Best way to transport a toddler short distances

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My son isn't a fan of the buggy anymore and neither am I really - too bulky. I'd like something smaller and more fun for him for going to the supermarket/nursery run/to the park. He's 16 months and I've been thinking about getting a micro trike with a safety ring/harness to keep him contained:

www.micro-scooters.co.uk/micro-trike-xl-black.html

But they're not cheap and I wonder whether in a year's time he'll be on a scooter so maybe something like the 3 in 1 pushalong scooter would be better? My concern with that is if he's having a bit of a meltdown on the way home from nursery/wants to get off and run around the supermarket there's no way to keep him on it!

www.micro-scooters.co.uk/mini-micro-3in1-deluxe-push-along-scooter-blue.html

What do people tend to use for that sort of 2 - 3yr age range? Scooters or just the buggy still?

I bought a tula back carrier for her between 2-3 and now she rides her bike and scooter reliably

We have a stroller and a little trike

Buggy as if they fall asleep on a trike it's a nightmare

Surely a scooter or trike isn’t suitable for the supermarket? I think a lightweight buggy sounds better until they’re reliable.

The best combo I've found at that age is actually buggy plus buggy board. They like standing on the board better than sitting in the pushchair, but when they get tired they have the pushchair there to get into. 2nd best option we found is a scooter with a tow handle, but even as good walkers mine were slightly over 2 for that to work.

We have one of those trikes handed down but only use it around the garden. They are much less comfortable to push than a buggy as they don't steer very well. It is also essentially impossible to get a tantruming toddler into one, and if you did manage I'd be worrying about them getting hurt as they threw themselves around.

If they're not too heavy & like walking most of the time, like my DD1, then I used a Hipseat until she was about 2.5 years old. Hooked it round the straps of nappy/handbag combo bag and then put it on when she got tired. She was quite happy sitting on it as it meant she was in adults' eye line and so others would interact with her / she could see what going on. Being in a buggy is fine when you're out & about but can be very dull in shops / buildings where they just see legs & cash desks. My sister's boys are massive so she has a back sling as the hipseat dug in.

Buggy is the best solution. Tried and tested.

The scooter with seat is a good alternative for the park (not for the supermarket!) and for longer journeys when he's bigger.

We used to use toddler connecta to back carry with. Easy to put in bag when not in use. Still keep it with us now at nearly 4 for emergency carries!

How long is the walk? DS2 is 16m and walks the 5min walk to the playground/school run holding my hand - if he gets distracted/wants to go in the road I carry him on my hip for a bit.

I couldn't have done it with DS1 though, but DS2 was walking at 11m and is like a sturdy mountain goat that loves going for walks. DS1 I wrestled into the pushchair and distracted with snacks.

Mine is about to turn 3 and funnily enough she's doing a lot more walking since we bought a car two months ago. As before then we would have to take her in the buggy as everywhere was too far for her to walk and I didn't want her to be tired before we even got to the place we were going iyswim. There is no way we could have got rid of the buggy at 16m, and we still use it to take her to nursery in the morning as it's a lot lot quicker than letting her walk when we are in a rush to go to work and can't have her kicking off deciding she doesn't fancy going that day etc.

Also, she has a scooter and a balance bike but shows no interest in either and is yet to ever even attempt to use them when out. So don't assume your child will necessarily want to either...although admittedly I'd say DD is on the lazy side .

Thanks for all the suggestions and advice! I'm now thinking about maybe getting a board for the back of the buggy after the suggestion above. He loves to walk and can walk for quite a way, but helpful to have something for when we need to go faster/he gets tired and as he's quite heavy and I'm a bit of a weakling carrying him doesn't really work for me!

my youngest, no disabilities, used a buggy from time to time until the age of four and a bit. sometimes I wanted to cover a 1-4 mile distance swiftly and without an argument, or without using the car for what IMO is a ridiculously short journey. 90% of people I know who ditched the buggy early ended up driving everywhere.

she's 10 now and on the cross country team so being in a buggy did not make her lazy .

I used a ring sling until DD was nearly 3. It's like carrying them around on your hip but without knackering your shoulder and arm.

Just check he's big enough to hold on to the buggy board. There is a buggy board with a seat too.

Have you tried umbrella fold buggy? Kids seem to like them better as they aren't so restricted.

Teleportation.

Failing that, a fold-up umbrella pushchair.

Buggy boards are great. I didn't get on with the generic ones though, the one made for your specific pram prob worth investigating first.

The micro trike is absolutely one of the best things we have brought for our kids. Extremely light and easy to steer. Just so much better than a buggy. We have used it since my youngest was a little older than yours and he and his old brothers still love being pushed in it.

Look on Facebook market place for one of the push along trikes. There are always loads for really cheap.

I wouldn't get a buggy board unless you actually need the pushchair for someone else.

They add to the bulk of the pushchair and make it awkward to push too as the suspension is awful/non existent and you have to stand further back/stoop to allow for the extra stride between you and the handle.

You'd be better off just getting a smaller pushchair and letting him jump in and out as needed.

A lightweight buggy that he can get out and walk and gives you somewhere to put your bags and portable potty etc. Youd be mad to give up the buggy at 16 months unless hes reliably walking distances and staying close and not wanting to be carried all the time

I found the trike too bulky for trips to the supermarket, I am always annoyed with parents brining them or scooters in. Ok for the park or wandering around but not good for any longer trip or. where you have to go. indoors.

I also think an umbrella buggy is the best of both worlds, you can easily use it also to transport bags, the last thing you want is carrying a toddler and a shopping bag.

Give him the option to walk and have the buggy as a back up.

When my DC1 was that age we walked everywhere as we lived in a city centre. I would never have abandoned the buggy as they stopped to examine every blade of grass . I agree umbrella fold buggy and let him walk but pop back in as needed. I used a back pack carrier for supermarket or city centre shopping etc .