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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To expect to take my pushchair into toddler group?

46 replies

LoveMyGirls · 21/01/2009 20:54

I'm a childminder, I've been to quite a few toddler groups, ones mainly run by the children's centre and they are very against me taking my pushchair in so today when they refused to let me take it (so I could rock the 10mth old baby to sleep) in I left and went elsewhere (my perrogative) just wondered what is going on with these rules on no pushchairs?

I understand about Health and Safety/ space etc but no-one else happened to have 3 under 5 or needed to bring their pushchairs in. My 10mths old mindee needed to have a nap while we were there and will only nap while we're out if I either rock him in the pushchair or he happens to fall asleep in the car.

OP posts:
tumtumtetum · 21/01/2009 20:58

Not allowed pushchairs in our toddler group. Or GP surgery. "Health and safety and a fire hazard" according to them. "A pain in the arse" according to me.

sorrento · 21/01/2009 21:00

I think general they are encouraged to be left outside, it's a case of put them in a car seat to nap or hold them generally or else you have to time their naps for afterwards.
You can't have 40 pushchairs or there would be no room to play.

littleboyblue · 21/01/2009 21:01

I always leave mine outside when at playgroups with the rain cover over just in case. It has never dawned on me to take it inside tbh

Twims · 21/01/2009 21:02

No pushchairs inside ours either - agree with Sorrento if everyone brought one in - there'd be nowhere to play

TheFallenMadonna · 21/01/2009 21:02

We didn't let them in. No space really.

littleducks · 21/01/2009 21:02

there is the sign saying health and safety at my local childrens centre, mostly ignored

at another m and t group there is a stairgate so i physically cant take push chair in (fair enough) but they dont really like you leaving pushchairs in the entrance hall either (fire risk) but i just keep quite as i get the bus there and am pretty much the only one not to drive there so need the buggy (has a lovely big carpark)

Original poster
LoveMyGirls · 21/01/2009 21:04

his car seat isn't the sort you can take out and let him sleep in and he will only sleep in the pushchair when we're out and I can't hold him or I'd have no hands free for the other 2 dc's and one is only 20mths old so frequently puts his hands in the paint/ glue/ cornflower and I need to be able to let go of the pushchair while I help him. I would only keep in it there until he'd napped.

OP posts:
tumtumtetum · 21/01/2009 21:05

People all walk to our local things - London - so there are seas of pushchairs wherever you go!

I always worry that they will get nicked

WhatsTheBloodyPoint · 21/01/2009 21:05

What about the idea that everyone who can leaves their buggy outside so that those few who need to can bring their buggies in (eg for reasons outlined in the OP)? ie everyone working together to help the "weakest"?

Can you tell I have 3 under 4? And have run into similar problems myself?

I would say though that I may want to take my buggy in when it's frowned on, but I still manage to help out with preparing snacks, washing up etc, when plenty of one-child mothers seem unable to do so. Can you tell that's a bugvear of mine too?

SazzlesA · 21/01/2009 21:07

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tumtumtetum · 21/01/2009 21:07

Good idea if they will let you. You are not allowed pushchairs in full stop at most places round here - so it's not a question of helping out the people who need to because you just can't and that's it.

going to see the doc is a right faff and of course it's not exactly optional...

nannyL · 21/01/2009 21:14

at our singing group it is in a (very nice modern) cimmunity hall

we have a rule of no pushchairs in the room that we use, but there is another room DIRECTLY oppsite that is free and the buggies all park in there.

there is 1 lady with twins though, who when the twins were about 10 months was allowed to bring her buggy into the main room (just because 1 was often asleep etc)

Now the same twins are nearly 2, and dont need to be buggied right into the room, but they still come in with the buggy, and now other mums seem to be bringing their buggies in too whioch is very annoying as there really isnt room for them at all.

in your situatiion i think you should have been allowed to bring the buggy in, but it is tricky to have one rule for one person and a dofferent rule for everyone else

bigmouthstrikesagain · 21/01/2009 21:15

I have 3 under 5 - 3 month old a 2 yo and the 4 yo is fulltime at school now - and yes it would be convenient for me to bring pushchair into the playgroups I go to but I can't and I understand why.

At the moment I flop dd2 over my shoulder but I think I will have her in the carrier this week so I can attend to dd1 when required and dd2 can sleep or look around as she wants quite comfortably.

It is not always appropriate or convenient for others to have buggies around and a baby carrier is a good alternative.

Froginmythroat · 21/01/2009 21:21

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Froginmythroat · 21/01/2009 21:22

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FrannyandZooey · 21/01/2009 21:23

LMG in your situation i would take him in a sling
he can drop off on the way there and then you have hands free

moomaa · 21/01/2009 22:15

YANBU they should let sleeping babies in, there can't be that many of those. I've seen that system work well in 2 places I go to. Could you suggest it?

They weren't allowed in at health clinic and one got stolen so I used a bike lock on mine, but they have changed their policy recently, not sure why, maybe another one got nicked.

Some people are really stupid though, I was allowed to bring my newborn DD in pram into DS's play gym place and everytime the woman in charge said 'moomaa you can bring your pram in as you have newborn DD asleep' and every week other people tried to bring their prams in too and the woman told them off. At the start I did say something to them when I saw them about to go in and after a while I just couldn't be bothered as they looked at me like I was stupid.

ScottishMummy · 21/01/2009 22:18

wasnt allowed buggy in baby groups or health centre.bought a bike lock as friend had her cameleon stolen form HC

ScottishMummy · 21/01/2009 22:18

wasnt allowed buggy in baby groups or health centre.bought a bike lock as friend had her cameleon stolen form HC

morocco · 21/01/2009 22:20

our children's centre doesnt let them in but they have a buggy park and provide locks if needed. I've been allowed to wheel them round to the outside areas if the kids are asleep, it's indoors that they're not allowed. would be chaos at ours if everyone took their buggies in

FiveGoMadInDorset · 21/01/2009 22:23

Our surestart centre lets them in, as does our Drs surgery who have thoughtfully provided a lift to get them upstairs to see HVs

AccidentalMum · 21/01/2009 22:24

I think YABU. Either there is space for everyone's or there isn't. My favourite baby gorup is one where you have to leave them in the actual church but the wonderful old ladies who run it bring LO in when they wake up

moomaa · 21/01/2009 22:24

do you think people go push chair 'shopping' at health clincs?

lisad123 · 21/01/2009 22:28

the thing is you need to be seen to applying same rules to all otherwise you end up with problems. Take a sling. we dont have enough room in our centre for buggies and it takes up room, and often ours are covered in mud too
If you dont like their rules, dont go!

Woooozle100 · 21/01/2009 22:29

I stopped going to group at our local children's centre cos they refused to let me bring buggy in. DD was 3 at the time and I had ds who was few months old. He could go in sling but dd has got no mobility at all and was waiting for wheelchair. Treated her exactly the same as any other in a pushchair (Nope - leave it outside). Despite me arguing the toss and quoting dda, they still insisted on their no buggies rule