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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to think that at 22 months DS isn't too big for a pushchair

39 replies

deliakate · 11/05/2011 11:50

Had a gentleman tell me today that we was - we were going into a shop as he was coming out. How ridic. We had just been to the park for a nice run and play and DS was in his buggy as there are lots of cars on the walk home, and I'm just too preg to run after atm. What age do people stop using them altogether? I had not thought it would be for a long time.......

OP posts:

Psammead · 11/05/2011 11:52

I had this recently with 16 month old DD. My neighbour told me she should be walking, not sitting.

DD can't walk.

Lol.

squeakytoy · 11/05/2011 11:52

That wasnt a gentleman. It was an interfering tosser who should keep his nose out. :)

GwendolineMaryLacey · 11/05/2011 11:53

Depends on the child. I was intending to use one with DD for years because she's very lively and it was handy for carrying things but actually, she stopped using it at about 2 and a half. On the other hand, my nephew is 2.10 now and shows no sign of wanting to give it up at all.

Don't let anyone make you feel bad though, none of their business. :)

worraliberty · 11/05/2011 11:53

It depends on lots of things..like how far you're going, how long you're going to be out, whether you drive or not.

There's no set rule really as long as they're encouraged to walk whenever possible.

NoobytheWaspSlayer · 11/05/2011 11:54

My DS (also 22 months) uses his pushchair. His little legs can't take him everywhere! Also much needed as child control in shops. We have a P&T and (very) occassionally DS1 who is 4, will jump in the back if he is tired.

gentleman is wrong - and it's none of his damn business anyway.

Jas · 11/05/2011 11:55

Personal preferance....I've used it on occasion for a child aged 4.

IF your child is a well behaved early walker and you drive to most places, you could ditch the buggy very early. If like me you have no car, walk everywhere, and can't rely on small children to walk safely, you use the buggy and ignore the odd strangers who feel the need to comment.

It was also handy for carrying shopping when we had no car!

curlycat · 11/05/2011 11:55

my dd was nearly 4 - probably a bit too old but it meant i knew where she was if i had her strapped in as she was very good at disappearing in a second if i let her loose. ds was probably about 2.5 when we stopped using it all the time and maybe only used it for long days out or on holiday

exexpat · 11/05/2011 11:56

Mine used them until they were three, nearly four (if we were out for the day as they used to sleep after lunch), but because they were both very big for their ages, they looked about five so I got some funny looks - no direct comments though.

I think the interfering 'helpful' gentleman has never tried to walk anywhere in a direct line with a toddler. And I am almost certain he has never had to wrangle toddler, nappy bag and shopping whilst pregnant...

NowPlease · 11/05/2011 11:56

I think what your doing is fine.

A little bit of both at that age.

LindyHemming · 11/05/2011 11:59

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

curlycat · 11/05/2011 12:00

i miss the buggy for holding all my shopping - not great when dd used to leap out and the buggy went flying backwards under the weight!

Bramshott · 11/05/2011 12:05

I still pop DD2 in the buggy on occasion if I'm in a hurry and she's tired, and she's 4 ! The way I see it is that it makes my life easier, is no-one else's business frankly, and in any case it won't be an issue next year as she'll be in school. I have no reason to be concerned about her weight or energy levels. However, I know some people are much more hardcore and ditch the buggy very early . . .

MrsVidic · 11/05/2011 12:06

My dd is the same age, been walking since she was 10 months old and I'm about to get a double buggy as I'm pg due in aug, we still use it.

TandB · 11/05/2011 12:14

People can't help themselves. I use a sling, not a pushchair, and a slightly over involved old lady at our local bus stop used to go on and on about it. When he was first walking she kept saying 'ooh you'll never learn to walk if mummy keeps carrying you'. I did eventually point out that he had been walking since he was 10 1/2 months old and she knew that as she had seen him walk several times.

She then started saying 'oh why arent you walking to nursery?'. To which the reply was 'because he is less than 12 months old and it is about a mile and a half!

neolara · 11/05/2011 12:21

God, I dread the day I'll have to ditch the buggy. Where am I going to put all the bags? And the coats? And the spare shoes / boots / drinks / random stones that my children insist on picking up and taking home on walks? My DC3 will be in a buggy until she's about 5 if I can persuade her. And after that I'm going to get a granny bag on wheels to replace it.

foreverondiet · 11/05/2011 12:22

Valid comment perhaps if your DS was in school uniform (ie reception!) interfering before then.

DS1 used (occasionally) until DS2 was born (around 4th birthday) but agreed need for double.

controlpantsandgladrags · 11/05/2011 12:23

funnily enough I had an older lady say the same thing to me the other day about DD2. DD2 is 15 months and can't walk yet.

gkys · 11/05/2011 12:23

my ds2 was four, we live about two miles from school, i don't drive and there was no way i would make him walk, can't stand people interfering, I had a "friend" who was always going on and on,in the end I told her to keep out of what doesn't concern her, we are no longer friends

KaraStarbuckThrace · 11/05/2011 12:32

Good grief!!
DS is 3.4 and I would put him a pushchair in a heartbeat (he refused it at around 2.5) simply because I would get places quicker!!

Ignore the nosey gent, it is none of his beeswax!

diddl · 11/05/2011 12:36

It´s also cicumstances, isn´t it?

I had my second when pfb was 22 months, so he was out & she was in

But we lived very close to park & friends, plus he started a playgroup so I could do the shopping then.

otchayaniye · 11/05/2011 12:45

I've never owned a pram or buggy or whatever you call them and have had biddies telling me off about that.

Can't win. It doesn't matter. Why do you care?

Personally? I'd rather MY 22 month old walked everywhere and because I don't own a pram, she did. Couldn't care less what other people did but I do groan inwardly when I see kids with their knees up round their ears being pushed in them (and no, not in Majors)

thelittlefriend · 11/05/2011 12:50

Like the idea about replacing the buggy with a granny trolley when they finally stop using the buggy. There's got to be somewhere to put all the crap that's needed with young kids

TuttoRhino · 11/05/2011 12:51

I have a 23 month old and no intention of giving mine up soon. We live in London and I don't drive. How else am I supposed to get accross town? She won't contenance a sling so that's out.

Loie159 · 11/05/2011 12:51

how stupid.... why does he care? TBH I have 2 DC and I find it difficult to judge how old other peoples children are , so how does he know your DC is 22 months? Even if you never let your child walk anywhere its none of his business, but for your own reasons YANBU. Mine are 3 and 2 and if I had to walk everywhere with both of them I would literally never, ever get anything done. I do try to go to park and make them walk and not take the buggy / make them walk to nursery, but if we are out for the day then OF COURSE you still need a buggy! 22 months is tiny! Surely as well it is dependent on what they have been doing prior to being in the buggy as you said? if they have just been legging it round the park for 2 hous then of course they can go in the buggy

LaWeasel · 11/05/2011 12:52

Just because they're not in a major doesn't mean they're capable of walking.

Anyway, OP - it's really fine. DD could barely walk at that age, I can't imagine we'll be getting rid for a long time still.

Again, I don't drive. She has been walking for about 6 months now and asking her to walk 4 miles to tesco and back, and not being able to hold her hand on the way back for the bags would be completely bonkers!

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