DS won't go in pram

[erja]

DS is 2 in a month.
About a month ago, he stopped wanting to go in his pram. He will scream and scream until he's sick if he's put in.
But he also won't walk as soon as we get outside 90% of the time. He will scream until he's carried.
I don't drive.
It's making laugh so difficult. He's not a light boy so unless we are walking somewhere within a 2 minute radius, it's hard! We aren't getting out or doing anything so I can avoid having to lug a toddler round and avoid the severe tantrums of having to sit in the pram.
He's a very good walker when he wants to, but it's rare that he is actually willing to walk!
Any advice? It's taking its toll

Don't give in, is the easy answer.

My 1st DD got away with murder compared to my other 2..... I didn't put up with any messing by that stage.

If he wants to go out, you go in the pushchair. It's for his safety and your comfort. If he screams, let him! He'll soon stop when he realises you're not caving in. He's learned that if he makes enough noise, he gets his own way.

It's so tough but you're the one in control here

I seem to remember with DS1, this was the age he started to really really test the boundaries.

You have to think of it like this, he now knows that throwing a tantrum gets him his objective - being carried. So he will cry and cry until he gets picked up, even if it makes him sick - and lets face it from what you've said you pick him up as you don't want him sick.

With DS1 I just had to be firm - buggy or walk, and never carry him. You'll have a hard few days when you put this into practice! But I think he has stop thinking cry=carry.... @SlackerMum1 this was the same for us as well.

PS DS2 - totally different, no issues at all with buggies.

We going through that at the moment but i remember hv saying you the adult if its safer shes in the buggy she goes in. I give her two choices...walk or buggy. I cant carry her, shes too heavy and not going down that path. We do have screams but if its not safe to walk she goes in buggy. I think its about picking your battles. I have pushed her around screaming which was awful but she was safe on a very busy road. Anyone who looked i smiled and said she doesnt want to go in the buggy but its safer and the number of understanding looks and nods i got. Everyone whos had children been through this stage. Cant wait for it to be over!

It does get ridiculous. 2 is an age where reasoning and negotiating can start. Children learn quickly their consequences to their choices.
At two years old it is a simple concept of 2 choices. get in the pushchair or walk. No carrying. If he refuses the pushchair he must walk beside you or on a rein. He will paddy and then is offered the pushchair again. A full tantrum, stans still and let it run its course, These episodes are exhausting but patience and persistence are the rules, If you waver once you are back to square one, The other method is put him in the pushchair and ride out the tantrum. Either way works. Just make sure your journey has plenty of time to spare. The bigger he gets the harder this will be

I remember walking home with DD in the buggy aged 2.5, and she was overtired and being absolutely foul. She ended up going rigid like a plank, and because she had such long legs, her feet were touching the ground and would get bent backwards if I tried to keep pushing the buggy.

So I walked the rest of the way home with the buggy tipped back on two wheels, while she screamed and screamed. I must have looked a sight

So glad those years are behind me!

as i couldn't always physically lift him into the buggy

This too. Buggy’s aren’t known for their manual handling design - it’s an awkward position for battling a determined toddler. Not for the fair hearted with a dodgy pelvic floor either, which given the need for them suggests a higher instance people who might be risking their trousers

What about bribery with a treat or something? So take him somewhere he really wants to go (park, soft play, farm, wherever) and tell him how you expect him to behave on the way. If he doesn't behave, a warning, if he carries on, straight home. If he can't behave, he doesn't get to do what he wants.

He is 2 years old and he's testing boundaries which you have let him pass frequently lately
If he wants chocolate/to be carried/to walk, tough! You need to get from a to b and he has to come with you in the pram end of. Just strap him in the pram and go. Headphones for your music would be the best idea until he learns that he has no choice and stops screaming in the pram. If you show no interest when he's screaming and just carry on pushing the pram he will give up as he isn't getting anywhere. It isn't nice and I'm not saying it's going to be easy but it's your only option. Nobody actually has he time and patience to walk 1mph or carry a 2 stone child on their back just so they don't upset their toddler

Another one a buggy board helped with when DC1 got to this stage. He did used to do the randomly stepping off thing though, but they do learn if you keep walking into them each time they do it....

DC2 this stage is the reason we still use a double despite DC1 having just turned 4. If DC1 is sitting in the buggy then DC2 will sit in it too, if he's walking she won't accept anything other than walking herself....