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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Toddler walking

34 replies

MikeSully · 05/04/2021 20:23

Ds is 3. Nursery is 1.4 miles away. Can get the bus in morning but after will need to walk back. Have baby too. Oh thinks I'll need a buggy board
Aibu to think he can walk that distance?
What could yours do at that age?

OP posts:
JohnLapsleyParlabane · 05/04/2021 20:25

Depending on the age of the baby is probably go for baby in sling and 3yo on scooter with a handle I could pull when needed

Amammai · 05/04/2021 20:27

Take into account he is likely to be shattered after nursery. My son can walk that far but after a full and active day he would probably struggle a bit without a lot of coaxing. Worth getting a buggy board so you have the option on days he’s shattered?

Pottedpalm · 05/04/2021 20:29

Hmmm.. a mile on a warm summer afternoon, with a scooter? Probably fine. In the cold and wet, when he is tired? Not so good.

ShadowKitty · 05/04/2021 20:29

I'd just get the buggy board - then you have the option. We used ours a lot and it's useful when you've got a dawdling and tired toddler.

WisestIsShe · 05/04/2021 20:30

I think it's a big ask after a day at nursery. I'm a childminder and find that babies can usually walk a mile by about 22 months. (This is the local circular walk at our lake). However after a full day of playing, running, climbing, exploring, learning etc the stamina of the most energetic 3 year old would be seriously depleted.

Coachee · 05/04/2021 20:30

Our nursery walk is 0.8 miles and DD (just turned 3) walks most of it there, and then it varies on the way back - sometimes she’s really tired and needs a shoulder ride. I think 1.4 miles would be a bit much for her to walk, especially as she finds nursery so exhausting! It also takes much longer - usually have to allow an extra 15 mins to what it would take me if I were walking alone. Buggy board is probably worth a try, plus bringing a snack for the walk home.

Crowsaregreat · 05/04/2021 20:32

I definitely wouldn't rely on him walking every day, being capable of it isn't the same as being willing to do it! I used to take baby in pram but put the sling under the pram just in case, then if need be put the baby on my back and the 3yo in the pram. Buggy board probably does the same tho!

Cupidity · 05/04/2021 20:32

It depends. I used a buggy board, or sometimes put baby ds in a sling and dd would go in a pushchair. When ds was 3 he would happily balance bike a similar distance after nursery (but he wasn't doing full days). I noticed it would also depend on the weather - beautiful sunny days were easier to walk than ones with torrential rain.

Owwlie · 05/04/2021 20:33

Definitely get the buggy board to use when the weathers crap or he’s tired. I find it handy to have when I pop into shops with them both as well, if the toddlers on the buggy board it stops her from attempting to pick up everything she wants.

sbhydrogen · 05/04/2021 20:34

A buggy board or scooter would be easier, but definitely doable.

Original poster
MikeSully · 05/04/2021 20:37

Ahh yeah never thought about the weather. Thank you everyone.

OP posts:
Kimye4eva · 05/04/2021 20:38

I’d just get the buggyboard. DC1 was 3.5 when DC2 arrived and we were just over 1.5 miles from nursery. We used it a lot, even once DC1 stated school. Just meant we could get somewhere at normal adult speed. (Plus it’s a great workout post baby). They were fine on the scooter in the morning but often too tired in the afternoon.

Kimye4eva · 05/04/2021 20:40

if the toddlers on the buggy board it stops her from attempting to pick up everything she wants

Oh yes this too. More likely to stay put.

twoticksvix · 05/04/2021 20:44

My twins were a pain in the bum on the FIVE minute walk to our house from nursery after a full day!! Get the buggy board or scooter for sure.

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 05/04/2021 20:45

Nursery can exhaust a little one- defo a buggy board

Dustyhedge · 05/04/2021 20:45

It depends if you need to go at any speed and also how reliable he is/ safety of the route. By 3 1/5 mine was reliable for the nursery run (similar distance to yours) and she sprints back from school at 4. She maybe used our buggy board 2/3 times and fell off it so was more hassle than it was worth for us.

My 2 year old would be a liability and we haven’t tried it yet with her out of the buggy. My plan is to build her up to it on a weekend when we don’t have the time pressure and be confident it was feasible. You don’t want to be carrying a baby, a 3yo and a bike etc. If you’re not certain, it would be easier to put the baby in the sling and the 3yo in the buggy. Obviously walking would be better but if you have a tired grumpy child, I’m not sure the battle is worth it.

CarterBeatsTheDevil · 05/04/2021 20:50

Mine will walk that, both ways - she is the same age - but keeping her focused can be tricky so I only do it either way if I don't have to be back by a particular time.

NoIDontWatchLoveIsland · 05/04/2021 20:51

In summer on a balance bike - no problem.

On a bad/tired day, in pouring rain? It would take twice as long as it should.

NoIDontWatchLoveIsland · 05/04/2021 20:52

Oh and there's a HUGE difference between just 3 and nearly 4. By 4 mine would do this no problem any weather. At 3, no.

GreenSlide · 05/04/2021 20:55

Knowing they can do it when on a nice walk out is different from them having to do it day after day when they're shattered after nursery. Go for the buggy board Grin

JellyBabiesFan · 05/04/2021 20:56

Most 3 year olds will probably be able to walk 1.6miles. Though walking that far after a days nursery is not the best plan.

NoIDontWatchLoveIsland · 05/04/2021 20:57

I just remembered too - what pushchair do you have? The uppababy vista has a seriously robust basket. At 3 DS rode in that a few times and I found it easier than a buggy board which I always found awkward.

JellyBabiesFan · 05/04/2021 21:00

To add that this very much depends on the child. A kid whose family do not walk much will struggle, but if they go out for walks a couple of times a week then they will already have that distance in the legs so to speak.

AmyandPhilipfan · 05/04/2021 21:00

We haven’t done many long walks this year due to Covid and sticking to the nearest park but recently we’ve started to go to the next nearest park which is about 0.6 mile away and after a walk round and play in the play park my daughter (nearly 4) is definitely tired on the walk back and will need to build up to longer distances.

MsChatterbox · 05/04/2021 21:02

My 3 year old walked 4 miles last week... I wouldn't count on 1 mile after a full day though!