Active discussions

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

Original poster

What age did your child stop using the buggy?

91 replies

mummytowillow · 02/12/2010 22:01

My daughter is 3 years 3 months old and she still likes to sit in her buggy?

I saw someone mention on a thread some time ago, that this is not the done thing at her age? Blush

So am I indulging her and letting her be a lazy madam, or is there nothing wrong with it!

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
Meglet · 02/12/2010 22:03

DS is still in one at 4yo. He sits in the back seat of the phil & teds and jumps in out as he fancies. We walk a lot (nursery / work) and I don't have time to wait for a dawdling toddler.

It's entirely up to you Smile. 3.3 isn't that old IMO.

Showaddywaddy · 02/12/2010 22:06

About 20 months or so. She is 3 and a half now and would be most perturbed if I pointed her at a pushchair.

But it doesn't really matter I suppose if it works for you, you're not forcing a child into it and they're otherwise active.

Like any parenting choice, it varies wildly from family to family.

Showaddywaddy · 02/12/2010 22:07

And it's probably relevant that we rarely used a pushchair anyway. She was mostly in a sling if necessary.

SingingBear · 02/12/2010 22:07

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

SantarissaCripslock · 02/12/2010 22:09

My DS3 has just turned 3 and still sometimes uses the buggy - but only if he's fallen asleep in the car and we just plonk him in the buggy and get peace to do the shopping! Grin

BaroqinAroundTheChristmasTree · 02/12/2010 22:09

DS1 - about 3 1/2yrs
DS2 - before about 20 months
DS3 - stopped using it regularly at 3yrs 4 months - but it still gets used occasionaly now he's 3 1/2.

llareggub · 02/12/2010 22:20

DS1 was out of a buggy at around 18 months or so for short trips. We'd only use the buggy for days out or for shopping trips when I needed him constrained! He has just turned 4 and hasn't been a buggy for about 2 years.

DS2 is 20 months and is usually in the buggy but needs it less and less. I imagine that in a few months we'll reduce the use but it is harder with two children.

There is a 2.5 age gap between mine and I decided not to get a double because I saw using it as a regressive step. DS1 hadn't been a buggy for 6 months or so when DS2 was born but everyone told me that we'd need it.

I'm glad we didn't use one, particularly when I see DS1's contemporaries at pre-school being pushed there in their buggies in the morning. DS1 runs to school and I think the struggle (because it has been, sometimes) has been worth it.

dinkystinky · 02/12/2010 22:22

Around 3 and a half I think - but he still occasionally went in it up until around 4 if really tired when we were out and about.

Beamur · 02/12/2010 22:24

My DD has been deprived - due to the lack of pavements where we live I have used a buggy very little - which is to her great regret as she loved it! One the rare occasions it came out, she would spend as much time in it as possible.
3 isn't too old, and it can hugely speed up journeys!

mamaloco · 03/12/2010 06:38

It depends wether you walk or use the car.
If you walk everywhere then from time to time she still need to get in the buggy (illness, long trips, need to be quick to get to an appointment...).
If you drive everywhere and still need a buggy then yes she/you are being a bit lazy Wink

BigTillyMincepie · 03/12/2010 06:40

About 2 1/2. Even for getting to nursery, about a mile away.

But he took his scooter and then his bike everywhere after that!

1percentawake · 03/12/2010 10:16

Depends on lots of factors - my DD has low muscle tone and hypermobility and wants to walk but gets tired. She's 3.5 yrs and yes, we are starting to get 'the looks' because she is tall for her age to still be in a buggy..

zapostrophe · 03/12/2010 10:17

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

bossyboop · 03/12/2010 10:45

DD wouldnt get in it when she turned 2, it meant I couldnt even take her to the shops, she could walk there then get tired and she was too heavy to carry all the way back never mind carry the shopping as well, it also meant I couldnt take her to the park, I wish she had used it for longer.

tigerlion1 · 03/12/2010 12:10

Mostly stopped at 3.5. That was just when we were going to be a little while around the shops (she was AWFUL around shops). I'd probably still use one now if the need arose for some reason (she's 3.9) and she would love it lol.

NormalityBites · 03/12/2010 12:12

3 days Grin

TheNextMrsDepp · 03/12/2010 12:13

DD2 was only about 2, but being the youngest she thinks she is several years older than she actually is.

She just decided one day that it was "babyish" and that was that.

Luckily she was a sensible walker. DD1 stayed in a buggy for much longer, being an absconder.

girliefriend · 03/12/2010 12:16

My dd loved her buggy!! She finally gave it up when she turned 4, I think she is lucky to be an only as if I had another littler one she would have been out of it much sooner as I wouldn't have struggled with a double buggy!!! It worker well for me though as she always slept well in her buggy which made shopping much eaiser Wink

messytimemum · 03/12/2010 12:41

I won't tell you when DD1 finally stopped using her buggy (still catch her in DD2's from time to time), but don't see anything wrong with it at all. After all, 3 is still only a baby, so why not.
As for people that give you a dirty look, just run them over with the buggy! :o

amelem · 03/12/2010 12:51

4 years and 11 months, right until she started school. I used it because I had a long walk up a hill to get to her nursery. I didn't feel a bit guilty about using it and sometimes miss it(she is now 6) as it was handy for carrying shopping. It hasn't affected her ability to walk long distances, she can walk quite far now without any moans.

Tinasan · 03/12/2010 12:55

As others have said, depends on how often and how far you walk. My oldest was still often in the back of the double buggy at 3 and I had a few smug comments from a family member about how her children didn't use a buggy at that age. When I pointed out that said family member drives everywhere, whilst I walk for miles every day (no car), she wound their neck back in Wink

monkeyflippers · 03/12/2010 14:53

We walk loads and long distances so my 2.5 year old is in it most of the time but when she gets out his 4.5 sibling gets in. The older one can't walk far and would probably use it all the time if she could, I actually feel sorry she that she can't as she gets so tired! I think there is no rush to get them out of the buggy and if I were taking the older one and going a long distance (more then a few roads) then I would be happy for her to stay in it until she is 5/6/7 etc as neccessary. It really is also none of anyone else's business!

BlueberryPancake · 03/12/2010 17:56

I had two boys, 18 months apart, and the eldest had 'little lifts' in the double buggy for a long time - until about 4! It's mostly because I was always in a rush to go from a to b, and the eldest one is a real slow coach. He's big and strong now. DS2 is just over 3 and he doesn't want to go in buggy anymore. How do I carry all my shopping????

correct about comments and driving. I do all the school/pre-school/nursery runs on foot. And all the shopping. So many other parents drive!!!

hester · 03/12/2010 18:19

Just turned 3. I think, as others have said, that the 'right' age depends on other factors: do you have a car, availability of buses if dc gets tired etc. It's about making sure your child gets enough exercise, nothing more.

BaroqinAroundTheChristmasTree · 03/12/2010 18:28

another thing to think about - it depends on how long they've been walking.

DS1 only started walking at 18 months, so the chances of him being out by 2yrs old was zero much smaller than my DS2 who started walking at 10 months.