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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

age your dc stopped using a pushchair

114 replies

ambereeree · 12/09/2018 20:31

Really thinking of buying a double pushchair for siblings. One almost 3 other less than 6 months. I want to use it for going nursery playgroups etc as parking in my town is hard to find and expensive. Plus its exercise for me!! When did your dc stop using their pushchairs? I'm thinking its reasonable for up to 4 years old when you're walking more than half a mile with them.

OP posts:
EllenJanesthickerknickers · 12/09/2018 20:33

Mine stopped at around 3 but used a buggy board until 4 or so. The school was 1/2 mile walk and they walked it with no problem from 4.

coldrain2018 · 12/09/2018 20:34

about 2.

3 year olds can easily walk a mile or more, but not to a time limit, so thats something to take into consideration

EllenJanesthickerknickers · 12/09/2018 20:34

Tried a double for 6 months or so but it was really heavy and hard to get up kerbs and into shops.

GorgonLondon · 12/09/2018 20:35

2.5 or so.

They are now primary school age and both amazing walkers - can walk many, many miles in a day. I recommend ditching the buggy

SoyDora · 12/09/2018 20:35

DD1 was just 2, DD2 was 15 months! She just wouldn’t go in it. On the plus side at just turned 3 she can now walk miles to a time limit and doesn’t moan at all.

User467 · 12/09/2018 20:35

A double buggy is really handy as even when the older one is a bit beyond needing one they can still hop in on long days out and they are great for containment when shopping etc.

NotAnotherUserName5 · 12/09/2018 20:36

Depends on the child. I’d get one that changes from double to single.

Maybe a bugaboo donkey. Then use a ugly board with it.

All mine stopped around 3, but I still use the buggy board for my son when he is tired, and he is almost 4.

EwItsAHooman · 12/09/2018 20:36

My DC were out by age four when they started full time school but we walked loads (6+ miles a day) and they were still having afternoon naps at that age so it was easier to have a pushchair for them to nap in rather than be stuck at home.

Between age 3 and 4 they would just hop in and out as they wanted to, I had a double so the baby was in there the whole time and 3/4 year old would jump in when they wanted a rest or I wanted them contained or they wanted to eat or whatever.

Waitingonasmiley42 · 12/09/2018 20:36

2 ... new baby arrived when he was 2.5 and he went on the buggy board instead.

SoyDora · 12/09/2018 20:37

At just turned 3 she does the school run for DD1 every day (just under a mile) then walks on to pre school (another 0.7 miles) then the same back in the afternoon.

NotAnotherUserName5 · 12/09/2018 20:37

Ugly board 😂
I mean buggy board

FemaleDilbert · 12/09/2018 20:38

For longer walks we still used one when my son was 3 1/2, even nearly 4. He was a lazy sod and also an escapee runner so it was best for my sanity Grin

RebeccaCloud9 · 12/09/2018 20:40

Buggy board is what you need!

My dd moved to that from 2.5 and still uses it now on long walks at nearly 4 when there's no way she'd want to use a buggy.

InDubiousBattle · 12/09/2018 20:40

My dd turned 3 this summer and we have largely abandoned the buggy. I'll have to use it two mornings a week now ds is in school as I have to get from dropping him off at school to drop her off at pre school quickly but so far she's been doing the 1.5 mile round trip twice a day with no problems. I don't drive and we walk loads- she can manage 4/5 miles with breaks.
.

PumpkinPie2016 · 12/09/2018 20:40

Around 2.5 -he was getting too long for the pram we had so his feet dangled (he is tall!). In addition, DH at some point had a brainwave and bought an out and about all terrain pram. Great for walking bridle ways but very difficult in shops etc!

It was heavy to lift in and out of the car boot and I just got fed up of it. So. I gave it to a friend who wanted one and stopped using a buggy.

DS is 4 now and will happily walk a good few miles!

BertieBotts · 12/09/2018 20:40

When he started nursery (so just turned 3) I put it away except for very occasional trips. We didn't have a car and walked everywhere, I didn't find it particularly necessary for long walks as he was used to it.

I think I'd just get a buggy board and a sling - if the older one is really tired, sling the baby.

Alpacanorange · 12/09/2018 20:42

I don’t think age is the only consideration, are they able and happy to walk? No point stressing everyone with your l expectations if they are ready.

happinessiseggshaped · 12/09/2018 20:42

Eldest up to 3 - although only a couple of times after 2.5. Youngest up to about 3.5 although only when ill on the school run after about 3.

Bare in mind if you want a pushchair to last for a child up to 4 you will need to check weight limits as most are only tested to 15kg which some children are over by age 2 anyway.

Alpacanorange · 12/09/2018 20:42

Not ready

LotsToThinkOf · 12/09/2018 20:42

I started off with a buggy board for the 2.5 yo and newborn, it was heavy and my DS would jump off mid journey. I then bought a double for journeys which were on a time limit which was much better and we used it until eldest was about 3.5 for those types of journeys. We relied on the buggy board more and more after that, but I'd have been lost without the double in those first few months.

Buy a double second hand, I had a babyjogger city mini and it was great. I bought it for £50, all of the covers were machine washable and I scrubbed the frame and hoods. New seat liners in and it was fine. I sold it on for £50. They're a few hundred to buy new.

TheLastSaola · 12/09/2018 20:43

Ditched the buggy at 2.5, but that was after a year of gradually reducing it's usage. It takes a lot of patience to drop though, because it does take time for their endurance and speed to come up.

Switching to a scooter was important for slightly longer journeys as well, though again there is a learning/patience curve on that.

Now at 3.5 my DD can walk about 5 miles, and can keep up with my walking pace for most local walks. It makes life so much easier (live in London) to be able to walk out the house without any equipment - but its really been something we've prioritised, and you have to have patience to get there.

Racecardriver · 12/09/2018 20:44

Eldest stopped at three. Youngest I s two and a half and is using it less and less.

Thesnobbymiddleclassone · 12/09/2018 20:45
  1. Second birthday I dismantled it and put it in the cupboard and from then on DD has been made to walk.
Mrsfrumble · 12/09/2018 20:50

Honestly, it depends on your lifestyle. How much do you walk? Do you drive / have a car? Does your oldest child still nap, and if so, do you prefer them to sleep at home or when you're out and about?

While it might be fine for one family to ditch the buggy at 2, another might find it useful until 3 or 4.

Nellyelora · 12/09/2018 20:52

My dc will be 3.5 when they're sibling arrives, I'm not buying a double but I'm contemplating buying a buggy board.

I don't drive and I find those who say they got rid of the buggy at 1/2 etc tend to. It's much easier to drop the pushchair when you can drive to the supermarket/playgroup /soft play etc.

Mine can easily walk long distances but timings are the issue. Their dance class is just over a mile walk, it's achievable for them but it will take ages so I usually take the pushchair there and then they walk home. Likewise, I will use it if we need to catch the train as I don't want to miss it or if I need to buy heavy items from the supermarket.

My dc is a bit lazy, they want me to bring the pushchair to nursery - it's a 12 minute walk(!)

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