Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

How do you get your toddler from A to B?

22 replies

Geneshish · 11/02/2020 13:01

DD is nearly 2 and wants to be allowed to walk everywhere. She does not, however, wish to ACTUALLY walk. She wants to run off in the opposite direction, or bend down and pick up whatever has caught her eye. She mostly just cries if put in the pushchair or carried any distance.

I get that this is all part of having a toddler but I'd just like to be able to wander down to the corner shop without all the fuss or it taking the best part of an hour. Is there any magical solution?

OP posts:
AiryFairyMum · 11/02/2020 13:02

One of those little bikes with a handle on the bike to push? Reins?

inwood · 11/02/2020 13:05

Buggy. Tough if she doesn't like it. You need to be able to get to places.

BertieBotts · 11/02/2020 13:12

A pushchair if we need to go somewhere. A free range walk if I'm exercising the toddler :o

He has never minded the pushchair though. I have friends whose kids do seem to mind it a lot and it looks wearing.

Have you tried one of those backpack slings? Not the metal framed hiking ones, the buckle ones like Ergo etc. You can get larger ones sized for toddlers/preschoolers, and they transfer the weight to your hips so they aren't heavy to carry.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Families
Minai · 11/02/2020 13:14

My son was like this until about 2 months ago. He’s now 2.8. I would let him walk (usually on reins) but if he tried to run off, sit down and mess around and mess around instead of walking in the direction we were going in I would warn him he would have to go in the pram if he didn’t listen to me. We had a lot of screaming tantrums and me basically wrestling him into the pram but I have a baby too so I didn’t have time to mess around and was scared of being distracted by the baby and have him run in the road so it was safer at times to make him be in the pram even if he was kicking off. It seems to have worked as he is so keen on walking now he is so good. Yesterday we walked to the library (30 min walk) and back via the park and he listened to me the whole time with no running off. If you’d told me that would have been possible 3 months ago I wouldn’t believe it. Seems to have worked for us.

Babyfg · 11/02/2020 13:15

My son hated being in the pushchair and was a free spirit. I use to let him walk as much as possible in safe environments (like parks and quiet roads) to get him used to freedom and really praised good listening. As I think a lot of the time kids can just get so excited about the freedom they just bolt and that is not always safe. So letting them walk when it's safe makes being out of the pushchair not such an excitement.

I used to tell him the dangers (at two they might not always fully understand but I think if you keep repeating the message something sticks). Such as if you go to far from mummy we might lose each other and it would make us both really sad. And then if you got hurt I wouldn't be able to know.

And clear warnings. Such as if you go near the road the cars will hurt you. So if you go near the road you will go in the pushchair which will be sad because you really like walking.

At three he's so sensible now and never goes far from me. I think it's a bit like riding a bike in the sense that it's a skill to be aware of dangers and to listen to parents when out so you need to practise to be good at it. So let her walk when you're not in a rush. Let her be aware of the dangers and praise good listening lots. It's not an overnight fix but it definitely works.

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 11/02/2020 13:25

depends where we are- i am lucky that i dont have a 'bolter'...sometimes i force the buggy, or let her walk along side it until she gets crazy or tired (whichever comes first). Supermarkets are the worse and I bribe to keep her in the trolley!

Clangus00 · 11/02/2020 13:26

Buggy or rein backpack.

Amanduh · 11/02/2020 13:32

Buggy. Reins if they will co operate. I let my 2yo walk in safe places but supermarkets, busy places, near roads etc- buggy and that was that, not worth the risk. Practice and warnings do help but even the most sensible toddler can have a second of madness. It gets better with age.

LolaLollypop · 11/02/2020 13:36

I feel your pain... my DD started hating the pushchair and is also a Houdini who can undo any straps or buckles!! So forcing her into it was never really an option.

I found what worked is letting her walk for a bit - she will eventually get tired and want to get back in he buggy. If I forced her it just made it worse so I just allowed plenty of time, took a deep breath and let her get on with it.

If I did need to hurry then I took bribes - snacks, toys and if it boiled down to it, Peppa pig on my phone. It wasn't ideal but sometimes her watching 20min of tv was all that got us from A to B on time.

Funnily enough she's kind of outgrown the "buggy hating" phase now and actually doesn't mind sitting in it. Not for too long though as she will get bored.

LolaLollypop · 11/02/2020 13:38

Oh yes and just to add - I used reins when walking along roads. If we were in the park for example I'd just let her loose!

Babyg1995 · 11/02/2020 14:03

Buggy or bike with the handle on .

LutherRalph1 · 11/02/2020 14:37

Folding trike - godsend!

Aureum · 11/02/2020 14:41

I hold on to DC’s hood. It’s subtle enough that he doesn’t realise I’m doing it and thinks he’s free, but I can pull him back if he’s in danger. Mostly he holds my hand because he knows if he doesn’t I’ll just carry him like a surfboard.

user1493413286 · 11/02/2020 14:43

Bribery or the buggy while she screams. It does pass tho.

Applesandpears23 · 11/02/2020 20:09

Snacks on the buggy or give her something to carry that is useful for the errand. A pet favourite at the moment is “all my money” aka a small purse with a couple of quid in loose change. She carries it very solemnly.

reluctantbrit · 11/02/2020 20:39

Backpack with reins but DD still had to hold hands. The reins meant she couldn’t go far if she bolted.

If we needed to go anywhere fast I took the buggy and with one warning I manhandled her into it. I also found that using bus or car was easier if I was really short on time like getting to the nursery in the morning.

ThursdayLastWeek · 11/02/2020 20:41

Buggy and biscuit bribery

ShinyGiratina · 11/02/2020 22:51

Buggy
Reins
Wrap/ carrier
Bribery

DS2 had to be bribed to walk with frequent "hug stops"
DS1 just threw himself to the ground and protested every 10m. That was fun while heavily pregnant and unable to carry him/ push a buggy...

LowcaAndroidow · 11/02/2020 22:54

Buggy if we have to get somewhere.

Toddler is the youngest of 3 so I don't have the time or inclination to mess about anymore Grin

VenusClapTrap · 11/02/2020 23:58

Pushchairs irritated me so I had them walking everywhere from the age of about two. Eldest was always sensible and compliant at holding my hand; youngest would sometimes rage against it so I used to hold him by the back of his coat collar which he hated, and he’d soon go back to holding my hand.

He’s nearly eight now and still likes to hold my hand!

IHaveBrilloHair · 12/02/2020 00:00

Pushchair and tough shit if you don't like it!

EatsFartsAndLeaves · 12/02/2020 00:18

Pushchair. Toddler often walking while I pushed the pushchair one handed, but if he messed around he'd get put back in the pushchair.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page