To ask when you let your toddler walk outside

[Immadeofwaxlarry]

My partners very apprehensive to let our 17 month old daughter walk outside even though she does nothing but potter about the house all day. AIBU to think he’s being silly?

Hey! Just wanted to chime in and say I have a 15 month old who doesn't walk yet, she is very chatty instead, she stands up a lot but doesn't walk. So I'm guessing if she's only just started walking, she is unstable? I would get some reigns and some good shoes and go for a short walk outside. Some of the posts here are a bit ridiculous if she has only just started walking!

How do you prevent them straying to far on the rains without them falling on their bum when they try to run off but the reins stop them

She’s fairly late to walk (not that this is a problem, it just contextualises things). If she’s only been walking a couple of weeks it’s probably a good time for her to experience walking outside. Why not take the buggy to the park and then let her have a little potter? We gradually moved up from pottering in the park, accompanying me on trips to the post box etc, until before you know where you are they can just walk most places (eventually my main use of the buggy was a restraining mechanism rather than a necessary mode of transport when they’re in that toddler phase of bolting off)

My first DS was unsteady on his feet for quite a while after he learned to walk. He fell over a LOT - often got grazes and cut lips from tumbling over.

Reins were helpful as it enables them to develop independent balance better than when you’re holding hands with them - but you can often use the reins to catch their fall and stop them face-planting.

@Immadeofwaxlarry

How do you prevent them straying to far on the rains without them falling on their bum when they try to run off but the reins stop them

Well... you don’t. They learn from experience.

@Immadeofwaxlarry

How do you prevent them straying to far on the rains without them falling on their bum when they try to run off but the reins stop them

You can catch the body straps of the reins if you're quick but she might just fall. Children do fall all the time you know.

Reins by roads and water, otherwise let them off to run. Reins help you stop them falling, though not completely (and it's good to let them understand that running too fast and falling over hurts).

My 22 month old runs everywhere and is so fast I have to walk at my top walking speed to keep up.

If she's just started walking I'd do just short trips around the garden /5mins round the block to get her used to shoes to begin with. My DD was an early walker (9mo) but she was about 11m before she was happy to walk a distance in shoes. Welly boots etc at this time of year will be harder. I also highly recommend a good set of waterproofs as there can be a lot of puddle sitting

Let her fall and learn to put her hands out to stop her, not sure if she'll do the same due to age difference but it did take my DD a month or so to work out how to break her own falls...most of the time I got her first but on the odd occasion she just face planted and was absolutely fine. They only cry if you make a fuss.

We have a little lifesaver backpack which is great for nursery and keeping her on a rein near ponds/roads etc, and also holds essential snacks to keep her going on longer walks

What? This is madness. How do you think children learn to do anything? By trying, by falling over. You can't prevent every tiny fall.

I have a 18 month old who falls for vet all the time. At the moment she’s wearing a padded snowsuit type thing which is good padding

@Immadeofwaxlarry

How do you prevent them straying to far on the rains without them falling on their bum when they try to run off but the reins stop them

Why are you concerned with her falling ?

With mine it was when they insisted upon it at about 15 mths. 'WALK!'

Children fall over all the time. It's normal. Seriously, you need to unclench or you will create a very anxious child who's scared of doing anything.

I had a nine month walker and let him walk outside from the word go. Never considered it an option not to. Children need to be allowed to fall (albeit not in a dangerous place such as near a busy main road, a car park, a train platform or somewhere similar).

Of course they toddle along outside on the pavement, garden and the park. Sometimes they fall over - it’s part of learning.

Mine also we let walk as much as they wanted outside. It is important to make sure they hold a parents hand. I see your DH likes to walk fast to places. It’s ok to carry the child then, but then let the child walk around at the destination, or if you pass a green space on the way, have a stop and let them wander around a bit, touch a tree, pick up a leaf, etc. Mine seemed to be walking slow one day and then in a blink they were zooming off. It doesn’t take long to go from learning to walk to learning to run.

Let's face it. Your DP is anti-pottering. This is not about the toddler

My children were walking, running and falling since they started to walk. I really don’t understand exactly does your DH wan to do? Obviously parents always try to prevent accidents happen, but remind him that preventing a child from physical and emotional development is abusive and he can’t refuse to take the child out of house.

What*

Mine always did everything outside that they do inside. Sitting, crawling, pulling to stand, learning to walk. There was never a distinction between what you do inside to outside. You just need to find somewhere suitable. Like a park. I didn’t bother with reins. They can’t run off at that age coz they’re too slow. What did you do about the crawling age?

I stopped using a pram at 14 months. I also didn't use reigns, just taught common sense from a young age. Not always easy but I had a sensible kid so she was fine doing so. My nephews on the other hand needed reigns...

I think my partners biggest issue is we don’t have reins and he feels more comfortable with the idea of using reins. He always takes dd out but she’s been in the pram and they’ll go walk through the woods, they have an amazing relationship. At the crawling age we let her crawl on the grass but she’s going through a phase where she doesn’t like the feeling of grass anymore, don’t know if it’s because it’s winter or not

Get some Reigns. She won’t fall on reigns.

www.clippasafe.co.uk/products/walking-harness-with-reins

This sort.

Put mittens on her. She should be out and getting some proper exercise. Plan trips around her- walks with no end destination and no time limit. So just walking around a park with no time limits.

You take her. Leave him behind. We used reins once she got some speed up but when just toddling - probably not needed. She will fall. She will get back up x1000000 - she's just learning. But yes - go without him.