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Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

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Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

Behaviour/development

DD refuses to go in pushchair

41 replies

PIckledLily · 20/02/2014 09:09

She's nearly 2. She'll insist on walking 100m then wants to be carried. I can't physically put her in the pushchair as she planks and slides onto the pavement. I know it's normal at this age, but how the hell do I get to the shops?! Any tactics I can use? How long does it last or should I just sell the pushchair?!

OP posts:

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Sharaluck · 20/02/2014 09:13

I think you need to just refuse to carry. I can't carry my dc anymore at all as health issues. Didn't take long for them to learn this. They know it is either walk or be pushed.

If you don't offer the option of carrying ever she will have to learn.

Mycatistoosexy · 20/02/2014 09:13

Watching with interest! DS is 19 months and if he doesn't want to go in the pushchair then there is absolutely no way I can get him in. I don't mind him walking for short trips but I don't drive and I need to go out sometimes for longer than he can walk.

CatONineTails · 20/02/2014 09:14

Chocolate buttons.

Sharaluck · 20/02/2014 09:15

Snacks or toys as incentives once they are in buggy.

AnyaKnowIt · 20/02/2014 09:18

Oh give them the choice of walking or push chair.

I remember the battles with dd. She use to go stiff then slide too. I use to pick her up with one arm around her chest then other arm between legs. If I picked her up from under her arms I ended up dropping her! Sit her in pushchair using your knee to keep her in place while you do up straps.

NeverKnowinglyUnderstood · 20/02/2014 09:18

Ah. You see I a horrid mum who perfected the knee push quite early so whilst they plank you firmly push your knee into their waist and when they bend you do the straps

Doppledanger · 20/02/2014 09:21

I won't give in on this and insist that my dd goes in the pushchair if I have said she is. She will go stiff and cry and I just tickle her so she bends and fold her in. I'm not being dictated to by a 2 year old and sometimes she just has to do as she is told.

comicsansisevil · 20/02/2014 09:22

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

NewBlueCoat · 20/02/2014 09:24

Have you tried tickling her when she planks? You need the shoulder straps on ready, however rigid she is, then tickle her and as she involuntarily bends and squirms get the waist strap done up and off you go.

Agree that you need to say a definite 'no' to carrying. He choice is walk or pushchair, two chances then in she goes and ignore the tantrum.

Atbeckandcall · 20/02/2014 09:36

With everyone else on here. If she's nearly 2 she'll soon get the hang of not messing about. Have you got a parent facing pushchair? If she wants you to hold her when she's had enough of walking but still wants to talk to you?
Anyway YY to the knee bend and ticking and ignore all other shoppers wincing when they scream.

MyNameIsKenAdams · 20/02/2014 09:40

Offer walking or buggy, end of. If she winges its because she knows evebtually you will cave and carry her. Stop caving.

LucyLasticBand · 20/02/2014 09:46

brute force

LucyLasticBand · 20/02/2014 09:48

failing that, distraction and bribary

NancyJones · 20/02/2014 09:54

It's got to be walking if the buggy. None of my 3 have got in the buggy since around 2 and it is hard as everything takes 3 times as long for about 6mths. But they soon become quite proficient walkers. I certainly wouldn't pick them up.

But then none of mine have ever napped after turning 2 either so I find that year between 2-3 hard.

Goldmandra · 20/02/2014 10:02

Leave in time to have the stand off. She has a choice or walking or buggy.

You are the one in charge here so just be prepared to stand your ground until she realises she is not going to be carried and chooses to get in the buggy.

It isn't always easy or convenient to stand firm at times like this but it is worth it in the long run.

CrumblyMumbly · 20/02/2014 10:15

Mine was the same - I suppose the independence is good... I got a cheap very light buggy and when she didn't go in it - she pushed it. Was really good for holidays when she needed a sleep too!

MiaowTheCat · 20/02/2014 13:00

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

PIckledLily · 21/02/2014 12:20

Back again! Busy day yesterday, no access to computer.

Snacks used to work, but no longer. I clearly need to work on my 'knee' technique because mine isn't working. The pushchair just spins round and DD sits on the straps so I can't get to them crappy, flimsy babyjogger design. It took both DH and me several minutes of wrestling to strap her in yesterday.

We tend to use the car mostly so have been relying on my hip-seat for short distances, but it sounds like I need to lose it and be prepared for a stand-off.

Perhaps I'll avoid the 6am walk to the bakery for now then (early riser - but that's a whole other thread); it's not going to make me popular with the neighbours.

What about buggy-boards, would that be a solution?

OP posts:

LucyLasticBand · 21/02/2014 12:37

sometimes it is a two man job ime

FuckyNell · 21/02/2014 12:45

I see I'm too late for the old 'knee in the chest' advice

ShadowFall · 21/02/2014 12:48

DS1 (2.5 yrs) has the choice between walking and going in the buggy.

I usually have the buggy with me as well - It's a double buggy as DS2 is 5 months - so if DS1 demands a carry, he gets told that if he won't walk, he has to go in the pushchair instead. He usually walks along beautifully for at least a few minutes after I've suggested putting him in the pushchair.

queenofthepirates · 21/02/2014 12:52

How about those bikes with the long handle at the back? I'm a knee'er/tickler kind of a mum but my kid loves her bike too.

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mistlethrush · 21/02/2014 12:54

DS thought he would like to get carried even though he really knew it was walk or buggy. He would put his arms out to be picked up - I would pick him up, give him a big hug and a kiss and put him down and ask him whether he wanted to go in the buggy or walk.

We did use the hippy seat when he was 2.4 and we were on holiday and the buggy broke - but that was an exception and it certainly was not continued (and in fact he gave up using the buggy at all shortly afterwards). We did use a balance bike in the park and that was a godsend as he could get around much quicker on it than walking and didn't need pushing either (except up hill).

Anniegoestotown · 21/02/2014 12:56

Ds walked at 9 months and refused to go in a pushchair from that day. I had a 2 year old and had visions of walking around the shopping centre pushing my brand new double buggy.

In the end I invested in 2 sets of reins and 2 extendable dog leads and a pair of running shoes.

bonzo77 · 21/02/2014 13:00

If she's a planker put the seat flat first. Loosen the straps and don't worry about getting her arms in at first, just the waist / crotch strap. Then once she's in and sitting up you can put her arms in and tighten it. Once she learns that you mean business she'll cooperate.

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