Would you judge a mum with a 3 yo in a buggy?

[itseasybeingcheesy]

My 3.5 yo is flagging massively on the 2 mile circuit of a school/nursery run we have. She can't manage to scoot or bike the journey as she isn't great on either.

I've got a 3 month old baby in the pushchair at the moment but could put him in a sling and put her in buggy but I wonder if people would be judgy about an older child in a buggy? Or alternatively I've got a sling I can back carry her in and keep baby in pushchair. Would that be judged even I more? I'm not sure why I care but I do.

No I used one at that age for my son.

I used one for my dd. Very hilly mile and a half route to nursery/preschool. If anyone judged me, fuck 'em.

Mum pushing a baby in a cheap flimsy buggy, with the child that had clearly been squashed in, straps loose and the child is leaning forward, feet dragging on the floor, no appropriate coat/shoes on. Yes I would judge.

Mum pushing child in a size appropriate buggy, where the child is strapped in properly and fits both length and sideways, and is dressed for the weather. No I wouldn't judge.

I think if like me, you go for long walks often to the shops or whatever, then don’t worry. As your kids, when they are out of the buggy, will be still with you as a parent who walks long distances. I bought my 5 year old in a buggy loads still as I was going huge distances and he was fairly small - he’s super fit and able to walk a long way now as it’s normal for us to do it. Certainly wasn’t held back from being in a buggy.

I think if you are using a buggy plus car for every single trip out that is totally different, and kind of odd.

On days out in the city I didn't want to use a buggy board so it take a sling and when my 4yo got tired I'd put the baby in the sling and let my 4year old pre-schooler have a ride. yes, really. I don't think anyone ever judged me.

Not at all. Do what you need to do xx

No. I used a double buggy at that age.

I've got a 3.5 yr old and love it when he deigns to get in the pushchair! So much easier if we need to get somewhere quickly and safely.

There's no need to judge. My ds can walk miles over hill and dale and frequently does when it suits me and him and I have the time and head space to cope with frequent stops, chats, discoveries etc.

I don't intend to stop using our buggy in the school/childminder run for a long time yet.

My ds has just turned 4 and we use a stroller most days. I'm sure some people do judge but I couldn't care less. Sometimes I don't have 30 mins to do a 10 minute walk (school run) and sometimes, I don't want to be dragging him under protest around the supermarket. I have no intention of ditching the stroller any time soon.

I would not judge at all, I do a dog walk every day and I always took a pram for when they got tired until they were at least 4.

i wouldnt judge. I had my gone four and (tiny) gone six year old BOTH on the phil & teds. Made life a lot easier. I loved that pram!

They can both walk up moutains and have plenty of stamina aged 8 & 11
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D what works for you OP.

I wouldn’t even bat an eyelid. At three they are still learning coordination skills, you can’t expect them to walk far.

Nope and would be jealous - mine decided at 2.5 they would never go in the buggy again, I now have a bad back.

No

Not at all !

I regularly look at pushchair pushing women in the street and try and work out the age of their children. If I think they are over 2 then I rant in my own head about how ridiculous it is for the mum not to make the child walk.

Well I don’t, I’m too wrapped up in my own shit, but do you honestly give a fuck what someone who does the above thinks?

I don’t think people would judge you but an easier option would be a buggy board.

No

Nope. I rarely look in other people's buggies and if I do, I tend to assume they have a reason if there is an older looking child in there. Some people probably will but they judge regardless. Ds has a similar walk to preschool and he's been a buggy refuser since about 2. I was told I was a cruel mum for making him walk. Dd is 16 months but has loads of hair and is tall for her age...I should be letting her walk the full distance apparently. I just smile sweetly now.

Do they both fit in the same buggy? So you could let her walk part of the way whilst the little one goes in the buggy and then swap the baby to the sling and her to the buggy.

Omg my 3.5 ye old goes in buggy for a less than 1 mile journey. I don't give two hoots what others think. Why is it a problem?

I used to put 4 yr old DS in a buggy and have baby DD in a sling a lot. We used to do a mile journey to nursery and it worked really well. We could get there in less than half the time.

No. Of I didn't take the buggy on our long walks, I'd need to drive more. Esp in city centre, it keeps her safe.

No of course not. Mine all used the buggy until 3.5-4 years

No, because I don't know the exact circumstances of everyone I pass in the street.

If asked then tbh, I don't really understand why healthy nt dc would still require a buggy for every day short journeys at 3, other than lack of walking practice, but even so it's not something I would judge another parent for.

No judging here. My experience is similar to that of the poster above who said that people who ditched buggies sooner often drove everywhere - I used my buggy (in London, lots of walking and a bit of public transport, plus often had to park 500m away from my house and shared the car with DH) way longer than my friend in Surrey who was a drive from anywhere useful, had a driveway and her own car.