AIBU to buy pushchair weight limit 2.4 stone, child is 3 stone but.....

[infinityforever]

Have already had to spend far too much time looking for a buggy.

Child has just turned 4 but will need a buggy for as long as poss as we go on massive trips and no car.

Been using a Maxi Cosi that i've only just realised he is 0.6 stone too heavy for. He's really cramped in it for lying down, a key feature for us. Mama's and Papa's Armadillo has loads of room but same weight restriction, WIBU unreasonable to buy it? I've heard that the US often certify pushchairs for much higher weights just because they have a better system for assessing them (or something?) than the UK has.
Please help, pushed for time!

@Ballysbabe yeah thats true teachers do end up having to change nappies but then I don't any that haven't had SEN and in my mind thats not anyones fault, I'm lucky my sons not that bad just the occasional accident but then the teachers and I keep reminding him to go and thats the only reason he's not in them.

This is the most infuriating post I’ve ever read. Massive hugs OP.
I have a 4yo who wouldn’t walk the distances you’re talking about! In fact, after school my 2yo hops out of the pushchair and the 4yo jumps in! All kids are different! And hats off to you OP for getting out and about so much and not letting distance and being on foot hold you back. Your little one is very lucky and learning loads more from being out and about in the pushchair than mine are from their car seats

European Regs apparently mean a buggy must be tested to at least 1.5x the weight limit started.

Also IME they will not fall apart the minute you go a gram over. All it means is that exceeding that limit over time will increase the wear and tear and shorten the life span of the buggy.

I would forget about weight limits and look at the physical space in the seat.

Might not be helpful but, my younger two were reluctant walkers and I got them scooters / balance bikes to ease the pain of school runs etc.

Sarah
So there's no time a child can possibly enjoy Disney between being 4/5 in a buggy and being 9/10?
There's no point where a primary aged child might enjoy Disney and be able to walk around?

All the hysteria about then missing out on a once in a lifetime trip because the option is a buggy now Vs the potential that someone at some point might get ill in the future is a tad dramatic.

But sure, a child's entire childhood is split into "time they'll fit in a buggy and be pushed around" and "too big to ever enjoy a magical experience because they'll not be able to have a childhood experience at any stage in childhood where they're too big for buggy".

Hi,
Silver Cross Reflex. 25kg weight limit and some. Brilliant buggy (very spacious and I cannot rate it enough). Do what works for you. I used my running buggy and Relex pushchair until my daughter was 5 as I ran 10k.m.daily and often like you walked for miles per day. She is now nearly 6 can cycle this with me. No harm comes of child in a buggy. The reality is no-one really cares. Goodluck😉

I do drive but for a while didn't have a car my DD wasa greatt walker at4.

Its Disney land.

It's for kids. You take them when they are into that Kinda stuff. If that's 4/5 then fine. If they dont get into it til older that's fine too.

If it was a 3 week hike up Mount Everest then I'd agree that's the time for adapting your life with a child.

But a trip to disney land with a Back up stroller in case they get a bit tired , its really not that big of a deal.surely.

Ginnymweasley I’m surprised people comment on you walking just under a mile to school.
It’s 1.5 miles from our house to school. I have a 5 year old, 4 year old (in reception) and a 9 month old. No one has ever commented on our distance to walk to school! In fact we walk with approx 6 other families who live on our street or surrounding streets. Many people walk further.
I’m surprised at people suggesting the uppababy vista. We have one for the baby, I put my 4 year old in it recently for a joke and she looked absolutely ridiculous in it! She was far too big.
That aside, I don’t see an issue with using a pushchair if you need to. My 4 year old would think I’d gone insane if I tried to make her properly use ours, but if we’re going to be travelling late or especially long distances we use the car so no difference really.

Its Disney land.
It's for kids. You take them when they are into that Kinda stuff
Yes I know it's for kids. 🙄
I'm disputing the idea that the options are do a big holiday of a lifetime that a child can't manage without being pushed around aged 4/5 in a buggy or they'll miss out on a holiday of a lifetime because not doing it at 4/5 means they'll never enjoy it and will have out grown it.

Disney appeals to kids throughout primary so the idea of push them round in a buggy otherwise they'll miss out is daft.

How dare people comment on what mode of transport you use for your child?

No one would comment if you drove your child round in a supersizes SUV and your child walked no more than 20ft to the entrance of nursery.

Well done for yourself and making considerations for your little ones tired legs. Silver Cross so some good strong strollers!

QuiteTiredNeedSleep
Most people won't comment in real life, but if someone started a thread saying "AIBU to drive my giant SUV crossover 1 mile to school and get there 45 mins early doing the silly parking wars with other people" then people would comment.

If people ask for views online then it's hardly outrageous that people share their views.

There's no need for anyone to be unpleasant, but I'm not sure you can say "how dare" anyone comment on a thread topic.

Different ages have different obstacles.

If you waited for a "good time" most the time you'd end up never doing anything.

Many kids of families who live rurally probably do far more walking than those who go from house to car and back again.

Personally I think all those parents who sit with their kids in the car for 40 mins every morning just so they can park by the school and their kids dont have to walk more than 6 feet are probably the ones with the bigger problem than those who have to walk 2 miles to school and then back again with the occasional sit in.a.push chair if they arent quite 100 percent.

At the rate some.parents are going these days even at 9/10 theyd never make it round Disney land even then.

Baby jogger OP. I once got judged most massively and loudly for having my dc in a pushchair- age assumed, never met me/dc, no idea if any mobility issues etc. Same woman drive about 500 yards because her preschooler was napping and too heavy to carry. Well yes.

How do you all get your pre schoolers to walk when they don’t want to? My Lazy 3.5 year old will just sit down and weep, complaining her legs hurt, after a 10-15 minute stroll. I can’t carry her anymore so (when we’re not with baby’s pram and buggy board) we take an umbrella stroller. Fortunately she’s small for her age so no funny looks.

Sarah
I don't get the buggies at 4/5 Vs parents who sit in cars 45 mins early to avoid their dears walking 2 minutes argument.
It's not a case of being either/or.

For example, I get parents having a buggy board walking a few miles. That makes perfect sense. I'm more in that camp than in the drive half a mile camp. I don't think that taking play dates that mean 10+ miles walking in the rain so we need a buggy is reasonable, in fact it just seems silly to me. I also happen to think the car obsessive brigade are ridiculous.

Of course different ages have different challenges. We all base our opinions on our experiences.

I really don't understand how sitting a child in a car or bike seat to transport them somewhere is any different than putting them in a buggy, other than it's become socially acceptable to do one and not the other. Could you any of the judgy people perhaps answer that?

OP, I don't have recommendations, but am following for recommendations and wanted to say you're a better parent than I am, ignore the "too good for buggies" brigade!

My DD is 3 and half and very tall (age 5 clothes).
We use a buggy for the 1 mile walk (yes, only a mile ) to the bus stop every morning... because DD likes to stay in bed as late as possible in the morning, eat cereal bars on the way, and stay dry under a rain cover. Reasonable. I like sanity, catching my bus and ignoring other women judging my parenting.

I have no idea on the weight limit of our tatty Joie stroller (that we bought for a holiday and now use every day). I also have no idea how much my super tall 3 year old weighs. But she did win at sports day and the pushchair hasn't snapped yet, so I think we're okay.

Good luck in your hunt!

unihorn
It's not about car Vs buggy. That argument is really daft.

It's about whether I think it's reasonable to have a child outside on long (10 mile) walks in bad weather meaning a buggy would be needed Vs changing plans and not doing that because that's the reality of having children not having the transport to do whatever non essential activity.

I'm on another thread saying that people would be wrong to be sneering or commenting on a 3 year old in a buggy so it's not like I'm some sort of anti buggy brigade. I just think it's a bit daft to argue a buggy is needed for all these long walk and hills and bad weather when the likelihood is that the trips themselves are probably a bit needless.
I feel the same when people fuss over taking their children on long car journeys and how hard it is etc or they're going to be back so late with DC from some event or other when the obvious sensible suggestion is not to take their DC to a late event an hour and a half drive away.

Ignore all the negative comments op, having no car or suitable public transport must be a pain.

Could you get a bike with a seat on the back? Or you can get the pull chair/seat for behind the bike. (I don't know what it's called) Now sure how your joints would cope with that.

Yikes some of the replies are way harsh

My DSIS walks everywhere with my 4 yo niece in towZ They use an out n about nipper. I've used it and it's great. You'd probably get one secondhand on Facebook marketplace or the likes.

Little bit envious of all the walking you do! You must be super fit. Also thinking of all the fresh air your DS is getting instead of being stuck in the back of a car. I've got so lazy since I started driving

I think the point many people are making here is that a buggy facilitates you doing what you like to do, rather than what would be nice for your child. No child likes sitting down for hours and hours freezing cold because the adult plans their day the same way as they did when they were a student. When children walk beside you it's a different dynamic to a front facing buggy. They just look really bored.

Isnt it all mostly just making the best of what you have.

Play dates may seen non essential but as the parent of a child who doesnt go to any due to not going to a local school and working evenings so not around to pick dd up afterwards , would it seem a big deal to me to put myself out on one night I was available maybe on a friday night and no where to be Saturday when the kid was tucked up warm with rain covers and blankets and it's me getting a bit wet. Probably not that big a deal.

Would I do it every week or when they had school the next day? No.

Those of us who live in a town with good public transported and everything we need a mile away at most, give or take well we can ditch the buggy pretty early .

Stands to reason those in the opposite situation woyod have to perhaps use a bit longer.

Holidays again, well why miss out. If you are going somewhere that's suitable for kids but night have the odd late night sure take it. Stupid to miss out really if you are planning on hiking for.miles dragging a 2 yr old behind you and chucking them.out their own buggy to transport oxygen tanks or bottles of vodka instead then heah you probably have your priorities wrong.

There could be any number of reasons why circumstances require alternative provision and dont always appear ideal.maybe spouse takes car away on.a.stag/hen do or business trip or visiting an.elderly relative in hospital. Maybe surgery or medication means they are unable to drive temporarily. That wont stop kids needing to go to school or having to go get some.food shopping in.

Or maybe they all just really enjoy long walks but still need a rest occasionally There are worse things families can do together after all.

Between weddings, funerals work, school, other commitments its perhaps not always possible to go everywhere at exactly the right time. If all that stands between you going, and letting everyone.down or missing a drs/hospital appointment or seeing a family member/friend before they move away is a buggy and other peoples judgement then youd be a bit daft not to.

I’ve not read the whole thread but what about a trike with a handle?

@LolaSmiles Ok so ‘how dare’ was a bit overly dramatic. Rephrased, ‘how can people be so judgemental’.
My thoughts were the OP was considering buying a new pushchair rather than making due with an old one and trying her best to make it work. I thought fair play to her! I won’t bother in future.
Good luck OP! Hope you find the right pushchair!