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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Letting 4 year old come running with me at 6.30am?

202 replies

Giraffeantics · 23/02/2024 05:57

Early morning runner. 4 year old wants to start coming with me at 6.30am on his bike. Feels wrong given it is dark and he is so young. Am I being unreasonable if let him join me? I would obviously reduce distance covered and only let him.join occasionally and wear a high vis. He has always been an early riser and is awake by 6am each day. Hm..... help!

OP posts:
imisscashmere · 23/02/2024 12:47

This thread is maddening. Is the proposal to have the kid cycling on the road? If so, madness. If not, fine.

Reugny · 23/02/2024 13:01

Perfectly fine.

I use to end up running because my DD was cycling, to her CM and back from when DD was 3.

Just make sure your DS knows to stop when he comes to crossing a road and crosses with you.

CharlotteBog · 23/02/2024 13:37

Misses point - but at that age my running was my time alone away from the responsibilities of home, so I would have done what I could to put my sons off!

They have both cycled while I ran, but not until they were older and responsible for their own safety, and could keep up with as far as I wanted to go.

Beenop · 23/02/2024 13:48

Millie890 · 23/02/2024 11:45

How much noise would a 4 year old on a little bicycle realistically make.

Show quote history

Have you met a 4 year old? My reply was (almost) light hearted.
But 4 year olds have a constant monologue, squealing, singing. Especially outside

user1496146479 · 23/02/2024 13:53

araiwa · 23/02/2024 05:58

Just no

Eh why not??

HanaJane · 23/02/2024 14:02

Sounds like a lovely thing to do together! If he's up anyway why not.

Millie890 · 23/02/2024 14:04

Beenop · 23/02/2024 13:48

Have you met a 4 year old? My reply was (almost) light hearted.
But 4 year olds have a constant monologue, squealing, singing. Especially outside

Show quote history

Yes, I wasn't being nasty at all 😊. I was just saying, even if they were being noisy surely it wouldn't upset you would it? A little kid playing on their bike is just a joyful sound of the world going by. I would just have a laugh about it and be a nice neighbour but people are different I suppose. We just viewed a house which was nextdoor to a primary school, I bet it's lovely hearing all the kids milling about in a morning.

WhoaJayShettybambalam · 23/02/2024 14:07

Where do you run?

If it is safe for you to run surely you are capable of keeping him safe?

OttolenghiSimple · 23/02/2024 14:08

PMSL at someone grumbling about a 4yo’s bike being too noisy in a world where cars and motorbikes exist.

Reugny · 23/02/2024 14:08

Beenop · 23/02/2024 13:48

Have you met a 4 year old? My reply was (almost) light hearted.
But 4 year olds have a constant monologue, squealing, singing. Especially outside

Show quote history

That's why you get them to cycle as fast as they can up a long slope.

Shuts them up. Or they turn round to look at you and fall off their bike. 😂

Trulyme · 23/02/2024 14:46

Why not just wait until it gets a bit lighter and try it just on the weekends.

The fact that you’ve started a thread shows you have real concerns about it and so I’d give it a few more weeks.

anotherchancer · 23/02/2024 15:20

I would have thought the only reason not to do it is because the run was your time/escape from the family and now that's going to be ruined?

If they want to come and realise that it's your run and your rules then you should try it.

If it comes another childcare chore instead of your moment to get some exercise and freedom for yourself then don't let them come for future runs.

I am assuming you don't run down the M25 hard shoulder of course!

soberfabulous · 23/02/2024 16:22

I won't even go running with my 10 year old on her bike...she dawdles, gets distracted, I can't keep going at a consistent pace!

Youcannotbeseriousreally · 23/02/2024 16:23

Can’t think of anything worse tbh. Giving up peace time and having to supervise him. Nope.

qazxc · 23/02/2024 16:28

Does he come running with you a lot?how proficient is his cycling? Will he be on roads where he could veer accidently into traffic ( turning around to talk to you for example). Will he sufficiently visible to other road users, remembering he will need to be extra visible as low down, not where people might be looking.

blacksocks33 · 23/02/2024 16:29

I think that'd be a lovely thing for you both to do together 😊

squidgybits · 23/02/2024 17:05

A friend used to do it, but with one of those big wheeled jogger type prams

OnlyJusttrying · 23/02/2024 17:23

I regularly took my then 5, 9 & 10 year olds with me at 6 am for a 10k run on their bikes. Granted it was the summer so it was light but in another month it will be light at 6am anyway so I don’t see the problem🤷🏻‍♀️

lemmefinish · 23/02/2024 17:26

How fast does your 4 yr old cycle?!

lemmefinish · 23/02/2024 17:27

Would he be cycling on the road?

lemmefinish · 23/02/2024 17:28

I wouldn’t but I don’t go running at 6:30 am regardless

PansyOatZebra · 23/02/2024 18:05

I suppose it depends where you run laps around a park probably ok. On roads probably not especially cuz bikes can’t be on the pavement so he’d be on the road.

Can you not wait a bit until it gets lighter in the morning?

Craycraycatbaby · 23/02/2024 18:07

I take my DS out on his bike whilst I run, we started in lockdown when he was 4 and it was absolutely fine! We always have great fun 😊

Mynewnameis · 23/02/2024 18:57

I wouldn't. A run is time for you, not worrying about a 4yo

LivingColour · 23/02/2024 18:59

I haven’t got an issue with this - but would probably do it for the first time during broad daylight.