A fitness tracker that works with a buggy?

[JemCB]

Hello!

I’m after some purchasing advice. I am looking to buy a fitness tracker that ACTUALLY counts the steps while I push the buggy. My current one either counts roughly 25% of them or tells me I’m cycling 😂 has anyone found one that is accurate even when they’re pushing a buggy as my only way of getting fit right now is getting out with little one and I’m finding it really disheartening!

Many thanks, Jx

There used to be a Fitbit that you could put on your sock or in your bra. That would count steps even if your hands are not swinging when your pushing the buggy.

Definitely following. I have found my fitbit did the same. Aswell as all the cheaper xiomi brands I had in the past.

10 years ago I had a pod which fitted to my trainer whilst out running but tech has moved on. However, you could try something like this with a Garmin watch;

www.wiggle.co.uk/garmin-running-dynamics-pod?lang=en&curr=GBP&dest=1&sku=100307958&utm_source=google&utm_term=&utm_campaign=&utm_medium=base&gclid=CjwKCAjwuYWSBhByEiwAKd_n_gwJdpareEVXJwLDaRREX2aPelm5PzmJg7GTXEa9xEtJPccVaKtdqxoC19YQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

I put mine in my sock around my ankle with my trouser over the top, my father sticks his in his trouser pocket and it counts them

It's been a few years since I pushed a buggy but my Garmin watch (a Venu, previously had a 235) works fine with a supermarket trolley. Maybe see if someone you know has a Garmin you could borrow to see if it works with a buggy?

You can turn the auto recognition off for cycling in the app. I used to try and push one handed to count more steps.
I think all the trackers are a bit sexist though. You can’t adjust your calories for breastfeeding and it tells you to go to bed earlier when you are up in the night feeding the baby.

I have a garmin and it doesn’t track my steps with the buggy. I have a vivoactive 4, but I guess some of the more expensive super watches might be better? I sometimes track my walk rather than just having it count the steps so it’s also using GPS, but when the baby is screaming and I’m desperate to get out it’s just not at the front of my mind.

@MadameDragon I agree! The watch and app acknowledged the extra calorie burn when I was pregnant but no setting for breastfeeding!

I worked out that without a pram an hours walking was around 6000 steps and half an hour 3000. My Apple Watch is pretty good at counting steps with a pram. Fitbit thinks I'm riding a bike!

@MadameDragon

You can turn the auto recognition off for cycling in the app. I used to try and push one handed to count more steps. I think all the trackers are a bit sexist though. You can’t adjust your calories for breastfeeding and it tells you to go to bed earlier when you are up in the night feeding the baby.

My Apple Watch says 'is something keeping you up at night' 🤣 well yes it is !!

Put it on your ankle.

I put mine in my bra or around my ankle, so I still get steps and heartrate

I stick mine in a pocket

Fit bit inspire ( 2, or HR, or there might be a newer version, I've had mine years. It clips to your bra or pocket

My Fitbit Alta used to count the steps pretty accurately. I’ve got a garmin swim 2 now, it’s terrible unless I start/stop the walk as a run. It uses GPS then and is accurate.

My fitbit (charge 4) counts as many steps cycling (or pushing a shopping trolley) as it does when I'm actually walking (!) So I'd say any fitbit is fine. I've heard other people say they had OP's problem, though.

As PP have said, my Fitbit counts the steps pushing a buggy once you turn auto recognition of cycling off. You have to log in and do that online, you can't do it through the app.

My garmin vivoactive 3 counts less than half my steps when playing golf as I'm pushing a golf trolley. Can't wear it on ankle as I use it as distance to green GPS.
It also fails to recognise "steps" on a cross trainer on wrist but will if worn in bra...

Fitbit inspire can be clipped on to trousers, bra strap etc

I play golf and push my trolley, my fitbit charge 4 records all the steps, but it does sometimes record it as cycling or "sport", same as mowing the lawn and pushing the shopping trolley.

I have an amazfit band. I Pop location on and track walking as a workout when pushing the pram. I use freestyle workput to track my weightlifting sessions if not using my wrist wraps.