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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To take my three year old jogging with me

50 replies

RunRunSausage · 02/07/2023 22:01

I need to lose weight and get fitter. I used to jog (I'm not a runner) but at the moment it's only me looking after my boy so I struggle to find time. Would I be unreasonable to take him with me?

The other crux of this is my son has ASC. He loves loves loves running. He'd hold my hand to go for certain and would find it highly entertaining. He is ridiculously energetic. He's only just fallen asleep now. I'm getting beyond fucked off with the sleeping situ. So I'm hoping the running would really tire him out. Then bath then bed. Hopefully he might settle. Is this reasonable?

I might add he is tired. He just won't go to sleep and it is slowly killing me.

OP posts:
veryfluffyfluff · 02/07/2023 22:04

How slow do you jog vs how fast is your child? Does your child get distracted every 100m by twigs and leaves and bits of rubbish and oooh loop a feather I need a wee I'm hungry why? Why? What you doing?

Flangeosaurus · 02/07/2023 22:05

I’d take him but I’d have quite low expectations! I sometimes go with mine, we probably started around 4 as that’s when they can start doing junior Parkrun. We did C25K together when he was 5 last summer. The only thing I find frustrating is it can be very stop start as he urgently needs to tell me every thought in his head and can’t possibly run and talk! I get a better run if he’s on his bike or scooter.

PinkFootstool · 02/07/2023 22:07

Give it a go! How far do you think he could reasonably manage though?

Will he sleep after that though? Exercise may make him more awake in the aftermath, so it might be a bit of trial and error as to what time works for for him?

Scottish1990 · 02/07/2023 22:07

I guess it wouldn’t hurt to try! There’s no way my 3 y/o would jog with me without getting distracted but they’re all different. There’s only one way for you to find out 😊

Original poster
RunRunSausage · 02/07/2023 22:07

So my boy is non verbal. His special interest is running and he likes to do this whilst looking at the bushes etc. He would, however, get very excited about mummy running too. He often loves it when I run with him now and laughs away. It's actually a great way for him to interact with me rather than being in his own world all the time. It brings us both into our own little world for those moments.

OP posts:
eurochick · 02/07/2023 22:10

I think it would be difficult to get a child of that age to run at a consistent speed and keep it up for long enough to be meaningful exercise for you. We take our eight year old running and she can manage around 2km at a speed a little lower than we would choose to run. I know some kids can manage further but I think it would be tricky at three.

Flangeosaurus · 02/07/2023 22:10

Go for it OP sounds like you’ll both have a lovely time Smile

Original poster
RunRunSausage · 02/07/2023 22:10

I don't know how far he would get. I don't know if he would sleep. I'm just on my knees with his sleeping and I have crap knees because of how rotund I have gotten.

OP posts:
veryfluffyfluff · 02/07/2023 22:11

Sounds like a great idea then

WineIsMyCarb · 02/07/2023 22:12

Sounds like he would be taking you for a run rather than vice versa. I'd take a backpack with a couple of bits that interest him in it and plan to reach a park or something at the halfway mark, so he can faff about while you do a few press-ups, stretches etc before you both trot home. Good luck!

tinyrobot2 · 02/07/2023 22:12

It sounds like a great idea - the only thing I would think about is how late in the day you take him. If he has any sensory processing needs, it could potentially make him even more alert around bedtime - stimulation from movement (Vestibular system) can stay in the body for a number of hours after, possibly 4-6. This might not be relevant to your son but something to think about!
https://cchp.nhs.uk/sites/default/files/The%20Vestibular%20System_handout_V1.pdf

https://cchp.nhs.uk/sites/default/files/The%20Vestibular%20System_handout_V1.pdf

DelurkingAJ · 02/07/2023 22:13

Sounds like a great plan but please, if it’s chaos, don’t beat yourself up. You had a good plan and if it works, hurray! If it doesn’t well, nothing lost!

AbsoIutelyLovely · 02/07/2023 22:16

Has your son been diagnosed? My son has ASD and really needed melatonin by the time he was three, you need to get that sorted because it has a huge impact on their behaviour and general anxiety when the sleeping is insufficient

that aside: my son did go jogging at times, he was a proper bolter, it’s worth a shot.

bluebeardswife7 · 02/07/2023 22:20

It's definitely worth a try. Good luck 🍀🍀🍀

Barnybrown · 02/07/2023 22:23

I am not sure if there might be issues with taking a three year old jogging in terms of pressure on his joints - I don’t think it’s recommended to do more than short dash running events at that age:

https://omnirunning.com/what-distance-can-my-child-run/

Would he ride his bike instead - might be a bit less pressure on his joints just until he is a bit older ?

pr alternatively could you get a treadmill - maybe second hand on gumtree or something similar?

What distance can my child run?

Here are some guidelines and resources to help you decide what distance your child can run safely.

https://omnirunning.com/what-distance-can-my-child-run/

AlecTrevelyan006 · 02/07/2023 22:27

take him for a walk but if he runs around a bit that's fine

PrtScn · 02/07/2023 22:27

Would he sit in a buggy or a push along trike for you? I used to go running with my dog and little one (admittedly he was under 1).

potentialmediator · 02/07/2023 22:28

I’d give it a go! With low expectations at first as you’ll probably be at totally different levels of attention span /how long you’ll run for etc.
I tried it with my ADHD 7 y o who is so fit and sporty but she didn’t keep up as I thought - only went for 10-15 and she kept stopping/losing interest.
But thinking about it with ASD make it a set routine - we go for a run at x time, for a short amount of time, and gradually you might get in a good sync and it will be mutually beneficial?

Original poster
RunRunSausage · 02/07/2023 22:30

@WineIsMyCarb park is a great idea. We have one nearby that we can end up at and then walk home from there.

@tinyrobot2 I didn't know about that. I'll look into it.

@AbsoIutelyLovely not yet, I'm waiting the formality. The consultant when we first met her confirmed she believed he had ASC and it's so blindingly obvious there is no doubt. I'll ask about melatonin when we go for the diagnosis (hopefully soon!).

@Barnybrown I'd love it if he could ride a bike. It would make me so proud. But he does not understand how to do it. I've tried. My hope is he can one day. Thank you for the weblink. I'll check it out.

OP posts:
FatGirlSwim · 02/07/2023 22:31

I’d give it a go but on grass in the park or something. As long as he can stop when he wants and isn’t actually training then it’s no difference physically than running while playing, in terms of joints etc?

You could turn it into a game of tag or chase if that works better and if it improves his sleep that’s wonderful

Cakeorchocolate · 02/07/2023 22:32

From your posts I can't see why you'd even see the need to ask others opinions.

I don't know why anyone would think it is unreasonable.
Perfectly reasonable to go for a jog together. Just be mindful of distance and not doing too much / too often with him as he's obviously developing and bones aren't full strength etc.

I have a niece that couldn't wait to be old enough to do parkrun (need to be 4) and loved it when she could.
We took dd a few times when she was old enough but running isn't for her. Your boy loves it so embrace it.

Good luck.

FatGirlSwim · 02/07/2023 22:32

In this area, melatonin isn’t diagnosis dependent and only the sleep clinic can prescribe, so might be worth asking for that referral now if that’s the same where you are?

Ebjp39 · 02/07/2023 22:33

Sounds amazing- definitely take him and enjoy sharing his special interest. It might be alerting for him, maybe a bath or time on an indoor swing afterwards to relax him to sleep - you could look at sensory circuits. I have a non verbal 6 year old and I’m now inspired to run with him!

Appleblossompetal · 02/07/2023 22:35

Can he go on a balance bike? Can you both go round the park?

wildfirewonder · 02/07/2023 22:35

No, because young children are not supposed to run in this continuous way, it is bad for their joints.

What would be better is to do some more child-appropriate activity.

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