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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

How old was your LO when you stopped using a buggy for short distances?

14 replies

PeppermintPatty · 27/09/2008 20:24

And expected them to walk?

And how did you train your LO to walk safely on busy pavements / near roads?

Did you use reins or expect them to hold your hand?

I'm just wondering how you go about this really, and at what age I should start teaching DD to walk on the pavement with me safely (she's 15 months old).

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Original poster

PeppermintPatty · 27/09/2008 20:44

Anyone?!

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Wheelybug · 27/09/2008 20:46

dd walked out of her buggy for short distances from the time she could walk (12 months) and it increased from there. I think the younger you do it the sooner they learn road sense. I did a combination of reins and hand holding. She loved being out of the buggy so it was often enough to say hold hands or you're back in the buggy but I did use one of the littlelife backpack rein things as she wouldn't wear conventional reins.

ChasingSquirrels · 27/09/2008 20:48

I expected mine to hold my hand, ds1 obliged (and still does so happily), ds2 refuses to - I can hold his (death grip) but he then refuses to move. I used reins with both of them depending on the situation.

It depends on the distance, and your time presures. If you have the time walk - but be prepared to stop to examine everything. It's fun as long as you have the time.

AnarchyAunt · 27/09/2008 20:48

DD was 4 when we ditched the buggy - but we don't have a car so our idea of a 'short distance' may be different.

I just had her hold my hand until I judged she could be trusted not to be daft. Reins are a pain IMO. They go the wrong way round lamp posts and all sorts on them.

Talked her through it every time we crossed the road, made her go on the 'safe side' too.

ImnotMamaGbutsheLovesMe · 27/09/2008 20:49

He has to hold my hand when crossing a road or going across the car park and he gets threatened with the buggy next time if he misbehaves.

CapricaSix · 27/09/2008 20:50

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ChasingSquirrels · 27/09/2008 20:51

mine will hold my hand (under sufferance) when crossing the road or in the car park - but he doesnt like it. threatening him with the buggy would defeat the object, he would happily be in the buggy! mostly he ends up on my shoulders.

Original poster

PeppermintPatty · 27/09/2008 20:53

THanks Wheelybug - where do you get a backpack rein thing from?

I tried normal reins (from Boots) on DD a couple of times and she just dangled from them like a puppet and cried!

OP posts:

Bramshott · 27/09/2008 20:55

I expect I'll be in the minority, but we were still using one occasionally when DD1 had just turned 4. Not for a day out, but if I wanted to pop quickly round the shops at adult pace I'd give her the choice and she'd sometimes go for it. I think the last time was when I was pretty heavily pregnant with DD2 and DD1 was 4 and 1 month - but then came a natural break when DD2 was born and now she walks for miles!

Blimey - have just read that your LO is 15 months - was just about to post "DD1 has been much better about walking safely on the pavement since she's turned 5"!! I wouldn't worry about it yet - maybe start to introduce walking (with reins if you're happy with them - I think they're great for under-2s) at about 18 months?

Original poster

PeppermintPatty · 27/09/2008 20:59

Chasingsquirrels - My DD is like your DS2! She doesn't do hand holding either - she cries and tries to pull away. Either that or she flops to the ground!

So I always give up and put her back in the buggy.

OP posts:

Wheelybug · 27/09/2008 21:01

here

QueenCrystal · 28/09/2008 10:36

My DD doesn't like to go in the buggy unless she's really tired (but only 17 mths so i still have to take most places - am also v preg so cannot carry her far). She goes through phases of agreeing to wear reins and sometimes refuses to hold my hand! Had good advice from the child minder though - she has trained DD to hold onto the side of the pushchair if she won't hold hands. Seems to work for us.

PavlovtheCat · 28/09/2008 10:51

About 18 months. We did not expect her to walk, she refused to go in the stroller.

We use it now for shopping trips or journeys when we need her sitting down/not touching/fidgeting, or if she needs a good nap.

Other than that she walks, and if she gets tired, she gets carried.

notsoteenagemum · 28/09/2008 11:06

DD about 15 months for short journey like corner shop if not in a huge rush, anything longer and I always took the buggy tofillwithshopping-- incase she got tired. she was out completely by 2.3.
DS completely different only ran never walked from about 14 months I used to put him in the buggy as he was just too liable too run off and I don't do leads reins/backpacks. I would only use it for really long journeys from about 3 and stopped completely by 3 1/2, he' 4 now and asked to go to town in it the other day because he was tired.
Saw a girl who started juniors this time in the buggy during the hols though her mum said she won't behave in shops.

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