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?

My little ones walk a lot, or so I thought. Maybe 2 miles a day.

We ditched the buggy at 2.5 walking is good and we also had a balance bike if we needed to go quicker. My DS was able to walk, scoot, balance two miles into town go to the park then lunch then back home by 3. My friend DS couldn't and met us in the buggy. Depends on the child and sometimes the patience of the parent. It's no good if you need to be somewhere quicker.

She's TWO! Of course she isn't too old for a buggy especially not for that distance! We are nearly ditching ours at nearly 4 because we have a great walker, but even then there are days when we use it because it is tipping it down, we have to walk a long way at speed, or she is under the weather.

sounds too far to me. my 7 year old could walk that far once in a week.

Really?

My 4yo and 7yo regularly complete parkrun, 3.1 miles before then spending the day playing and walking about. My eldest will run parkrun without stopping to walk.

They also walk up to an activity after school, 2 miles each way and then run around for 2 hours whilst there. 4-5 miles is a very typical day here.

Both mine walked distances like these. But we have never had a car and we were in Inner City London so lots to look at along the way. I knew mine could do it but I kept the buggy until youngest was 4.
Only you know your DD. Perhaps use buggy for some of it and work up to the whole lot.

Try her and see how she gets on.

All three of mine would have done that sort of distance at that age, but we are a walking sort of family and I ditched the buggy at 3 for all of them as I found it such a faff. We had a little puky balance bike for the kids too, which would have made it faster.

I think if you expect your kids to be able to do this, they can. If you're from a family where the expectation is buggy use until school age then it's going to look and feel impossible.

My 4 year old did that easily every day of the holidays, but it was too much for my 2.5 year old. Take a buggy, you don't have to use it but it is useful to have.

She does it fine

There's your answer! We got rid of the buggy at 2 as well.

I can remember back when I was about 3 (going back 40+ years here) being asked to walk 2 miles or so to nursery and then back again. I was exhausted and my little legs really ached. After a few times I begged my mum to bring a buggy for the return journey, I think we actually didn't have one as she borrowed a friend's but the wheel fell off on the way back so I ended up walking anyway.

What I am trying to say is I can still remember the effect that walk had on me, the journey there was not so bad but after a morning running around and playing, the return journey was so easy. So maybe use a buggy, I used one for a long time for my 4DSs as I remember how I felt (was used mainly as a shopping trolley in the end).

Isn't the buggy useful for carry other stuff too like coats and bags? I'd take it for longer then she can have a ride if she's tired.

Broken up like you describe doesn't sound terrible as long as you're prepared to walk at dd's pace and leave plenty of time to stop and pause if necessary or be prepared to carry her or bring pushchair along put her back in it.

I'd be more concerned about the length of time it would take! I'd def say trying a carrier is worthwhile if the buggy isn't an option. We have a lillebaby and its surprisingly comfy. Have walked for miles in it.

wasn't so easy

My just-turned-three year old DS2 is THE slowest child in the world, and is quite possibly even slower on a scooter or balance bike. He could probably do that distance, but I would have to allow approximately three weeks and four days to enable him to marvel at the wonders of nature every five paces 🙄 I'm another one who loves a sling - I get him to walk as far as my patience allows, to get him more accustomed to walking and work at chivvying him along, then chuck him on my back. He's 16kg and I use a Toddler Tula. Entirely possible, far less faff than a pram and burns a shitload of calories for me!

It's absolutely fine. My boys both had to do the same at that age. All goes swimmingly until they are under the weather, so don't throw the buggy out just yet. A wee scooter or balance bike will make it easier as well. Ignore the people telling you it can't be done - they probably drive everywhere.

my 2 year old did that daily and was fine. she liked to walk and never moaned about it. if shes ok, let her do it.

My older ones had a very similar routine with very similar distances at that age and were fine with it. They're still great walkers now. By the time littler one was that age, I had a spinal injury and so we are more car-dependent, which I regret.

Take your cue from her and ignore any naysayers. Exercise as part of daily routine is a really good habit to instill.

sounds too far to me. my 7 year old could walk that far once in a week

Well that's not good, are they not healthy or something? My 6 year old is pretty lazy but even she manages 3 miles every day (1.5 each way to school), I'd be concerned about her health if she couldn't at that age.

OP, if she is doing it fine then keep going but she's not too old for the buggy if she gets tired or try the scooter/bike ideas.

Our school run (1.5 miles) is up a steep hill, and includes quite a few steps, and a footbridge that has no ramp. It's a nightmare with a buggy.

At your DD's age she'd occasionally do the school run x4 (plus some other little bits) on her own steam, but it would include a scooter or balance bike. More usually we'd do one of the two legs by bus. Now at 3 and a half, she did it on her own pedal bike on three consecutive days, so 2h on the bike every day and did over 9 miles.

DS as the eldest started school at just four and scooted there and back in the first year; sometimes walked. Other parents thought it was amazing but it really just is what they're used to.

Yes it takes significantly longer than if I'd transport her in some way but I don't see it as lost time. When it rains we dress up in waterproofs and have fun in the puddles. It's our outside time and exercise time. Saves me taking her to the park and boring myself watching her climb up and slide down the slides.

I wouldn't recommend exclusively walking though. A scooter is great as you can easily keep up with it without jogging, but especially as you can have a tired tot (or simply a refusenik who won't take another step when you're rushing to avoid being late) just stand on it whilst you pull them along. And it is a lot faster than walking at toddler-speed.

If you eventually switch to a balance bike, you can have the whole family on bikes by the time DC2 starts school.

I'd probably use the buggy for the school run and let her walk the shorter runs if she's happy to.

It is great exercise! If she isn't complaining then I would definitely continue!
My dd used to walk for miles at that age, and never got tired, she is amazing at sports now. All scare different.
We gave up the pushchair around 17 months and never looked back.
She will be fit, healthy and full of air, perfect!

It will be useful having some backup available depending on her mood. Scooter for more energetic trips, buggy for when she's more tired.

DS (4.5) has been using the buggy today as he's adjusting to reception class and there's been a lot of backwards and forwarding on short trips. He's too shattered to be motivated by his bike/ scooter and there's nothing to be gained by dragging him along and us both having a stress over it and taking 3 times longer than necessary. (His junior parkrun pb is 14:59 so I shan't fear for his fitness just yet )

All dc are different