I don't think mine realised they had legs that were allowed on pavements. They were left in the buggy till we got where we were going and went back in it when we left till we reached home. If I was walking they were being pushed. End of. You may have inadvertently made a rod for your own back as they say. Not sure it'll be easy to change. Once you have your baby and he has to walk he will want the buggy for sure! That's kids for you. Good luck.

[forevergreek]

How pregnant are you? I would persist with taking buggy and not picking up, but maybe you could start using a buggy board soon if next baby is due. Then he will be used to it by the time they arrived.

We use the cameleon with bugaboo board since ds1 was 16 months when ds2 was born. He coped well, and now ds2 sometimes uses board so I'm left pushing an empty buggy! Also London so a single and board has been great on buses/ taxis compared to using a double. Now at 3 and 22months here we can go out sometimes without buggy, or just use buggy from house across main roads with youngest then he walks though all the parks. By the time we leave hea generally tired enough to sit back in happily.
They nap at home 99% time

[LeChatRouge]

Just be firm. Put him in at home and that's it for the entire journey. Or tell him that you are off to the shops and he needs to stay in, but for the last five minutes on the way home he can walk IF he holds your hand. If he lets go, back in (I used the knee in tummy technique too). I had reins that mine wore the harness part of over their coats and just clipped this to the buggy either side rather than trying to wrestle them into the buggy harness IYSWIM.

I would stop balancing him on the hood, the bigger you get, the more tricky it would be if he topples.

[Moomachine]

DS went through that phase too. We bought one of those push along steerable trikes. Can't remember how much it was (not too much I don't think), but it was a life saver as he loved being in it. Now using it again with DD as she goes through the same phase.

[JollyPurpleGiant]

DS was a bit like this. I used to carry him but now with PGP and 20w pregnant I'm just not able.

There is no option but put him in the buggy.

[abbyfromoz]

Hehehe had a little giggle as it is a faze... Just quite a long one as DD has been doing this for about 6 months... Here's what i do: bring buggy, buggy board, scooter & Ergo.
Buggy for sleep time (and to lug around everything!!)
Buggy board for when you need to rush- when he refuses to get in give him 2 options- buggy board or buggy- be firm. He might be more likely to choose one as he was given the choice.
Scooter- DD is still learning to use hers but hoping it will help us walk at less than a snails pace in the future when she gets the hang of it....
And Ergo/baby carrier... For when DD refuses everything else and wants to be carried or cuddled.
HTH!!

[abbyfromoz]

Errr by faze i meant phase...obv

[forevergreek]

I wouldn't stop him walking though. Iv never just gone out and back without letting them out ( apart from when tiny), and part from the odd week or so of not liking buggy they them become great walkers.

Also being in London it's very handy to have say a 2 1/2 year old not needing a buggy as you can jump on and off transport far easier

[YoniMakesTheWorldGoAround]

Yep, two choices, walk or pram. Bribery to get into the pram if you are tight for time. does that make me a bad mother?

It's really frustrating but you've got to stick to your guns.

Alternatively those push along steerable trikes.

The only other thing I could suggest (if budgets allow) is trying another pram. DD hated hers but then I brought her to pick out a new one and she was much happier (both came from NCT nearly new sales so didn't breat the bank).