Roughly when do toddlers stop needing a pushchair?

[DewinDoeth]

Just thinking. DS is 2.5 and won't walk much for me e.g. around shops (well, he wants to, then refuses, and only goes in the buggy when I refuse to carry him! All very labour intensive really, how did I ever get here? )
I'm expecting child2 in July, and was wondering whether my toddler, who will then be 3, might be more willing to walk properly? This is all thinking in terms of buggies, obv, because I really don't see any point whatsoever in getting a double buggy for a 3yo and a newborn! (Anyway, I might just not go out much until DS is ready to walk... )

I think def by 3 years - but I suppose it depends on child. DD who is our elder child probably was in the double buggy for longer as we had DS still in it, but now they are both 3 and 5, we have finally (praise be) got our hallway back

DD was in a buggy until 3.5 but we lived in London and would go on long days out, and i wouldn't expect her to walk that much. That said, I think a trip around the shops for a 3 year old should be fine. Have you got the type of buggy you can get a buggy board for?

It must depend on the child and how much walking you do etc.
My DD was quite a late walker at around 19 mths and we did away with the buggy very soon after. But we do drive almost everywhere.

Those buggy boards look a good thing.

Depends if you drive or not - if you dont drive a lot or at all then you'll need a pushchair for a lot longer than if you drive everywhere.

I would get a sling for newborn and stick with your single and see how it goes - if you are not a sling person then yes you will need a double buggy for a bit - or train him now to use a maclaren/buggy board combo.

a buggy board sounds like a good idea if you have a 3 year old

OK, this sounds good. DS is a boy rather lazy, I guess, but I reckon with small walks we could manage (and besides, long walks we could put the baby in a sling etc - lots of options I guess).

I have a Quinny Zapp...disastrous for buggy boards??

You can't even hang a handbag on the zapp handles lest it fall over - I doubt it would take a buggy board!! either go with baby in a sling until DS will walk, or get a cheap second hand buggy that will take a board.

I'm not bothering with a double buggy and DD will be 2.4 when DC2 is born next month. My plan is to sling the newborn and I've also got one of these buggy boards that seem to fit most buggies. Check ebay because there are loads on there.

i didnt ahve a buggy board, mine sat on the front part of my silver cross. or stood on the back, on long walks.

Nah, don't get a double buggy for a 3 year old- sends the wrong message!

Buggy boards are quite good for when they get tired, but be warned, they are quite tiring to push and can be awkward with your posture.

I used to take the buggy and the baby bjorn carrier and quite often baby would go in the buggy on the way there (to playground etc), toddler would walk, then afterwards he would go in the buggy and I would put baby in carrier- easier to get home than with moany tired toddler. He was a bit younger than yours tho'.

Maybe ditch the buggy on occasions now- just don't take it then it's not an option!!!!- just do it for very short distances that you know he can cope with and build up. Do it when you have lots of time so you can just wait out a refusal to walk if necessary!

DD1 was out of hers about a month before she was two. looks like DD2 will follow suit!

How about a scooter like this. My DS1 has one and is quite happy to whizz around in his scooter to the park etc. Don't try to save money by buying the cheap ones though, the micro scooter is very good for the young ones in terms of balancing etc.

We didn't get a double for DS2 (who is 5 wks, DS1 will be 3 in march) because I couldn't face carting it about and not being able to get into half the local shops! I think I'm glad we didn't now, though my Lazy Mummy gene might say otherwise! DS1 is pretty keen on his buggy and thinks the new one we treated ourselves DS2 to is his. The plan was to get a buggy board, but beware! some buggies that recline flat for tinies won't then accommodate a board in that position. We also have a scooter that DS1 can't use yet (and I'm terrified of him zipping under a car on it) so maybe that will work out. At the moment, DS2 is in a sling and DS1 smugly ensconsed in the buggy.

DS1 gave his up at about 18 months - combination of him refusing to go in it readily, and then it broke and it took me months to get round to fixing it, by which point he'd got used to walking everywhere.

i never used one for my first, who is now 2.3, and I shan't bother for my next (I am currently pregnant)

But we live/lived in cities and use public transport and only drive once or twice a week at most.

we typicallyleave the home at ten and do at least a couple of things in London (playgroup, museum, zoo etc) and make it back home by 4,sometimes picking up small amounts of shopping. She still naps around midday and that is done with either of us walkingwithher in the sling