Weaning off the buggy

[TondelayoSchwarzkopf]

DS is 2 next month. We live in London. I have two big worries. I don't want him still to be pushed around in a buggy when he is starting school (it seems to me there are loads of kids in London like this - but maybe I'm judging). And I don't want him to be squished under a car.

Does anyone have any advice about training toddlers to be responsible pedestrians? (Ha ha) We have started taking him on short journeys on foot - to park, playground and so on. He knows that he must always hold our hand when he is on the pavement. I have also been doing Green Cross Code stuff when we cross the road.

DH has very negative feelings about reins and wrist straps - I don't really like the first and hate the latter. I tried suggesting those rucksacks that have straps attached but DH still thinks they are the same as reins.

And what about trikes / push alongs - do they help?

I'm OK taking him on short journeys where my main focus is ensuring he is safe but I would like to start thinking about taking him to the shops, on short bus journeys and visits to friends. However I'm scared, if I have other things to think about, I'll 'forget' to look after him and he'll run off into the road. Does that sound normal? Or am I weird?

Sorry for ramble. TIA

I found reins a blessing as they gave dcs far more freedom than having to hold onto my hand.

hmmm dead squished child or child on reins......

sorry, but if you have a child like my second little boy reins are a lifesaver! literally. you child's safety isn't something to be compromised just because you have negative feelings about something

anyway, i think you're doing the right things. short trips on foot, teaching him road awareness and safety... just carry on like that.
just remember that at 2, and even 3 or 4 they DON'T think about consequences and they have little understanding of how fast vehicles approach

What's the problem with reins in your and DH's opinion??

As others have said they are probably the safest approach especially in London

"DH has very negative feelings about reins and wrist straps"

So did mine. I bought some anyway and we're gradually getting him used to the idea. (20 month old DD seemed to love and understand them immediately so she is helping me .)

I hate wrist-straps ever since I saw a woman in the Transport Museum dragging her toddler around the place like an animal with the strap cutting into his wrist. And not even a pet, a farm animal. In the Transport Museum - one of the safest places for a kid to be. That has also coloured my view of reins sadly.

But I said it was a dislike, I didn't say it was rational. I think that reins are an option worth looking into. Thanks for your feedback - I was looking for advice and maybe that is the main thing - get some reins.

I could never use reins with my DD as she just lay on the floor like a dead-weight whenever she had them on! However, if I lived in a very busy area I think I would have perservered with them.

Tbh I think its better to use reins than to not let your child walk IYSWIM.

However, it all depends on the behaviour of your DC. My DD would always hold hands and walk nicely (although not when we were in hops unfortunately!), and learnt quickly to hold onto the pushchair when DS was born (when she was 2.5yo). She even used to automatically swap sides to ensure she was always furthest away from the road.

My DS (19mo) however refuses to hold my hand and is a bolter. So it is reins or pushchair for the moment!

I now own reins! Thank you.

couldnt get used to reins, always held their hands until they understood road safety which was about 2 and 1/2.
all four walked from 2 everywhere. have a 2 year old and 3 year old and we walk everywhere, about 3 hours a day.actually they will be 3 and 4 in december, so are abit older than that read.

There are 2 years until he starts school - they will tend to stop using the buggy themselves in my experience. You may well be too late to introduce reins if you haven't already. I don't like them to be honest.

Its not just your toddler running into the road - its that they are so small that other people can bump into them and they can fall into the road.

if the toddler holds your hand then thats more than my DS does!

I didn't like the idea of reins either but when DS went to preschool, the children were not allowed out on any trips without wearing reins. We got him used to wearing a little backpack with a strap on it and that works well for us.

if he is okay walking and holding your hand on small trips to park etc, i would just keep on doing that and he will become better and better at it like going further distances?
if you only have the one then fairly easy to keep a close eye on him?