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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

Getting out and about with a newborn and a 4 year old

22 replies

fireflyz · 27/02/2015 13:24

I'm soon to have DC2 and my 4 year old DS1 is not a big walker, and he won't or can't pedal his little bike with its stabilisers.
I have been using his little mothercare stroller for short trips to shops etc partly because at nearly 8 months pg I don't think I can run after him if he runs off and I certainly can't carry him at all. I'm not sure how much he weighs but he is average for his age probably.
For longer trips eg for the day in town, DS1 will still nod off in the stroller after lunch! Bless him...but goodness knows what I'm going to do when newbie arrives.
I still have our old britax travel system with carrycot and recliner seat and was thinking I'd use this for the new baby. But how am I going to get out and about with DS1? He starts school in September and it is a fair walk there and back too!
Some options I've been thinking of are buggy board on the britax
Or using buggy for long days out for DS1 and carrying DC2 in a sling (I'm having a Csection so I don't think this will be an option straight away)
Or getting DS1 a scooter and hoping he develops road sense and takes to it
Or getting a double buggy ( seems ridiculous given DS1' s age)
Or getting a double bike trailer that converts into a buggy that both newborn and DS1 will fit into
Any ideas and experiences shared are greatly appreciated!

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OutragedFromLeeds · 27/02/2015 13:34

Tbh I would just get DS1 out of the buggy and make him walk. It seems ridiculous to me to have a 4 year old who needs to go in a buggy. Unless he has SN or a physical disability he can just walk! My lot all got kicked out at 2.5 though so maybe I'm mean....

If you feel he absolutely can't walk then a buggy board is a good compromise.

Out of interest, why has he never learned to walk?

MishMooshAndMogwai · 27/02/2015 13:38

I'm in a similar boat however with us the problem is that dd is a good walker just so bloody slow! We're on a really tight schedule during the week and rely on buses so for some of the journeys I still need to take the pram just to get us to the bus in time even though she's perfectly capable of walking!

I was looking into buggy boards however she got a scooter for xmas that she really seems to have taken to. I'd say those were your best/cheapest options!

Good luck

Original poster

fireflyz · 27/02/2015 13:50

Thank you! Just having a last minute pre DC2 arrival panic! :)
When out walking, DS1 is unpredictably slow and fast at times... And he gets tired quickly and has to be cajoled with treats... And sometimes just gets a shoulder ride when we are out with my DH sans buggy. He doesn't have any SN as far as I'm aware. He broke his leg last autumn but now runs around garden or park and jumps about like any other his age.
Cycling has never been a hit though, maybe leg muscles just not ready or pedalling concept a bit weird to him as he didn't have a trike (which I now regret).
I absolutely don't want to spend a fortune so maybe just a buggy board or a scooter are the best options.

OP posts:

Original poster

fireflyz · 27/02/2015 13:51

PS Mishmoosh - when you take pram, how do you manage DD1?

OP posts:

TheRestofmylifeiswaiting · 27/02/2015 14:00

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

OutragedFromLeeds · 27/02/2015 14:03

Scooters are great, but if you can't trust him to walk without running off then I would hold off on the scooter. They can build up quite a speed and it's just not safe unless he is reliably listening to you and not going too fast/stopping when told etc.

Balance bikes are also really great for those not yet ready to pedal and better than a bike with stabilisers for teaching balance.

BikeRunSki · 27/02/2015 14:04

Baby in a sling. 4 yo in buggy if needed.

RoganJosh · 27/02/2015 14:04

How far is the walk to school? I'd focus on that as it's the only one you'll have to do to get there on time.

BikeRunSki · 27/02/2015 14:06

Buggy biards can be tricky on hills, or with tall children or pushchairs with single hoop handles.

Balance bikes/bikes can be tricky with confident children who can disappear very quickly on them.

Looserella · 27/02/2015 14:09

He must be the only 4 yr old without a scooter! Get him one, they're rapid on them.

mewkins · 27/02/2015 14:32

There is the same age gap between mine (baby is now 8 months) and my dd was still.using the buggy lots before the baby was born. We got through the summer by using the buggy board - we got a sitting one- but since starting school in September she has built her stamina up considerably! She scoots to school at good speed and the whingeing has tailed off. Try getting him used to the scooter now and see if you can borrow a buggy board for a few months in the summer. I have also got slings etc but dd is now used to being out of the buggy.

MishMooshAndMogwai · 27/02/2015 21:38

Sorry, dc2 isn't here yet so im pondering what to do!

I'm going to see how we go with the scooter and if it doesn't work we'll try a buggy board

Jaffakake · 27/02/2015 22:34

I've got a 3.5 yr old & also 8 months pg. Tbh we don't do a lot of walking, but will start to do more now I'm on mat leave. Ds has decent road sense luckily. I'm planning on getting a buggy board and getting him proficient at spotting.

You might find one of these handy www.scootnpull.co.uk

Original poster

fireflyz · 28/02/2015 10:53

Thank you! Lots of food for thought and glad to know I'm not the only one! Like the scoot n pull website too.

OP posts:

Midorichan · 28/02/2015 14:34

I have a 20 month old and a 4 month old. I use reins and a double buggy as my older child is HIGH needs and will not just "walk" like other children, lol. It's incredibly stressful taking him out with the baby so unless my husband is home from abroad I just put him in the garden. I can't use a baby carrier and just let him run around whilst I carry baby as its too dangerous, but he's only little still so doesn't understand the concept yet on walking without running or holding my hand and not letting go. You have a much older child though, so it should be easier for you - most people I know with older kids have them walk as they stopped using a buggy for them a while ago but I completely understand the stress of being out with a kid that doesn't play ball.

ElleOhElle · 01/03/2015 05:49

I bought a buggy board for the exact same reason, she cab walk and will walk a fair distance but if I'm in a hurry or I think she's going to get tired on the way back she has s ride on the buggy board

byhec · 01/03/2015 06:01

Sorry but I don't think you should buy anything, just persevere and get your 4yo to walk...just don't give him the buggy option and maybe use reins if you are worried he'll run off?

dashoflime · 01/03/2015 06:19

In a similar situation with Ds (2.5) and due to give birth.
I have Ds's old buggy and luckily the back slides right down, making it suitable for a newborn. I am planning to shuffle the two of them between the buggy and a sling.
So eg: Baby in sling and Ds in buggy if he gets too tired to walk. Baby in buggy and Ds free to play in the park.

Notso · 01/03/2015 06:30

I have a 4 year old and a 2 year old. 4 year old will walk miles but is incredibly unpredictable runs off, likes to take 'short cuts' etc so we still use a buggy board for when I need to be quick.
2 year old is mostly walking now though can be bribed into the buggy if I need to. The buggy gets used more for dumping shopping in now though so I can hold hands with the DC. I don't drive and do all shopping on foot.

TheSkiingGardener · 01/03/2015 06:37

Buggyboard on the buggy, sling underneath, mix and match as necessary! He needs to walk more but practically this isn't a good time for you to have that battle.

ForkieForkie · 01/03/2015 06:53

OP I have the same age gap. My 4 year old had already gotten too big for his pushchair and we had switched to a scooter with a strap.

He can scoot by himself in parks etc but near traffic or to get from A to B when he's tired I use the strap. He just puts both feet on scooter and I pull. Its very little effort and was easy to pull him alongside pushchair when DS2 arrived.

I planned on a buggy board but DS1 was already at the maximum weight so make sure you check on this.

Also my DS used to tire really easily but I've made an effort recently only to use the scooter if in a rush. Otherwise we walk (at his pace). He's definitely building stamina since doing this.

redcaryellowcar · 01/03/2015 07:11

Sorry I haven't read all the replies, but I would think a buggy board is best option, ds1 was 2.6 when ds2 arrived and he spends a lot of time buggy boarding, saves lots of arguments about him being too tired to walk etc.
it also means he's very safe as hemmed in between my arms and the pushchair. I worry about scooters not being seen as they rarely stop to cross driveways. I looked into double buggies but very rare you can get one that would have a weight limit for a four year old. Most will take up to 15 kg.

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