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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

When did you stop using a buggy?

52 replies

Alfiepants · 13/01/2013 21:21

I've got 2 children; two and one year old boys. We have a double buggy and have shops near to the house. I'm wondering at what point we should look at a single buggy and make my toddler walk more. He's definitely not keen in the buggy but nor he is happy to walk even half the way home without being carried! I tried a buggy board before with no success but might have another go. He 'll be starting nursery in sept and thinking the walk (10 mins) might be a lot on top of a tiring new morning.
Any suggestions?!

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BluelightsAndSirens · 13/01/2013 21:23

Probably nearer 3, still took the buggy on longer walks and there was no pick ups at all.

I would try again with the buggy board.

RandomMess · 13/01/2013 21:26

Be stubborn. Refuse to carry him, offer him the buggy board or walk?

Many children are still in a buggy at 3 particularly if you walk a lot.

MN044 · 13/01/2013 21:26

I have 3 dc, the youngest of whom is only just 9mo. The others were in a buggy right til the age of 4. Judge away o MNers . We don't drive, walk everywhere, and well, they were lazy. With my first, the walk to nursery was up a truly enormous hill and it was a struggle enough for me to walk it. With my second, his nursery was a tiny bit closer, but he just tired easily (still does now, though he's at school). I only prized him out of the buggy the summer before he started reception, but he isd a summer born so was only just 4 and pretty tiny with it. I tried the buggy board with both of them and neither were keen, not to mention it's a hell of a faff to find a buggy board that doesn't wreck your posture.

Choccyjules · 13/01/2013 21:30

DD was 2.5 and she got out and that was the end of it. It has meant my shopping trips are shorter cos she can't go as far but we've been surprised at how far she can walk.

I am always surprised when kids her age (4.5) turn up to Pre-School in a buggy (judgypantsalert) but everyone's needs are different and can be hidden to the rest of us.

CharlotteBronteSaurus · 13/01/2013 21:33

with dd1, just turned 3

with dd2, it will probably be a good bit longer, as we have a 1mile school run to do for dd1
i don't particularly fancy doing it at a 3yo's pace, nor going in the car.

emsyj · 13/01/2013 21:37

DD is a major buggy-refuser and has been impossible to wrestle into one for ages - certainly since age 2 at least, she's 2y7mo now and I can't remember the last time we used hers. I wish she would get in it as it would make my life easier, but I spent quite a few months pushing an empty buggy and holding her hand at the same time so I suppose it's better now that I don't have the buggy to contend with!

I am wondering though whether to get a double as DD is a good walker and will walk for quite a while, but she tends to run off and I have no idea how I will cope when new baby arrives (37 weeks today...)

So... Unhelpful, but DD is the only one out of her peers who never goes in a buggy - and she's only out of one because she flat refuses to get in one.

Sirzy · 13/01/2013 21:39

DS is just turned 3 and doesn't use his very much now. Really it only comes out when he is poorly

weegiemum · 13/01/2013 21:42

I suppose my first 2 were 2.5-3 but it was so long ago (looming teenage years on the horizon!). But dd2 was almost 7 due to a disability and so I'd been using a buggy for 10 years - I don't drive.
Came as a shock when I'd nothing to hang the shopping on any more!!

twintwo · 13/01/2013 21:43

My 2 were stil in buggy at 4, they were too tired to walk home after nursery ( we don't drive either ) also had some health issues. Ditched the buggy in the summer hols before they started school, they are good walkers now and cover long distances on foot.

Choccyjules · 13/01/2013 21:46

Ooh yes weegie, I really missed somewhere to put my shopping!

Passthesaltdear · 13/01/2013 21:46

By 3yo ours went to the dump

bruffin · 13/01/2013 21:46

I dont drive, so it was when dd was about 4 as it made a good shopping trolley.
There was 2 years between ds and dd, so used a double for a year and then back to a single when dd was about one.

KateShmate · 13/01/2013 21:52

I have 3YO triplets and, yes, they are still in a buggy most of the time. I do encourage them to walk, but sometimes, like on the 3 mile school round with my older 2 girls, they get too tired and want to go in the buggy - makes it easier for me too.
I'm not bothered, they aren't going to be in a buggy when they go to school so I really don't see the problem :)

LynetteScavo · 13/01/2013 21:56

When they started school. DS2 sometimes went in the P&T to school in reception, but jumped out around the corner before anyone saw him.

BluelightsAndSirens · 13/01/2013 22:02

Not forgetting that it is great when they want to walk and the buggy can go but A. The buggy is great for a mobile coat rack/shopping bag and B. small legs never walk as quickly as big legs and they want to gaze at all the new things they have missed with us whiz zing them past in the buggy.

I wouldn't push it at all and regularly took the buggy after pre school incase she came out knackered or if I was in rush to get back. Would offer a snack in the buggy.....

Kendodd · 13/01/2013 22:08

I have three. The first two got out of the pushchair around their second birthday, the last around her third birthday. Personally I would make them walk after three. I did miss the pushchair for carrying all our stuff though.

AppleAndBlackberry · 13/01/2013 22:08

We walked 3 miles today, my 3.5yo walked/ran/scooted about 2.5 of the 3 miles and was in the buggy for the rest. She barely needs it and hasn't for about 2 years but I do still like to have it as a backup if we're going a long way. Luckily I have a Phil&Teds for the younger one so it's not any extra hassle to put the doubles seat on.

I think people who don't use them often end up carrying tired toddlers but I can't do that with two. I probably would have ditched it if I only had her though.

Kendodd · 13/01/2013 22:11

Oh, and we always walked to school/pre-school/play groups, it wasn't far though.

NonnoMum · 13/01/2013 22:16

I once read (on MN I think) that cars are just buggies for able-bodied people, so feel free to keep your DCs in buggies for as long as possible if it saves even one car journey.

In really bad snow I buggied my DC (4 and a half) to school, because it was safer her being in the buggy than risking slipping off the pavement into a dual-carriageway (and, yes, it was a super-buggy, so coped really well in the snow - wheels locked, snow chains etc etc).

NonnoMum · 13/01/2013 22:16

I was lying about the snow chains.

LynetteScavo · 13/01/2013 22:18

Yes, when I could't drive to collect DD from school when she was 4.5 I took the pushchair. Not fun dragging a tired child home from school in the cold. Much form fun marching along, giving her a push while she had a snack.

Splatt34 · 15/01/2013 06:17

DD has barely used buggy since about 22 months. at 2.2 on long days out I take it but she insists her teddy sits in it, fully strapped in, then wants to push it herself (more hassle than it's worth!!!)

Tiggles · 15/01/2013 12:45

DS1 was in a buggy until nearly 4 (especially if I had to go anywhere near a shop) but turns out his shopping tantrums were due to Aspergers.

DS2 and DS3 walked miles (literally) from age 2 - but they both hated being in the buggy.

amyboo · 15/01/2013 12:50

We moved house just after DS turned 2 and he hardly used the buggy after that. He was never a big fan of it once he could walk anyway, but since we moved house the buggy has sat gathering dust waiting for DS3 to start using it. DS is now 2.10 and when we go on big walks we tend to take his tricycle with us (it has a handle you can push it with), incase he gets tired. But otherwise he walks everywhere. The buggy is now only used as a threat if he refuses to hold our hand. But, we made sure to teach him very early on that he had to hold our hands if he wanted to walk.

forevergreek · 15/01/2013 23:46

About 20 months. Small age gap, sounded a bit with baby in sling, then he used a buggy board on and off if going far until around 2 1/2. From young I try and t them used to small trips without, gradually building up. We are In central London though and a buggy on bus/tubes is more hassle half the time than it's worth

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