Would I be breaking the rules to take toddler out twice?

[newmumagainn]

I had new born and 2.5 year old. If I went for my exercise in the morning and took them both in the double pram to get toddler to nap, and then in the afternoon DH went for his daily exercise pushing the same toddler on his trike to let off some energy and get some fresh air (no garden) would we be rule breaking?

If each of you do a separate trip then I can't see that it matters, people have to avoid the adult anyway and it's tough enough for toddlers who don't understand what's going on.

People are talking dogs for 2 walks a day where I live so a toddler is fine imo especially for those with no garden.

Technically the toddler is !
Technically not.

The UK law doesn't specify how often each person may go out. There needs to be a 'reasonable excuse'. Unless you're in Wales, which has imposed a once a day limit.

I can't see how any normal sane person would think a toddler going out with each of its parents is remotely unreasonable, so long as appropriate distancing is maintained.

There's a new mum round the corner from us who I see go by twice a day most days by the way, she has a tiny screamer who clearly falls asleeps in the sling part-way (she walks very fast, I think that's the trick she's found). Nobody is judging her, we feel bad for her that she's having a hard time.

Tell you what, OP, I’ll promise to stay in all day and you can have my unused walk

You will be fine, I doubt if anyone even notices. Sad if a dog can get out twice with no raised eyebrows but not a toddler

nothing wrong with this atall

In our house the adults go out once and the children and dog twice. I can’t see any policy maker taking issue with this, I believe it’s in the spirit of the guidance, despite said toddler being human.

Go out once for twice as long. Sorted.

Just stay away from people when you do it.

Honestly. Most of the dog owners around here are taking the absolute piss, going out 5, 6 times a day for long walks. Think getting children fresh air and exercise a couple of times a day, in small manageable chunks for them, is frankly more important.

Oh, good grief there are some nitpickers on here. OP gets exercise in morning - tick. her DH gets exercise in afternoon - tick. Toddler gets exercise on afternoon outing- tick. Newborn does not need exercise. Toddler tucked away in pram in morning.

Flipping heck - it's fine - don't feel guilty.

It really doesn’t matter at all. You’re not going to shops/supermarkets/places where risk of transmission is high. It makes fuck all difference if both of you take the toddler out for exercise at different times in a day. Please stop checking every decision with the people of limited thinking capacity here - the last thing we need is all the lemming-brained people thinking they can legitimately police what the rest of us do.

Am just amused at the idea that pushing a buggy at enough speed to get toddlers to sleep isn’t “exercise” in the world if some mumsnetters 😂😂! I did not see anything in legislation to suggest that exercise could only take place at iron man level and the guidance literally mentions walking as acceptable exercise.

So yes I see no problem with what you are doing!

No problem I can see. I find it amusing the parallels I'm seeing on my walks between parents with toddlers and the usual dog walkers in the park :D

It's about limiting interactions. If you live in the middle of nowhere crack on. Middle of London - I wouldn't!

A friend who lives in Soho has been posting pictures from his daily walk around the centre of London , in the middle of the day. Absolute ghost town -really weird to see. Not a soul, except for him. Even our local town centre here in the suburbs , within a London travel zone, has only the occasional person ( according to my DH who took his walk there yesterday).

No. The rules allow individuals to leave the home for exercise and there's no law saying it can only be once a day. The regulations actually don't limit the number.

OP, there is nothing wrong with what you're doing. Only curtain-twitchers could possibly have a problem with it. A toddler who won't nap but needs to is hugely challenging thing and if he or she is asleep s/he won't be running around touching other people and things.

Its fine, do whatever you need to

Absolutely fine, OP. Must be tough for you with no garden, a toddler and a newborn.

YABU for thinking you’d get an answer on here.

The “RULES ARE RULES” crowd are out in force on MN at the moment and despite the fact they seem to lack basic comprehension or more likely haven’t actually read the new laws, seems they can’t help themselves and will blame you for every single death if you don’t follow their version of the rules.

It's absolutely, 100 percent fine.

Ignore any batshittery on here

^this, in spades. Some of these replies really make me 🥱

The aim is for social distancing. You are maintaining that however many times you take your child out. The rules are guidelines. You are being a sensible adult.

I don't see why anyone would object. Maybe technically your child is breaking the rules but honestly I don't see what harm it would do. As PP said the first time in the buggy it is your exercise and as long as you keep well away from other people your child will be safe in the buggy. The second time it is your husbands exercise and your child's exercise.