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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think that three years old is quite old to be using a buggy?

297 replies

Butternutsquash22 · 25/02/2011 10:41

Relative of DP was talking about how her buggy broke, so was going to have to find money for another one, find one she likes etc etc.

But the child in question is three which I would assume is old enough to walk places rather than buying another buggy?! Fair enough using it if it's there but if the buggy breaks she's probably too big for it...

Would you have bought another buggy at that age? She's an only child, with no immediate plans for any others yet.

OP posts:
NicknameTaken · 25/02/2011 11:21

I don't have a car and mostly have DD(3) on the back of the bike, but I would put her in her buggy instead if (a) I need the space at the bottom to carry shopping or (b) I think she is likely to sleep.

ImeldaSnowboots · 25/02/2011 11:25

Ahem, I don't think Hully is being serious (spots some members of MN group who take every post really seriously and fail to spot sarcasm)...

JennyRobyn · 25/02/2011 11:38

As with all aspects of parenting i didn't realise there was a set age limit on when you "should" give up the buggy.

Every child is different some manage to walk for miles at the age of 3 some don't.

DD was in a buggy until about 4 and a half ish. She couldn't do long distances...what difference does it make to anyone else??

Bunnynamedstanely · 25/02/2011 11:44

Weeeelllll, it all depends really. I'm with Stewie here IME people who say 3 year olds don't need buggies usually are not walking that far with their kids on a daily basis.

I do drive and have a perfectly good car sitting in the driveway but we live in a very pretty town which is nice to walk around and I prefer to walk. I have 3 year old twins who are excellent walkers for their age and regularly walk miles next to me pushing an empty double buggy. However sometimes they just run out of steam. I'm pretty fit but I can't carry two (slim!) 3 year olds more than a very short distance and that isn't even including the shopping/library books etc I'm already carrying.

If we do go out in the car I don't take a buggy with me these days.

OP if your cousin thinks she needs a buggy that's up to her. If you don't use one, that's up to you. It really does depend on lifestyle and circumstances.

mmmitsdelicious · 25/02/2011 11:53

ImeldaSnowBoots - I wasn't being serious either Wink....yes those terrible mumsnetters who can't spot sarcasm- would you be in that list?

MrsDmitriTippensKrushnic · 25/02/2011 12:05

I wouldn't have done when mine were 3, but we tended to travel by car.

If they were 3 now when I don't have one, good grief yes. The times we have to race for the bus to school, or when I have to get shopping (wandering 3yo plus bags of shopping, plus a long walk ) I get tired sometimes, a 3yo would be exhausted (and grumpy and whingy)

Different people have different circumstances. You deal with them the best way you can.

Abcinthia · 25/02/2011 12:08

It depends. My DD is 3 and a half. She uses her pushchair only when I am walking to the shops (I don't drive and bus fare is stupidly expensive so I walk when I can). DD can manage to walk down town and around the shops but we live in a hilly area, have to walk up 2 hills to get home (one of which is very steep) and she just can't do it. I can't carry her plus bags of shopping so the pushchair is very much needed.

Different children have different needs.

shaz298 · 25/02/2011 12:18

OP, why don't you be helpful and suggest she buy a Maclaren Major buggy for the LO. These are bigger as they're for kids with diabilities.............

BaroqueAroundTheClock · 25/02/2011 12:26

can I just say that my first comment about my children not being fat was an x post with hully - so not a reaction to her comment

shewasashowgirl · 25/02/2011 12:29

SewieGriffinsmom puts it well, there is no way you could do a long school run without a buggy, especially without a car. My DS is 2.5 and scoots to nursery but there are times when it's raining hard where a buggy is needed for speed and to keep them dry.

ImeldaSnowboots · 25/02/2011 12:53

Blush adds self to list.....Grin
and also to list of people who use too many smileys...

gallifrey · 25/02/2011 12:53

There is a boy in reception class at my daughters school that gets taken there in a buggy!
I don't know how far away they live but he doesn't go home in it, he walks home so I assume it's not that far..

ShowOfHands · 25/02/2011 12:58

My Dad's fat. It's because his Mum still pushes him round in a modified shopping trolley. He's 54 fgs.

TabithaTwitchet · 25/02/2011 12:58

DD is 3, and there is no way I would be able to negotiate/wrestle her into a buggy now - I have not been able to do so for several months.

I don't drive, we walk and use public transport everywhere. She knows she has to walk everywhere if she won't get into the buggy when we leave the house (I won't take it with us empty), and she can and does walk, usually without complaint - she knows I can't carry her at all (however if DH is there she won't walk at all, and whines to be carried the whole time, because she knows he can carry her).

It does take longer to get everywhere - sometimes we miss the bus because we can't run for it etc. But she can't dawdle that much because she has to hold my hand at all times

If she was still happy to go in the buggy, I would still be using it, why would I not want to make my life easy.
But on the other hand, then I wouldn't know how far and well she is able to work, because I might not have let her try.

Rhian82 · 25/02/2011 13:04

DS is 2.4, but I can't see us abandoning the buggy by three - it's two miles into town from our house, so a four-mile round trip plus a walk round the shops - don't think a three-year-old will manage it somehow!

StewieGriffinsMom · 25/02/2011 13:07

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

lesley33 · 25/02/2011 13:08

I have 3 kids. With DS1 I couldn't have managed without a buggy. Yes he was happy to walk miles, but he was sooo sloooow. It would take ages to get anywhere walking because he wanted to stop and look at everything.

Attempts to get him to hurry up just led to us both getting flustered. So I put him in a buggy at times so we could get places without it taking 3 hours.

Other 2 would walk faster at 3 years of age for decent distances, but still needed buggy for longer distances e.g. 6 mile round walk to shops.

Of course children need exercise, but all children are different and need different ways of parenting at the same age.

BabyDubsEverywhere · 25/02/2011 13:24

My DS is 3.5, I collect him from school nursery with the double buggy as he is knackard. Hes my DS and its my buggy, so I'll do as i like, I'm sure I am judged by some of the other moms, but most just comment on how cool my double buggy is Grin

shockers · 25/02/2011 13:47

When children start to walk, the buggy is really for the adults to stick all their paraphernalia on so they don't have to carry it. I miss my buggy for that reason (DC's are 23, 12 and 10 Grin).

cestlavielife · 25/02/2011 14:01

my friend jsut bought this one for her four year old - because for triips out etc she needs a place to park her when she gets tired.

www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/3765531/c_1/1%7Ccategory_root%7CNursery%7C14417537/c_2/2%7C14417537%7CPushchairs%2C+prams+and+carriers%7C14417542.htm

if your relative choses to spend hundreds on apushchair - well her lookout.

but there is nothing wrong in getting a buggy for a 3 4 or older child - if needed for long walks etc - it makes sense.

but really, get the most basic one that is all you need

skybluepearl · 25/02/2011 14:32

depends on how far they walk? i needed one for my three year old as we walked a 3 mile round trip week days to nursery. A cheap second hand one would be fine though.

skybluepearl · 25/02/2011 14:33

she might be better getting a micro scooter for the kid. my 2 year old zooms away on hers but has to be in the mood for it.

Goblinchild · 25/02/2011 14:37

I'm amazed by how many people drive their chidren very short distances, rather thn walk. My OH used to walk our DD to school, but take the buggy for the journey home.
She was just 4 when she started FT reception and used to sleep all the way back.

lazylula · 25/02/2011 14:39

YABU I am afraid! Ds2 will be almost 3 when dc3 is born and will be using a buggy board, as the school run is over 3 miles a day, then there is the walk to town, tots groups ect. Mainly you are BU as it is none of your business!

DerangedSibyl · 25/02/2011 14:42

Pah.

My nearly 5 year old was in my buggy the other day.

he'd been on his feet since 9am, it was 6pm, and besides all that, he's small and cute for his age so I get away with it.

Wink]