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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To collect Reception age DS from school in a buggy?

313 replies

CoffeeMum · 03/04/2012 16:23

Theoretical question for now, as DS won't start Reception until September, but i'm just wondering...

I also have a DD, two years younger than DS, so she'll be in a buggy on the school run. I'd planned to pop her in the single buggy, with DS on foot [school is 15 minutes away from home]. We do also have a double buggy, which I was on the verge of getting rid of, but now I'm wondering if it would be a good idea to take the double buggy on the school run in the autumn. Sometimes it'll be raining, and we'll want to get home asap, rather than at child-pace Hmm, but mostly, because I think alot of the time during the first term, he's going to be shattered from starting school. On those days, i'd just pop him in the buggy.

However, would it be completely laughable to even think about putting a school age child in a buggy, no matter what [SN aside, obviously]? Do any of you put a Reception age child in a buggy, or know people who do? Is it very rare to do so?

Thanks for you thoughts all Smile

OP posts:
FredFredGeorge · 04/04/2012 14:14

everlong If children never walk or similar though, the human body will degrade into a state where it is unable to. The body is super lazy, it doesn't maintain itself to do more than it absolutely has to it - it costs resources to store energy, have efficient muscles etc. So it's only done if the body needs to do it. So a child that doesn't need to will very quickly lose the capacity to, and you will see them get tired from very short walks. The converse is also true though, and the body will rapdily adapt to higher demands and would soon not be tired doing the same thing that caused it tiredness the month before.

everlong · 04/04/2012 14:16

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Flightty · 04/04/2012 14:16

Thankyou Bronze, that's appreciated Smile

Everlong - I'm being ironic, ditching school was Pullup's idea.

Harecare · 04/04/2012 14:18

My DD is a May birthday so young in her year and she walked/ran the 30 minute journey to school and back no bother. 15 minutes is nothing. I wouldn't dream of allowing a 4 year old in a buggy, nor a buggy board.

Flightty · 04/04/2012 14:21

That's jolly good, Harecare and I'm glad there are children who are capable of this. Some are, some aren't.

Banishing the very idea of a buggy arbitrarily is just silly. It's like saying, ditch the nap as soon as your child is 2. Because my child manages without a nap so yours ought to as well, otherwise they are having one over on you.

Children are all different. It's our responsibility to push them only so far and to be careful not to ignore their actual real needs in the process.

everlong · 04/04/2012 14:23

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

bronze · 04/04/2012 14:24

Fred- but thats making the assumption that they will never walk. I would allow a young child the chance to sit in a pushchair (if I used one) if they were tired just like I was allowed to and how I allowed my children to use a wagon. It was rare they chose to but the option was there.
But my parents don't drive and neither do I so we did/do a lot of walking at other times, some just for the sheer enjoyment. This is one journey in plenty. Someone may judge me for allowing it but they would often be the ones who will then go on to do a later journey by car whereas when if I were to go somewhere else later with my children, it would be on foot again.

Flightty · 04/04/2012 14:27

Yes, if it's necessary then I doubt it will harm them and I do understand your pov and concerns Everlong. I really do, if I look at it from the other side, I'm sure some parents do treat their children too gently and maybe indulgently.

He was fine walking down to town. We weren't intending to do anything exciting, he was just pleased to be out walking and messing about and so on with his brother.

He was fine all round town, Tesco, etc etc and then at the park he was ok. So it wasn't just the park he was Ok at. I think he just got overtired, that's all.

Don't get me wrong. I love to leave the buggy at home and have that sense of freedom and Oh isn't he grown up, we can go out properly on foot as a family. It's lovely. In fact I've done it a few times only to regret it on the way home!

He will be big before I know it.

Flightty · 04/04/2012 14:29

Bronze I agree with you totally. It's all about getting the balance right.

lalaland3008 · 04/04/2012 14:30

Personally I would make a 5 year old walk, kit yourselves out in suitable clothing for the weather and away you go. Walking to and from school is an excellent habit to get into.

You say your dd is two years younger, so is she 3 yet or still 2? I'd probably make the 3 year old walk too.

Dragging a kid round the shops all day until their feet hurt is cruel, walking 15 minutes to and from school is not.

scottishmummy · 04/04/2012 14:31

primary 1 if there is no specific health reason,then no need for buggy for 15min walk. it's over indulgent and bit pampered prince.a primary one child should be able to sustain a 15min walk

bronze · 04/04/2012 14:33

I think I may sound a bit grumpy

I have just been into town to the shops with all of mine (and made them take rucksacks to help carry stuff because of course they learned not to be able to walk Hmm ) int he bloody rain. And yes I know you dont dissolve (dissolve not melt!) in the rain but it does make you rather more cold and miserable than you would be otherwise.

Flightty · 04/04/2012 14:39

'Dragging a kid round the shops all day until their feet hurt is cruel, walking 15 minutes to and from school is not.'

Excuse me?

We were out for about 2 hours, walked into town, went to the dentist, went to a bakery, went in Tesco for 10 minutes. Then to the park.

FFS I can't do anything right.

Flightty · 04/04/2012 14:41

Okay 2 and a half, three hours. Altogether. 20 minutes into town, hour in the park, half an hour home, forty minutes in town itself.

And that's cruel, is it.

Flightty · 04/04/2012 14:41

Okay 2 and a half, three hours. Altogether. 20 minutes into town, hour in the park, half an hour home, forty minutes in town itself.

And that's cruel, is it.

everlong · 04/04/2012 14:41

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Flightty · 04/04/2012 14:47

I wasn't sure. I hope not.

theDevilHasTheBestMNNames · 04/04/2012 14:48

CoffeeMum:
it's about keeping the bottom seat of the P&T as an OPTION for DS on those RARE nightmare afternoons when everyone JUST WANTS TO GET HOME!

Form what I've seen P & T seem less noticeable with two seats than the side by side I used or front and back double a friend used. So I doubt you'd get any comments - especially as you can sling the bags there.

It is a very good idea for illness. I have had to put a reception aged DC in a buggy when ill and few times when very tired.

Mainly my DD1 an August birthday literally days before cut off date she wouldn't have considered it by time she started Year one which she did literally days after turning 5. It was occasional, she walks miles and miles now and the occasional use never sparked into regular moaning to do so.

I expect I'll keep the stroller pushchair bit longer when its not in regular use with youngest just in case once she has started reception - though I think with DD2 it would be an illness only thing.

Pancakeflipper · 04/04/2012 21:21

Flighty - I never said a child only talks about school on the walk home. Just saying what happens with us. You are reading too much into stuff.

thegreylady · 04/04/2012 22:20

I'm afraid he would be dreadfully teased about it so I wouldnt [only read first page]

thegreylady · 04/04/2012 22:23

I think the other children would feel he was a baby because a double buggy looks as if he rides in it all the time.A buggy board is just a 'lift' occasionally and more acceptable.

lalaland3008 · 04/04/2012 22:27

*'Dragging a kid round the shops all day until their feet hurt is cruel, walking 15 minutes to and from school is not.'

Excuse me?

We were out for about 2 hours, walked into town, went to the dentist, went to a bakery, went in Tesco for 10 minutes. Then to the park.

FFS I can't do anything right.*

Not aimed at you at all, I haven't read all the posts.

Just mean if I decide to go clothes shopping on Sat I wouldn't expect a 5 year old to trail along with me for hours but the school run is completely reasonable walking distance, as is food shopping & general running errands.

kipperandtiger · 04/04/2012 22:57

I totally understand your worry, OP, but I'd advise you not to put him in the buggy. By all means bring it (maybe you can use it for the last 5 minutes home if you are well away from the school by then and he is tired) but let him walk. If you put him in the buggy, he'll be the laughing stock of his class - and later will probably refuse to go in it. Secondly, it's not usually the walk that tires them, it's the activities, getting used to new surroundings and people, and the learning at school that tires them. They often still have enough physical energy left at the end of the day to play a football match after school!! In the first few months, my DS was actually tearing around full of energy (and adrenaline) at the end of the school day. Just make sure he is walking alongside you safely and not running off. It may seem a long journey, but trust me - he can do it, and will probably want to. If you spend the journey asking him to tell you about his day, the walk will often be completed more quickly than you imagine.

kipperandtiger · 04/04/2012 23:00

PS the buggy could be useful for putting coats, bits of art work that they take home, the school bag when it's heavy, etc etc though.) But only if there's another child using it. Would look rather strange if a mum brought along an empty buggy on the school run.

Flightty · 05/04/2012 07:29

Thankyou, Lala and Pancake and sorry for being a total arse. I don't know why I was feeling so paranoid and stroppy yesterday, my fault entirely.

Sorry. Thanks