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.

Hi, re her size, she's about 90cm tall and 12.5kg (I think - she was 9.6kg at her 1 year check and 11kg at her 2 year check so that's an educated guess based on previous growth). I'm 5'3 and petite, husband is 5'5, so that doesn't seem outlandishly small to me. Nothing at all wrong with her brain or her appetite. Anyway, thank you all for the suggestions.

Ok I need take that comment back.

I've realised it's because I'm comparing to my 11.5kg 13 month old but he's really tall as well and on 98t percentile. So it was a daft comparison.

@thenoisehurts not a problem and I didn't take any offence - I know kids of similar ages who are twice her size! I got very excited recently when her 18-24 month clothes suddenly looked too small on her.

My 6 year old still does this sometimes. No solutions - we've tried calling his bluff and walking away, but he would just stay there, indefinitely. Sigh.

When my 3 year old does this I just sit down next to her and wait. She will eventually decide to continue on when she's ready/realises I won't carry her/gets bored.

If I'm in a hurry I will then carry her, but in a way that won't be the most comfortable for her. Like under my arm. Neither of us has any fun but at least we get somewhere and she didn't get her way ;)

But mostly the sitting down too trick works the best.

She's tiny and knackered poor thing.

Could you get one of those small fold up buggys? Fold on the tube but can still use when you need to.

Don't use a pushchair! What a way to teach a child a lesson that being stubborn and awkward gets them permission to be lazy.

When my DD refused to walk I either just read a book until she had got over herself or I took a firm grip of her shoulder and wrist and marched her on, until she got the idea that resistance was futile.

I totally understand, I live in London no car and use public transport but my fairly robust, athletic son (same age) would struggle.
I’ll link the pushchair I have. The strap means I can still hold his hand and carry a bag of shopping.

I would concentrate on teaching her how to use escalators, get on and off tubes safely and use pushchair when it’s busy or shes tired.

www.argos.co.uk/product/4664033?istCompanyId=a74d8886-5df9-4baa-b776-166b3bf9111c&istFeedId=30f62ea9-9626-4cac-97c8-9ff3921f8558&istItemId=ipxaqaptt&istBid=t&gclsrc=aw.ds&&cmpid=GS001&_$ja=tsid:59156%7Cacid:444-797-0832%7Ccid:596683589%7Cagid:77247539890%7Ctid:aud-641224040617:pla-833625008362%7Ccrid:394485151188%7Cnw:g%7Crnd:524323647383453257%7Cdvc:m%7Cadp:1o1%7Cmt:%7Cloc:1007284&utm_source=Google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=596683589&utm_term=&utm_content=shopping&utm_custom1=77247539890&utm_custom2=444-797-0832&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI0oT9896j5wIVBLTtCh1mUAZAEAQYASABEgL4l_D_BwE

short wrap to back carry - perfect for the up down toddler age!

if it’s about tiredness does she walk this far regularly or is it occasional? If they don’t walk as far regularly they can out grow their own strength quite easily & need practice to catch up.

Do you play games? My kids needed different things to go places at that age - one we would sing together, another needed to have something to aim for so we would get a rocket boost everytime we landed on a manhole cover/metal plate in the pavement or race to be the first to step on a fallen leaf/use them like stepping stones, one likes to choose to float in a bubble that burst & needed reblown by me when she got tired (this gets tiresome ), one needed funny walk suggestions.

They all enjoyed getting to be in charge of their own special walk too - it really helped to have a walk that was purely for their joy rather than for getting somewhere etc

This too shall pass

I don't think a typical child that age needs a pushchair either, not if these are her regular distances which it sounds like they are in the OP.

Love Gibbons' game idea! If you can distract away from the stubborn fit to something 'fun' it should do the trick as well. Your rocket boost idea is gold Gibbon!

Just to add to the pushchair comments. Especially in London. DH used to get the pushchair out for DS if he came into London long after they'd stopped using it on a daily basis. Because DS WOULD get tired - inevitably it's a long day with a lot of stimulation - busy city, tube etc. So even if he wasn't rushing about the whole time, he was tired. Like others, we had a lightweight maclaren that could just be tossed over a shoulder with a strap for steps etc.

Come to think of it, we had pushchairs lurking for long after both DC didn't use them regularly in case of the odd occasion they were necessary usually when travelling.

What about those holiday type pushchairs that fold into a square shape? There’s a few brands with a carry handle/shoulder strap. Might be handy if it’s there but not out to carry it on the tube.

I am in London too and sometimes it wasn't just about being tired but the fact it can be unbelievably busy (especially tube stations) and the whole thing can become overwhelming and frightening to a tiny 2 year old. The buggy was my girl's safe zone - both for her and me sometimes. Remember there is a big difference between 'going for a walk' and 'getting from A to B'.

Food for thought - if I had a pushchair with me on a walk then my daughter would throw a hissy fit until she was allowed to sit in it. If I didn't have a pushchair there'd be no mention of it at all. So I'd be wary of having a folding chair along. Better to have a sling packed away in a bag where she can't see it in my opinion!

Thank you to everyone for responding. The distances aren't unusuaI for her - we regularly walk a mile to the park and then play there for a couple of hours - and she had been fine with the same journey pre-Christmas, when we went to a class at the same place (that class was later, so I assumed she would be less tired on the way back from this one). Anyway, appreciate all the input.

Reins. Not necessarily with attached leash part, just the harness. That way you get yourself an rather irate handbag and where you want to go.