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?

Reins aren't compulsory. We had them for ds because he was a bit of a bolter, but not for dd. Both fell over regardless- it's what they do.

If I'm running late or if we are headed to town where he would run around the supermarket touching everything which at the moment is a no no I use the pram, other than that he walks and I take the trike in case. I do use reins if we are walking in a built up area but also try and teach him that we wait, look left and right before crossing etc, but he doesn't quite have the comprehension yet- but I see them as a secondary safety measure rather than in lieu of teaching that. Other than that just let him loose to burn off some energy and explore!

Also I know running around the supermarket is always a no no, but he is not quite there yet and isn't the right time to 'test' it.

Mine has been walking outside from 10.5 months - he falls on his hands sometimes but it doesn't bother him. He mostly holds my hand as he walks. Let the girl out, she must be so bored.

Yet again she only started walking two weeks ago

As soon as they can walk and own a properly fitted pair of shoes. My eldest was an early walker and we used to go out daily. She could do at least a mile at a reasonable pace by her first birthday. My second couldn’t even walk at that age before any thinks I’m bragging, I simply mean as soon as they are able and doing it regularly, they can build up stamina and confidence quite quickly. Your DH is not helping by wrapping her in cotton wool, children learn by making mistakes and by imitating what they see. Toddlers love to walk, run, skip, gallop outside. An occasional fall is not a reason to a avoid it.

They do fall when they start walking outside, I'm sure some sadly do hurt themselves, but the vast vast majority of the time they just get back up and carry on walking. You could try on grassy places first, so take the pram and then walk there and then in the pram back if you'd prefer.

The earlier they fall, the lighter and shorter they are. Best let her do it now.

We used to do in and lot of the buggy on walks. Walk a bit, get tired, ride a bit.

DS is 8 and currently has cuts on his hands from falling in the playground. It would clearly be abuse to wrap him up to not be able to fall at 8...

@Immadeofwaxlarry

Errr he's 'going to let' you try outside?

He sounds neurotic and controlling

12 months!

I don't remember this being any kind of decision. They just walked outside the next time we were going outside after they'd started walking, it wasnt anything planned.

Never had reins because neither of us were bolters. Definitely wouldn't use them in a park or anywhere else away from a road.

As soon as they could walk well enough to wear shoes, mine walked. My 23 month old son can now walk about 3 miles, he can trot quite quickly along beside me for about 1 mile non stop without needing to be carried for a break. And he is SERIOUSLY quick, if he runs I have to jog with him now to keep up!

If he falls over we say "uh oh", stand him up, he holds out his hands to be wiped and off he goes again.

Yes, sometimes he cries. Last week he tripped unexpectedly on a kerb and face planted into a puddle. But mostly he loves it.

Let your child have a practise, there's no other way to improve.

He’s going to let us try walking her outside today

Aww isn't that good of him 🙄 tell him to get a bloody grip. Also, he will just need to slow down so she can walk sometimes. How controlling does he sound?!

Definitely get the child exploring outside, safely. Mine were all walking outside once they were steady on their feet, they can usually cover a couple of miles to be honest - at that age they're usually walking around the house all day anyway! It's inconvenient when you're in a shop or don't have plenty of time, but on relaxed days it's lovely to do it.

I advocate reins but hold hands along with that.

@Immadeofwaxlarry

She’s only started to walk now to be honest so it’s not that’s what been able to walk for months without going outside, maybe two weeks of getting her used to walking inside. He’s going to let us try walking her outside today (she has Clark’s) and I have a pair of reins coming tomorrow

He’s going to let you?

What would happen if you just took her for a walk outside yourself?

Get her outside with a little pair of mittens on and a backpack or some reins which you can hold to stop her face planting on the concrete.
Your DH needs to not be an arse and walk slowly to accommodate the little one!

I'm not sure what you want here. Noone is going to say, yes it's perfectly normal to think the way he thinks, because it really isnt. Wrapping kids in cotton wool is bad for them, it's poor parenting.

Why is she so late to walk? My son was a lazy bugger and late at about 16 months, months of cruising round furniture or holding on to people, but once he did it he was pretty solid and stable straight away. Has your husband been discouraging her from trying by over reacting to 'falls'?

I don't want to sound horrible but I had an over anxious parent and it caused me problems as a young child, and when I was old enough to see it was them, not me, I really resented it.

DS1 crawled around here, there and everywhere before he walked at 16m.
Well, not along pavements, but in child friendly environments like the playground, or at church. Puddlesuit or fleecy onesie were essential.

Footwear was awkward. For some strange reason most shops don't stock until size 4 so he had to stay in cruisers and have extortionate designer wellies (very wet sunmer) until he fitted in normal footwear when he was 2.

Toddlers walking slowly is just a tedious fact of life. The more they walk, the better they get, but it does take a few years for their legs to grow long enough to keep up with a good,functional, brisk walk. Patience is needed!

Why does it matter if she falls on her bum? Isn’t she wearing a nappy and trousers /snow suit ? If you live in the UK its cold in December.

IME it does take a few weeks between first steps and being confident to walk outside.

I found with my two when they first started walking, they would revert to crawling most of the time, because it was faster. As they got steadier on their feet, they crawled less and less.

I didn't take them outside until they had finished this half-crawling stage, because I didn't want them putting their hands and knees on the ground to that extent.

Falling over is OK/normal, though!

Also, at that age, you don't walk with them "to" anywhere, because it's like herding cats at the pace of a snail. We just went for little wanders and explores. If I wanted to get somewhere, I put them in a buggy or sling and then I can walk at my own pace.

Maybe he's concerned about her putting her hands on the floor outside? We've got anti bac wet wipes and reins, if she falls you can pretty much stop her and we hold her hand a lot of the time

He'll have to get used to walking slower!

I didn’t have a choice with mine. I needed the pram for the new baby, so DD1 had to toddle along on reins beside it. She soon got strong legs and could power up steep hills (we live in Scotland) - I had to sprint to keep up with her! She walked at 12 months and was v confident by 15 months.

Walk outside and everywhere as soon as she can walk. How else will she learn about pavements, kerbs, people, dogs, etc? One rule - always hold a hand. Reins are for dogs. And not too long of course - make sure the buggy comes out too for when she gets tired. I used to take my DC for practice walks around the block - we'd talk about what we saw along the way and practice looking out for cars, waiting for the green man, etc. Positive reinforcement - Well done holding on to mummy's/daddy's hand, Good girl walking on the pavement, etc instead of Don't run into the road. I used to quite enjoy it. I don't remember them falling over but I'm sure they must have done. But they would have been holding my hand so not gone face down.

@Hollyhocksarenotmessy I’m actually quite offended by this. She has been late to roll over and walk but has been crawling since 6 months because she can get places quicker from crawling. The nursery haven’t been concerned about her starting to walk at 17 months (the advice from HV is they should be walking by 18 months) so really she isn’t too late.