DD refuses to go in pushchair

[PIckledLily]

She's nearly 2. She'll insist on walking 100m then wants to be carried. I can't physically put her in the pushchair as she planks and slides onto the pavement. I know it's normal at this age, but how the hell do I get to the shops?! Any tactics I can use? How long does it last or should I just sell the pushchair?!

I don't know what her speech is like but her understanding will be well in advance of her talking so I would try getting down at her level and telling her that she can walk or be carried for a bit (pick a point on the pavement eg a bin) then she must get in the chair. Then there is a bit of a warning and my daughter seemed much happier with that - somehow a little advance warning made her feel she was a bit more in control than suddenly being told 'right now in the chair!!'
Good luck, I found once she was a little over two she wanted to push the (giant for her) chair rather than be carried which was equally inconvenient!! But the advanced warning technique still works for us.
Btw if you want her in the pushchair for the whole journey and she won't get in in the house then simply telling her you're going without her and pretending to leave the house should find her saying 'yes chair!' before you've even got to the front door :-)

'Bundling small child into buggy' should be an Olympic sport, with points awarded for technique and endurance. You would all be in with a chance of a medal!

I don't think a bike would work here (we are in a city) - too many broken pavements, kerbs, trees, cars on pavements, bins etc for a push-along to navigate, and anything free-range on wheels would be lethal.

Reclining the seat first might work, although we don't have separate shoulder and waist straps, they are just a single strap, which DD is adept at sliding her arm out of. Hmm, might give it a try.

Out of interest, how long does a buggy and walking refusal tantrum go on for? I've always given up after a minute and carry her plank-like under my arm back to the house/car.

dont worry, when you want her to walk, she will want the buggy

I use the foot lifting technique. I grab both her ankles and lift them, ten she has to fold in the middle and I strap her in.

Mine is a runner but won't walk with a harness (just hangs in midair) and won't go in the sling and I can't carry her for any distances due to health problems.

You have my sympathy!

I give DD a choice of walk OR go in the pushchair. I don't give the option of carrying or she wants it all the time.

Usually she chooses to walk. It's tediously slow but good to tire her out so she will nap and I can MN

When I really need her in the pushchair I use the knee...

Oh God this brings back memories.

YY that it should be an Olympic sport!

I will somewhat shamefully admit that I brought DD - a resolute pushchair refuser - to Mothercare where I let her pick out a new push chair that I had already chosen and after that she was pretty happy. I do think her refusal started because the first one was uncomfortable, but she couldn't communicate that.

Exactly Frusso, it's still a pleasing trip down memory lane, best part is that it's behind us of course.

Do you put the brake on the buggy and lock the wheels before even trying? The knee bend works for me but would it help if you lie the seat back before trying so toddler is instantly lying back and planking is useless? Strap dc in and put the seat back up in position!

Oh I'm loving the detailed instructions! Front wheel lock - I was going to say I didn't know if we had one, but now I remember episodes of the buggy not steering because DD had managed to climb on what must be the front wheel lock. There really ought to be an operating licence for these things (to include a practical on how to strap an octopus in).

Actually, I'm wondering if DD does find the buggy uncomfy. It's a baby jogger and the seat does seem very saggy. Anyone else found this?

Good feedback on the buggy board. Won't bother with one of those then.

I do manage the 'looking like i've been through a hedge backwards' part. Do I get any points for that?

I used to just stop and wait it out - give them the option of buggy or walking holding hand/buggy. Any variation resulted in my stopping and waiting patiently until they got into buggy or walked.

It does work and they quickly learn that you won't give in and that you mean it. But you do have to be prepared to wait them out a few times.

I only give mine the option of walking on the way home- so if wrestling has to be done, I can do it at home before we set off This way they only walk the distance that I know they're capable of, too. This strategy worked for dd (now nearly 4) and seems to be working for ds (2), too.

Now that dd is older, we have a buggy board for her to hop on if she gets tired, and she used her scooter quite a lot too. She usually happily walks a couple of miles at a time though.

We also have to wrestle ds into his car seat. I love the terrible twos...