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Original poster

17 month old won't walk anywhere

26 replies

clingytoddler · 03/08/2021 11:45

My 17 month old won't walk outside, he will sit in his buggy but as soon as we stop or after 30 mins he wants to get out and be carried. He will walk occasionally for a few mins but it's never more than that before his arms go up again. I have a 5 year old as well so we've been on plenty of outings and day trips. It's exhausting. I feel bad for my 5 year old as he'd happily play at the park for hours but it isn't possible with my youngest in tow as he won't be put down or really go on anything. He can be like it at home too but I just let him tantrum and insist we play on the floor but I can't really let him scream his head off at the park.

He goes to nursery 3 days a week and is absolutely fine there. Does anyone else have a toddler like this? It makes me not want to leave the house to be honest but that's not fair on my eldest.

OP posts:

yikesanotherbooboo · 03/08/2021 12:24

Can he go in a back carrier? You are then hands free and he has advantage of being up and able to look around as well as feeling your warmth.

SparkyBlue · 03/08/2021 15:56

My daughter can be like that . She is two now and a lot better but still loves her buggy. My older children loved their buggies as well so I obviously just have lazy children lol

RainbowCrayons · 03/08/2021 16:11

When did he start walking? My DS wouldn't even walk that far at that age but had only started walking at 15 months. At 2 he refuses to be carried and runs everywhere

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whatswithtodaytoday · 03/08/2021 16:13

Are his shoes comfy? I can always tell when my toddler's shoes are getting too small as he starts asking to be carried more.

Otherwise, he wasn't keen on walking at that age either unless in the middle of a field. He'd do a few steps then sit down.

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 03/08/2021 16:26

Don't pick him up, tell him buggy or walk or if he makes a fuss put him in the buggy.

IWentAwayIStayedAway · 03/08/2021 16:41

@MrsPelligrinoPetrichor
Came on to say same thing

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 03/08/2021 16:46

And if he makes a fuss ignore him!

StrictlyAFemaleFemale · 03/08/2021 16:48

My ds hates Walking. He would quite happily scoot along on his balance bike though.

PurpleMustang · 03/08/2021 17:03

As others said check shoes are comfy and even the socks. Some kids hate the seams in socks (a tip is to turn them inside out). Could it be that he doesn't like looking out of the buggy and wants to face you still?

Jobsharenightmare · 03/08/2021 17:07

"but I can't really let him scream his head off at the park".

Is this what would happen? It's not unusual to not walk much at all but assuming his shoes fit you need to enforce it's buggy or walk and stop picking him up I think tantrum or not.

NuffSaidSam · 03/08/2021 17:10

I would also stop picking him up every time he has a strop. Walk or buggy. Those are the options.

If you're worried about other people judging you go when the park is quiet for the first few times so he can strop away without an audience!

Original poster

clingytoddler · 03/08/2021 18:36

Sorry should have said he's been walking since 13 months. I think his shoes are comfy, they're quite soft and lightweight, I've got him some wellies which he refuses to wear so he must prefer the other ones. He is due to size up soon so will try a different brand anyway.

His tantrums are so bad, honestly the first time I refused point blank to pick him up at home he screamed for at least half an hour, throwing himself everywhere. Refusing a cuddle (on the floor).

I think I need to start with walks, they aren't a huge issue normally as I can have a break with him in the buggy but I'll need to go to a field in the middle of nowhere for his first few tantrums lol until he gets the message.

I've been to so many places and he just doesn't want to get down, even soft play I struggled to stay the full two hours but pushed through for my eldest's sake. I remember taking my eldest to fields at this age and younger and he'd run around for ages.

He is incredibly lazy would much rather just watch from the sidelines (in my arms of course!) than get involved in anything.

Laughably he was the easiest baby ever and never wanted to be held constantly even as a newborn!

OP posts:

Original poster

clingytoddler · 03/08/2021 18:38

@PurpleMustang

Nope he is much happier outwards facing. Before I turned him he would only stay in the pram for about 10 mins!

OP posts:

HungryHippo11 · 03/08/2021 18:40

@MrsPelligrinoPetrichor

Don't pick him up, tell him buggy or walk or if he makes a fuss put him in the buggy.

Agree with this

Original poster

clingytoddler · 03/08/2021 18:42

@yikesanotherbooboo

Can he go in a back carrier? You are then hands free and he has advantage of being up and able to look around as well as feeling your warmth.

Back carrier would be good for walks but it's mostly parks/soft plays I'd love to be able to go to for DS1's sake without just standing there like a lemon carrying him!

If I didn't have DS1 I wouldn't bother taking him to either! He just doesn't seem to want to play or go on anything.

OP posts:

Wintercoffee · 03/08/2021 18:45

He has learned you will pick him up, if he’s fine at nursery etc. Let him have huge tantrums for as long as he needs to get it out, it’s only temper and not genuine upset. Doesn’t matter if he has a tantrum in public, tell him mummy can’t lift you anymore mummy has a sore back!

MrsTophamHat · 03/08/2021 18:49

My DD is 17mo and I don't expect her to walk for any length of time tbh. It's buggy only when we're trying to get somewhere and then she can toddle round the park/soft play wherever as needed.

My son is also 4 and I don't try to take them both to the same stuff tbh. I take my DD to smaller softplays and parks and go separately to swimming, bigger soft play, trampoline centre etc with my son. I find at this age, their needs are very different and there is not much that they can both do and enjoy properly with only one adult supervising.

We are fortunate to have grandparents and my DH works shifts so an extra pair of hands is useful to either come along or look after one while I take the other out

UnbeatenMum · 03/08/2021 18:50

Toddlers don't have a lot of stamina at that age but it kind of sounds like your DS just doesn't like going out for some reason. Could it be noise or other children or separation anxiety?

UnbeatenMum · 03/08/2021 18:55

Also my 2yo is much happier in the buggy if he has a couple of cars to hold or a teddy or a snack.

LemonLemonLemon · 03/08/2021 18:59

I agree with @MrsPelligrinoPetrichor - mine is the same age and doesn’t like to walk far in the direction of my choosing. Conversation goes like this:

“Do you want to go in the buggy?”
“No”
“Will you walk?”
“No”
“Do you want to go in the buggy?”
“Yes”

AllTheSingleLadiess · 03/08/2021 19:02

I wouldn't worry about the walking because once he decides he's walking then you'll be left with the problem of how to make him walk the right direction holding hands but I wouldn't be carrying when the buggy is a perfectly fine substitute. I would offer a choice- walk or buggy and if he tantrums then he tantrums.

Original poster

clingytoddler · 03/08/2021 19:13

@MrsTophamHat

My DD is 17mo and I don't expect her to walk for any length of time tbh. It's buggy only when we're trying to get somewhere and then she can toddle round the park/soft play wherever as needed.

We are fortunate to have grandparents and my DH works shifts so an extra pair of hands is useful to either come along or look after one while I take the other out

When I say walk I'm including toddling in that! He'll get down for just a few mins then want to be picked straight back up again.

The places I go to have a big bit and a little bit, my eldest happily runs off and plays and in the little bit there are plenty of children much smaller than him toddling around.

In a 2 hour soft play slot he'll get down for maybe half an hour in total. Once he wouldn't get down and play at all. I spend the rest of the time giving him snacks and walking around whilst holding him.

OP posts:

User0ne · 03/08/2021 19:17

I had ds1 walking 4-6km daily at about 2yr4mo (because we had an allotment 3km away and Ds2 so no choice). BUT it was painful- slow, tantrums, time on bikes/off bike, snack and drink stops etc

If you persevere you can get them to walk longer. Ignore the tantrums no matter where they are, give the buggy/walk choice and don't allow fussing about the decision. Accept that you will have to go at around 0.5mph. I found pointing out every little bug/stone etc helped and if in a town got good progress by encouraging jumping on every drain cover to see if it made a funny noise.

mayblossominapril · 03/08/2021 19:19

I would keep him in the buggy with some snacks to keep him happy. Give him something he likes to get in back in the buggy without a tantrum. I used to bribe ds in with a Pom bear in each hand. Dd likes breadsticks. Keep slowly giving out the snacks to keep him happy whilst your eldest plays

dopeyduck · 03/08/2021 19:19

Christ my 20 month old won't go in the buggy but he's forever running off / into people, the other direction or not listening and it's exhausting to get anywhere.

Having a toddler is a nightmare. Embrace it.

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