To still use buggy for 3 year old DD?

[pennypineapple]

DD goes to nursery four days per week. She turned 3 in April.

We recently bought her a scooter, which she loves. But at the end of the day at pick up she often says she is too tired to ride it and we have tears and tantrums and her demanding to be carried all the way home.(Due to our working patterns, 90% of the time DH does drop off and I do pick up so it's me who gets the pleasure of this).

The walk home from nursery is just under half a mile and there is no way I can carry DD, my work bag and the scooter so the journey home is torturous.(Just to add to the fun I'm also pregnant!)

I think we should reintroduce the buggy. DH is adamant that DD is too old and points out that very few of her peers use a buggy now, they all walk or use scooters (and he is right).

I honestly don't know if I am being unreasonable or not to think that it's ok to keep using the buggy for a while longer. Is she too old? AIBU?

I've never understood the brigade of people who adamently think 3 is too old for pushchair. I've had 3 children and they have all been prone to refusing to walk the right direction at their whim, refusing to hold hands, wanting to walk up people's drives, pick up people's gravel, touch cars, collect sticks and leaves, sit down on the pavement, cry to be picked up, etc etc. Some of these things are down right dangerous if you live in areas of busy traffic and if you have time constraints like sibling school runs or work to get to there really is no time to go at a 3 year olds pace. The only observation I have made is that most who are anti pram drive more than they need to and don't have much experience of walking every day, every journey, in all weather and whilst multi tasking.

I did admit I was being unreasonably judgey but yes I’ve found I’ve noticed it more between certain types. Maybe it is a wealth thing and to do with people driving or using public transport. Kids of that age do get tired and can’t be expected to walk all day. At the same time taking a buggy on a tube is a nightmare. I hate scooters too but have come to see the light in them.

Ideally you need to plan your day and realised you can’t walk 15 miles over 12 hours with a toddler. Most people make compromises for good reasons but can see in certain circumstances you’d say fuck it let’s use the buggy. Wouldn’t make it the default mode though.

And i do think it can be a bit embarrassing. Even at that age some kids want to be a ‘big’ boy or girl and wouldn’t like it.

We haven’t used the buggy for a while but have no hesitation using the buggy board on days out or piggy backs with my 3 year old so it isn’t really any different. It is easy for me because I’ve got a car and I can choose to walk to nursery for fun knowing I could drive it. For people that have to get from a to b on foot in all weathers are going to need the buggy for longer.

@Caucho Honestly. What compromise? The op said for a nursery pick up, not a default. I think you're trying to sound a little too clever with your writting and its coming across as a bit of a jumble of words and nonesense. I also think you're a little hung up on wealth and class. My advice to you is not to assume either based on the fact their 3 year old is in a buggy. You sound silly.

'The only observation I have made is that most who are anti pram drive more than they need to and don't have much experience of walking every day, every journey, in all weather and whilst multi tasking'

Very true. I neither drive nor cycle, therefore I do a lot of walking. Driving a 3yo to nursery, or taking them on the back of a bike, is seen as acceptable, but a buggy somehow not, although the end result is similar.

My 3 year old is really stubborn and refuses to walk and knows if he walks as slow as humanly possible I'll carry him. 8 months pregnant or not. Now the baby's here I just caved and got a double buggy just because trying to carry him and push a buggy was a not easy. He's quite demanding compared to other kids but they change so much so quickly that I'm sure in 6 months or a year he'll be walking more. Don't worry about what your husband thinks, he's not getting her from nursery

My DD went through a phase at 2 of never wanting her buggy. Then at 3, she refused to walk. After a couple of months (I think due to warm weather) she refused to get back in. It's all phases and stages.
We took buggies on our last holiday and they practically lived in them. That was in May- both kids now easily walk 1.5 miles a day without complaining.
Life's too short. Take the buggy. She's only 3

DS was 3 in May and we still use the buggy when we go out for the day as it's good to put all of our stuff on and he gets tired and wants carrying and also on the odd occasion we go into town I need him safe as he doesn't hold hands well. We also take it on holiday.

I used one with my youngest until she was 3.5. We had a 3 mile round trip to my older DC’s school and back, she was not old enough to survive that without needing carrying.

I use it with my neice who is almost 4 and haven't had any issues apart from one woman who said- poor thing what is wrong with her! I said she was tired and needed a rest. She's too big to carry and my son loves walking so why not!

I have a 3 year old and 1 year old and have no intention of turning my double buggy in any time soon. Like you, the alternative is fighting with a child who just wants to be carried. Why would I make life any harder than it needs to be? I don't really understand being ideological about this.

My dd is 3 and a quarter - we don’t use a buggy anymore in day to day life (her choice) but we’ll absolutely be taking one on holiday with us as there will be a lot of walking and she’s just too little to keep up. If it makes life easier do it - don’t let judgey people make your life harder

We used the buggy for nursery runs up until DD was 3.5 and DS was born. It's a mile and there was no way I could cajole her home otherwise. In fact she would often doze for that 15 mins! She then sometimes scooted and sometimes went on the buggy board. We live in London and walk miles everywhere so everyone does the same.

'4 year olds in buggies?! No wonder there’s an obesity epidemic'

Oh calm down

We still use a buggy occasionally for DD who is nearly 3.5. She's v tall too and looks older, could easily pass for over 4 so I'm sure she looks ridiculous.

Not for day to day stuff, she's perfectly able to walk around town etc but if we're on a day out for example to a zoo where it's walking literally all day she just won't manage it. So we take one for those occasions (plus handy for storing all the paraphernalia you need!).

Having a nice day out where DD has a half hour buggy ride here and there when her legs are tired vs having a day out where DD whines and gripes because she's knackered? I go with the sensible option every time, and people can judge away if they like I don't care!

Do what you need to do to make your life easier OP, especially when you're pregnant!

Just use the buggy and ignore the buggy judgers. It will be ideal as you can bung your bag in the buggy too. As you’re pregnant, pushing us much better for you than lifting.

@GPatz I am calm, I just don’t see the need for nearly school-aged children to be pushed around, SEN aside of course.

Big days out you just incorporate adequate rest breaks, and if walking to an appointment/school/nursery etc leave with enough time to look at bugs or interesting rocks, and so that you don’t have to rush little legs which is usually where the whinging starts. The parent is late and stressed, the kid starts whining and it’s just pants.

It’s not that hard. I’m wildly disorganised and even I can manage this with 2.6 dd for a mile to nursery.

Gosh 3 year olds are still so tiny, why make your life harder than it has to be?
"Adequate rest breaks" Jesus, life's too short to make some arbitrary rule of when a toddler should be walking everywhere without fail.

I sometimes have my 4yo in the double buggy. We take it on days out for most of the stuff we carry around. The one day we took the single buggy the 4yo and 2yo old fell asleep both knackered and I was left carrying one round on my arms!

I walked then 3 year old back from pre school on buggy every day, but was the only parent who didn't drive there, so what is the difference?

Definitely use it! My 5 and 6 year olds sometimes take rides in the stroller if the 2 year old doesn't want to be in it. Why does he care?? Doesn't he want her to be comfortable and have a rest after a long day?

4 year olds in buggies?! No wonder there’s an obesity epidemic
That depends on how far you walk 🤔

What a thing to say

DD1 climbed Snowdon when she was just turned 3. Walked half way down as well. She never seemed to tire and could just keep going.
DD2 had health issues as a baby and never seemed to build the same stamina as her sister, plus was a lot smaller. She is now 6 and can walk a few miles. Didn't really use buggy at 3, but she was in my bike trailer a lot.

No one judges buggy boards, or carseats or bike seats... But a parent walking with one preschooler in a buggy is.

DD was in her buggy at 3, she spent most days at DMIL (so so lucky) but collecting her at 6.15pm with a 40 min trek/drag if she walked or 20 mins if I pushed was a no brainer. You do what you have to do sometimes.

Can you get a buggy board in anticipation of your new arrival? DD can then go on that. More generally - whatever works.

My DS has just turned four and occasionally still take the double buggy out for him and my two year old if we are going far. He just gets in and out if he's tired but with two young children and pregnant myself I don't have the energy for carrying a four year old and pushing a pram when he starts complaining.

We do walk a lot compared to my friends who have ditched the buggy though, they seem to drive everywhere! I didn't drive until I was nearly 37 so it's just my default to walk.

It makes me laugh that people think a three year old in a buggy is the cause of the obesity epidemic though, whilst others are advocating bribery with chocolate buttons to get them to walk...