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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:
AThingInYourLife · 03/04/2012 16:52

15 minutes is a short walk.

If he's tired he can rest when he gets home.

Flightty · 03/04/2012 16:52

Keep your double till you know. There is NO need whatsoever nOT to use a buggy for your child at any age they still express a need for it, and if it makes your life, and theirs, easier.

I really hate the way people are pressured into making their children walk on here sometimes, by some people (have not read this thread, but seen it all before iyswim)

You just do what you want and what works for your family. We still use the buggy when ds2 is tired out and to be frank they get VERY tired in reception - and if you use the buggy, they have more energy to be cheerful and concentrate and learn stuff at school. Which is what we all want I think.

It's like me - if I use the car to do t he school run, it doesn't mean I am a lazy fecker all day, it means I've not got to sit down when I get home, I can pile into the stuff I need to do instead with the energy i have saved by not walking approx 3 miles.

It makes sense, so I do it. If anyone else doesn't like it they can get stuffed. Yes we would be applauded for walking both ways twice a day but I would get far less done at home and ds would be far grumpier and stroppier at school and at home...It's win-win.

TheMonster · 03/04/2012 16:53

I wouldn't use a buggy. Scooter is a good idea.

janedoedoejanejanedoe · 03/04/2012 16:53

the other day, I timed us, 3 kids school run, breakfast to getting home (PG is 5 minutes walk, other school 10 minutes walk)

2.15 hours!!!!!! and that was in car

Flightty · 03/04/2012 16:54

He won't be laughed at. We often bring some y1 children home and they all want to go in the buggy - they all take turns.

There is nothing wrong with this. I don't get why it's so despised. They're not unfit. They're just small and tired and would rather use what energy they have left for playing in the garden when we get home.

Honestly - why the fuss?

lazylula · 03/04/2012 16:54

I know of a child who is taken to school in a buggy and the mum leaves the buggy folded up at the school and gets it ready for collection. At the parents consultation evening in October she was advised (read as told) not to bring him in a buggy anymore, this was an everyday occurence. She did stop for a while but has gone back to it. The child is now 5 and I saw him out and about with dad the other day siiting in a pushchair. There is no special needs ect, just mum thinks he is too young to walk far.
We have a 15 min walk to school and back, ds1 has walked there and back since he started and ds2 it for the pick up, for drop off I put him on the buggyboard as we have to sprint to preschool, a 20 min walk away so we are always 15 mins late and would be later if ds2 was walking. Come Sept he will walk.

everlong · 03/04/2012 16:56

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

janedoedoejanejanedoe · 03/04/2012 16:56

I should add, I take car, because although distances are small, when they are all in, its 3 different places, and the small walks become over an hour each way.

ladydepp · 03/04/2012 16:57

I have the world's laziest 4 yo but even I am going to make her walk to and from school in September. At the moment I use a buggy for her to walk her 2 older siblings to school but that's because it's twice the distance (there and back, so 30 mins walk).

Take a drink and snack, carry his bag if he is tired and don't ask him if he had a good day! If he gets grumpy distract him with stories about what a boring day you had while he was at school.....and ask him what the worst part of his day was. My 2 always loved to have a good old whinge about their lunch or something.....kept them busy all the way home Grin

Flightty · 03/04/2012 16:57

Obviously, I don't FORCE him to go in it. But it's there if he needs it. Having been forced into some very long country walks by my parents at the age of 5+ I clearly remember the utter exhaustion and leg-ache that makes you sob.

I don't see any reason to put kids through it. It's what buggies are FOR. And MrBojangles, what are you on about - no one gets married at the age of five.

FredFredGeorge · 03/04/2012 16:59

Flightty Not really a win-win, as you continue to be unfit enough that a 3 mile walk makes you need a sit down. If you did it more often you'd get fit enough to tackle the stuff you needed to do without that rest. And you and your DS would be healthier too (assuming is grumpiness is also due to being tired from a small amount of very light exercise)

But yes, if you're not currently fit enough to do that, then I guess using a car is reasonable. Just about every human can get fit enough to do the equivalent of running a 10km race every day, walking 3miles is a fraction of that intensity.

Sirzy · 03/04/2012 16:59

flighty - I think the "fuss" is that by school age children should be able to walk a short distance without needing a pram. Ds is only 2.5 and has health problems which make walking hard but even he can manage a short walk by school age there is no chance he would be going in a pram!

Proudnscary · 03/04/2012 17:00

God no way

usualsuspect · 03/04/2012 17:01

I love all the super fit marathon walker kids on MN.

OriginalJamie · 03/04/2012 17:01

ladydepp's advice is good. feed first, ask questions later (or don't ask questions at all - me and DS1 had a thumbs up, thumbs, down code to cover the "how was it?" question). Possibly expect tantrums, if he's that way inclined.

AThingInYourLife · 03/04/2012 17:02

Do people really find walking so tiring?

It barely counts as exercise.

jifnotcif · 03/04/2012 17:03

First term at reception is tiring but making sure they have a decent night's sleep and have breakfast and a snack on the way home should be enough to deal with that.

valiumredhead · 03/04/2012 17:03

15 mins is hardly a marathon walk, even I can manage that and I have mobility problems.

janedoedoejanejanedoe · 03/04/2012 17:04

God no, I love walking, I can walk 10miles plus at my own pace.

But walking with 2 small children examining every blade of grass along the way, thats exhausting!!!!

OriginalJamie · 03/04/2012 17:04

Some do, ATIYL

One of mine is a natural walker, right from when he was little. Strudy legs and is a great runner. The other is skinny and has slightly hypermobile joints. He gets pains in his shins and calves after days out. It was a battle to get him off the buggy board, so the scooter was a god-send.

usualsuspect · 03/04/2012 17:05

I've seen these threads before. I'm sure no one on this thread ever uses their cars though.

Abra1d · 03/04/2012 17:05

I would buy him a special new micro scooter. Make it into part of the 'starting school' excitement. As others have said, you can always fold it and put it on the buggy hood if necessary.

Heyyyho · 03/04/2012 17:06

My neighbour does this with her DS - she/he gets the piss ripped. It's not good to bow to others and I usually do my own thing but this could affect them at school socially so I wouldn't...

SparkyMcSparrow · 03/04/2012 17:06

The more you walk, the easier you find it! Its that simple.

Yes its hard when you first start but it gets easier very quickly. Its much healthier!

OriginalJamie · 03/04/2012 17:06

usual - I don't, but then I live in London