Taking two of them out: How do you take a pre-schooler out on a scooter whilst pushing a pram?

[veggie77]

Ok, hopefully not a daft question, but I've got an almost 3 year old Son and I am 7 months pregnant. I'm wondering how I'll get out and about with both of them.

I'm looking to buy a scooter for my 3 year old boy's birthday in a few week's time. He'll have about a month to get used to using it before the baby comes. We drive a lot of places now as he doesn't really want to go in the buggy anymore unless he's tired or it's raining, but in Summer I want to be able to take the baby out in the pram and walk to our nearest park with my boy. It's about a 15 minute walk. We'll also need to walk him to pre-school which takes about 10 mins.

What I'm wondering though is how you manage to walk along the street with a kid on a scooter and a baby in a pram! My Son just doesn't listen to me at the moment when I get him to hold my hand when we're walking and there's cars coming. I'm dreading him shooting off into the road on a scooter and not listening to me as I tell him to slow down/stop etc. Am I better off just spending money on a buggy board to attach to the pram, so he's a bit safer?

I wanted to get him for his birthday a good quality scooter like a mini micro one for about £60, but they don't fold up. I can't help but wonder whether a non-folding scooter will get annoying when I need to shove it under the pram or over the handles, when my Son gets off it to go and play in a playground/ walk next to me for crossing roads etc. The folding ones tend to be much cheaper at around £20 to £45 though don't seem to be as good quality or get good reviews.

Aaargh! Decisions decisions. Has anyone got any advice based on their experience?

P.S. not intending to replace my current buggy/pram system with a double one as I really don't like the look of putting one child underneath another one, and my Son won't appreciate being strapped into a buggy for much longer anyway.

[stargirl1701]

Baby in a sling. Both your hands will be free.

[loosechange]

Micro scooter will hook over the back of if a pram, but often wacks you on the ankles.

Realistically I would expect some regression and less than ideal behaviour after the baby is born. Even if he gets the hang of the scooter fast it will be stressful managing a pram and a scooter with a three year old on the roads.

I would get a buggy board, and get a sling for when you want to use the scooter providing you can get both.

[nephrofox]

Buggy board for journeys that require getting there is decent time and/or main roads

Scooter for the park, paths away from roads.

Agree you don't need a double if your eldest is already used to walking.

[LittleBearPad]

Get a buggy board for general out and about trips. He'll get fed up of scooting and then you have a tired 2 year old to encourage to walk. On a buggy board he judged to stand.

DD is relatively biddable and from the get go with her scooter she was taught that she wasn't allowed to scoot across roads. She used to get off, hold hands and walk across. Even so I didn't use the scooter with the pram until very recently. She's now almost 4.

[neolara]

Mini micros are very light and are easy to sling on the buggy. Used to go on my very lightweight maclaren with no problem.

Imo buggy boards are a real pain - made me walk funny. I guess this might be different depending on your buggy.

Kids can be v speedy on their scooters but your ds should become much better at following instructions over the next few months as he emerges from terrible twos and becomes better at impulse control.

[KP86]

Wrist reins, in case he doesn't like the scooter or is dangerous on it and you need him to walk nicely next to the pram.

Buggy board is a good idea but then you will need a backpack (or fit your nappy bag under the seat) and it will get heavy quickly especially uphill!

Maybe make it a game for him? Big boy showing the baby how nicely he can walk, rewards at home when he is well-behaved...

[FishWithABicycle]

Buy a scoot'n'pull strap - it hooks around the top of the scooter and is just the right length for safe scooting next to the buggy.

[FreeButtonBee]

I have 3yo twins and a 7mo. Agree sling is a lifesaver. You need to get your ds scooter fit now (using your DH and family etc) so he knows the rules. For us, stop means stop. Never going onto a curb. Slowing down to walking pace past people/buggies/dogs. Cross roads with me holding one scooter handle and them holding the other. You can also hold the scooter in One hand and them hold the buggy iwith one hand. Any pissing about and they walk:get out in buggy - has to be total zero tolerance as once you have another it's frightening to deal with a wayward preschooler

[JustABigBearAlan]

You can get scooter pulls (or just use a bit of rope or a belt) which work well. So if your DS gets tired, he can just stand on the scooter and you tow him along. I managed this whilst pushing a pram, although as a pp says, a sling is much easier.

Also, although mini micro scooters don't fold up, they are much lighter than the cheaper versions.

[SweetAdeline]

I'd get a buggy board and a scooter hook (I got one from jojo maman Bebe) to easily attach the scooter to the side of the buggy when not in use. That way you've got options. DD can scoot one handed whilst holding onto the pushchair but I have the opposite problem that she just wants to hitch a lift rather than scoot under her own steam.

I've zero tolerance for not listening to instructions whilst on the street. Any mucking around and the scooter goes in the garage for a few days and she has to walk holding my hand instead. This is a big deal for her because she hates walking. As your ds is a bit younger you could threaten going in the pushchair (baby in sling) if he doesn't listen.

[PoshPenny]

Get a buggy board. Life's going to be stressful enough without your PFB being out of your control on his scooter and not listening.

[trilbydoll]

Our scooter doesn't fold but the handle comes off easily so I can pull it apart and put it under the pram / in with the baby (lucky dd2 ) it's a mini micro one I think.

[Iggi999]

Mine has a backpack with a lead on it when he on the scooter.

[veggie77]

Fab advice everyone! Thanks so much! Decided to buy a mini micro scooter in the end. Should have about 6 weeks for my son to get hang of it before baby comes. I'm going to also get a scoot n pull strap and have already got a baby Bjorn baby carrier from before. First child didn't like it at all but I might start this baby in it sooner so they're used to it. Then I can go hands free sometimes. Good tips everyone. Thanks a lot x x

[minipie]

My Son just doesn't listen to me at the moment when I get him to hold my hand when we're walking and there's cars

Sorry but I really think you will need a buggy board if your DS doesn't listen. You cannot have him scooting on the pavement unless you know he will stop when you say - if baby is in a sling you won't be able to run fast enough to catch him and if baby is in a buggy you won't want to leave the buggy to chase after him (and even if you did, it can take a crucial few seconds to put buggy brake on etc).

Also there will be some days when your DS is too tired to scoot, can't manage uphill, etc. And it's also slow if there are lots of roads to cross as they have to get off the scooter to cross, back on scooter the other side umpteen times. Buggy board they just stay on.

Buggy boards can be got pretty cheaply second hand and will save you a lot of stress.

[5minutestobed]

I have a nearly three year old and am due no 2 soon. No way would I be taking him out on busy roads on a scooter just now. My plan is to sling the baby (get a stretchy wrap, much comfier than a baby Bjorn thing) and hold DSs hand and walk. Will possibly get a buggy board in the autumn for longer trips where he doesn't want to walk. Scooter is for the park/away from roads. Plus my DS isn't particularly interested in his scooter so don't pin your hopes on DS wanting to use it! I think scooting on busy roads is more for 4+ year olds unless they are good at following instructions.

[poocatcherchampion]

Toy can get much comfier slings than a Bjorn - for both you and the baby.

Also if you are trying to keep your ds safe - whether you like the look of a double decker buggy is neither here nor there. I have 3 under 4 and put either of the older ones in that seat for their own safety if thry are tired or not listening/obeying.

[BertieBotts]

I only have one child but WRT scooter safety. Three year olds do get the hang very quickly when you start out with very set situations they are allowed to scoot - I started with enclosed parks, progressing to only on the pavement (getting off to cross road) on our very sleepy cul de sac and surrounding similar low traffic areas. Then on slightly busier roads etc building up. I didn't progress to the "next step" until I was confident he was good at the previous step. I carried the scooter while we walked to the place he was allowed to use it.

Then you make strict rules and it's one strike only. Break the rules, lose scooter rights. My rules were no grabbing the scooter off me, he had to ask or be offered. No scooting outside the allowed area - which later included roads even if the road was empty. On pavement, he had to have me between him and the road. No going out of sight. (You just add these rules as they become relevant so it's not loads of freedom and loads of rules in one go.) Stop immediately when asked - you can practise this as a game, too. No scooting near to other people in case you crash. In hindsight, I wish I'd insisted on a helmet but I wanted him to use the scooter more than I worried about him crashing on it as we were in enclosed places. But I think with a baby in a buggy it would be worth making him wear a helmet as - God forbid - if he did get hit by a car then you'd be glad of it.

We practised road safety until it was absolutely burned into his brain on quiet roads where you'd hear a car coming from miles off. He actually ended up with excellent road awareness and I could trust him to run ahead and stop by 4 - I don't know how much that is personality and how much training.

If he's likely to run off, scooter or no scooter, then you need something to restrain him. Whether buggy board, double buggy or reins or whatever it is. It's just a safety issue at that poitn.

[whatsagoodusername]

I have found that telling my DC on scooters that they should stop at certain places in advance really helps before they set off.

So "stop at the lamppost" then at the lamppost choose another obvious stopping point. Then they get to go racing off and I know they will stop. If they don't, then use a wrist strap to attach them to the buggy.

[lunar1]

I wouldn't use a scooter with a child that's likely to run off. Either reins or a buggy board. I wouldn't let him go in front and stop at certain points.

[Jenijena]

Micro scooter may not be foldable but it's easy to take into two pieces, it sort of in lips with a button.

[kiki22]

My sob son goes everywhere on his scooter has done from 2. He needed training to stop when told to any monkey business and he is walking with me hes totally fine now but it did take work. Id buy him it now and start training him on it right away. Road safety and walking/scooting ahead is like anything else they need time to learn the rules and practice them. Ideal times to go out is during school times when the roads are quieter and is the quietest streets, I always tell ds access to his scooter depends totally on his good behaviour and he knows I mean it.

[kaffkooks]

My DS2 arrived a month after DS1's third birthday and we had just got him a scooter. I made sure DS1 knew the rules of using his scooter when we were out and about so if he doesn't stop when I say he doesn't get to use the scooter. Our rule whenever we're out is that he can run/scoot ahead but if I shout stop he has to stop (it helps that I have a voice that carries!) and he should never cross a road unless an adult is holding his hand. As kiki said, it's easier if you explain these rules and practice them before baby arrives. Buy a buggyboard too as I find it very useful, especially when he's tired.

[Lost27]

I bought and never used my buggy board. My ds was 3 when dd was born and he never needed it as he went everywhere in a balance bike. He never really liked scooters but loves his balance bike. I just make sure he is on the inside next to me and on wider/safer roads he goes ahead but waits at every lamp post. He knows if he doesn't listen I hook the bike over the handles and he has to walk. This only happened a few times and now he always listens.