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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:
UnexpectedItemInShaggingArea · 30/03/2022 10:54

Is there something about the buggy that is uncomfortable for him? I swapped mine when I had this problem and DD stopped protesting.

Original poster
Onlyrainbows · 30/03/2022 11:01

No I don't think he's uncomfortable... He just doesn't like to be restrained. All the drama has come from that, and now it's almost like he has PTSD

OP posts:
ImFree2doasiwant · 30/03/2022 11:09

It's a phase OP, that many toddlers go through. 2 choices, walk nicely, or go in the buggy. Be firm, and consistent. He might scream bloody murder but he's not actually being murdered, he's really cross that he hasn't got his own way. It'll pass.

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nopuppiesallowed · 30/03/2022 11:09

@AchillesPoirot

Put him in the buggy. Take his shoes off and tip the buggy up so he can’t drag his feet. Snacks and toys.

Get stern with him.

I had one like this. It’s grim. But you just have to grit your teeth. Power walk.

Most of us will have had toddlers who refuse to go in the buggy. The above recommendations are great. Bribery often works but if nothing you say or do helps, it's useful to remember that you are the adult and he is the child. At age 2, toddlers are beginning to learn about power play but he has to learn to do what you say.
JustMaggie · 30/03/2022 11:22

If it's not a long walk, would he agree to holding the strap of your purse or the edge of your cardigan instead of your hand? Don't force him into the buggy for a couple of days till he gets over his "ptsd" (as you put it!) I think forcing him will just make it worse.

AchillesPoirot · 30/03/2022 11:25

A two year old does not have ptsd from being made to go in a buggy. You are dramatising this more than it needs to be.

Original poster
Onlyrainbows · 30/03/2022 11:27

@JustMaggie

If it's not a long walk, would he agree to holding the strap of your purse or the edge of your cardigan instead of your hand? Don't force him into the buggy for a couple of days till he gets over his "ptsd" (as you put it!) I think forcing him will just make it worse.
No unfortunately he doesn't... He was okish with his harness but my DH was very much against it, so we stopped using it...
OP posts:
AchillesPoirot · 30/03/2022 11:28

Would you let him sit in his car seat without being strapped in? What would you do if he was kicking off about his car seat?

KittyUnderwear · 30/03/2022 11:29

@Marblessolveeverything

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
Similar here, including the flashbacks Grin. If you have more than one DC and need to be at a certain place at a certain time to (eg) collect an older one from school, you can't be fannying around with the one who is kicking up a rumpus about the buggy.
Original poster
Onlyrainbows · 30/03/2022 11:29

That's why I used "". Obviously he doesn't have it... But he does cry and goes flat on the floor and screams whenever he sees we're getting it out.

OP posts:
KittyUnderwear · 30/03/2022 11:30

BTW, OP, he hasn't got PTSD! He's just being a 2 yr old...

KittyUnderwear · 30/03/2022 11:30

THink you answered my second one before I posted it! 😂

AchillesPoirot · 30/03/2022 11:31

@Onlyrainbows

That's why I used "". Obviously he doesn't have it... But he does cry and goes flat on the floor and screams whenever he sees we're getting it out.
No harm but so what.

He’s 2.

Tough shit. You go in your buggy. Non negotiable. Same as car seat.

Let him kick off. I mean if you’ve tried bribery and it isn’t working Then just get on with it.

Original poster
Onlyrainbows · 30/03/2022 11:31

We've had that more than a few times. Fortunately we never go far (5-10 mins) but the time we were stuck in the car for 6 hours we did have to get out of it because he wouldn't stop crying for 2... Then we all sang mollie and Mac for hours

OP posts:
AchillesPoirot · 30/03/2022 11:32

You didn’t use “” by the way not that I can see in the post that mentions ptsd.

AchillesPoirot · 30/03/2022 11:33

@Onlyrainbows

No I don't think he's uncomfortable... He just doesn't like to be restrained. All the drama has come from that, and now it's almost like he has PTSD
There are no quote marks around ptsd here.
Original poster
Onlyrainbows · 30/03/2022 11:35

Fine I didn't use ""...

OP posts:
Longblues · 30/03/2022 11:36

How about a trike?
Or snacks in the buggy to encourage/ bribe?

AchillesPoirot · 30/03/2022 11:38

Well I’m sorry but I was responding to what I thought was a serious suggestion and then you started to say you have put quotes and I was sure you hadn’t so I went back and checked is all.

Hertsgirl10 · 30/03/2022 11:38

@AchillesPoirot

I mean it looks less PTSD and more he can do what he wants and no one’s setting boundaries so why wouldn’t he kick off at everything that’s been suggested.

Just put him in the buggy, use reins so he can’t escape and take his shoes off, he won’t do the feet thing then.
Let him scream he will soon realise that he can’t scream and everyone will do what he wants.
He’s a kid he can’t just scream cos he don’t want to sit in a buggy, don’t want to walk etc.
Kids don’t get PTSD by having to do simple things that they’re told and all this faffing about is probably why he’s screaming cos he dunno if he’s coming or going, set rules and stick to it.

AchillesPoirot · 30/03/2022 11:40

Exactly. Just touch. In your buggy. Matter of fact. And peer walk. End of. If he yells he yells.

He’s 2. You need to get him to nursery. So he goes in his buggy.

AchillesPoirot · 30/03/2022 11:40

*tough

Enough4me · 30/03/2022 11:40

Go back to the harness as he didn't mind that.

Original poster
Onlyrainbows · 30/03/2022 11:40

[quote Hertsgirl10]@AchillesPoirot

I mean it looks less PTSD and more he can do what he wants and no one’s setting boundaries so why wouldn’t he kick off at everything that’s been suggested.

Just put him in the buggy, use reins so he can’t escape and take his shoes off, he won’t do the feet thing then.
Let him scream he will soon realise that he can’t scream and everyone will do what he wants.
He’s a kid he can’t just scream cos he don’t want to sit in a buggy, don’t want to walk etc.
Kids don’t get PTSD by having to do simple things that they’re told and all this faffing about is probably why he’s screaming cos he dunno if he’s coming or going, set rules and stick to it.[/quote]
But he can do the feet thing because his feet can reach the floor.

OP posts:
AchillesPoirot · 30/03/2022 11:41

So tip the buggy to its back wheels. Or get a cheap parent facing one with a bucket seat.

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