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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think my small rug-rat was the one

27 replies

MoonlightandRoses · 21/08/2012 22:52

being unreasonable in refusing to do anything but whinge to be picked up, and then immediately put back down again every, single, sodding step of the twenty minute hour long journey home from nursery today?

It felt a bit like a 'cutted up pear' episode, but with added backache...

OP posts:
ThisIsNotHoneyDragon · 21/08/2012 23:00

UANBU. Get her fitted with castors.

PomBearWithAnOFRS · 21/08/2012 23:12

Get a pushchair and put her in it the instant she whines. The more you pick up and put her down, the more she'll think it's a good game to make you do it and round and round you go. Do the "Big Girls walk, little girls go in the pushchair" thing, she'll soon get the message, and you'll all get home quicker and with tempers unfrayed.

Original poster
MoonlightandRoses · 21/08/2012 23:13
Grin
OP posts:
cheesesarnie · 21/08/2012 23:13

what pombear said!

Original poster
MoonlightandRoses · 21/08/2012 23:15

Sorry Pom x-posts with my response to Honey. The problem is small child quite likes the pushchair and we are trying to encourage walking.

Although I might try pushchairing again after today's performance.

OP posts:
MammaTJisanOlympicSumoWrestler · 21/08/2012 23:17

Pom speaks words of wisdom!!

HeathRobinson · 21/08/2012 23:18

Use the pushchair.

It ain't worth it.

hlipop · 21/08/2012 23:26

twenty minute adult walk is quite a way for little one. maybe just encouraging to walk maybe do half way?? or just on the way there?

LegoAcupuncture · 21/08/2012 23:30

How old is she?

NameGames · 21/08/2012 23:31

Don't pick up and she can't ask to be put down! I'm semi-serious, I was forced into this position by an injury. DH on the other hand continued to give carries when whined at asked. Now they walk for me but play up around DH. It was not fun to be always saying no though, and we had a few dragged through the street scenes which I could really have done without.

Original poster
MoonlightandRoses · 21/08/2012 23:36

hlipop - sorry, my OP was a bit unclear - it's twenty minutes home at small child's normal pace. We have done walks of up to two and a bit miles on a few occasions though (not forced, just from letting an amble happen), with only maybe 50 yards of carrying (that circuit takes about three hours). Problem seems to be if there's any picking-up or pushchairing at all then walking becomes a no-go.

Lego - small child is 22 months and doesn't seem particularly tired in the evenings, but maybe I could be mis-judging?

OP posts:
Original poster
MoonlightandRoses · 21/08/2012 23:44

Am off to bed now - have to decide whether to experiment with Pom's or Names' advice for tomorrow evening. Will update afterwards (assuming my sanity / dignity survives!)

Thanks to you all.

OP posts:
LegoAcupuncture · 21/08/2012 23:45

At 22 months I would be using her pram from nursery. Allow her to walk, but if she starts creating, pop her in it.

StateofConfusion · 21/08/2012 23:48

I'm contemplating taking the stroller out tomorrow for my 3yo. Its no big deal if its easier for a 22mo.

Although fitting them with castors is pretty genius!

lljkk · 21/08/2012 23:51

I used the pushchair until at least 4.5yo so am very much not against them.
HOWEVER, if you're gonna ditch it, ditch it completely. None of this fair weather walking & only if you really are not in a hurry (whereas limited time frame is 99% of real life), otherwise back to pushchair just because it suits you.

22m way too young to expect reliable & speedy walking more than 10metres.

spiderlight · 21/08/2012 23:52

Would she walk if she had a toy pram to push or similar? All our walk/carry/pram dramas ended with the purchase of a toy lawnmower, which came everywhere with us for several months when DS was between 2 and 3, and his little cousin did some really quite long walks with us on holiday last week without a single gripe, merrily pushing her 'babbas' in a pram all over the place.

MrsJohnMurphy · 22/08/2012 00:02

I wouldn't be getting rid of the pushchair just yet, had to completely with ds1 when ds2 was born, he was 3. It was all fine and dandy until winter hit, I remember a very very long walk home from the bus stop in pelting rain when ds1 was feeling off colour, not fun at all.

Ds2 is 3 in October and I'm keeping the pushchair until at least next summer, plus he is my last baby and I am not used to carrying shit, so he might have the pushchair until he is about 6 Grin.

I do love the phrase creating, also greeting, I wish I lived in Scotland.

larks35 · 22/08/2012 00:28

My DS 3.5 still refuses to walk or even scoot when tired and I let him "cadge a lift" on his little sister's pushchair. The thing is I can't drive so he often has to walk a fair way but I can tell when he is really too walked out and have bought a (2nd hand) phil and ted's for those times. Blimey at 22months he had only been walking unassisted for 2months, no way would he have managed longer.

ThisIsNotHoneyDragon · 22/08/2012 04:03

22 months? Get her a micro scooter for her birthday. And get your self a scoot and pull. They get the hang of scooting really quickly, and you can give them a tow when they are tired.

Dd is 2.7 now, but the rule has always been if she didn't want the pushchair she has to walk.

If I haven't taken the pushchair and she is genuinely tired I'll carry, but if she gets down more than once she she walks.

Dd is stubborn though, so I have been known to sit on the pavement and mnet to wait her out Wink when she refuses to move.

lljkk · 22/08/2012 09:50

I used to sit on the pavement. And bring a good book. Except that was no good in the rain or when other kids needed to get going and frankly I haven't the patience for it any more. I also don't enjoy carrying or towing scooters or consoling bruised & bleeding children (inevitable with scooter use). Or having to run to keep up with the scooter. Call me lazy for pushing 10+ kg child around, but Pushchair is by far easiest option.

ThisIsNotHoneyDragon · 22/08/2012 10:37

I don't think using a pushchair is lazy. And past experience of people that do in RL are generally people who use their car a LOT.

thursday · 22/08/2012 11:07

its a mare when you're in a rush. but not even 2 yet seems very early to be making a stand on pushchair availability. both mine have been very tired after a couple of hours at nursery. made me regret my decision not to get a double buggy. all those days battling with a rageful non-moving 3yr old and a pram. now my smallest is nearly 3 and hates the pushchair so i'm selling it and getting her a scooter. she can walk miles, but not to my whims. i just stand and wait til she's bored of complaining and starts walking again.

JustFabulous · 22/08/2012 11:10

My 3 year old used to go in the buggy for the school run. Just too far to expect him to walk and too heavy to be carried. He was happy inthe buggy so no problem. He might even have been nearly four.

Original poster
MoonlightandRoses · 22/08/2012 22:18

Right, I tried with the pushchair today with the following result:

  1. Saw chair, clambered straight in and closed the clips
  2. Roughly three minutes later - "want to walk on wall, pease, pease wall?" - undo the clips, wall is walked and jumped down from (assisted obv), everyone's happy
  3. Big grin and giggle from small child just prior to the words "Run away!, Don't want home, want nursery" - small child turns legs it back the way we came. Shove brake on chair, leave it, chase & catch small child
  4. "No carry, put me down, no chair, want to walk". Explain that if carrying is further requested then pushchair the rest of the way it is.
  5. Two minutes of happily walking, chattering, picking up and maybe sampling empty snail shells, stones etc.
  6. Sees random stranger approach, does what can best be described as a 'football player diver' to 'hit' hands off pavement accompanied by "hand hurt, foot hurt, no make walk mama, no make walk" with suitable 'my mother is absolutely vile to me' type wobbly face effects for benefit of stranger
  7. Small whinging child returned to pushchair and whinges the phrase "no home, want nursery, no home" for remaining distance ...
  8. Arrive home - all smiles for neighbours and cats, remains up until 8.30 happily playing.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH.

I am finding a pushable lawnmower for next week (pref one big enough to pop small child onto in case of walking strike).

I generally walk everywhere though, and would walk in preference to car/public transport if feasible. When accompanied it is all at small child pace, with no rush to get somewhere.
Hmm - maybe I should forget the lawnmower distraction and just bring a book, an umbrella and a waterproof cushion to wait it out.

Someone please tell me this isn't the terrible twos arriving already.

[Gibbers and goes to pour a vodka]

OP posts:
Original poster
MoonlightandRoses · 22/08/2012 22:21

Sorry, missed out an explanation as too busy ranting. It's not an issue with pushchair availability as such, more the the constant in / out / back in requests that have started recently. Think I may need to face the fact I've let the 'carry' / no carry requests become a habit that needs correcting.

Also, have to say I was a bit nervous posting an AIBU and you've all been lovely and very helpful - thank you!

OP posts: