Skip to main content
Skip to main navigation
Skip to talk navigation

Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Saved Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Flip

For free parenting resources please check out the Early Years Alliance's Family Corner.

1 2 3

For free parenting resources please check out the Early Years Alliance's Family Corner.

Parenting

Walking with a 2 year old in the street

53 replies

microserf · 18/06/2011 21:46

DD is adamant she wants to walk in the street and gets very upset when put into pushchair (in fact, sometimes you basically have to force her, so I end up not going out rather than doing that).

Anyway, it was going OK with my pushing the pushchair with DS in it, and DD holding my hand or "pushing" the pushchair. BUT twice now, she has refused to hold my hand, and has run towards the road - once getting into the road itself with a large 4x4 travelling at speed towards her). Both times I have resorted to desperate measures to grab her in time, and we've ended up in a heap on the pavement, her in tears and me very shaken.

Should I be insisting she's back in the double buggy? Is she too young at 26 months to be walking on the pavement? DH wants her to develop her independence and I am a bit over protective, so I've been trying - but as she gets more confidence, the worse the problem gets.

OP posts:

Report

ginmakesitallok · 18/06/2011 21:48

wrist strap?? We have similar issues with DD2 (20 months) - but at least she can't run that fast yet

RhinestoneCowgirl · 18/06/2011 21:52

No, she's not too young to be walking on the pavement, but she is too young to have any sense at all about traffic/danger. I would use reins in this situation (if you don't like the harness ones, there are back-pack versions around which might appeal) and explain that she has to have the reins on until she learns not to dash off into the road.

RitaMorgan · 18/06/2011 21:55

Reins/harness.

Tee2072 · 18/06/2011 21:55

I agree, reins. My son knows, at 2 years, if he won't hold hands he will wear his reins or go into his pushchair. And, yes, sometimes I have to force him into the pushchair when hands and reins fail. His safety is more important than anything so it's not negotiable.

microserf · 18/06/2011 21:56

DH has strong Views about reins... although i have a pair hidden away that i bought a while ago. I may just have to bite the bullet and discuss it with him again. He was very anti before, but with a pushchair as well, I am terrified I won't get to her in time if she does it again.

OP posts:

Tee2072 · 18/06/2011 21:56

What is his objection, exactly?

Ivortheengine8 · 18/06/2011 21:59

I have an 18 month old and another on the way. My DD likes to walk now most of the time and I bought her a little ruck sack with reins on it.
My mum said my older sister won't use reins but she said her DD's are always running into the road etc. I could not get used to that!

If you get the rucksack type like here cgi.ebay.co.uk/Littlelife-Daysack-Toddler-Backpack-Reins-BLUE-NEW-/220793763367?pt=UK_Baby_Baby_Safety_ET&hash=item3368557627 they can put a little snack or something in the back and I think it kakes them feel more grown up!

I have it in pink from John Lewis

PaperView · 18/06/2011 22:00

Well it's not him that is walking with a buggy and a 2 year old is it?

microserf · 18/06/2011 22:01

I think he thought it was too controlling and infantilised the child (ie not developing independence). He was very anti when I raised it before.

But - real time development - just raised it with him now as suggested by you, and he's willing to reconsider given the incidents in the last week.

We were both pretty upset by the 4x4 incident as it happened right outside our front door. Thank god a stranger came by and helped us, as DD had ended up grubby, soaked and hysterical. I wasn't much better!

OP posts:

bushymcbush · 18/06/2011 22:02

I think if your dh had been the one in a heap on the pavement after a near tragedy, he wouldn't be being so holier-than-thou about it. Use the harness. Not worth the risk IMO.

PaisleyLeaf · 18/06/2011 22:03

Tell him you've got strong views about your 2 year old not getting hit by traffic.

Tee2072 · 18/06/2011 22:04

It actually gives them more independence as they have a bit of freedom, the length of the lead. Can you imagine how restrictive it is to hold your arm up in the air, over your head, as you hold mummy/daddy's hand? And how exhausting?

bushymcbush · 18/06/2011 22:05

Infantalising? She's an infant! Hardly more than a baby in fact!

Ivortheengine8 · 18/06/2011 22:06

Agree, It makes me shudder when I see little toddlers running about in the street. You never know what a child is thinking. One day she might see something and run after it or be startled by something that makes her run into the road. Parents SHOULD be in control of their children, who else is?

microserf · 18/06/2011 22:07

thanks, to be honest I had forgotten about the reins and thinking of just strapping her into the pushchair as I couldn't deal with it. DH is still not at all keen on reins, but with the pushchair to manage as well, it's just too risky.

started feeling a bit upset again by how close it was the other day actually. i know i'm being silly reliving it, but it's really coming home to me now how close it was.

OP posts:

Malvapoeding · 18/06/2011 22:07

can you get one of those daysacks with a strap which connects to the top so not looking like reins but still acting like them.

Jojay · 18/06/2011 22:07

I agree that some sort of reins are essential until she can be truated not to run off. The backpack sort seem to be longer which is a good thing. IK've got the harness type and they are very short and a bit awkward.

My Ds used to hate holding hands but would happily hold onto a strap attached to the buggy - perhaps you could try that, in conjunction to the reins to begin with?

NormanTebbit · 18/06/2011 22:09

I just use judgement - so DD3 walks along quiet streets with me but I pick her up on main roads unlessthe pavement is pretty wide. I watch her constantly and also walk between her and the traffic, using the buggy as a barrier.

I think it's important to road train from the beginning so she walks alot.

microserf · 18/06/2011 22:09

Out of curiosity, how old is old enough to walk by themselves? Our neighbour has a 3 year old who manages it very well, but I suppose it very much depends on the child him or herself?

OP posts:

exoticfruits · 18/06/2011 22:09

Reins are the answer. If your DH has strong feelings he needn't use them if he is taking her.

microserf · 18/06/2011 22:11

Hi JoJay, that is a really good idea for the strap. Unfortunately, that was the suggestion that prompted the first incident, as we were on a busy road and i started to get nervous about her veering close to the road. I asked her to hold the strap and she ran straight for the road. She does love pretending to "push" her brother though. I'd like her to get used to holding the strap as I think that could work really well long term, so I might ask her on very quiet roads to do that.

OP posts:

NormanTebbit · 18/06/2011 22:11

Also a biscuit helps to get an unwilling toddler into a buggy - sometimesthey just have to go into it and it doesn't do them any harmto realise that.

Don’t want to miss threads like this?

Weekly

Sign up to our weekly round up and get all the best threads sent straight to your inbox!

Email address

Log in to update your newsletter preferences.

You've subscribed!

microserf · 18/06/2011 22:12

I should clarify - it's the buggy strap, not a rein I asked her to hold.

OP posts:

PaisleyLeaf · 18/06/2011 22:12

It depends on the child and how many children you're trying to control etc.

microserf · 18/06/2011 22:13

Dh has just said he won't use the reins. It will be for me.

OP posts:

Flip

1 2 3

Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.