age your dc stopped using a pushchair

[ambereeree]

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.

Dd is 3 and hasn't used hers for a couple of months now. It only really gets used for long bus journeys when she falls asleep every time and then I need it to put her in. She can walk to nursery and back which is about a 2 mile round trip. Sometimes she gets tired and whiny on the way home.

My first 4 were all out of the buggy by 2.5. We lived close to the school, had a car for longer journeys.

My youngest was in one till he started school - and even a few times during reception. We'd moved, lived 1.5 miles away from school, and had no car. After a full day at pre-school there was no way he could walk 1.5 miles to school and 1.5 miles home again (I tried once, it was utter hell of him screaming with tiredness the whole way)

So I'd say it depends on how often you go for long walks, whether you have a car, have to use public transport etc. And how much stamina your child has.

@GorgonLondon are you in London? I'm in the home counties suburbs. My dd was walking before she was one but is on the 2nd centile for height so has tiny legs! If I'd have gotten rid of the pushchair at 2 we'd have barely been able to leave our estate, and as a sahm I didn't want to be stuck at home all day. The two nearest playgroups, soft play and decent toddler park are over a mile walk away each way. I could get the bus to one playgroup but I begrudge paying £5 return for a 7 minute journey. Plus mine was still napping until a few weeks ago, I'd have been screwed if she needed a nap after playgroup etc because I can't carry her that far!

I'm curious how it worked for you?

We spend most weekends at national trusts or similar, I haven't taken a pushchair there for yonks, dd can easily walk for 3/4 miles with a few bench stops despite still being in the pushchair during the week.

DS1 when he was 18 months

DS2 when he was 6 (and threw the buggy out to make him walk!)

@Nellyelora Yes, I'm in London and have always lived here (except for when I was a student) so I've never needed to drive.

I actively dislike being in cars and my kids tend to throw up if they spend more than half an hour in a car, so they have been using public transport all their lives.

Buses here cost £1.50 if we need one, tube is a bit more, and I am absolutely sure that it works out cheaper than running a car.

I wouldn't live somewhere that I couldn't access shops, park, etc. within reasonable walking distance.

I didn't have an option with ditching the buggy, with my first child I was heavily pregnant and couldn't push it any more, with my second he was really heavy (over 15 kg) and knackered two Maclarens before I gave up on it!

They also both dropped naps around the same age (two and a half).

They probably walk 2-3 miles a day on a normal day at home, and easily cover 10+ miles a day when we're on holiday and we'll jump on a bus or in a cab if they get totally exhausted (not often).

About 3.5 to 4 years old

With DD dropped it just before she was 4. That was only for the mile each each way to pre-school.
DS is 2.5 and barely using it now. Prefers to walk but he needs it for longer journeys.
It’s not just about how far they can walk though. Buggies are useful for carrying all your crap on days out and very useful for containment! Trying to keep track of 2 little ones when you’re shopping is not easy. Much more convenient to strap them in!

Around 9 months

Ghanagirl wins the thread.

Shortly after he finished writing his first novel

@Ghanagirl 😂

My 2.5 yr old DD refuses the buggy. She’s happy to walk the mile or so into town, but I sometimes I have to sling her on the way home.

Before the baby arrived older dc wouldn't use pushchair. But now with a baby who hates the carrier and carseats a pushchair is necessary.
@SparkyBlue exactly sometimes you're just in a hurry.
older dc will walk but will dawdle or run ahead. Also likes to wonder into people's driveways

DS was in a pushchair until his 4th birthday but we don't have a car so we do a lot of walking. I chucked it when he started school.