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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think that I can walk it?

30 replies

Pyjamaramadrama · 08/12/2014 22:51

My baby is due in May. Ds goes to school just over 1 mile away. I usually drive as I go straight to work afterwards.

I'm not looking forward to school runs with a newborn, especially getting in and out of the car. But I was thinking that it might be easier to walk to school with the pram rather than getting the baby in and out of the car.

Dp should be off for two weeks then after that it will be down to me.

I was lucky with ds I was up and well straight away afterwards.

I've said this to a few people and they've looked horrified that I'd consider it.

But hopefully the weather will be warm and dry, it might do me good.

OP posts:
PurpleWithRed · 08/12/2014 22:52

How old is DS? Do you have to decide right now?

Original poster
Pyjamaramadrama · 08/12/2014 22:53

He'll be 7 when the babies born.

I don't have to decide but want to give some thought to how I'll manage.

OP posts:
Littleturkish · 08/12/2014 22:53

How long does this mile walk take you?

Funkytown · 08/12/2014 22:53

may is a lovely time of year to have a baby the weather is great not too hot not too cold.
will your ds be able to walk that distance with out moaning/doodling if yes then go for it

iwantginsoakedXmas · 08/12/2014 22:53

A mile isn't that far really. Depending of course how pleasant a route it is.

However I am a regular runner - so know that to the end of our road is 1/2 a mile. So there and back = 1 mile. It's not terribly far.

I imagine that it'll be less hassle for you to walk DS to school, with the pram rather than getting them both in and out of the car.

WooWooOwl · 08/12/2014 22:54

Of course YANBU. You just have to hope you have one of those easy babies that's happy to be in a pram for a while.

Original poster
Pyjamaramadrama · 08/12/2014 22:55

I'd say 20 minutes, we cycle it regularly in 5 minutes.

I don't do much walking these days but I used to walk lots including when ds was a baby in the pram.

OP posts:
Bluestocking · 08/12/2014 22:55

Is it a nice walk along safe pavements? It sounds potentially like a great idea - you will get a predictable bit of exercise and fresh air early in the day, and a walk to school might be a lovely chance to chat to your older child.

CheeseBuster · 08/12/2014 22:56

That sounds easy and a great way of sneaking some gentle daily exercise into a routine. Only be about 30mins on the flat if you include a dawdling 7 year old.

Original poster
Pyjamaramadrama · 08/12/2014 22:57

The walk itself is fine, mostly flat and all on pavements.

OP posts:
ChippingInAutumnLover · 08/12/2014 22:57

Well, who knows?! In theory, yes, you could do that no problem...as long as you don't...

...end up having an emergency c section
...stitches that hurt like hell every time you move
...piles that feel like apples

Etc...the thing is, you don't know and you won't until it happens. Do what you can at the time and that may be walking, it maybe driving, it may be getting DH to do the morning run and begging a friend to being him home.

RandomMess · 08/12/2014 22:58

Yes of course you can assuming all goes well!

I walked this with my newborns and dc younger than 7 because it was far far far less hassle than putting the baby in the pram whilst we got out the door than in the car seat, in the car, out the car, in the pram and in reverse.

BackforGood · 08/12/2014 22:58

Once you are 'into it' it will be lovely - and think of the exercise Smile.
People will help you out in the early weeks if you aren't quite ready for 4 miles a day, I'm sure.

ArgyMargy · 08/12/2014 22:59

You'll be fine - just concentrate on the positives (exercise, fresh air, no road or parking rage, saving the planet etc) and remind yourself that if it's raining you can take the car.

Original poster
Pyjamaramadrama · 08/12/2014 23:03

Don't wish that on me chipping! But yes I realise that I might be in no fit state to walk anywhere.

Going by ds, I had a very easy time of it, quick labour, and I was in town a week later strolling around the shops. I'm keeping everything crossed for this time.

I really will have to get ds to school somehow though. Dp has to leave way before school/breakfast club starts, and he really has no other choice. Only other option would be asking another parent, but most live a mile in the other direction.

OP posts:
Fanjango · 08/12/2014 23:03

This is do-able. I used to walk a mile to school on my own from age 8 (but then that was some time ago Blush). As long as the weather is good it will be no problem but you may need to have a back up plan in case of illness, yours or babies. It's too far to walk with a poorly babe.

Original poster
Pyjamaramadrama · 08/12/2014 23:05

Btw there is also a direct bus, almost door to door. Perhaps this might be more doable if I am poorly afterwards?

Just didn't want to fork out for two bus passes.

OP posts:
Lucyccfc · 08/12/2014 23:07

It's doable - unless you have a section of course.

My Mum used to walk me the 2 Miles to school each day, with a double buggy with a 1 year old and 2 week old baby. She said it was brilliant for helping her to get fit and lose the baby weight.

ICantFindAFreeNickName · 08/12/2014 23:07

Provided you don't have any of the things chipping mentioned it will be lovely. I did that (although only about half a mile) with my 7 year old ds with my new born. It was a nice time to chat to ds and really be able to concentrate on him. I managed to get DD into an afternoon routine that meant she fell asleep on the way to school, and we could come home & cook tea before she woke up. It will be great exercise for you & fresh air for the baby. So much easier & less stressful than getting 2 children in the car, then getting them out at school, then putting the baby back in the car, then getting the baby out the car and into the house. Then repeating it in reverse and the end of the school day.

Do you have anyone you could ask to drop off / pick up ds in an 'emergency' situation - ie baby sick everywhere and needing bath. Most people don't mind helping out when you have a new baby, so it will be worth having a couple of numbers handy.

maddening · 08/12/2014 23:09

If you had a cs even getting the dc in the car might be impossible.

You just don't know yet, plan for all situations - you have a car so if walking is not possible for a few weeks you're ok, if the car is too much what are your other options and if all good you can walk it - which -providing no birth injuries - is a good form of exercise and in May and June will be lovely, you could drop dc at school, pop to the shops then out to see friends. But if you aren't up for it you have other options.

306235388 · 08/12/2014 23:10

Sounds fine but I don't understand why you are thinking about it now. It will depend a lot on how you're feeling and whether your baby likes being in the pram. I did this easily with Ds but after dd there's no way I could've.

arethereanyleftatall · 08/12/2014 23:12

Id walk this without a second thought.

TheRealMaryMillington · 08/12/2014 23:13

I'd make it Plan A - sounds great, and if we were only a mile from school we would walk it. I'd have a plan B (involving other people picking up should you need it on the odd day) for the first month, just in case. Also remember it is guaranteed to rain and school pick up time. I have empirical evidence to attest to the fact.

Original poster
Pyjamaramadrama · 08/12/2014 23:17

I thought it was quite sensible to start thinking about how I will get ds to school with a baby in tow.

Obviously I can't predict things going wrong.

I really don't have anyone else who can take ds to school so I will have to get there somehow.

OP posts:
katese11 · 08/12/2014 23:19

Yeah it sounds like a fine plan esp if there's bus back up. You could also get a comfy sling if the baby doesn't enjoy being in the pram for long.

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