Lazy boy wont walk anywhere!

[may08]

Does anyone else have a lazy DS? Mine is 3.4yr and refused to walk anywhere! If I have the buggy he screams to get in it and if I dont have the buggy he screams to be carried. I know this isnt a major problem and alot of mums would be grateful for a child that wants to get in a buggy but he is so lazy that I do wonder what age most children are when you ditch the pushchair?

He quite often asks to be picked up when going up or down the stairs! I know boys are renowned for being lazier than girls but myself and DH arent lazy... DS also doesnt like the cold and wont go out and play (hasnt done all winter)

Any suggestions or advice?

Do you know for sure that it is just laziness with your son, or is it possible that he has some sort of problem with his legs or feet that is making walking and climbing difficult or painful? If he runs around and climbs on furniture etc then probably no problem there. I worked in a preschool that takes kids from 3 and I admit I would be surprised if they turned up in a buggy, unless they were coming a long way.As a childminder I find that "go and stop" gets us along the road at a good pace and makes them forget about wanting to be carried. Just hold their hand, say go, and run a bit and then suddenly say "stop", and do it. Keep repeating it, with longer stretches between the stops.The kids I have love it. And dont take notice of the looks you get off people!

Ah, good idea. I might try that. Thanks :)

If you can't resolve it go to the gp.
Ds2 would not walk. It was part of his autistic behaviours.

Both my kids have/had issues with low muscle tone. Ds in his legs and dd in her trunk. They have needed longer than other kids to build up their strength. Agree that if he's running around when he wants to is unlikely there is any problem but if he's naturally hesitant or doesn't generally have much stamina it might be worth investigating further.

My DS is 3.2 and is also quite lazy about walking. He does jump out of the pushchair and run along sometimes, but often he just wants to be pushed. He's perfectly healthy, just lazy when it comes to walking.

I'm not too worried yet but will start trying to phase the pushchair out of everyday life when he starts nursery in September - hopefully one just around the corner from us.

DS is 3.7 and I had two solutions. (1) everything is a race. Getting out of the front door, to the corner, to the shops, to pre-school. He can't stand not being the winner so works everytime! (2) Very effective bribery in the form of this - www.micro-scooters.co.uk/product/mini-micro-tbar-scooter-blue/. It's very stable and nippy and he's been using his since before he turned 3. Once he learnt the rules (stop at roads, stay in sight of Mammy, if I say stop, you stop), it completely replaced the buggy. I don't think we've used it in 6 months.

I ditched the buggy altogether at 3.2, between 2.5 and 3 it was only for long journeys, but did use buggy board quite a bit as had DD baby in buggy.

I knew some 3 year olds still quite attached to buggies, but by 3.5 it starts to look a bit odd. Mind you it depends on the kid, their circumstances etc etc.

Start with small distances and build up. You can't expect him to go from nothing to big long walk, but a 5 minute walk, then 10 etc etc and as long as there isn't an underlying issue as others have suggested then you should suss it!

Dd was the same. She was diagnosed at age 7 with a joint disorder. SHe could run around happily at times and at other times be too much in pain to walk. Later on, she alternated between ballet lessons and a wheelchair.

Has he been checked for flat feet?

DS is no 3.10 and it is only in the last 2 months that he will accept he has to walk. He will still sit in the buggy given half a chance but he does know. And no reason but laziness! I used both techniques that Limelight suggests - the scooter does work wonders so worth a go. Luckily DD (19 mo) wants to walk everywhere so we can get away a lot of the time without the buggy so he has no option

DD wasn't much of a walker at that age, then started riding her bike and it's so much quicker and easier to get anywhere!

I could have written the OP although my DS is 2.10. Interesting about what you said about the cold weather. DS has been like this especially since Oct/Nov.
Coincided with me being heavily pg and not as able to walk him to the park, myself. He started not wanted to use his scooter, either. Now, when we're out as a family, he will not walk one step, and screams for DH to carry him.
It is really frustrating, esp since baby has been born. Now borrowing a double buggy, but really annoying that he refuses to walk.
Can't think of any other "issues" that may be contributing. Might check out his feet, though, just in case.
Do tell me if anything works, Countess!

Sorry, May08, not Countess. :)

Thanks everyone. I am sure there is no physical problem as he is perfectly capable of running, climbing etc when he wants to! He will walk if he can see our final destination which obviously means it is very close! I will perserve with the race and scooter techniques....

My DS is 3.4 and is exactly the same! He is very fit and able and 6 months ago we had stopped using the buggy entirely, we resurrected for a holiday and in the snow and now he hates to walk! He whines; that his feet hurt, his stomach hurts, he needs a wee, needs a drink, needs a cuddle, is shivering - all these in the less than 10 min walk to school!
I perservere on the school run and let him have the buggy if I want to walk further so I can get fit!
Like everything else, its just a phase !!!!

I made DD (4) into a 'walking/trekking girl'. Last summer we went walking in Alps and I made it sound all exciting. Said that if she promised to walk nicely, she can have a backpack, like adults have. So I bought her a really cute one, put keyrings on and a little compass.

She has gotten a bit lazy over the winter but I have started going out again more. Will often draw her a map and she can read it to find destination. Have also taken up geocaching and she gets really excited by finding different treasures. I usually compromise though, if she walks for a certain amount, on the way back she can sit with sister in buggy.

Still get whining of course but that soon stops when the backpack is threatened with a return to the shops....

Can you give yourself enough time to just sit it out? Don't take the buggy and then wait? Even take a book maybe. If your sure it's juts stubborness can you out-stubborn him?