Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

3 and a half year old in a pushchair?

153 replies

SecondtimeMama29 · 07/06/2023 20:04

Is this acceptable? Especially on holiday? At what age do kids not have a pushchair. My son hates walking and always wants to be carried 😩

OP posts:
funinthesun19 · 07/06/2023 20:32

SeeingSpots · 07/06/2023 20:08

Absolutely fine. The only people who say otherwise funnily enough seem to drive their children everywhere.

Exactly! What’s the difference?

If the child is in a car then they’re not walking are they? You can frame it however you like eg cars are a necessary piece of equipment. But the child still ain’t walking if they’re in a car so it’s pot kettle black really isn’t it?

And a pram is also a necessary piece of equipment for some people! People with cars just don’t get it… because they have a car to get their child from A to B. And then they have the cheek to judge someone using a pram.

Can you tell this issue annoys me? As someone with a 4 year old who struggles to walk I am exhausted and although I don’t have a pram for her, I would be fully justified in getting her one if I wanted to! And the judgey fuckers happily driving their 4 year olds to school can F off.

MaggieFS · 07/06/2023 20:35

I think it's fine until they start school!

(And even then sometimes if we're running late or it's raining I still make DS go under the rain cover in the double buggy to school. He's inherently lazy like me, and quite happy about it. Couldn't give two figs about the looks he gets from his school mates!)

If I didn't use a buggy for the younger one, plus all the associated crap which needs to be carted about, we'd be in the car.

Sissynova · 07/06/2023 20:38

There will be people telling you theirs never went in a push chair past 2 and others who kept them in one until 7 so you just need to ignore everyone else.
I would say it borders on uncommon for a 3.5 year old to be in one all the time.
Most that age at our nursery are walking or using a scooter for the 1km walk but that’s not to say they don’t use a buggy on longer days out.

LittleJumpingSpider · 07/06/2023 20:41

Honestly mine kicked and screamed and raised merry hell from just after his second birthday when trying to get him into the buggy. I would gladly have pushed him round in it for another couple of years!!! Crack on I'd say!

SeeingSpots · 07/06/2023 20:45

funinthesun19 · 07/06/2023 20:32

Exactly! What’s the difference?

If the child is in a car then they’re not walking are they? You can frame it however you like eg cars are a necessary piece of equipment. But the child still ain’t walking if they’re in a car so it’s pot kettle black really isn’t it?

And a pram is also a necessary piece of equipment for some people! People with cars just don’t get it… because they have a car to get their child from A to B. And then they have the cheek to judge someone using a pram.

Can you tell this issue annoys me? As someone with a 4 year old who struggles to walk I am exhausted and although I don’t have a pram for her, I would be fully justified in getting her one if I wanted to! And the judgey fuckers happily driving their 4 year olds to school can F off.

Show quote history

Drives me bonkers too! No one ever judges the kids who get driven door to door but apparently those children who walk everywhere, who probably do 10x the exercise of their driven peers are apparently the lazy ones because heaven forbid they use a pushchair sometimes.

itsmylife7 · 07/06/2023 20:46

SecondtimeMama29 · 07/06/2023 20:16

Great thank you. It was Mrs Hinches post that me wonder! As I never thought it was a problem before or people were judging!

Ignore the very rich Mrs Hinch OP.
Do what makes your life easier.

WomanUnknown · 07/06/2023 20:46

funinthesun19 · 07/06/2023 20:32

Exactly! What’s the difference?

If the child is in a car then they’re not walking are they? You can frame it however you like eg cars are a necessary piece of equipment. But the child still ain’t walking if they’re in a car so it’s pot kettle black really isn’t it?

And a pram is also a necessary piece of equipment for some people! People with cars just don’t get it… because they have a car to get their child from A to B. And then they have the cheek to judge someone using a pram.

Can you tell this issue annoys me? As someone with a 4 year old who struggles to walk I am exhausted and although I don’t have a pram for her, I would be fully justified in getting her one if I wanted to! And the judgey fuckers happily driving their 4 year olds to school can F off.

Show quote history

Well, I have a car- so I can drive if I need to or want to, but I still agree with all of this.

Recently bought a double out and about buggy to do the school run for my 4 year old, he’s 5 very soon. I get exercise, the baby gets a nicer view than the head rest of the back seat, both the kids get some fresh air and 4 yr old rests his legs and chats away to me about his day. Most importantly, I get exercise! Frankly, idgaf what other people think! I’m fortunate enough to live close enough to the school that walking is a viable option. Why on earth would you not use that option? Far better resting in a buggy taking in his environment, getting some fresh air, than sitting in his car seat.

For what it’s worth, he also can walk the distance himself, and sometimes does. Why would I drive each way when it only takes 40 mins in total to walk, and means I get some exercise in!

bloodywhitecat · 07/06/2023 20:47

It's fine.

Someone made a comment about my lanky almost 3 year old being in a buggy the other day, a comment about how he was too big to be in a buggy and should be walking. I just nodded and smiled (and ignored the temptation to tell that person to fuck off as this little one will never walk. He can't even sit unaided and I have to get up 2 - 3 times a night to turn him as he can't turn himself).

Clarabellasingsthisbit · 07/06/2023 20:48

Our nearly 4 year-old DGD is walking some pretty decent distances now but for when it's a bit of a stretch she has one of those trikes with a parental control handle attached.She really enjoys the cycling and so she's getting exercise at the same time!

Beezknees · 07/06/2023 20:50

I also don't drive and I used the buggy up until DS was 4. Nursery was a 30 minute walk away. I got rid of it when he started school.

DogOutInTheDark · 07/06/2023 20:50

I used a double buggy on holiday til eldest was 6! (and younger 4!) It is soooo much easier moving around an airport at 3am, when the kids are in the buggy and snuggled up! Also, all those beach trips up and down hills in the heat - so much easier with a buggy!

I'm lucky that my oldest looks young, so at 6 he still looked 4. We may have had some looks. But frankly I don't care! A few years on and both are competitive athletes, so I don't think the buggy did them any harm!!!

Moonflowered · 07/06/2023 20:59

It's completely dependent on the child and the situation. Dd1 (since diagnosed autistic) was an absolute liability walking the 100m from our car parking space to the front door. I used the buggy until she was about 4.5 to keep her safe even for that short hop (I piggy backed her until the day I went into labour!) She also wouldn't walk further than about 100m until she was nearly 6. By 7 she would hike as far as we needed her to.

Her younger sister's buggy was barely used by 3.5. She was sensible by the main road and happy to walk for miles if there was the prospect of an ice cream along the way.

GrinAndVomit · 07/06/2023 21:00

No one else’s business

SweetBirdsong · 07/06/2023 21:01

Hmm yeah 3.5 is OK. They're still toddlers (almost!) Grin

cadburyegg · 07/06/2023 21:03

It's fine. My ds2 didn't walk til 22 months and he tires easily due to hypermobility so i still used the pushchair on the odd occasion until he started school! In fact I'd probably still use it if he was poorly etc if it hadn't got mouldy in the garage...

SparkyBlue · 07/06/2023 21:07

Absolutely fine. All children are different and mine were all lazy as anything and loved being pushed in a buggy. It's hardly caused lasting damage and my DD at 10 has no bother walking to and from school by herself now. Sometimes you just need to go somewhere or get errands done or whatever and you don't have time for negotiations with a cranky preschooler so putting them into the buggy is just so handy

SnackSizeRaisin · 07/06/2023 21:08

If they are willing to sit in it then why not! Many adults would drive rather than walk 15 minutes with their school aged child. Those who judge your buggy use are probably in that category.

LittleBumblebee3 · 07/06/2023 21:10

I get comments almost weekly about my 2.5 year old being in a buggy 🙄 he’s tall and looks much older than he is.
I can’t drive for medical reasons and we live a 25ish minute walk (adult pace) from town. He’ll happily walk to town and walk round the shops or go to whatever toddler group we’re going to but the walk home is mostly uphill and he’s usually grumpy and ready for his lunch so it’s just not a battle I’m going to have if I don’t need to! And I’m certainly not about to carry him and the shopping 😅🤣

Shamefulsecrets0 · 07/06/2023 21:11

My eldest would happily walk for a mile and a half at 3 years old with no complaints. Her little sister is 4 and can't manage the 10 minute school run. If I didn't put her in the buggy we wouldn't be able to go anywhere, I can't carry her the whole time, I havent noticed people jusging but also wouldnt give a second thiught if I did - she is tiny though and so most people think she's a lot younger than she really is which might help.

lifesnotaspectatorsport · 07/06/2023 21:13

I just sold my buggy - youngest is 3.5. But I wouldn't judge anyone who carried on using one. I live in the city centre and have lots of public transport options for walks over about 20 mins. So it's easier for me to ditch it.

FurElise · 07/06/2023 21:14

My DS last used his buggy on holidays when he was 5 and a half - he's a lazy sod though 🙈

AlltheFs · 07/06/2023 21:14

On holiday right now, DD will be 4 early Sept but we specifically bought a small buggy to bring with us. It’s very hilly and DD is crap at walking far in the heat. I think it’s common to use until 5 on hol (which is why I got a 22kg weight limit one).

gaiol · 07/06/2023 21:16

If it suits you and your child then of course it's fine. Don't make parenting decisions based in what others will think.

IAmAnIdiot123 · 07/06/2023 21:19

My son is 3 now, refuses the pushchair but I still drive it around in the boot. It's a bit of a security blanket 🤣 I even get it out sometimes at shopping malls (despite ds being way too tall for it, people mistake him for 5 all the time) and then either dp or I will push it about with the shopping in and never the child!

If he would actually sit in it without dragging his feet along the floor screaming bloody murder, I would use it still.

FreestyleInTrance · 07/06/2023 21:21

funinthesun19 · 07/06/2023 20:32

Exactly! What’s the difference?

If the child is in a car then they’re not walking are they? You can frame it however you like eg cars are a necessary piece of equipment. But the child still ain’t walking if they’re in a car so it’s pot kettle black really isn’t it?

And a pram is also a necessary piece of equipment for some people! People with cars just don’t get it… because they have a car to get their child from A to B. And then they have the cheek to judge someone using a pram.

Can you tell this issue annoys me? As someone with a 4 year old who struggles to walk I am exhausted and although I don’t have a pram for her, I would be fully justified in getting her one if I wanted to! And the judgey fuckers happily driving their 4 year olds to school can F off.

Show quote history

Yes, this!

The difference with a pram is at least the child can hop in and out as required, unlike a car. Sometimes it was a time issue and she had to be in there for speed, but other times it was just a useful back up and an easy way to get my shopping home!

I kept mine until my daughter started school, and my husband was more horrified than anyone... but he didn't do any more walking with her than I did, he just drove or put her on the bike seat!

(4 months after I gave it up I started driving.... 🤣)