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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To make my son walk to nursery?

38 replies

SugaryBits · 16/04/2007 20:37

DS is 3 1/2. It is about 10-15 minute walk to nursery. Up until now I have let him go in the pushchair. He may walk a little but with end up crying and asking to go in the pushchair. I have told him when he goes back to nursery on Thursday, he will be walking. He is not happy. We walked round to a friends house today. He cried for the whole three minutes it took to get there. He said he had a leg/tummy/arm/head ache.

So AIBU to expect him to walk? Should I let him sit in the pushchair for a while longer or is 3 1/2 old enough to expect him to walk for 10-15 minutes?

OP posts:
Malaleche · 16/04/2007 20:40

IMO he's old enough to walk. My DD1 also 3.5 will walk all over town with me for a couple of hours...not every day but a day or two a week. Maybe you could play i-spy or something to help distract him while he walks?

Scootergirl · 16/04/2007 20:41

Why not let him go in the pushcahir for the sake of peace and then spend the whole journey pointing out his friends walking like big boys/girls?
We sometimes have the same problem with DD (same age, same distance) and it's just not worth the bother and foot-dragging IMO

blodwen · 16/04/2007 20:42

I would agree he could walk. He will soon get used to it.

colditz · 16/04/2007 20:43

Last time this question came up it turned into a right bunfight.

FWIW I think he should be walking.

zippitippitoes · 16/04/2007 20:43

walk him there and take the pushchair to fetch him for a bit

he is old enough but if he isn't used to walking then his legs will ache as he hasn't developed his walking muscles

morningpaper · 16/04/2007 20:44

Are his shoes comfy?

What about buying some special new shoes to mark that he is a big boy and is walking to nursery

maybe like school shoes?

gemmiegoatlegs · 16/04/2007 20:44

ds the same age - same xcuses, his foot hurts, his shoes don't fit, he can't walk fast as he wants to.The funny thing is he races off as soon as he finds something interesting.

Make him walk, it will make him strong, he gets excercise and will eat and sleep well.

Original poster
SugaryBits · 16/04/2007 20:44

Scootergirl, I have tied that, we walk with a friend whose ds & dd scooter. The ds is at nursery with my ds. I have bought him a scooter and he will ride it for around 5 minutes then get back into the pushchair. It doesn't seem to bother him that is friend is scootering on ahead and keeps asking why he is in pushchair!

OP posts:
Scootergirl · 16/04/2007 20:44

I do agree that at that age they should if possible be walking but life's too short to fight with them at 8am. DD soon jumps out of the pushchair when she spots her friends walking.

morningpaper · 16/04/2007 20:44

yes good idea zippi

buggy back home for a while, they are KNACKERED after nursery

mustrunmore · 16/04/2007 20:45

We get the bus as far as we can, but there's a 6-7 min walk at the end, which ds1 manages fine. I was very worried about his walking ability because it took ages to get him out of buggy usage. But one day we went to play with a friend after nursery and he walked 45 mins there and 40 mins home, with no trouble I really think your ds will get used to it. Let him see you putthe buggy up the loft so he knows its gone gone gone.

Scootergirl · 16/04/2007 20:45

Oops x-post!

MerlinsBeard · 16/04/2007 20:46

it will takle some getting used to if he's not used to it but yes he should be walking.How about he walks to nursery and you take the pushchair to bring him home? then one day in a week or 2 "forget" the pushchair?

luckylady74 · 16/04/2007 20:47

i would say yes, but my son went on a buggy board at the same age - i find no option - as in the buggy is at grandmas and a treat/bribe for the first times helps - he may feel insecure at first - how about a scooter or a bike instead of walking?

Original poster
SugaryBits · 16/04/2007 20:47

Oops sorry Colditz, didn't want to incite a riot, thought it was a pretty inane question!

I think you are all right, he should be walking, I know that but come over all pathetic when he says he not feeling well.

I will be strong and make him walk.

OP posts:
powder28 · 16/04/2007 20:50

If you make him walk it might take you twice as long with all the stopping/starting, wanting to be picked up etc but you have to start somewhere i suppose. I would like to walk to nursery with my son. Its only about five minutes away but he is only two so probably a bit too much to expect yet.

FrannyandZooey · 16/04/2007 20:51

We had serious whinging the first few time I insisted ds walk. It did pass quite quickly.

However if you are still happy to push him, they do get tired after nursery. Could you compromise and say he must walk there but you will bring the pushchair for going home time?

I think as long as children are getting plenty of exercise at other times, going in the pushchair when you need to get to a certain place is not a big deal. We walk everywhere and ds wouldn't have been up for giving up the pushchair altogether at this age. At the end of some days I am personally very tired from all the walking we have done - a 3 y o needs a little extra help sometimes.

Original poster
SugaryBits · 16/04/2007 20:56

I think I will do that. I have my 1 yo ds in a P&T so I think I will accidentally lose the doubles seat in the morning and find it again at lunchtime! Even though he doesn't have to walk the first thing he asks when he comes out of nursery is "have you got the car?" !

I know the situation is of my own making. Up until recently I drove everywhere so the always walking thing is quite new. It seems only my thighs are thanking me for it.

OP posts:
agnesnitt · 16/04/2007 22:01

I'd be evil and 'lose' the buggy I think the problem is more the change of routine than actual pain. I find making a clean break is a good thing. I'm not the patient type so can't do the gradual thing. I don't think I was really cut out for motherhood

Agnes

LowFatMilkshake · 16/04/2007 22:13

Agree with agnes - do the evil thing say the pushchair is broken or something.

My DD is same age as your DS and has been walking everywhere since she was 18 months.
When her little brother arrived and we started walking everywhere she seemed to regress a little and DH and I had a pushcahir each, but it turned out she was just coming out with chicken pox.

She's pretty much okay now although I made the mistake of sitting her on the handlebar purse holder bit of the buggy a few weeks ago to take a stone out of her shoe! Now she asks to do it most days albeit only towards the end of a long walk.

chocolattegirl · 16/04/2007 22:21

My DD walked to nursery every day come rain or shine but once she began walking (about 15 months), she had a walk every day to build her muscles. It's better using a pushchair than driving him to nursery though IMHO.

brimfull · 16/04/2007 22:26

does he have a scooter?
We walk to nursery about the same distance,ds much prefers using scooter ,mainly because he gets bored walking I think.
No you're not being unreasonable,they have to start sometime don't they.

mollymawk · 16/04/2007 22:32

I agree he will be okay to walk, but it will probably take him a little while to get used to it. But think how much good you will be doing him!

I find the strain of walking with my ds1 (age 3.9) is mental rather than physical when he is moaning. You may have to come up with some inventive things to do on the way. Encourage him to develop an obsession with benches or something and have races to the next one.

nappyaddict · 16/04/2007 22:38

my cousin was out of his pushchair at just turned 2. his brothers on the other hand had theirs taken away when they turned 5. it very much does depend on the child.

paulaplumpbottom · 16/04/2007 22:39

Not at all, my DD is the same age and I got rid of our strollers about a year ago. To many people let their children be lazy.