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Behaviour/development

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

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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?

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

Tgger · 03/12/2010 19:07

Errr... about 3 and 3 months weaned him off it, but it was useful up to that point for long journeys, then he was probably nearer 4 when he could walk longer journeys without moaning- we just drove/went on the bus to avoid resorting to buggy in the interim.

As pp have said is very different according to how/why you're using it. Is very useful when they're tired in the afternoons and you need to walk a distance. I started to tell DS he was too big for the buggy (he is huge 4 year old now) at about 3 and a half so much so it got difficult to persuade him into it on the odd occasion when he became tired whinger from he** (as they do :)

I find 4 year olds in buggies a little odd, but then no one moans about 4 year olds in cars and in some ways it's the same thing- just a means of transport :). 3 year olds in buggies not that strange, just would be odd for them to be in it all the time...

bluebump · 03/12/2010 19:13

Far too early for my liking, about 20 months or something. He prefers to be carried everywhere instead and kicks up a right fuss otherwise.

BornToFolk · 03/12/2010 19:20

At around 3. However, this is mainly because we moved house. In the old house we were in (adult) walking distance of town/swimming pool/Tesco and various other things but they were just a bit too far for DS at the time, so he went in the buggy.
Now, we're a bit further away so we have to get the bus everywhere and consequently, don't need the buggy.

Buggies are just another means of transport, I don't know why people get so worked up about them!

otchayaniye · 03/12/2010 19:27

never owned one and don't intend to get one for second child

TheUnmentioned · 03/12/2010 19:31

About 15 months but I would have had him in longer if possible but it wasnt worth the hassle and I was lucky in that I didnt have school runs to do/no other kids/ work to get to etc so I could 'indulge' him.

Dd is only 10 weeks but I hope imagine she'll be in one longer as we'll have to walk the school run etc and be at places on time. Also getting rid of a car so more public transport / walking places.

spidookly · 03/12/2010 19:32

22 months

BelligerentGhoul · 03/12/2010 19:33

DD1 2 years and 2 months - when dd2 was born.

DD2 about the same iirc.

We don't drive, so they had to get used to walking pretty quickly and tbh we've been very lucky and they never really complained.

CrispyTheCrisp · 03/12/2010 19:38

DD1 is 4.1. We live in a VERY hilly area and the walk to preschool is 1.25 miles. She sometimes now walks/scooters there (more downhill than up) but i usually take the buggy to collect her as after a 1.25 mile walk and a full on 6.5hr day with no nap, quite frankly she needs it. I know i get some funny looks, but mainly from people driving from much closer distances

Each to their own and don't worry about it

Santaclaustrophobia · 03/12/2010 19:39

DD stopped using a buggy regularly sometime between 2.5 - 3 years (can't remember exactly).

But we have kept her buggy and still bring it out on special occasions ie. day trip when I think she may need a nap. She's 3.5 and getting a bit big for it, but unfortunately she often still needs a nap in the day. There's been a couple of occasions recently when I've had to carry a sleeping child around for a hour because I've not taken the buggy and she's literally zonked out on me. I now have biceps of steel :)

ragged · 03/12/2010 19:40

Past 4th birthday on a regular basis, 5-6yo for part-timers. 8yo on a day when they were vomitting and not keen on walking to pick others up from school.
11yo DS1 would still go in one if I let him.

Naturally my children are all fat flabby slothful unathletic lazy over-indulged slobs... NOT . That explains why scrawny DD swam them all off her flippers at swimming lesson tonite, why lithe DS1 thinks nothing of a 15 mile cycle ride, and muscley DS2 gets labeled hyperactive by all and sundry.

Just do whatever works for you OP, people who criticise are ignorant eejits.

naughtymummy · 03/12/2010 19:42

I agree with whoever said the youngest child gets to use it the longest, ds was out of his by 3, although occasionally hitched a lift on his sisters until 4.5. Dd s has been lent to a friend for the last 2.5 months she hasen't missed it, she is 4

CrispyTheCrisp · 03/12/2010 19:43

Can i 'like' your post ragged?

I had a friend who went on about how hers all stopped using the buggy at 3 months or whatever. Then her 6 yr old ended up in my buggy. Oh did i laugh smile.

ragged · 04/12/2010 09:57

:) @ CTC.

howtoapproach · 04/12/2010 13:55

About age 4. I don't drive and live a couple of miles from town so we needed it really. I drew the line when she started school. I think friends who'd drive to town got rid of the buggy a lot earlier.

Sasha02 · 04/12/2010 14:04

DS stopped his buggy at about 2.9 as got a buggy board for DD's buggy as refused to have a double! Preschool is a mile away and I would not expect DS to walk it home, especially on a Friday when he's so tired

There are lots of mums at my DS's preschool who still use a buggy (including one who lives on my street and her DD is 4.1) so I guess it's whenever you and DC are ready to give it up, depending on your lifestyle.

monkeyflippers · 04/12/2010 18:55

I like raggeds post too. I have never been aware of anyone giving me funny looks for my 4 year old being in the buggy but if they did I would probably tell them to go f themselves!

Why do mums have to be so weird and competitive about this stuff?! It's stupid! Just cos their kid stops using the buggy earlier it doesn't mean that they are cleverer or anything like that, it just means they probably have a car or just never go anywhere or have a kid who doesn't tire so easily. So what.

I remember ready a post with loads of mums going on about how quickly they took their baby out of a cot and into a big bed . . . like that's an example of how forward or gifted their kids was!

Ok rant over.

LeakMyWiki · 04/12/2010 18:58

Yes, agree there is groupthink on MN and anything past 2 is Not On.

I think it was a very gradual thing - probably completely gone by just past 4 for the youngest, the others prob out quicker as they were able to use the buggy board.

bruffin · 04/12/2010 19:06

I don't drive and buggy was a very handy shopping trolley so it was used until DD was about 4, Ds was about 3 when he stopped using it. I used a double for a year.

MyBoyJakey · 04/12/2010 19:36

DS is 3.6 yrs and altho he insists he doesn't need/want to use the pushchair anymore, he is always grateful for it when we are rushing around (a very hilly) town centre!

It is too something I worry about, as my friends DD is a year younger then my DS and she hasn't used a pushchair for months now.

Agree with all regarding where will the shopping go when finally stop using it....

Eveiebaby · 04/12/2010 23:17

DD is 4.6 and her buggy came in very handy when there was snow this week! Like somebody else mentioned it is only a form a transport and it was the safest way to get DD to school. I must admit I have also used the buggy in the past for a lot longer than maybe I should have as it is quicker than walking.

wedgeitt · 01/01/2011 16:21

My son is going to be 4 in February and i HAVE to use it for taking him to nursery cos i donnot drive and its a 15 minute walk. He is a handful to walk with, he runs off a lot and hates to hold my hand, sometimes he lies down and wont get up. It would take forever if we walked. Sometimes the other parents give me funny looks as i wheel him in to nursery but most live nearer or drive so they dont have same problem.
I also have to use the chair for shopping in town cos otherwise he would run off everywhere. I am trying to practice him walking to local shop but he is more of a handful than most kids so its always stressful.Have tried putting him back on reins but he just pulls against them.
Hope he is better at walking with me by September cos i dont think ive ever seen a school child turn up in a pushchair-and he is already looking too big in it.
Does anyone have any tips on getting them to walk nicely???

Georgimama · 01/01/2011 16:26

Just over 2.

Tip for walking nicely: reins. You can yank them to their feet if they trip before they hit the deck. Very useful.

TheMonster · 01/01/2011 16:29

DS refused to get in it when he was about 2 and a half.

BaroqinAroundTheChristmasTree · 01/01/2011 16:29

Georgimama - if they actually move anywhere at all with them on

DS1 and 2 (DS2 more so) point blanked refused to move at all with reins on

I actually used DS3's buggy on Wednesday - knew we were having a late night, so let him go in the buggy to town, and then used the buggy to walk to my friends house. Was great as he fell asleep in it on the way home (at midnight) and I just changed his trousers and put a nappy on and away he went to bed.

SummerRain · 01/01/2011 16:29

dd - 18 months
ds1 - 2.5 (was pregnant and he's a lazy sod as well as dyspraxic so a nightmare to walk)
ds2 - last month so 21 months, was barely using it before though.

I hate buggies... I slinged the two boys for the most part until my back couldn't manage it anymore and barely used the buggy even after that, preferred to let them potter along themselves and carry them if they got tired.

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