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

[Onlyrainbows]

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.

@Enough4me

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

He minds it now :(

We had a v cheap second hand 3 wheeler from Mothercare which was ace at that age as the seat was so much bigger and their feet were way high from the floor. Much more comfortable for then too, and easy to squeeze another child or two into if needed.

It was about £20 from eBay and resold for the same

Combination of toddler backpack and push along /pull along toys got me through that stage. Especially those toys that clackety clack - they make it fun to hurry! Then if they're flagging you can take chocolate coins and hide one under the next dandelion (or whatever) and have them find it, which means you need to keep going to find more, in case the fairies left more... Don't need many but it motivates and that's all you need really, motivation.
You can go for the 'my way or the highway approach' and there are occasions when it's necessary, but this phase passes and meanwhile cooperation is so much more constructive if you can find a way to get it.

@Onlyrainbows

He won’t want to hurt his feet every time he goes out he will learn this.

I get it’s annoying, I had one that was a nightmare I would turn round in a shop and he would walk off IN the buggy if I hadn’t put the straps on 😅 and I had to use reins cos he would escape!!
I had to get a buggy that was a bit taller so he couldn’t reach the floor.
He was a hard kid but I had 3 others that had to go school and couldn’t mess around with it, you just have to get on with it and if the screaming gets to you that much put headphones in so you can’t hear it, obviously if it’s only for that reason not if he’s hurt or anything which he won’t be if he’s just in the buggy.

I used to push 3 on my urban detour and it was loaded with stuff. It was wrecked by the time I got rid of it. Great buggy and built like a tank!

[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]
This. Stop pandering. Set the rules and stick to them.

If he sticks his feet on the floor tip the buggy back. He will soon learn that the buggy is non negotiable.

@Onlyrainbows

We've tried that before a couple of times and he'll just drag his feet and either hurt his feet or damage his shoes. He doesn't calm down and it's quite distressful to see.

Tip the buggy back and push it with the front wheels in the air. Pain, but easier than carrying and better in the long run to not let him be in charge.

Agree with the no shoes or tipping back. Be brisk and matter of fact, don't play I to the drama.

We got a scooter for my ds at 18 months and now at 2.5 he chooses either scooter or to walk to and from preschool which is 1.5 miles. So maybe a scooter? Thebone we got had a seat and then a bar at the back for parent to push and steer but this can then be removed

When my DS had times like this we used to sing 10 in a bed all the way. That and snacks or a sticker book.

Would a buggy board work ?

Time to put your big girl pants on and be the adult. If you keep giving in you are creating bigger problems further on as he will have learnt that mummy gives in at the first sign of a tantrum...and this is what it is. All toddlers have them. There's a reason there is a phrase called terrible twos. He is being the usual two year old and lots of pp have given great advice.

If you tip the buggy back so that only the back wheels are on the ground then he won't be able to hurt his feet by draghing them on the floor. Headphones in and ignore. Screaming plank is a standard toddler protest. Stressful but sometimes you just have to get things done. Another few months and he might be big enough to walk or scooter and then the issue will be sorted.

Smart trike or bribery.

I had this with my youngest, umbrella folds were a no go for this very reason! She was fine rear facing as she could talk to us and later on a baby jogger city mini stroller as the wheels are tucked under the footrest so she couldn't reach it with her foot.

We also used the waist straps only as she didn't feel so restrained.

For walking she would use a little life back pack to carry all her important things so she didn't actually realise it was reins.

We'd need a completely different buggy for a buggy board, and I doubt that would work, he just likes to run around and doesn't hold still.

So strap him in and just walk.

That’s your choices. Let him dawdle and be slow and go and his speed and dangerousness level if he has no road sense, or find a buggy type arrangement that he will tolerate if you can afford a new or second hand trike or parent facing buggy OR just bung him in what you have and walk fast.

*at his speed

A smart trike is a life saver. My toddler would refuse the buggy but would lay on the floor with a harness on or run off. So a trike he thinks is so fun as it's not a buggy he wiggles the handle bars and thinks he's steering. He actually chooses that option. I would highly recommend it.

Try a decent buggy? Those umbrella ones are pretty flimsy. The seats are unsupportive and the tiny wheels are hard, they feel every stone beneath them.

Try a bigger one like an out & about 360 - absorbs the shocks on the road much better and has a big comfier seat he can lie down or curl up in.

@Onlyrainbows

We'd need a completely different buggy for a buggy board, and I doubt that would work, he just likes to run around and doesn't hold still.

Come on, OP. You're becoming a slave to a toddler's whims. You really do need to nip this in the bud now, or you'll become one of those parents whose child is being a complete PITA while you sit there saying "well, what can you do? He doesn't like sitting at the table/won't stop interrupting/other undesirable habit" (or, even worse, "he's just expressing himself").

If you have endless time, choices are walk or buggy (though take the buggy with you, obviously, in case he gets tired or stroppy). If you don't have endless time, he goes in the buggy. No negotiation. Bribery is fine, if you like - but he can scream and carry on all he likes: he's going in the buggy and staying there. As PP say, wheel the buggy on its back wheels if need be (I did that, too). He will not be traumatised by this, but he will be very confused if he's allowed free rein now.

You can put a buggy board on an umbrella fold, one of my friends did, I thought she was brave (she had a one year gap, eldest was 2!) but it worked for her. But I do think it would probably be worth trying different buggy types anyway, umbrella fold ones are quite flimsy and look uncomfortable and they can't really lean forwards and sit how they like. Also it's so easy for him to reach the floor - not so much the case in other buggies.

If you don't know other parents with buggies can you post on a local mums' group and see if anyone will meet up with you and let you try theirs out? Then you know what to look for, buggies can be really cheap second hand.

I'd look at something like this

www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/4771112849624475/

Or this

www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/2777955025842036/

Or this

www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/358906149481933/

Just something sturdy, higher up, with more space to sit, maybe a parent facing option. An umbrella fold is fine for hopping in and out but it's not comfy for a regular 2 mile walk.

Then see if you can find one of these old ELC steering wheel toys. Absolutely brilliant, cheap, available everywhere and like catnip to 2yos.

www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/1303519746786104/

When we bought this pushchair (umbrella one) we had to because the bigger one wouldn't fit in the car when we went on holiday. Since we moved to this house (October last year) we basically stopped using it.

So why not try the bigger one? You’re not going on holiday taking him to nursery every day?

*in holiday in the car