CM Club: Walking 3 under 3's - need some advice please.........

[looneytune]

I thought I had the school run all worked out today. This is what was SUPPOSED to happen:

11 month old - double pram
13 month old - double pram
2.6 yr old - walking with reins
2 x 4 years old walking holding hands/onto pram

Well, had a go earlier at trying the reins on toddler so could get them adjusted to fit ready for the school run, she had a total meltdown and no way was she going to allow me to use them. We'd tried in the past with no problems (playing in the house) so this took me by surprise. I ended up asking another mum if she'd kindly collect my ds for me and walk him to my car!

The only other time I will have these children is next Monday so I did think of maybe asking this lovely mum if she'd help again that one other day (think she will if she can as she can see what a struggle it would be as toddler also doesn't do holding hands 100% of the time which is too risky, plus she knows I'm pregnant and think would like to help). But what if I do need to go with them all next week, any idea's of how to get round this? Also, I will have similar aged children on Wednesdays from the week after next (10 month old, 11 month old, 2.4 yr old and 2 x 4 yr olds) so was wondering what options I have. I will find out if this other toddler is a good walker, used reins etc. before she starts but if not, I presume it's just a triple buggy? Or can you get ANY buggy boards onto double prams?

Any thoughts would be fab thanks

By the way, please don't worry about the ages, I have a variation for the 2 under 1's and the 2 4 yr olds go to school all day so are classed as over 5's

TIA x

Looney - I would try and fit the buggy board or the seat to go, On 1 of my buggies I had to turn the connecters around.
I would also play a game with mindee and put the reins on teds and dolls etc even on the younger mindees if you have more than 1 set. Mindees could then look after ted/doll while in the house. Make it part of the routine that the mindees in the buggy also wear them just incase later they do get out for a walk/crawl.

Saz - PMSL - I'd LOVE to do that 2!!!

ML - cheers, will try the connectors that way if need to although dh is insisting he doesn't think it will work - men eh! Will try the reins on baby, good idea, why didn't I think of that???!!! I've got her on the potty by putting baby on potty etc. so worth a try

Got to go, dh needs to get on laptop now! Thanks for all the advice

Oh shit! Don't ask me! I said they've never done it to me, but that's just luck! I bet you've done all the things that I could suggest anyway.

If it had happened to me today, I would be thinking of leaving the reins around in the house to play with. (obviously not unattened for fear of strangling blar, blar, bloody ofsted blar!) Then I'd make a game of the reins. Probably get her to put them on me and take me for a walk in the house. Maybe pretend being a horse! Umm. Bribery maybe. 'Lets make some cakes this morning and then if you're a good girl and wear your reins, we can have one when we come back from school' Let her put some stickers on the reins. Umm. Tell you need a hand pushing the pram, to take her mind of the fact that she's wearing them.

I have one on a seat2go and two in a Marco skye 13/14/23 months, but am aboutto go to a 12/14/24 months and the 24 month is tiny, and although she has been on the seat2go, we havnt needed to walk very far (bloody rain) but have decided with the spring comiong (yeah) Im going to buy a second Marco Sky, and clip them together with buggy connectors, then can fit them all in a nd a space for bags,

(and when I have to go up hills, London11 is pushing my Marco combi and Im taking her P&T as Im 5''2 and London 6'' )

Mo - we have had the reins in the playroom dressing up box (I have to open) for well over a year now, 2 sets, purely for playing horsey. This is why I thought we'd be ok but then again, she's only wanted them on a couple of times so maybe I shouldn't have assumed she'd stay being ok with them. And as for making cakes and all that, no, it wouldn't work. She's not one for doing all this sort of stuff, I've ONLY JUST managed to get her to finally use playdoh! I never force children to do something they don't want to do. Anyway, I'm thinking for the sake of one more day, I'll forget this particular situation but it's all useful stuff to think about for when the other toddler starts the week after they leave! I'm hoping she'll be ok, the toddler I have now only started getting like this once the other au pair left and all sorts of people were having children left right and centre and they have just been away on holiday so maybe she was worse today due to that? I don't know, maybe I just need a very large glass of wine.....oh no, I can't can I!!!

Shoshe - I'll have to look those up. Just can't afford to be splashing out on all sorts so need to think what I need and stick with that. Dh may be working for the next 2 months but til he's got a perm job, I need to watch the pennies! Especially as I'll be having 12 weeks off soon!

See, told you, you'd done everything I might suggest! I'm sure you'll come up with something and if the sh*t really hits the fan, you can at least call on this other mum to nip in and get DS for you.

Now, get off the laptop, DH neeeeeds it! When's the job start? Don't answer that! You haven't got time!

oh my god LOONEY you are a looney to take on so much!! you must be exhausted at end of day - all i can say is thank god your stroppy mindee leaves next week! Although i've seen you've had her 2 years(sorry as i bet you'll miss her)

i haven't read whole post so can't really advise but wanted to offer my sympathy for your crappy day

i find it hard enough with a 2.11y & 3.3y & ds(3) i feel i need an extra set of arms like some hindu godess!! It's even worse when we all take the dog out for walk too - it's always such a relief to get where we're going

oh this is what i did with ds to get him to use reins and walk further

pretend he was a dog he loved it as he can pretend to be doggie for hours!!!!!

Mo - he's had his turn and I'm back His first day was today!

Maxi - Yeah, I'm beginning to think that too!!! I AM going to try the rein ideas out but I'm guessing (knowing mindee) that it's going to take a lot longer than 2 days to get her sorted so probably not going to help for Monday but hey, you NEVER KNOW! .

My bump has finally relaxed (after getting really hard and tense earlier for some reason Going to go to bed with a cupa of ovaltine I think.

Thanks again people

when i was preg with ds my bump used to get really hard and tight esp. if i was walking doing anything strenuous? i think pregnancies of 2nd and subsequent babies take quite a toll on your muscles even with a big gap - 10years between dd and ds