To ask my 2yo to walk 4-5 miles a day?

[fannyanddick]

She's 3 end of November. School run 1mile times 4 plus extra bits during the day. Eg another 0.2 to her nursery x2. Shopping etc. Not to mention running around at home, park, soft play etc. She does it fine but is slowing down on some legs and is definitely more tired for it. Should I use buggy for one leg or is she too old?

I have no idea why you wouldn't just put her in the buggy! (and mine walked up huge hills, but not 4-5 miles a day).

I don't drive so mine didn't really have the choice but to walk. As a general rule they were in the buggy until they started Nursery School at 4.

She is only too old in mumsnet world.

mine walked this far and now, reading the replies, I'm wondering if I was really mean!

We did also have a buggy for when it rained, and one of those scooters with a little hood and pole attached for when I was running late.

It sounds fine to me very healthy so long as she copes with it

I thin it sounds ok given it is broken up but if she is tiring then maybe a scooter or such for the afternoon leg?

Buggy for school age children as some posters suggest is a bit odd!

What do you mean that she's slowing down on some legs? how many does she have?

It depends on the child really. Sounds like she's struggling a bit so maybe do it a little less.

Fine in my book but would be bloody slow. Half a mile walking, half on wheels is probably easiest.

That could be too much on certain days when she's tired etc. But if she's happy to do it then maybe invest in a sling you can do a back carry in and on occasions she gets tired, put her in that? That's what I used for my DC.

My oldest (4) could happily do that. Long legs and boundless energy. My 2.5 year old definitely could not. It would end in tears about half way through and I'd have to carry her the rest of the way home.

Let's just say we'd do it once...

Ribrabob I think op means I'm done legs of the journey. It's a 4 mile walk in 4 one mile legs

*some not done

If you had the right sling you most definitely could.

I'd use the buggy sometimes personally, nothing worse than having to carry a heavy child whilst supervising your other children across roads etc! Piggybacks are also helpful.

My DD's a couple of weeks older than yours and could never do this. It's totally down to the child though.
My DD is our first child so no older siblings for her to want to emulate. She loves her buggy and it is a real struggle getting her to walk almost anywhere (not helped by the fact I'm pregnant with twins so if she gives up and refuses to walk I cannot carry her). I mean literally she will cry to be carried on the short walk from nursery car park to front door. So pathetic!! (and I am too at the moment.). The furthest we've managed apart from when somewhere exciting on a day out is about half a mile and I usually have to promise her cake at the cafe to get her all the way there. (she's only managed the whole way there twice). Thank god though the last few weeks I am starting to see a difference and I have hope that by january it'll be two babies in the double buggy not one baby and DD.

If she's happy to do it and you don't mind it taking so long I don't see why not. My 2 yr old wouldn't do anything like that much but she'd ask for the buggy or to be picked up so if yours doesn't I think it's fine. If she is saying she's tired or wants picking up then it's a bit mean.

I think if she can manage it it's fine.

Nothing wrong with using a buggy though. Or using scooter etc.

Is you concern that if you take buggy she will want to sit in it and not attempt to walk? Because that would be difficult as it would set her back and she'd have to build up to walking the distance again once she's outgrown the buggy!

It's fine if she's managing it and you don't mind her slowing down. I'd probably take the buggy in case she needs it.

The recommended amount of active time for her age is at least 3 hrs per day, so at least you can be sure she's getting that.

I'd suggest a scooter. My 4 year old is doing nearly 2 miles each way from school and it is a fair bit for him.

I think you have to just do it and see how she goes.
Obviously the more she does it, the fitter and stronger she will be and she's getting older all the time.

What do you mean that she's slowing down on some legs? confused how many does she have?

Oh FGS!

Legs= something we walk on
Legs- part of a journey which is stop and start.

That's a long way.I have a 3.6 dd and she couldn't do it. I'd use a buggy. She'd tire of scooter or bike and it would take forever!

My dd did.......probably a.little further tbh

She lived, we were a no car household tho so she thought nothing at walking miles at a young age. This habit of transporting kids everywhere in cars is relatively modern really, most can manage just fine if they need to and it's habit from an early age.

I have a 2.5yr old and a similar 1 mile school run for older sibling. I've been doing buggy there (to be on time) and partway home, walk the last bit, and then walk partway on pickup and buggy home (older one tired so need to keep moving). I'm aiming to build up the walk gradually. It's also quite a busy route (several schools) so a tired/dawdling toddler is a bit of a liability. Seems pretty common to have siblings aged 2-4 in buggies, plus some of the reception kids too.