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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

3 year old too old for pushchair?

111 replies

ItsaStupidSillyThing · 08/02/2023 14:47

Hi, I have a child who is over 3, she is a confident walker and sturdy so I rarely use the pushchair. We walk everyday to nursery just the two of us, but after nursery she gets tired. I also have my slightly older dc and together we all have to cross some very busy dangerous roads without crossings on the way back. I find it easier to put my tired 3 year old in the pushchair so I can hold my other child's hand and pushchair handle as we go across the busy roads. Most of the parents at the school bring a car, or they have a younger child, so their 3 year old stands on a buggy board.
AIBU to use the pushchair just for the way home? I have encountered some eye rolls and stares from other parents, teachers, sly comments etc.
I would also love recommendations on an alternative to the pushchair. I don't know if a trike with seatbelt/bars would be too young? I want something where dd can have a rest but also pedal or scoot (and most importantly safe for main road where I could push her across while keeping older dc safe at the same time!

OP posts:
Crimsonripple · 08/02/2023 14:49

We still use a pushchair. Sometimes it's just easier as they'll be asking for pick ups etc. I would continue if it works best for you. Ignore others.

Beezknees · 08/02/2023 14:49

I used a pushchair for DS until he was 4, I can't drive so we walked most places. Ignore them.

RandomMess · 08/02/2023 14:49

Do what is right for you!

Easy for them to roll their eyes when they have a car or use of a buggy board. Safety and speed of walking home matters to you just ignore

fivetriangulartrees · 08/02/2023 14:50

Do what works! Why make it harder on yourselves?

FlounderingFruitcake · 08/02/2023 14:51

You could get a scooter with a pull lead to drag her along when she gets tired but no there’s nothing wrong with a nursery age child in a stroller.

x2boys · 08/02/2023 14:51

Whatever's easier ,.

gooseduckchicken · 08/02/2023 14:51

YANBU.

On this topic previously, a poster pointed out that the people that pick up their children in cars don't feel bad for not getting their children to walk any distance so why should you, just because you live within adult walking distance of the school. I thought it was a great point.

Stop caring what people think. If it works for you and your family, it is nobody else's business.

R0ckets · 08/02/2023 14:53

Definitely use the pushchair!

I find the only people who comment or eye roll are as you've identified those who use the car. Ignore the judgement and if anyone is a twat and comments simply ask wirb tilted head if their child doesn't have to walk home why do they expect yours too?

Pr1mr0se · 08/02/2023 14:53

Just do what works for you. It's your trip to school with your kids not theirs.

Ignore the rude people.

Your youngest will soon have the stamina to walk home. Perhaps try it after half term or after Easter hols and choose the beginning of the week when they have more energy if you want to?

OneForTheRoadThen · 08/02/2023 14:53

Mine used pushchairs until the summer before they started school. I couldn't drive then so we walked everywhere and sometimes they got tired. It doesn't matter what anybody else things, do what's best for you and your DC.

HelloJan · 08/02/2023 14:53

Do whatever works for you.
And FWIW, I don't think 3 is too old.

Everydayimhuffling · 08/02/2023 14:54

My newly 4 year old is often in a pushchair. I don't/can't drive so we often walk a long way to get to activities. It really annoys me when people who walk their kids 5 minutes at a time to the car look askance. They are in a different situation. Don't let it bother you, OP.

Youcancallmeirrelevant · 08/02/2023 14:54

Whatever is easiest, but honestly your DD isn't going to build up her stamina with walking/scooting etc if she never does it. My DD has been walking/scooting the mile to and from school since she started in Sep and now she is speedy and its great exercise.

The crossing the road, i don't really understand how pushing a pushchair one handed and holding another childa hand is easy than just holding 2 hands, or having 1 next to you on a scooter and you saying 'go' when its ok to cross

Original poster
ItsaStupidSillyThing · 08/02/2023 14:55

Thank you, we may attempt it going home if it wasn't for the dangerous roads. I do also suspect dd may want carried half the way which wouldn't be practical. She does have a push along trike, but it doesn't have a seatbelt/safety bars and i worry she could fall off if we have to rush across the road with my other child as well who is young. I've been looking at trikes for the summer but they all look young and like she is on the cusp of outgrowing them.

OP posts:
Original poster
ItsaStupidSillyThing · 08/02/2023 14:56

Sorry trike with seatbelts/bars that should say

OP posts:
ilovepuppies2019 · 08/02/2023 14:56

She's still so young of course a pushchair makes sense. It's the perfect age to bring a chair along for longer walks or days out. It's also safer. You could consider a trike or balance bike if you want to upgrade with the older one perhaps on a bike? Everyone walks the bike across at the main road with you holding a hand of each child. It's more difficult though and I would keep the biking to safer areas while they are still so young. Are you that they were rolling their eyes? It's sound so strange and I find that MM is quite paranoid about kids in pushchairs. Remember it's a form of transport for you and not just for fun - it needs to work and be safe! Ignore others.

Screwedupworld · 08/02/2023 14:57

Definitely use the pushchair. My DS is nearly 3 and we will be using it for at least another 6months to a year for nursery runs/long days out/holidays etc.

lanthanum · 08/02/2023 14:58

DD is an only so no buggy board, but we used a scooter. She would stand on it and hold the handlebar with one hand and my hand with the other, and it worked very well when she was too tired to scoot.

Disappointingbiscuit · 08/02/2023 14:58

We still use the buggy for 3 year old DD. She won't walk far without throwing a wobbly and we also live near a main road which doesn't feel safe. There were a couple of kids in my sons reception class that still used a buggy. I did think that was getting a bit old but assumed they had a long walk to get home.

Awumminnscotland · 08/02/2023 14:58

Just meet your child's needs how you see fit. Ignore any stares or meet them with a smile😁. I have a very fit and physical but teeny tiny 7 yr old who gets easily overwhelmed. If her bum still fits in it, I'm taking a lightweight buggy to a theme park we're going to later in the year. A wee walking/stimulus break will help her manage the day.
I don't give a shit what people think as long as she's comfortable and happy with it.
I really don't get the angst of having your child do things in a way other people approve of.

Original poster
ItsaStupidSillyThing · 08/02/2023 14:59

@Youcancallmeirrelevant she walks there every day and walks everywhere. She literally only goes it pushchair on way home. I push it with both hands across the roads as have my hand over my other child's hand who is holding pushchair handle. It is a big busy road and 3 year old isn't fast when tired so I worry she will fall in the road. My old child had autism and can be difficult so I worry having to wrangle them both will prove dangerous. I'd love an alternative but it needs to be safe where I can get it across the road.

OP posts:
Original poster
ItsaStupidSillyThing · 08/02/2023 15:00

older*

OP posts:
Cuppasoupmonster · 08/02/2023 15:00

Beezknees · 08/02/2023 14:49

I used a pushchair for DS until he was 4, I can't drive so we walked most places. Ignore them.

This. DD is 3.5, and we use the push chair. I can’t drive so if I need to be somewhere speedily (ie doctor’s appointment) then it’s much easier to use the buggy than walk with her because she dawdles and stops to inspect every leaf on the ground. I also find the compartment underneath handy for shopping/handbag rather than trying to carry them and hold DD’s hand at the same time, especially as the pavements here are so narrow and a lot of traffic. Occasionally as well she will just stop walking and throw a tantrum to be picked up, I’m heavily pregnant and just can’t be doing with that right now.

Sceptre86 · 08/02/2023 15:00

At 3 my son was in preschool and I used to take the pram to pick and drop him. My 4 year old would go on the buggy board. I did get some looks but noone said it outloud to me. If they had I would have told them that the walk to school would take 30 minutes. Both kids were tired and hungry after they finished and it took long enough to get them home as it was. What was I supposed to do, carry them both?

Ignore the idiots and do what you have to.

houseargh · 08/02/2023 15:00

Our nursery is a 15 min walk away and most of that is either a road without a proper pavement or an incredibly steep hill so scooting won't really be an option while she's still nursery age - until she has the stamina to reliably walk the whole way to and fro, pushchair it will be. Meh to the judgers, do whatever works. She won't be in it age 11.