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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

205 replies

fannyanddick · 12/09/2017 16:13

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?

OP posts:
MrsClegane · 12/09/2017 18:19

I had the same distances with my dd at same age. I took the pram. She could decide if she wanted to walk or go in pram. About 3/4 of the time she walked but the pram was there ifor and when she needed it.

Anatidae · 12/09/2017 18:21

Have a backup. Some days she may be fine, other days she may be tired or the weather may be shit, or you may be in a hurry. Or it may be icy. Or snowing.

I know mine couldn't manage that - they're all very different at that age.

There's no way in hell I'd be carrying him in a sling.
Walk if it's nice and she's up to it.
Buggy if you need to be fast or it's shitty and rainy
Sledge if there's snow.

I'd just take a buggy if you think she's slowing. Or take a buggy on the way home from school?

Becles · 12/09/2017 18:23

It sounds very doable to me and a good, low key way to give the type of incidential exercise children need.

Only a small suggestion of giving her an extra 15 or so minutes each way for the first week to build up stamina.

Primary school children used to be expected to walk more than that distance

HaudYerWheeshtBawbag · 12/09/2017 18:24

On average it works out at 1hour and 30 mins walk, I'd say this was ok, however I would be easier on a scooter/bike

Educatingbrigita0 · 12/09/2017 18:28

My daughter did similar at that age - as did many of her friends - lived in a small city (she got a scooter at 3 but preferred to walk as she could also chat / sing ! )

IDefinitelyWould · 12/09/2017 18:33

My ds always hated his buggy from about 6 months. He was walking confidently at 10mo so he toddled and when he couldn't walk any further I put him on my back in a tula carrier. From around 18mo he could walk a mile or so without stopping. If she's happy and enjoying it then I wouldn't change anything. They can build up their stamina and she will get quicker as her legs get longer. My ds will run round parks and walk all day long, he's nearly 3 now. It's such a relief not taking a pushchair anywhere!

sycamore54321 · 12/09/2017 18:33

It sounds like a lot to me, in distance but also in time for a child so young. I don't understand why posters mention it being broken into four walks - surely a mile to school and back is a single walk, repeated in the afternoon. Could you look at some reason for sitting and resting to give her a break at the school each way? She must have great focus also not to be bored and reluctant by the last few days of the week walking the same mile over and over. While my child might have been physically fit for it at a little bit older, I know his concentration wouldn't hack it.

If you do walk lots, keep a very close eye on her feet and on how her shoes and socks fit. In my experience, small children can walk themselves into terrible blisters before noticing and then be in a lot of pain.

Obviously if she is happy doing it, she's happy but I'd keep a close eye on her to make sure she remains happy. If you get new markedly bad behaviour at bedtime or disturbed sleep or anything like that, then I'd dial back on the exercise in case it's wearing her out.

tomatoplantproject · 12/09/2017 18:38

Scooter - with a strap. If she doesn't need the strap it can go in your bag, if she wants to walk you can use the strap to loop the scooter over your shoulder, if she gets tired you can use the strap to pull her along.

I am astonished at the distances I cover with dd (now nearly 5) and her scooter.

PacificDogwod · 12/09/2017 18:41

Op's not been back Hmm

For an adult average walking speed is about 3mi/Hr.

A 2 year old will not manage that speed - so 2 hrs on foot for the school run?
Nope, don't think so.

Ttbb · 12/09/2017 18:44

Seems fine to me.

MistressDeeCee · 12/09/2017 18:49

Too much pressure on yourself & DD. Just take the buggy! I really hope you're not overthinking this because you are worried about what other people will think re your DD in a buggy. None of their business. If you can gauge after a while that she is fine/doesn't need buggy for at least part of the way then all good. Its more than the school run for your DD she'll be running around during day too and she can and will have tired days, as we all do (& also did when little)

Original poster
fannyanddick · 12/09/2017 18:49

Hi sorry I didn't expect so many replies. Such varied responses! Just got back from school and done dinner etc!

She did want to take the bike the first day but gave up on it after 5 mins and I had to carry it the rest of the way. She doesn't stop or ask to be carried but does sometimes slow down a bit or ask when we'll be back. Today I've done 18,000steps. My fit bit says 12km (though that's probably over). On the way to school in the afternoon I took the sling. The rest she walked too. So the last 10mins of the walk home she basically ran. And we had to run to keep up. So on the one hand she can't be that tired, but on the other hand maybe she was desperate to get home! I may try the scooter...but does anyone else thing scooting is all a bit uneven?

OP posts:
Ladydepp · 12/09/2017 18:56

I'd take a buggy, you don't want to be carrying her if she puts the brakes on.

My youngest would still be in a buggy if she could, she's 8. Grin

milliemolliemou · 12/09/2017 19:04

All sounds fine OP but clearly you have the time and either work at home or are the SAHP. Are you doing it for you or for her given you have a fitbit? Good on her for keeping up and being so energetic, but watch out for splints.

Lots of us can't because in rural areas there's dangerous traffic/no pavements or it's much longer than a mile each way or because city roads ditto and pollution - though cars/balance bikes etc are no answer there. And of course there's the problem of getting to work.

But good on you - if your DD is happy and you are then fine. Not sure why you're asking MNers.

Plainlycrackers · 12/09/2017 19:39

I would take the buggy in the afternoon... not least because my DCs always wanted to offload their bags on the way home... then she can use it or it can just be a luggage receptacle... if you have a DC who is only just starting school they might be grateful for a lift sometimes... some days at school really wear them out. Buggys are not just for tiny babies... Grin

Nuttynoo · 12/09/2017 19:40

It's fine. Healthy. Will help her to build endurance and muscle.

llangennith · 12/09/2017 19:42

Used the buggy for DC and DGC till they were 4yo. Certainly didn't make them lazy! All are extremely athletic, fit and good at sports. And happy to go on long dog walks.

Original poster
fannyanddick · 12/09/2017 19:49

Millie - I'm asking mumsnet to get a sense of what other mums think about little kids walking a lot. I do like to keep fit, hence the watch, but the walking is just the school run and normal day to day gettting places. Not just me wanting to walk. Last term I used the buggy but over the holidays we never touched it (in fact we lugged it all the way in the plane abroad and then home again without using once!) and one day she did a 4hour hike cross terrain without asking to go in the back carrier (we got a bit lost!). Which made me think that surely the buggy is not needed and it's healthier to walk.

My concern is that I'm tiring her out for other play or just generally that it's too much for a little one. But then I think at soft play etc sometimes they run and climb for hours so maybe it's just natural. I just want to get the right balance. I think if I take the buggy then she will just use it the whole way. Plus I'll have to push it even if she's not using it which I don't particularly enjoy. I like to swing my arms! I'd rather carry her if it's just for bits.

OP posts:
RandomMess · 12/09/2017 19:54

My youngest did this from the age of just 2 and managed fine, from the age of just 3 she used a scooter.

If they're used to walking they adapt and get on with it tbh.

WaxyBean · 12/09/2017 19:56

Take a buggy - DS2 used to fall asleep on the school run until he was 4. Was a nightmare being stuck with a sleepy toddler a mile from home without a buggy.

WaxyBean · 12/09/2017 19:57

Nb he did actually end up walking or scooting approx 3 miles a day but it clearly wore him out.

MarmaladeIsMyJam · 12/09/2017 20:12

Because pushing a buggy doesn't count your steps I bet Wink

BarbarianMum · 12/09/2017 20:16

We always use 1 mile for each year of their age, and that seems to work up til about age 30 or so (then you need to start subtracting again).

coconuttella · 12/09/2017 20:24

Is she just 2 or nearly 3... Makes a huge difference at that age!

Mine were used to walking but there's no way they'd have managed that consistently at 2, even nearly 3. At that age it's not just physical stamina you have to contend with but their willingness to do walk. I can't imagine a 2 yo would ever - however good - always walk (or scoot) willingly alongside you for long distances. We ditched the buggy around 3-3.5.... with it being used gradually less and less until we realised we hadn't needed it for weeks.

Also a scooting/balance bike riding 2 yo is hardly safe along a path next to a busy road.

coconuttella · 12/09/2017 20:27

you are worried about what other people will think re your DD in a buggy.

She's 2 not 5! I always thought buggies were perfectly normal for 2 year olds.

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