Help with a VERY feisty toddler

[user1476186923]

My very stubborn toddler is refusing to get in his buggy (just 2 years old). I would let him walk/scoot alongside me but he constantly has tantrums because he wants to go a different way than we need to go. I can't carry him as he's gotten too heavy and am pregnant again.

I have literally forced him down into the pram (I have no problem doing this ethically - physically is another thing) but once he is in the straps on my Bugaboo Bee 3 literally don't hold him in. He just wriggles out of the straps that go over his shoulders and is then held only by the straps over his groin. Which means he literally strains himself horizontal with the ground sideways (see pic).

Are there any prams that hold down very strong stubborn toddlers? I will need him to be safely secured especially when baby nr 2 comes!!

My DS was the same, always hated his pram and always trying to get out of it, and the straps didn't hold him down as he was quite a strong baby. At 20 months I ditched the pram and bought a baby trike (search Smart Trike) and what a difference, he loves it and he stays seated (and strapped) looking happily at the world.

In addition, the does look like a big boy and the Bee 3 (which tends to be quite compact) could be getting a bit small for him, he might feel a bit cramped in there.

Thank you for your help! We do have a scooter that he loves but he always wants to go one way when we have to go the other so it's a battle of wills that ends in a tantrum on the pavement! If only he would follow me without the tantrums, I'd happily do this!

My son was the same, he always wanted to go in the direction that we didn't have to go, and if I held his hand he would try to pull it off and if he couldn't he would just try to sit down on the floor so not to move him. With a trike I can just control the direction from the back, similar to how you do with a pram. The pedals and direction bar can be disabled so that if he turns left I can still go right ;). He seems quite happy with it, and no problems at all with direction since we bought it.

That sounds great! Which model do you have? There seem to be quite a few. Thank you!

I have the SmarTrike SmarTfold 300 - it's not very expensive, around £80-£100, had it for a year and have pushed it through all terrains and still working perfectly, so very robust. The first time I showed it to my son he just jumped straight on it and never looked back, he really likes it.

Same as @AladdinMum we bought my son a trike and he loves to get in it. We have no issue with him getting in it ever. Maybe if you can try buying him one?

Have you tried giving him a snack?

I have! Seems to work sometimes for my husband but he’s more strong willed with me we both think. Will try the bike!