3 year old too old for pushchair?

[ItsaStupidSillyThing]

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!

I use a pushchair for our 3yo and it wouldn't have even crossed my mind to question it. Ignore them!

DS2 has just turned 3, we walk to nursery but the pushchair back as it nearly 6pm by then and I also have DS1 with me with assorted book bags/PE kits.

I wouldn't judge you. I'm not a mum but I was a nanny and by the end I had a 3 year old and 6 year old to look after in a city. They were in school from 8-4pm and were knackered by the end of the day. I had the 3 year old in a buggy, various bags piled on the back and the 6 year old on a scooter. Occasionally after a big day the 6 year old was on a buggy board. It was the only way to get them home quickly without a meltdown. I think it helped that we were in a capital city where few people drove. Nobody looked at us with judgment. If I were you, I'd smugly remember that you're not contributing to emissions with a car and ignore any odd looks.

Thank you everyone for your kind words. I'm going to use it for alittle longer until he gets used to nursery, when dd isn't as tired on way home and wont drag feet/stumble on main road she will walk back with me and dc1. I know acouple of posters pointed out about her staminam Hopefully she won't be affected too much as she walks there (20-30 minute walk) and she walks everywhere else, great walker when she isn't tired! Going home is the only time we use the pushchair, and I will put safety first every time.

she*

Sorry should say stamina* I have written it quickly

See my youngest wasn’t safe in the pram. She would unclip it or just wriggle out and once or twice, utterly horrifyingly, jumped out in the middle of a road. I feel much safer with her on the scooter. I pull her along when we are near to roads or crossing roads and don’t take my hand off the scooter unless it’s safe to. She doesn’t jump off like she did with the pram.

Oldest however was a different story and didn’t have the stamina to walk or scoot far. Same upbringing - we rarely use the car - but a different child with a different body and different mentality.

I'm hoping I can keep my youngest in the pushchair until they're about, ooooh maybe 12yrs old.....I'm just not sure how I'm going to cope without having a huge basket on wheels that I can lean on - with me all the time 😂

You're fine, 3yrs in a pushchair is fine.

I still have my 5 year olds, we haven't used it in a long time. But it's handy.

YADNBU, but given what you've said about your eldest, maybe one of these would be better as your "car" for both of them:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/382346117299?epid=28031290640&hash=item59059ac0b3:g:8TkAAOSwa3Zj9Ytq&amdata=enc%3AAQAIAAAA8IteQQJU9baJxU6R7%2FGY6y88MsS50zJN9Mj1%2F3RypaT%2FOUf76pZa6sf4GxG0aDdt%2FY5BK121qDR6aX3gw0bQHfA7YS8alR6%2FILtBNOyiBP8h9fPbOV7w9WxO97yVCdnl9bvfYmuMwRY2OAo4tYgULsdBsG29SfJyigk9HXW%2FNrwZW58En%2FMYQ2eKz5odX7mPkZdF2%2BCNaq5OPxhTEmaDvJQBfagJiDtgJu0KjY3WFfyc7wYtYGYNcLqtoHHTilGj1ERmhYOsc145exHJcZSRRTc6S3KZUs7iUeDJHyuCGgnLWMBRMyeF9zaQMhTBZd%2Ft3A%3D%3D%7Ctkp%3ABFBM7r_oj_Jh

These can either be a trailer on a bike - if either you or their dad cycle anywhere - or a jogger style pushchair. And with the raised sides and cover they can't randomly stop it with their feet on the ground.

If it makes it easier for you then put your 3 year old in the buggy if it makes getting from A to B less stressful. My daughter has Autism and was in a buggy till she was 5 years old and yes I got filthy looks from ignorant people though I'd snap at them if I caught them out or voiced their rudeness my way. You are not being unreasonable, just making life easier and that's a good thing.