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?

@SnackSizeRaisin I wished mine would've let me use reins. But my eldest just fell to the ground like a total drama Queen every time I put them on, so I gave up!

I ended having three kids and they all hated reins. My eldest also had a dummy until he was 6 and was in nappies until nearly 4! He's neither incontinent, a road hazard, nor in need of braces. But I agree that you do whatever works.

@CandyLeBonBon she skinned her knee outside by falling over? Don’t really know how else to explain it?

We will also definitely need reins she bolted as soon as she got outside and refused to hold my hand

I think a very young child can cope with walking outside (without reins, etc).

When my DD was about 8 months, I had an operation that meant I couldn't lift her at all, and I was working, so I had to encourage her to climb in and out of her buggy and her car seat so I could get to work. She definitely wasn't walking. When she learned to walk, later on, she had to walk outside because I couldn't always carry her.

I think your partner needs to confront what he's worried about with the walking, and to work out strategies where he's comfortable with testing out some walking. But also, I think you should cut him some slack, because it is stressful.

Wow. No SUV. No car in fact. Went everywhere on foot and public transport. And both kids big and tall and out of buggies way before 4. They went on their scooters often, to speed things up and make it easier/more fun for them.

There is no way my 4 yr old would fit in a pushchair. I would say only a couple of her class might squeeze into a larger pushchair.*

Well that's odd. All mine did and I had a couple of chunky ones. I know they were 4 because we'd go on the school run and they'd fall asleep in the buggy. Then the next term they'd be at school.

[quote Immadeofwaxlarry]@CandyLeBonBon she skinned her knee outside by falling over? Don’t really know how else to explain it?[/quote]
It's just surprising because in the thickness of trousers needed at this time of year a toddler fall wouldn't normally cause a graze.

Even in shorts, 90% of falls under about the age of 3 here didn't involve grazes. They are light, the floor is close and they are a bit bouncy.

And my 98th centile for height DS was in the buggy until he left nursery. It was nearly a mile and I had a train to catch after. From about 2.5, he could walk bits if we had time, but I needed the option to strap him in and march or I would have been late to work a lot

It's just surprising because in the thickness of trousers needed at this time of year a toddler fall wouldn't normally cause a graze.
My 2 year old skinned her knee through thick joggers this week, it didn't strike me a particularly surprising.

@MinesAPintOfTea put what I was wondering into better words! I guess I just remember mine tottering over and landing on their hands or falling on their bums. But when they were newly walking I took them out on soft ground anyway. But with winter clothing a grazed knee is unusual (unless it's in sunnier climes) and ime a grazed/skinned knee on a newly toddling child is pretty sore! I guess all kids are different though.

DS started walking at about 15 months and from about 4 weeks after that (enough time for us to get him shoes) I started letting him toddle outside when we walked the dogs. I always had the carrier on at first because he'd only go a short way before wanting to be picked up, and he did fall over a lot, but he loved it. Can't wrap them up in cotton wool forever, and the more DS walked the steadier, and less likely to fall, he became. He's nearly 2 now and we walk every day that he's not at nursery. Sometimes he lies down constantly and we cover about a mile in 2 hours. Other days he walks well and I alternate between walking and carrying him and we can cover several miles that way. Just depends on his mood. I'd just get some good quality shoes and go for it. Be prepared for a few tumbles but let her have fun. It's great watching them bumbling about enjoying the outdoors.

@toastfiend

DS started walking at about 15 months and from about 4 weeks after that (enough time for us to get him shoes) I started letting him toddle outside when we walked the dogs. I always had the carrier on at first because he'd only go a short way before wanting to be picked up, and he did fall over a lot, but he loved it. Can't wrap them up in cotton wool forever, and the more DS walked the steadier, and less likely to fall, he became. He's nearly 2 now and we walk every day that he's not at nursery. Sometimes he lies down constantly and we cover about a mile in 2 hours. Other days he walks well and I alternate between walking and carrying him and we can cover several miles that way. Just depends on his mood. I'd just get some good quality shoes and go for it. Be prepared for a few tumbles but let her have fun. It's great watching them bumbling about enjoying the outdoors.

To be entirely fair to the OP, I do think if they learn to walk very late, it's a different ballgame.

@SarahAndQuack perhaps. I never thought of 15 months as "very late" tbh.

I don't think it's super late, but the OP is talking about 17 months.

True. I always forget that a couple of months at toddler age can make a big difference in development terms etc. It seems like such an inconsequential period of time as an adult.

Well, of course, because it doesn't make a difference long term, does it? It just matters in terms of how you deal with that toddler, because a 17 month old will have very different ideas from 15 month old or a 12 month old.

Very true, I can only wish my DS was as compliant now as he was at 15 months old!

I’m a crazy over-protective parent and I never thought of not letting my toddler walk outside. I guess we tended to stick to grassy areas at that age so pavement wasn’t a huge concern.

@Immadeofwaxlarry The bolting thing does improve! My DD is 2 and 5 months, and now understands she has to hold our hand in car parks, near roads etc. She also doesn't like straying too far any more and likes us to be within sight. This wasn't the case when she was the same age as your DC!