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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Toddler in the shopping basket part of a pram??

34 replies

heartofglass23 · 30/11/2023 12:12

Is this a new thing?

I've just seen a Mum (it's hard, I know, I don't mean to deride her personally) put a 3 year old maybe toddler into the fabric shopping basket part of the underside of a pram. She had a baby in a car seat in the main part of the pram.

I've seen double decker buggies before but I don't think that's what this was!

Surely this isn't safe?!

Is this what Mums do now to avoid double buggies or to get out with a baby and a toddler?

Mine are a bit older now so I'm not in pram/buggy world anymore.

Is this a new trend?

What if it breaks with the weight crossing the street?

Or is this Mum a genius?!

OP posts:
biostudent · 30/11/2023 12:14

There's so many parents at SD's school that do this and I think the same, they aren't designed to be carrying a toddler, and it also looks uncomfortable for the kids! There was one lady who had a double pram with 3 kids and the third (oldest, reception age) used to get into the basket to be pushed home and it just doesn't seem the safest idea!

TheBirdintheCave · 30/11/2023 12:29

That is... bizarre... surely it's not going to hold their weight either?? We'll be getting a buggy board for my three year old when we have our second child next year. He walks everywhere at the moment but I can foresee him regressing slightly when the baby is born so want the option just in case.

Returnsreturnsandmorereturns · 30/11/2023 12:32

I’ve seen it a few times recently too.

BananaPalm · 30/11/2023 12:39

I've actually seen it the other way around: it was the baby (around 5-6 months) in the pram's basket, and the toddler in the pram itself. I thought that was just a one-off and not some sort of a trend... seems dangerous if not just uncomfortable...

LimitedBrightSpots · 30/11/2023 12:43

The weight limit for the basket on my old babyjogger buggy, which was built like a tank, was only 7kg (about the weight of a 5 month baby). So I wouldn't be trying this any time soon.

I suppose if you had a small portable bassinet or babynest, you could always try putting the baby in the shopping-basket... but probably not very safe!

LimitedBrightSpots · 30/11/2023 12:44

BananaPalm · 30/11/2023 12:39

I've actually seen it the other way around: it was the baby (around 5-6 months) in the pram's basket, and the toddler in the pram itself. I thought that was just a one-off and not some sort of a trend... seems dangerous if not just uncomfortable...

That would at least be within the weight limit but how was the baby secured? Also, so dangerous if the base of your buggy hits the pavement.

FourFourOne · 30/11/2023 12:46

I saw this recently and was a bit 😮

There was a child who looked around 3 years old lying flat in the shopping basket area, with his legs out and trailing on the ground 🤔

Loverofoxbowlakes · 30/11/2023 12:47

I did this very occasionally when my 3yo was on his last legs on the day he had playgroup and a HomeStart session, we walked 2 miles on those days plus playing, he was knackered. He also had a buggy board that he would sit on and once fell asleep whilst sitting down, fell forward (backwards, really) and I tripped over him. Needs must in those 'how the fuck am I going to get them home' days.

BertieBotts · 30/11/2023 12:49

I think people do it but it's not really designed for it. In terms of safety I suppose it could break? But they are generally quite robust so I suppose it works for a while.

I used to let DS2 jump on the crossbar at the back of the buggy which had baby DS3 in it. That wasn't very good for the buggy and it did loosen it up over time and make it a bit wobbly. Apparently though using a buggy board does the same thing. I didn't really mind as I'd bought them second hand so didn't mind if they got trashed.

Caspianberg · 30/11/2023 12:51

The uppa baby vista basket says it holds 30lb weight. That’s 13.5kg. My 3 1/2 year old weighs 14 kg just, was more like 13kg at just turned 3.
So I wouldn’t worry too much about it collapsing in seconds if I needed to put him in one temporarily

I imagine most people know it’s not designed for that. But maybe 2.5-3 year old usually walks fine, but unwell or similar and they just want to move quicker to get home

FrillyGoatFluff · 30/11/2023 13:01

My sausage dog once sat in that section of the pram. We were out on a walk and it was very 'leafy' underfoot. He is a total princess, and stopped every two seconds due to leaves tickling his tummy.

It started hacking down with rain, so I popped him in there and ran. Other sausage jogged alongside nicely, he is oblivious to everything, so wouldn't give a toss if he had half a tree trailing along his undercarriage.

Felt like a total tit bombing through the village with a dog and a baby stacked in a pram, but got the job done.

Wouldn't do it as a general rule though, and certainly wouldn't poke my octopus-like toddler in there, bits of her would undoubtably squirm out and get run over.

MummyMumMumMummy · 30/11/2023 13:06

I lie our Joie pushchair flat while my 2 year old is trapped in with the lap part of the straps then my 4 year old climbs in behind him and they sit like they’re in a canoe 😂 our it’s a sturdy pushchair and although it’s led back all the far it’s still balanced so it won’t tip over if I let go.

live and let live ain’t it?

TurquoiseSeasAndSilverSand · 30/11/2023 13:09

Wouldn't do it as a general rule though, and certainly wouldn't poke my octopus-like toddler in there, bits of her would undoubtably squirm out and get run over.

Sorry, that made me laugh.

There used to be a double pushchair that had a sort of seat on the bottom near the floor, Phil and Ted's or something. I always thought it looked dicey, although their seems to be a trend for some really low down pushairs now, I just worry about them being virtually at the height of car exhausts. But as for the basket, it's often a case of needs must, even if the odd tentacle gets squashed, we has a few near misses with a buggy board too.

KaiserChefs · 30/11/2023 13:09

It's very annoying as someone at DS's school does this and DS keeps asking to get in the shopping basket of our pushchair but it's a flimsy umbrella pushchair and the basket would legit collapse under the weight of him. But he doesn't understand why I say no when Tarquin's mummy lets him do it.

Shutthedoormargaret · 30/11/2023 13:43

I used to do this years ago (like 10+) when my ds was probably about 3.5/4 and my dd was in the buggy.

He was a small kid and would jump under when he was tired. We did have a double buggy but he didn't need it all the time by this point and it was bulky with both seats on.

Probably got some funny looks but it worked for us. Probably should have got a buggy board but the basket was a free alternative 😉

Coffeerum · 30/11/2023 13:46

I imagine it’s a last minute toddler won’t walk the rest of the day thing. Hardly something I would judge over, it’s just someone trying their best to get everyone where they need to be. Sometimes I see toddlers sitting on the front bit too but it depends on the style of the pram.

ChiefWiggumsBoy · 30/11/2023 13:49

I might have been tempted to do this with a non-compliant toddler that was too heavy for me to carry, especially when you see how people judge the use of buggies for children they deem 'too old'.

I don't think people do this because they love doing it. I think they do it because it's either that or they can't get to where they need to, which might be school pick up, might be nursery drop off.

PippyLongTits · 30/11/2023 13:50

I see this regularly on the school run. I think people do whatever they can to get everyone where they need to be. I don't think anyone is doing it on long cross country hikes, just for short journeys and to get through the day with as little drama as possible.

If a kid refuses to budge halfway through a trip, this seems a better solution than dragging them along the floor with one hand and steering the buggy with the other.

Give0fecks · 30/11/2023 13:53

Oh FFS what does it matter? My 3yo used to be desperate to do this - she absolutely loved climbing in and thought it was the funnest thing.

just so sick of the constant judgement. Get a hobby.

Somuchgoo · 30/11/2023 14:00

I've never planned to do it, but I have done it in a push a couple of times. It was quite funny.

I couldn't imagine it was particularly comfortable (though toddler enjoyed it) and I never planned to do it.

Miscellaneousme · 30/11/2023 14:27

Not everyone can afford double buggies, buggy boards etc.

Mazuslongtoenail · 30/11/2023 14:33

Give0fecks · 30/11/2023 13:53

Oh FFS what does it matter? My 3yo used to be desperate to do this - she absolutely loved climbing in and thought it was the funnest thing.

just so sick of the constant judgement. Get a hobby.

This. A busy body in IKEA told me all about the dangers of a kid sat in a shopping trolley. We make our own judgements and, as individuals, will choose to do things differently.

Do what works for you and stop giving headspace to other people’s fairly minor actions.

mrsmacmc · 30/11/2023 15:01

FrillyGoatFluff · 30/11/2023 13:01

My sausage dog once sat in that section of the pram. We were out on a walk and it was very 'leafy' underfoot. He is a total princess, and stopped every two seconds due to leaves tickling his tummy.

It started hacking down with rain, so I popped him in there and ran. Other sausage jogged alongside nicely, he is oblivious to everything, so wouldn't give a toss if he had half a tree trailing along his undercarriage.

Felt like a total tit bombing through the village with a dog and a baby stacked in a pram, but got the job done.

Wouldn't do it as a general rule though, and certainly wouldn't poke my octopus-like toddler in there, bits of her would undoubtably squirm out and get run over.

Full disclosure as a fellow sausage dog mum, our DD pram was picked due to higher weight limit and accessibility for DDog so she could hop in the basket if needed 🫣 she is elderly and would tire out if she walked the miles I've been doing with DD in the pram!

Caspianberg · 30/11/2023 15:33

I also put Ds in a trolley main seat. Shoot me.
I’m not in the uk, and here it’s seems perfectly normal, almost encouraged and nobody bats an eyelid at it.

Last time I was in IKEA, some family had made a full bed inside one trolley with duvets and pillows, two small children snoozing inside. Whilst they shopped into second trolley. I even saw they had managed to squeeze in a trip for coffee whilst said kids stayed snoozing. I thought they were geniuses tbh.

( whilst my non abiding toddler legged it and threw himself down a two storey slide to the depth of ikea cellar department )

Mossstitch · 30/11/2023 16:22

Awww, your all making me smile and bringing back memories.........l had a very old silver cross pram when mine were little (I am old but always been into retro stuff and bought second hand). You could fit four in one of those beasts at a push, pillow fitted perfectly in shopping tray like a mattress for toddler and still be easy to push........Rolls Royce of prams/buggies (darnsight easier to push than double buggy I also had that wouldn't fit through preschool gate😩)