Walking 6 under 5 with minimum fuss. Deluded or possible?

[MultipleMama]

I plan to do a lot more walking with the DC (we walk twice a day) and the occasionally shop/market trip.

I don't like using the car unless I have to and at the moment I am not finding any joy driving and my road rage would put the world's best cursing sailor to shame.

I want to be outdoors more and the DC hate being cooped up and after a while the backgarden and park get boring. I want to pick up hiking/walking again (I usually just play Ice Hockey for fitness...) I have an ABC quad buggy so can push the youngest 4. However, my 5 year old gets tired after so long and I end up juggling him and dts3 in the boba. - I've done this 4 occassions.

Should I just give up now and go back to the car and learn the DC the importance of road rage, or is there anyway I can transport 6 DC by foot for longer than 1 hour?

On weekends DH helps but during the week I am on my lonesome.

[MultipleMama]

art - The older twins don't nap unless they're tired or worn out. And they walk as much as they want and constantly climb in and out the stroller themselves. I use reins were free walking isn't safe or possible and they just let me know if they want in or out - that's only on walks to PiL where the route takes us onto hiking trail/woodland area.

I cannot jig up routines too much. Dd1 has to have a strict night routine so cannot be too tired out during day by walking and she doesn't nap. She does use the buggy board and loves to hold her brother's hand.

The youngest twins are EBF on demand so on top for easy access, however ds4 has SPD and never settles unless in the carrier/wrap and very hard to settle/sleep and I prefer to see them.

The buggy arrangments change on the DC whether they're in a walking mood.

We stay at PiL for about 2 hours. We don't always visit usually just sundays or when they and ask (can't have random visits due to ds4) - visits are usually by car but this is what I'm attempting to change.

Our usual walks are after breakfast (9ish) and we to the park with the dog, and are home in time for the older twins to nap as they are worn out easily (they usually nap once a day but nap on and off in the stroller on days out whether it's naptime or not) and then we have our 2nd walk before dinner (4ish) again we take the dog and DH comes too. On days we visit PiL, I don't do the daily walks as that will be too much for them.

For the daily walks I have the Donkey and buggy board and reins as the park is only a 5 minute walk away and we stay for about 15-30 minutes.

The older twins nap usually around 11-12.30pm depending on how much the slept the night. The younger twins sleep when they want - they have no routine. So trips to PiL are made in time for us to arrive at theres at lunch time. So DC can nap if they want or play with GPs.

Igloo - We just moved country. Term here doesn't start until August.

[IglooisnowinSheffield]

Hopefully things will be easier come august when eldest starts new term.

There is a knack to it but I've heard of twins being carried at the same time in sling, is this an option?

I know what you mean about getting out and about though, there is no sanity to be found couped up with young children.

[theincrediblealfonso]

Bloomin' eck, MultipleMama, I'm feel knackered just reading this. I'm in awe at 6 under 5!

[sandyballs]

So you have a 5 year old, a 2 year old, toddler twins and newborn twins? , faints.

I found one set of twins quite hard going. I'm amazed you even leave the house.

[MultipleMama]

It will my eldest two starting Aug as they'll be attending Interntional school and she can start KG1 :) I am hoping Aug comes quickly

I wish I could sling share as I did with my previous twins but there's a good 4lb difference between them and technically ds4 does not weigh enough to use the wraps (I have moby and boba) so it's safer to use it as a single.Plus dd2 likes to have room to move and would end up hitting/unsettling her very fussy brother.

Most days they're in the garden bundled up to the nines because they don't want to stay in and would prefer to play on their toys, mud or the disgruntled dog who has his kennel invaded by little people...

[HolidayCriminal]

I have no clue how OP even finds time to post on MN.

[MultipleMama]

The youngest twins are roughly 5.5mo old but they're 31 weekers and ds4 had IUGR so he's literally like a newborn in some ways. And my 2yo is 3 on the 8th... so a tea party to plan

I post on toilet breaks and when I'm lounging on the deck while they play! Also helps that I have a weekend housekeeper so I hardly tidy up!

[minesapackofminstrels]

I had a look at the ABC website and they do a front mounted toddler seat that fits on the single to make a triple. It wasn't mentioned on the website but I wondered if it could be fitted to the quad?

[poocatcherchampion]

put the 2yo or an 18mo on your back in the boba?
well done you. sounds like a brilliant mission!

[hedgetrimmer]

I have 5 children,the oldest 3 have just turned 4,5 and 6,and the youngest 2 are 4 months and 18 months.

I cant drive,so we walk everywhere,the youngest two are in a double buggy,the older 3 all have scooters or bikes and they use those everywhere.

I think you need to get the older ones out the pushchair if you can,that should make life easier for you.

Its really not that hard,and the more they d it the more they get used to it.I try to plan things where i know they will get a little rest or sit down at some point so its not walk somewhere-rund arounf-walk home, its more like walk somewhere-run around-picnic and rest-walk home.

Plus i save outings for mornings if i can,we always have a picnic unless its pissing it down (although im lucky i live somehwere where theres lots of picnicky places within walking distance,beach,woods,park,farm all within a mile or two)then afternoons are for me to relax,feed the baby,and get some housework done while the kids play in the garden or get on with other important things like colouring in or jumping on the trampolining!

[MultipleMama]

The only reason I take the Quad stroller is because it's an hours walk each way on uneven ground (including a few steep paths) and I'm not going to force my 5yo & 3yo to walk/bike for long periods, if they don't want to. They only go in the stroller when they are tired, or their legs ache (there is no places to stop on the way it's all woodland area). The stroller is just a back-up for them. They're very active but even children get bored of walking/biking.

We do daily trips to the park or lake, where they play, eat, and then go home. They build up their stamina and are really active but I still don't expect to walk/bike my kids for an hour straight without at least a stroller break. And I would have been on my own so I'll be the one to carry the bikes/scooters when they get bored - along with a stroller.

Luckily, it's all sorted now. We've decided that it's just not convenient to do the trip to the Grandparents during weekdays unless they visit us. We still do our two daily walks, just so they get some fresh air and enjoy the park. We let them choose if they want to bike it.

Instead we just walk to Grandparents on a Sunday for dinner when DH is with us, so we can take the Donkey (plus buggyboard). And just carry the spare child . We've tried it on three occasions and works so much easier with DH present, and my eldest walks most of the way now, or he and his Dsis take turns on the board.

Thanks for your advice, everyone! :)