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Original poster

Toddler won't stay in pushchair and refuses to walk :(

99 replies

Onlyrainbows · 30/03/2022 09:25

Normally not an issue, but given the car is either on its way out (and will have to wait for a new one or for it to get repaired) how can I take my 2yo to nursery? It's a 2mi walk, so I can just carry him on my shoulders. Public transportation is potentially an option, but I'd still have to carry him around and he's getting to heavy for me.

OP posts:
RockAndRollerskate · 30/03/2022 09:52

I second a trike with a handle. Get a bell or a horn to attach to the handle bars for him to tinker with

RockAndRollerskate · 30/03/2022 09:53

I slightly disagree with posters that say let him scream. Distressing for both of you and will only get harder as he gets stronger

RozHuntleysLeftHand · 30/03/2022 09:57

I used a decent backpack style carrier for DS.
I think he hated being low down on his own, I'd carried him in a sling for years so probably my fault!
It took him to festivals and days out and he even fell asleep in it.
It has to be a good one though that distributes weight well.
I used ours till he was nearly 5 and I'm only 5 foot and tiny, if you can afford it give it a try.

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GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 30/03/2022 09:59

We’ve had this with Gdcs when younger - always wanting to be carried when they were just getting too heavy for anything but a short distance.

Just strap him in - not easy when you’re dealing with a ‘screaming plank’ (as a friend once put it) I know, but you just have to grit your teeth and ignore it.

Original poster
Onlyrainbows · 30/03/2022 10:01

"screaming plank" is such a good description. He just screams and goes rigid. Anybody could swear I'm killing him!!

OP posts:
AchillesPoirot · 30/03/2022 10:03

Honestly it’s a phase. He will grow out of it.

It’s not easy in the meantime though.

TomDaleysCardigan · 30/03/2022 10:03

Scooter or smart trike?

BogRollBOGOF · 30/03/2022 10:07

I had a houdini. He constantly wore a reins harness and I had D ring attachments to the pushchair and highchair so he couldn't hurl himself out. The attachments had enough flex to let him move naturally, but not stand up and escape.
For shopping trollies, I clipped the back of the reins directly to the wire seat. The splat of a toddler's head hitting the floor in Costco from one of their huge trollies was awful. Fortunately no harm was done!

Most straps on pushchairs etc are absolutely useless.

Mariposista · 30/03/2022 10:11

What about one of those little bikes with a stick behind it so you can control it if he is about to go in the road/ride into someone? Or a scooter?

Bubblesandsqueak1 · 30/03/2022 10:15

Trike with a parent handle works brilliantly for kids that hate prams or walking

Ostryga · 30/03/2022 10:20

Christ this was a horrible phase. I practically had to punch Dd in the stomach to get her to bend so I could strap her in.

We got a smart trike and it saved my life!!

Now at 5 dd is most upset she has to walk everywhere and wants her buggy back Hmm

Ozanj · 30/03/2022 10:20

I take DS in the pushchair anyway and bribe him with my phone but then don’t give it to him, because by then he’s staring at the sky looking for planes lol

ThatsNotItAtAll · 30/03/2022 10:21

If you csn get a second hand bike trailer/ buggy like this one: www.amazon.co.uk/ALLEN-SPORTS-DELUXE-TRAILER-STROLLER/dp/B07S68J4BS?tag=mumsnetforu03-21 he couldn't drag his feet.

But I agree that a trike with a parent handle and seatbelt is probably ypur best bet.

Mine rode balance bikes quite long distances - certainly multiple times further than they'd walk, especially DC2 who happily did the three miles to drop his sister off at preschool and turned round and delightedly rode immediately the three miles home (dc1 and 3 weren't quite as commited/ enthusiastic) - from well before they turned two. However you absolutely need safe, quiet cycle paths and/ or a route through a park for that as obviously they've no traffic sense, and that's pretty unusual if you're UK.

2022IamHavingYa · 30/03/2022 10:29

Balance bikes worked for us. It’s a mile to nursery and he could happily do his balance bike there and back. It cost about £10 off marketplace and saved my sanity! The extra bonus is he could properly ride a bike by 3 and we cycle miles together now.
I’d retry and find something he enjoys doing

SQLserved · 30/03/2022 10:33

One of mine would scream in the buggy. I did the “strap them in tight and keep going”, thinking that was for the best.

When they were older they still remembered and explained that it was scary with other peoples bags and arms near their face as the other people walked past and found the rain cover frightening because they couldn’t see properly. Honestly, when I think about it in this way, it must have been terrifying and my heart breaks for them.

Don’t leave DC screaming, they’re trying to communicate their distress to you. Try to find out what is wrong, if they can’t verbalise yet, try some different buggies.

Original poster
Onlyrainbows · 30/03/2022 10:40

He has a balance bike, but he isn't that interested. We have to walk on the town's main road, I think I would be stressed the whole time.

OP posts:
JuneOsborne · 30/03/2022 10:41

Which way does he face in the buggy?

BertieBotts · 30/03/2022 10:42

I know he probably can't tell you. But maybe trying out some other buggies will give you information about what works and what doesn't.

Joie do a cheap parent facing one or you might be able to find something second hand. Or maybe he would like a buggy board so he can stand up. DS2 was more comfy in a more open style of pushchair like Britax B-Agile, than the travel system one which honestly had the mose useless tiny seat at a silly angle he would slip off and dangle, it seemed very uncomfortable. Fine up to about 18 months but no bigger.

Marblessolveeverything · 30/03/2022 10:43

Ah the flash backs. I used to put my head into his tummy blow raspberry strap him in remove shoes and sing loudly 🤣 I am not sure if it was shock or embarrassment but they generally went quite

Original poster
Onlyrainbows · 30/03/2022 10:45

He has a typical umbrella one that is outwards facing. He also has a harness (which he doesn't like either). We were in town over the weekend and he was happy to walk a little bit, but wouldn't hold our hands.. then he'd immediately asked to be carried.

OP posts:
AchillesPoirot · 30/03/2022 10:46

Second hand parent facing pram?

BertieBotts · 30/03/2022 10:46

Sorry with the Britax - the difference was a really big spacious seat and a bar he could hold onto. I rarely strapped him in as he preferred to have the freedom and would happily sit in it.

BertieBotts · 30/03/2022 10:47

I got it for £30 on Facebook marketplace. An older model but did the job.

ISpyCobraKai · 30/03/2022 10:50

Pushchair,cross the straps so he can't get out and sing, yes really.
The singing generally gets them joining in and the forget they were annoyed.

Squiblet · 30/03/2022 10:54

We switched to a scooter at this age. I used to have to pull it along by the handle ... which was awkward, but at least we were moving without tears. You can get ones with little seats from mini-micro, or whatever that big brand of scooters is called.