To think a 2 year old should walk?

[blanche85]

I have a 2 year old who will not walk anywhere! I have a pram,obviously,but he absolutely will not go in it - I've tried everything...toys,snacks,distraction...nothing.

If I manage to get him in there (with a huge struggle) he will just go crazy and scream and go red...you get the picture.

Thing is,I don't drive and I live a good 30 minute walk away from shops/park/anything...

The main problem is when I have to get heavier shopping...all of that plus him is just killing me.

He is generally very clingy and wants to be carried everywhere.

So...any tips to get him to stay in his pram? Enjoy it even?

Thank you

I've tried trikes and scooters and Bobby cars...to no avail.

I'd be 100% happy for him to walk...it's just the carrying that I really can't do any longer...he's obviously heavy and my neck and shoulders hurt for hours,days even afterwards.

He's like it around the house as well...in the garden..Sometimes when I need the toilet he just clings on to me and I have to really try hard to get him off...

Oh,and hanging out the washing in the garden...It's horrible...he'll want me to pick him up and I obviously can't and he just screams and grabs me the whole time...

I agree that a bit of tough love is needed.

Practice on small walks and then build up to longer walks. If he screams and hollers, let him. Don’t give in and pick him up.

You just have to grey rock him! Firmly say no, Mummy is busy now, I cannot pick you up. Repeat and stay unflustered. It’s super hard but giving in only rewards the behaviour. Also it’s just a phase and I’m sure it will pass, especially as he gets older and starts nursery etc

then you need to ignore and if he refuses to walk, straight into the pram and he'll soon learn that you won't pick him up everytime

Mine did that. I have wrestled him into the pushchair so many times, and it was always mega embarrassing if there were people watching, but we didn't have a choice as I don't drive and he can't walk very far. In the end I did bribe him with dry cornflakes and raisins and stuff, and eventually he became interested if he was allowed to push the pushchair every now and then. It was slow, but he'd push it for a bit, then get tired and would sit in the pushchair with a drink of water.

The trike worked for us for a while but it's not ideal for shopping or longer walks, I found.

My son is 3 now and I bloody love the fact that he's finally on a scooter. We can go anywhere and it's really quite quick!

@daisypond

Just double checking that you mean a pushchair or a buggy. Surely you don’t mean a pram, do you?

I mean a pushchair/buggy :)

You need to ignore him. If you keep carrying him he's learned tat screaming works.

I also still breastfeed him and co-sleep, so maybe he's just so used to being close to me all of the time.

Ok...sounds like I need to be tougher!

Lovebombing him a times when you can might both help your resolve and reduce the clinginess a bit. Lots of cuddles, tickling, attention when you can (I'm sure you do anyway but a conscious decision to spend 10 minutes or so completely focused on him). Then firmness when you can't. Again - you have to be convinced before you'll convince him out he'll sniff out any chink in your armour

hip seats are good at this age.

I used one. especially when DS2 didn't want to go in the push when i had school pick up to, very similar to yours, he'd arch his back and get his feet under the push chair whilst I was pushing.

you can wear them on the hip or in front.

www.amazon.co.uk/Wemk-Adjustable-Lightweight-Ergonomic-Multi-Position/dp/B07PLF3X4N/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?hvlocphy=1007080&hvnetw=g&keywords=child+hip+seat&hvadid=259132826332&qid=1593981766&dchild=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI557dnvy26gIVlYBQBh1b9A2NEAAYASAAEgK8CPD_BwE&hydadcr=29874_1715365&hvdev=m&hvqmt=e&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&hvtargid=kwd-316481599824&adgrpid=50820556982&hvrand=12362243461319267959&sr=8-3

one I saw was only £10

Time for an intensive training session. Be prepared to take ages to get somewhere and back. Offer buggy or walk. Ignore bad behaviour, try to avoid eye contact if tantrumming. Repeat buggy or walk, I'm not carrying you. Continue this until child gives up. (You do not have the option of giving up, you must carry this through). You have to be prepared to do this every time you go out, it will take a few times until your child realises that you mean what you say. Took me a fortnight.

My half sister remembers tying to prop me up with cushions because I couldn't sit up by myself - she only came to us in the school holidays; she and my Mum always referred to it as in the summer holidays - I'd fave been about fifteen months old at that stage.
I caught up - eventually.

Would a kiddies audiobook or songs on YouTube work? They can listen whilst in the buggy.

You have my sympathies my DS is like this too but weirdly only in the kitchen, wants to be picked up so that he can see what I'm doing - but obviously it's impossible to cook or wash the dishes one handed!

The audiobook thing works for me - it's the local library app, so the books are free. It that or the type of crying that would make you think I was torturing him 🙄😩

Would a kiddies audiobook or songs on YouTube work? They can listen whilst in the buggy.

You have my sympathies my DS is like this too but weirdly only in the kitchen, wants to be picked up so that he can see what I'm doing - but obviously it's impossible to cook or wash the dishes one handed!

The audiobook thing works for me - it's the local library app, so the books are free. It that or the type of crying that would make you think I was torturing him 🙄😩

Would a kiddies audiobook or songs on YouTube work? They can listen whilst in the buggy.

You have my sympathies my DS is like this too but weirdly only in the kitchen, wants to be picked up so that he can see what I'm doing - but obviously it's impossible to cook or wash the dishes one handed!

The audiobook thing works for me - it's the local library app, so the books are free. It that or the type of crying that would make you think I was torturing him 🙄😩

Two year olds are not reasonable! Just strap him in and say 'no, you need to sit in the pushchair today'. He'll get used to it (providing it's a decent quality, comfortable pushchair, not a cheapy stroller?)

Absolutely nothing to do with breastfeeding co sleeping.
I have co slept for 18 months and DS happily walks 3 miles +

I think tough love is definitely needed.

You are in charge, not your child

Stop giving in and carrying him. He is testing boundaries. It may be hard at first but he'll soon get the message

Is he able to walk? For example, when you try to go to the toilet alone, does he run after you to grab hold of you?

If he doesn't, it might be worth finding some way to get him to the GP to check if there's any issues with his hips or other joints. And if there isn't something causing him pain, then it's just a case of putting some earphones in and ignoring the red screaming rage as you get the shopping done.

Don’t carry him. I also used to say prank now, walk at the gates to the park or wherever I’d accept. Firm voice, you’re in charge. If you keep giving in after screams etc you’re showing them it works.

Pram not prank

I had a 4 month old baby when dc1 was that age. Walk nicely or pushchair. He'll soon get the idea .

Or, if he will walk a bit first, try and time it right so that you can offer him a nice snack /treat, bit he needs to have a sit down/rest in the pushchair to eat it. So the pushchir isnt always seen as a punishment.

A 2 yr old on a balance bike to the shops? That’s not safe, a pushchair/buggy/pram is.

It's a child personality thing, I had one that was a limpet baby (although he was happy enough in a pushchair as long as it was moving, thank god!) and DS2 is not limpetlike at all and will actually just wander off quite confidently into the distance if you don't keep your eye on him. He is the same age as yours and still breastfeeding/co-sleeping as well, so it's not that you've done something wrong. They are just different.

Some on here would scoff but I would absolutely try a properly ergonomic sling - Boba 3G/4G would be decent for his age or if he's tall, a preschool sized carrier. I don't know offhand what companies make them except Pouchlings. Hands free, transfers weight to your hips so doesn't kill your back all the time. They DO grow out of needing to be attached at all times. If you can borrow/rent one before buying, do that.

Boundaries yes, this is important too (I struggle with this but have ammassed a lot of reading/useful stuff on the topic if interested) BUT you still need a short term solution because you can't change his behaviour overnight.

One other thought - both of mine have been absolutely entranced by an ELC clip on steering wheel buggy toy, I've picked them up separately at car boots/charity shops for about £2. You can always find them, they are floating around because they go on forever and it's a relatively short period you use them for. Doesn't seem to matter if the battery function works (DS1's never had batteries in). Worth having a look for?

I second it being nothing to do with breast feeding or cosleeping.

Have you tried offering a hug when he says he wants to be carried? I've got a 3y9m and a 2y4m old both of whom will now walk 6km with minimal complaining (the distance to the allotment and back).

Getting to that point meant allowing plenty of rests (sometimes they would just sit on the floor for a bit), snacks, drinks, cuddles and time to look at things (bugs, flowers, the sky etc).

It certainly wasn't painfree but it is doable.

Reserve carrying for when you really need to (eg they've already had all the snacks, drinks and 3x10minute rests and it's starting to rain)