How the fuck do you go for a walk with a toddler?

[YellowEllis]

My toddler is 15 months, wants to walk everywhere, but he's just a nightmare. He won't stay on a path, he just constantly runs off the sides into the bushes to explore but I can't really let him because there's always stinging nettles or brambles. If I hold his hand and try and guide him he throws himself on the floor and screams. If I pick him up and move him back on the bath he throws himself on the floor and screams. I don't understand how people let their toddlers walk anywhere. I'd read about how every walk takes ages as they stop to investigate everything and I was prepared for that. But we walk a few mins then I just end up carrying him whilst he hysterically cries. If I try and put him in the buggy so the dog can have an actual walk the same happens and he just screams because he wants to walk. It's not just bushes, if we're on the pavement he runs straight off on to the road, if we're on the beach he runs straight towards the sea then cries because I have to stop him. He won't stay on paths/pavements/sand. What do I do?

[whatswithtodaytoday]

Reins!!!

Mine walks better on reins, and I can guide/pull him in the right direction.

[pineapplepalmtree]

reins have always been best for us, won't stop the screaming though ..

[JunoJigglewick]

Slowly. Walks are slow.
I had a little life backpack with a lead so the child didn't think I was holding onto them. I may have let them wander into brambles. And I was prepared to pick the child up and carry them home under my arm. Firm grip too and a lot of bright and breezy "let's see what's over here then!" And "if you scream at me like that then the birds will get frightened because of the noise and we won't be able to see them". And so on.

It does get better.

[SidVisk]

I have twins that are only slightly older and am wondering the same.
We moved house especially to be near a gorgeous country park and I just can't take the kids when I'm on my own as they both go in different directions.
Reins made no difference at all because they get irate when I don't let them go in the direction they want. But there are so many hazards like cars, loose dogs zooming around off lead, lakes etc... that I can't do it at the moment!

[AriettyHomily]

Painfully slowly
Reins
Buggy as back up

[whatswithtodaytoday]

And yes, a walk with a toddler isn't really a walk. It's a meander, at their pace. If you want to actually walk they need to go in the buggy or carrier. When I take my 19 month old for a 'walk' in the woods, I actually just stand around watching him run from one thing to another, and guide him slowly towards the field for a run around before going back home (usually being carried because he gets tired and grizzly).

[mintich]

Reins!
Buggy if they get tired. The slowness you cant do anything about so embrace the long stroll

[Copperas]

This is what grandparents are for! Lots of wandering along slowly and investigating - certainly nothing to do with speed and distance!

[CircusAnimals]

Give up the idea of a walk. Either go into an enclosed field or park and let them run amok, or (which I remember in great detail in my case) sit on a wall reading a novel and going slightly blue while they jump in the same puddle for an hour, because they're wearing a warm, waterproof all-in-one with boots, and you're in a normal coat).

[nettytree]

Little life back pack. I used to sling a clean nappy in there and off we would go. Once round the lake near us and we would both have fun.

[joystir59]

Reins.

[FelicityPike]

Reins, we used the backpack ones.

[AnnaSW1]

Another vote for the backpack. This phase doesn't last long!

[SleepaholicsAnonymous]

It sounds like he is in that awkward phase of recently becoming a confident walker but not old enough to follow instructions. Incredibly frustrating but it will get easier quite quickly!

[Emelene]

Yep another vote for backpack reins! My LG (22 months) has a mermaid one and we make it a nice thing to wear, exciting etc and she seems to go for it so far!

[SleepaholicsAnonymous]

I used to threaten being strapped in the buggy if they wouldn't listen and after a couple of instances where I carried through the threat, there was less drama!

[Itisbetter]

You put him down if he holds hands and pushchair or carry if he won’t.

[Crocciesnap]

It passes quickly. My toddler used to always want to walk in people's gardens etc and get angry when I pulled her back. Now she is still a toddler but generally will go where I lead her.

[SweetTeaInTheSummer]

I always took the approach of a designated walking bit for my dd. So, leaving the house she was strapped in the buggy. Short walk to a local park where she could be unleashed and there were no roads to worry about. Once she was tired, strapped back in buggy and then I'd walk home the long way so I got some exercise and she had a nap. I never ever left the house with her walking - the routine was always buggy until we got where we were going. I couldn't be dealing with navigating pavements/roads/cyclists etc.

[RedRumTheHorse]

Slowly. Very slowly.

I let mine get stung by brambles so she would stop bloody touching them.

Then every time she refuses to move I put her over my shoulder and start walking. She then agrees to walk for 5-10 minutes before the next episode.

She doesn't run into roads though.

I would force yours into a buggy every single time he goes towards the road until he stops doing it.

[MaxinesTaxi]

When people are talking about walks I suspect they mean a toddler a little older than yours. Mine was only just walking at 15mo, he couldn’t go far at all, and it was very self-directed, so I would take him somewhere where he could toddle about safely in whatever direction he fancied like a big green space. Once he was closer to 20mo he would walk for longer stretches and was more reliable holding hands along the road, but obviously still quite slow. You aren’t doing anything wrong :)

[RedRumTheHorse]

Forgot to add my walks nicely with other children who are older than her and could walk a fair way from 17 months.

[SallySeven]

I used the buggy a lot. Then let them out at "suitable" places!

It's not walking really but meandering followed in our case by "buggying" when things needed to get moving.

It's a very tricky age to actually achieve a goal like going for a walk as understood by most people!

[steppemum]

reins.
Completely different to hand holding.

Walk with buggy and reins for 20-30 minutes, then they are tired enough to sit in the buggy, maybe with something like a rice cake and a drink.
Then you take off at a brisk trot to walk the dog.

[Ginfordinner]

Yet another vote for reins. We put DD in them from the day that she could walk. As a result it was normal for her.

We are both tall, and lived on a country lane with no pavement, so not having reins was not an option.