To struggle to cope with sit-down toddler protests

[mizzles]

Posting here for traffic in the knowledge that it will get some sarcastic responses...

DD (2.8) has taken to moaning for me to carry her then plonking herself down in the middle of the pavement if I say know (e.g.if I've got heavy bags or just because it's not that far and there's no reason why she cant walk). I try to avoid taking a pushchair unless we're going out for the whole day. I've tried calmly explaining why I can't carry her and asking her nicely to walk, pretending to walk off and telling her off, none of which produced any degree of cooperation. I don't think it's a physical issue, just stubbornness. Anyone have a magic solution for me? It drives me bananas and of course it's quite embarrassing. I've made her walk as much as possible since she could walk at 15 months, so it's not from lack of opportunity to practise.

Pushchair.

I do a minimum of five miles a day on school run alone, I can't be waiting around for the toddler to get over herself and walk. All of my DC were in a buggy at least part of the time until they finished nursery school. At age 2-3 they were doing a mix of walking beside me on reins with no buggy (short journeys) or walking beside me on reins with me pushing the empty buggy so they could get in when tired (longer journeys). By age 3-4 they were walking almost all of the short journeys (unless ill or tired) and a lot of the longer ones but with a buggy as back up for long days out or very long journeys.

If you're concerned about her getting enough exercise I'd probably take her to a toddler tumble class type thing. Or nursery level dance class. Are you strong enough that she could go in a sling for the tube?

I really don't think 2 and a half is too old for a buggy, as demonstrated by the several replies of being 3-3.5 and using buggies.

A lighter pushchair.

@themobilesitemademesignup that's why we get the Tube every Saturday - to get to a dance class as there weren't any nearby on a Saturday (she is at nursery full-time). She loves the class - and it's likely recently that she's been so difficult about the walking, she was doing it fine before Christmas. I did wonder if a growth spurt might have contributed.

I couId probably manage a sling - haven't used one for ages but she's only about 12.5 kg so I could manage the weight.

Thanks again all.

Use a buggy. I don't drive and my kids where at least 3 and half before dropping the buggy was even a consideration. In reality my youngest was 4 and half before completely stopping and this has had zero negative affects on his fitness levels, in fact he is far more active than his car driven peers.

If it is after the class that she's complaining she probably really is tired to be fair. One of those small pushchairs is the answer (as expensive as you can afford, the cheap ones are heavy!!!).

Ah the Tube. I had a basic umbrella buggy that I could hook over my arm and either carry or hold hands daughter on escalator or stairs. Best £19.99 I ever spent (from Argos).

Maclaren Volo!

Although that was many years ago so I expect there are other lightweight strollers available now. I imagine you could get a cheap second hand one. I sold ours for £15 I seem to remember. Anyhow they are as light as a handbag and easy to throw over your shoulder. Mine was invaluable for tube journeys.

Like this

www.amazon.co.uk/s?hvlocphy=1007050&hvnetw=g&hvadid=259032646746&k=pull+strap+for+scooter&gclid=CjwKCAiAjrXxBRAPEiwAiM3DQtv25xHWZnMD4Wra5Q0oFSqXyIXZFwr_4-8B0Vq6H7k3Cf5N1kMPNhoCt0wQAvD_BwE&ref=pd_sl_70i78s3xsw_e&hydadcr=8612_1818671&hvpos=1t1&hvdev=m&hvqmt=e&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&hvtargid=kwd-315907408480&adgrpid=58622981452&hvrand=7289567759634144671

Have you got a pull lead for the scooter? It means you can carry it easily when she’s walking as well.

I don’t think it would work if she’s still likely to sleep in a buggy but it takes all the work out of the scooter for her and you have a surprising amount of control over them. Might work out better for the tube.

Yes to the lightest McLaren you can get. On tube stairs fold it up, over the crook of your arm, and help DD walk down the stairs.

Just take a pushchair if you’re going to the shops and have heavy bags to carry. Why make life more difficult for the sake of it?

Pushchair, still get her to walk but then when tired pushchair. I remember that age- drove me mad but just used pushchair, they grow out of it. Ds just turned 4 so were over that stage but I still used it at 3.

She’s not being stubborn. She’s getting tired.

Little umbrella buggy, probably for the next year to be honest.

People who are snobby about using a pushchair tend not to walk very far

I didn't realise that people who didn't put their toddlers in pushchairs were being snobby..? What an odd choice of words.

I agree wolfie OPS child isn't stunborn she's tired. After an activity my 2 year olds would settle into their buggy for a sleep while I walked home not be forced to walk and navigate the tube 😕.

I didn't realise that people who didn't put their toddlers in pushchairs were being snobby

I don’t think people who don’t use pushchairs are being snobby as a given but people as a general group can get very sniffy over anyone using a pushchair for children over about the age of 2.5.

There’s been loads of threads on MN over the years where it has been debated. It tends to be people who drive everywhere who don’t see the need for a buggy with a toddler.

I second the light buggy for the Tube - its actually quite easy to bump up and down the stairs as it doesn't weigh that much.

I have the Acro pushchair from Mamas and Papas and just used it in London in Thursday for my one year old. It was brilliant. It’s so lightweight and easy to push and I easily coped with the tube on several occasions. I just grabbed it by the handle and the bumper bar and was able to quickly carrier her up and down stairs. It also folds down very small and even comes with a bag to carry it in.

Get a belt and pull the scooter along. That way she is just resting stood on the scooter.

12.5kg is tiny for a nearly 3 year old though, blimey.

Get a lightweight stroller - I use the tube (Zone 1/2) every week end. It means I am not lugging heavy shopping everywhere and people do help to carry up and down steps (if you ask, rarely voluntarily!)

This stage was a while ago for me. But if it was a decent walk and I was on a time frame, I took a buggy. If it was a short walk and I could take it very slowly, DCs walked. I remember a 5 minute walk from nursery taking about 25 minutes. We wandered very slowly as DS looked at every twig and worm.

12.5kg is tiny for a nearly 3 year old though, blimey.

Really? Is it not only a bit smaller than average?

It’s smaller than average but it’s not that tiny. My 3 year old is the same size. And he’s fine and having been under consultant care (nothing to do with his weight) no one has any concerns whatsoever. The centile charts mean that some kids will be bigger and some will be smaller. I am Asian, I am small, DH is not huge. My kids were all born under the 9th centile and have stayed on the 9th centile. But if you look at a growth chart for Asian kids born in the UK they are on the 50th centile!

Some kids will be big, some will be small. As long as they are healthy and eating well and their neurodevelopment is fine, surely that’s okay?!