Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

People with 3 year olds, can you help me?

83 replies

CatLadyToddlerMother · 13/08/2018 13:03

DD is 3y 2m (3y 3m on 28th) and has some known issues including a developmental delay.

I am trying to decide whether to go for a referral to Occupational Therapy for a wheelchair pushchair or not (I am trying to avoid it for obvious reasons).

So can those of you with 3 year olds answer these questions for me?

What age did s/he start walking?
How long would it take them to walk 1 mile? (In terms of time, so if it takes 20 mins say that)
How often do they fall or trip over when walking around outside?

Can you also state their age now in years and months?

Thank you

OP posts:
unadventuretime · 13/08/2018 15:28

DS is 3 years 5 months
Walked at 12 months
He walks a bit slower than me, but also runs a lot! So probably about 20-25 mins to walk a mile.

Strippervicar · 13/08/2018 15:29

DD is 3.5 has ASC, poor muscle tone and balance. Also has no sense of danger but good understanding. Needs constant reminders not to go in the road. She can tell me why, but won't comply without reminders.
About 30 minutes to a mile. She had 4 OT sessions and we work on the excersizes given. This has reduced tripping lots. Also, like you. Always in well fitted shoes not open sandals.

For a trip into the city we need a pushchair. It's simply too dangerous and stressful.

She is pedalling a bike now with stabilisers and does dancing and swimming to help.

She also has knock knees.

You just need to keep trying, somewhere safe.

I'd go back to OT with a view to strength excersizes. Amazon half half price mclaren majors. You could also try to get a family fund grant. It might work, especially if you don't have access to a car.

unadventuretime · 13/08/2018 15:30

On a city pavement holding hands he probably wouldn't fall on a mile's walk. Running free in the country he probably would, due to not watching for hazards like tree branches when running! (Or listening to adults saying "be careful"!)

Original poster
CatLadyToddlerMother · 13/08/2018 15:32

Strippervicar I drive but don't have my own car as I can't afford it so I only drive my mums occasionally when I have appointments I can't get to on public transport

OP posts:
cadburyegg · 13/08/2018 15:32

DS is 3y 6m.
He started walking at 14-15 months.
It would probably take him about 25 minutes to walk a mile.
He trips over fairly regularly but it has got better since he’s got older

anotherangel2 · 13/08/2018 15:34

I have not read the rest of the thread.

DD is now 27 months and has being walking since 11 months. Rarely falls over and can run around round hours in the park. I can’t gwt her to walk 1/4 mile, in fact when we get to the end of the street she wants a carry.

I would assume through than a wheelchair you would get a Maclaren major buggy rather than a wheelchair at her age.

victoryvee · 13/08/2018 15:48

3 yr 3m twins.
Started walking about 13 months but was a long time delay between taking steps indep and functional walking.

A mile prob 35 mins for one and a bit less for the other. One falls a lot (in that mile 2-3 times but more if uneven) the other rarely.

I didn't realise they were supposed to be able to colour in the lines? Mine deffo can't. Both can do a rough line, one can do a type of circle.

However from reading Mumsnet mine are behind the curve, they still can't reliably count to 10.

How big is your toddler? I can still use slings with mine but they are teensy. One is particularly slow and reluctant to walk lazy so being able to get him in/out a carrier to encourage him to walk more without us all losing the will to live.

Original poster
CatLadyToddlerMother · 13/08/2018 15:52

How big is your toddler?

Size 12-18m clothes at 3y 2m, size 4 feet (that;s infent size 4), is nowhere near the weight limit for her group 1 car seat. I can comfortably carry her in a toddler sized carrier, nowhere near needing a preschool sized one yet. So pretty small I'd say

I didn't realise they were supposed to be able to colour in the lines?

Her Nursery said she's supposed to at least try even if she can't consistently colour within the line but she doesn't even try

OP posts:
Strippervicar · 13/08/2018 15:54

I know a lady with a DD who has similar impairments to yours, with an addition of hearing impairment. She doesn't drive and the pushchair has been a godsend. She applied to family fund for a maclaren major. www.familyfund.org.uk

You need to fill a criteria of DLA, CTC (from memory.) Worth a try.

We are still using a "normal" pushchair on the occasion as we are lucky to have access to 'safe walks' and I drive otherwise.

Original poster
CatLadyToddlerMother · 13/08/2018 15:57

DD who has similar impairments to yours, with an addition of hearing impairment

My DD also has hearing problems, mainly glue ear but she may need hearing aids to correct it.

OP posts:
Strippervicar · 13/08/2018 15:58

Just read your update re size. She's nowhere near as big as my hulking 18kg er. You'll be ok in a normal pram?

As for coulouring. Don't stress. Nurseries are always trying to tick boxes. Just keep giving her the materials. My DD prefers to draw, colouring isn't so interesting to her.

elliejjtiny · 13/08/2018 15:58

Ds is 4 years 2 months. Has hypermobility, global development delay and being assessed for autism.
Walked at 2 years 3 months
I'm not sure how long he would take to walk a mile. He runs fairly fast but not in the direction I want him to go in.
He falls over a lot, 20+ times a day. His foot turns in at almost a 90 degree angle which doesn't help.
Get the buggy, it will make things easier.

bettythebutterfly · 13/08/2018 16:00

My DD just turned four. She walked at 27 months, and has an ASD diagnosis. It would probably take us about 35-45 minutes, but to be honest I wouldn't even try it that often. We are still pretty reliant on the pushchair for getting around.

MrsMotherHen · 13/08/2018 16:01

my boy is 3years 6months
walked from 12months
1mile to walk probably about 20mins
he might trip up once or twice.

Patienceofatoddler · 13/08/2018 16:03

DS is 3 years 8 months.

Walking from 18 months (He was slow meeting all milestones)

Would take us 25-30 minutes to walk a mile now - He is quicker if he has the dogs lead haha

He hasn't been in a buggy in well over a year though - although walking is slow he always walks which meant we never needed a double buggy- his little sister (Just turned 2) on the other hand walks very much on her own terms although often quicker than her big brother BlushSmile

They are all different.

victoryvee · 13/08/2018 16:04

Could you put it off for a bit? She is still wee (my boy is still 12-18 month clothes, his sister is quite a bit bigger) and I still take a normal mountain buggy with me most of the time. If you don't feel emotionally ready for it yet?

Original poster
CatLadyToddlerMother · 13/08/2018 16:07

I think the worry is that I do get a lot of public transport and currently I’m made to fold the pushchair if there’s not enough room/wheelchair etc on it which I’m currently happy to do but DD can meltdown so I think HV/Paeds thinks I’m less likely to be asked to fold a wheelchair pushchair.

OP posts:
hairymoragthebampot · 13/08/2018 16:09

My DS is 3. Walked at 11mths, doesn’t fall over and can walk a mile in around 15mins. However if you had asked me when my DD was 3 I would have said she won’t walk! She hates walking and wanted carried everywhere. I was going to ask you if your DS had issues with his ears as this can knock off your balance hence the falls. Your DS sounds quite small too so will likely not be able to walk as fast and will likely want carried. Get his ears checked and make sure he doesn’t need grommets. My DS2 had terrible glue ear and was tiny for his age and was carried everywhere as he was so tiny although he also had growth issues which requires treatment. The hearing being resolved made a huge difference to him

knicksfan · 13/08/2018 16:21

My dd is 3 y 4 mo.
She can walk to the end of our road (6 houses away) at furthest.
She has been delayed since birth and is still awaiting diagnosis.
Not sure if that helps or not.
There's no way she would be able to walk a mile

knicksfan · 13/08/2018 16:22

She walked at 20 months but holding hands and very very unsteady. She still trips and falls regularly

Spl0ink · 13/08/2018 16:24

Hello. Mine is three and three months. Walked at 23 months, due to pronounced hyper mobility in joints. Not sure about the mile, but she falls over a lot for the same reasons.

Hope this is all helpful 👍

Queenofthestress · 13/08/2018 16:40

If the paed and HV think miniLady could benefit then go for it! They've been brilliant from day one you've said it yourself, listen to them even if it's just an appointment thing

snowone · 13/08/2018 16:46

My Dd turned 4 yesterday.
She walked at 12 months.
Would take her ages to walk a mile if she were left to her own meandering devices, probably 20/30 mins when constantly reminded / prompted.
She falls over regularly as she is so busy nosy poking about and not concentrating on the task at hand!

Original poster
CatLadyToddlerMother · 16/08/2018 17:42

Referral been sent by Paeds Sad. He's really worried about her mobility and wants her to have the help if she needs it.

And for anyone following my thread over on Relationships, Paeds also thinks this will force the Housing Association to move us due to DDs medical needs.

Trying to be positive, it's very hard today.

OP posts:
Becca83 · 16/08/2018 17:57

DD is 2 yrs 10months. Started walking at 9 months.
Would probably walk a mile in around 25 minutes, but she is super lazy and very distracted. She will often demand to be carried, so trying to work on that!
She very rarely falls unless she is running too fast and her feet go from under her.