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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:
4thonthe4th · 08/02/2023 15:01

Can she ride her bike or does she have a balance bike?

R0ckets · 08/02/2023 15:03

4thonthe4th · 08/02/2023 15:01

Can she ride her bike or does she have a balance bike?

She's 3 and tired at the end of a long day. I'm sure she could ride a balance bike but the point surley is that she's tired and wants to rest in the walk home. A balance bike is just going to be more for the op to carry and wouldn't actually resolve the problem.

LynetteScavo · 08/02/2023 15:04

I don't think 4 is to old for a pushchair - when DS got tire age 4 I'd put the baby in the sling and push DS. Let people eye roll; you're right, they're rude.

MaggieFS · 08/02/2023 15:05

Who cares what others think? I still shove my 4.5 year old in the pushchair for the onward journey to school once we've dropped the younger one at nursery because it's safer, quicker and gives me ten minutes of peace!

Duvetdweller · 08/02/2023 15:06

My eldest used to hop in the double buggy with her youngest sister to get home from school when she was nearly 6!

JussathoB · 08/02/2023 15:07

Hi OP, of course not! I think you are doing exactly the right thing in the circumstances. Plenty of time to investigate using trikes or scooters in future, for now get home calmly and safely. Too early to add in the unpredictability of scooters etc with the busy roads on the school run.

PuttingDownRoots · 08/02/2023 15:08

Its easy to judge when you don't have to walk in someone's shoes.

My eldest was pretty much out the buggy by two. The younger one last used it when she four.

The big difference was we didn't have deadlines like a school pick up time with the elder one so could at her pace. Her nickname was "duracell" as she could just go for hours and miles.
The younger one... had a bad illness as a baby which affected her stamina, we had a fixed timetable to fit into (such as drop DD1 off at youth club, then get to DD2s ballet a mile away 15 mins later, then the reverse). She wawashing a lit smaller.

They are 9&11 now... and can walk for miles and the younger one plays Rugby and is perfectly fit and healthy!

Your 3yo won't be in the buggy for ever!

MatildaJayne · 08/02/2023 15:08

I had a buggy board. With my youngest, I put the bags in the seat and DS3 stood on the buggy board.

Beezknees · 08/02/2023 15:11

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

You could say the same about kids who are driven to school every day.

R0ckets · 08/02/2023 15:12

You could say the same about kids who are driven to school every day.

Yeah it's funny isn't it, no one ever says that about the kids being driven 5 minutes up the road but a 3 year old in a pushchair who probably walks more before 9am than some of those driven kids do each day and suddenly it's judgment city.

Redandyellowelephant · 08/02/2023 15:13

I used a pushchair for my son until he was at least 3 and a half sometimes when he was older. I didn't drive and walked everywhere in a hilly area so it was easiest. He's too heavy to push up the hills now so we just walk x

Hungrycaterpillarsmummy · 08/02/2023 15:14

My 3.5yr old is regularly in a buggy. We have a double buggy for him and the 1yr old. The brother buggy we call it.

I've never even considered if I shouldn't be using it. I need it!

PumpkinDart · 08/02/2023 15:14

Ignore anyone who judges, my son doesn't walk to/ from school because of the distance between home to school (over 5 miles each way) but he'd struggle to do a 30 min walk after being in nursery.

Notallaboutthemoney · 08/02/2023 15:15

Pushchair for all my lot until 4 ish .Absolutely no one else's business.

Hungrycaterpillarsmummy · 08/02/2023 15:18

I have encountered some eye rolls and stares from other parents, teachers, sly comments etc.

Have you though? Because it seems strange so many people have a strong opinion on this.. most people wouldn't even think about it let alone eye roll? Sly comments? Are you sure you aren't just insecure about it yourself and think other people care when they may in fact not?!

R0ckets · 08/02/2023 15:19

Have you though? Because it seems strange so many people have a strong opinion on this.. most people wouldn't even think about it let alone eye roll? Sly comments? Are you sure you aren't just insecure about it yourself and think other people care when they may in fact not?!

I can absolutely believe the OP has had comments, eye rolls and judgment about her 3 year old being in a pushchair it's pretty common.

Blessedbethefruitz · 08/02/2023 15:24

Mine hated the buggy before he was 2. We got a push trike - stick at the back to push, feet rests, pedals and it can be enclosed or open. It's been so great and we still use it now (just turned 4) if we'll be walking a long while or he's been ill. Wish we'd gotten a better one with sun shade etc now as we have a baby too...

EatYourVegetables · 08/02/2023 15:27

Yes. Too old.

And we don’t have a car.

closetparty · 08/02/2023 15:28

My 4 year old is still in her buggy, we walk loads and don't drive. We can do 20k steps a day and that is too much for her. As PP said, you don't see people commenting about people driving 5 mins and I'd say that is 'worse' if we have to compare! You do what suits you and your child and ignore everyone else!

4thonthe4th · 08/02/2023 15:31

R0ckets · 08/02/2023 15:03

She's 3 and tired at the end of a long day. I'm sure she could ride a balance bike but the point surley is that she's tired and wants to rest in the walk home. A balance bike is just going to be more for the op to carry and wouldn't actually resolve the problem.

Show quote history

OP mentioned about her having the option to pedal or scoot.

closetparty · 08/02/2023 15:31

EatYourVegetables · 08/02/2023 15:27

Yes. Too old.

And we don’t have a car.

Why?

Excited101 · 08/02/2023 15:33

You don’t need an alternative op, use the pushchair for what it’s designed for- transporting small children. Why would you try desperately to find an alternative that’s not so good for any of you? Buggy’s are great.

R0ckets · 08/02/2023 15:48

4thonthe4th · 08/02/2023 15:31

OP mentioned about her having the option to pedal or scoot.

Show quote history

Yes but the key part was being able to rest and she wouldn't be able to do that in a bike or balance bike.

The OP has a pushchair which is the most sensible thing to use in this situation. No need to get anything else that won't do the job as well as the pushchair does. Keep using it as long as necessary.

Iateallthechocolate · 08/02/2023 15:55

Eye rolls, stares and sly comments over a toddler in a pushchair?! WTF is wrong with them? Who does this?

This is a them problem, not a you problem. Take note of who does it and avoid them. Not having judgemental people in your life makes your life easier.

Toddlers in pushchairs perfectly normal

Orcubed · 08/02/2023 16:02

My 4 year old (preschool) still goes in a buggy sometimes. He walks/scoots/rides his bike most of the time on the way to preschool or to take older one to school but after a day there he’s tired and I don’t want to have to carry him. Plus I don’t have time to stand there cajoling him into it if he decides he’s not moving. I have 5 minutes to get to school after picking him up and then a tight turnaround between after school activities. It’s much easier to use the buggy for now.
There are plenty of adults who wouldn’t walk 6k every day so I don’t see why it’s so bad for a preschooler to sometimes go in a buggy!