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Parenting

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Original poster

4 year old still using pushchair - how to stop it ??

34 replies

sparkle1977 · 20/10/2010 13:10

I'm after some useful hints and tips to try and persuade my just 4 year old to stop using the pushchair.

He can walk fine and will hold hands, not run off etc etc however if I have the pushchair with me (which I pretty much always do) he chooses to hop into it and bleats on and on if I try and make him walk instead.

The reason I have the pushchair (a double phil & teds) is mainly for my youngest 2.5 who still occasionally naps in there etc etc.

MIL is also on my back about this one saying I should ditch the pushchair altogether thereby not giving either child the option. But to be honest she doesn't have to walk around the local shops etc when she needs them to be contained so she can do a few chores.

Will my oldest DS stop using the pushchair naturally of his own choosing sometime before school or should I force him out of it on every occasion ?

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Fiddledee · 20/10/2010 13:30

Get rid of the P&T and just use a buggy with your 2.5 year old in it.

rubyrubyruby · 20/10/2010 13:31

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MrsRhettKilledTheButler · 20/10/2010 13:32

i would get a cheap single buggy so 4yr old doesn't have the option

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pagwatch · 20/10/2010 13:32

get rid of the double and a small fold away job for youngest.

A bit of a non problem tbh. With no sn or issues he should be walking

lifeinagoldfishbowl · 20/10/2010 13:32

2 step process

get a single and only use it when youngest needs to have a nap whilst your out

get rid of it completely

Seeline · 20/10/2010 13:34

I'd get a single push chair FOR THE BABY ie big boys don't go in pushchairs!! Try going for walks (rather than having to go somewhere) and make them fun eg quizzes, spotting things etc. Maybe get him a scooter so that he can scoot next to you rather than walk. Give him a bit of independence eg you can run to the next tree/lamppost but wait for Mummy there. My DD started school at 4.1 and walked over a mile there and back each day - he should be walking by now.

colditz · 20/10/2010 13:36

You don't need a neurotypical physically able 4 year old to be contained in a pushchair. If he runs away, buy some reins. Get a SINGLE pushchair and put the toddler in it, and walk with the four year old.

raffiiscool · 20/10/2010 13:36

Sell the Phil and Teds and buy a Mini Micro Scooter for the eldest and a buggy for the little one. Scooter is light enough to hang off the buggy. My DS 4.5 doesn't really walk anywhere - he scoots and we can cover a big distance - no way he would walk that far EVER!!

HalfCaff · 20/10/2010 13:39

Well done for getting him to hold hands and not run off! I still used the buggy sometimes at 4 for my ds as he would always want to run ahead and the buggy was helpful for safety. Scooter is a great idea, single buggy for the little one, maybe a buggy board if you have long distances to walk.

BlooKangaWonders · 20/10/2010 13:43

agree absolutely with the micro scooter. Just get rid of p&t and get 2 scooters! Mine has used the micro scooter since about 2 and it's fab. Shopping can go in a rucksack? (Not sure about that, I'm still getting used to no buggy!)

Original poster

sparkle1977 · 20/10/2010 13:51

We already have two scooters (including the mini micro one) and neither DS will have a bar of them so slight problem with that one. Whenever I have taken a scooter out it has permanently stayed over the back of the pushchair after approx 3 mins of riding, if that.

DS likes his balance bike and now his "proper" bike but thats not suitable for strolling round (indoor) shopping malls.

Think I will just take the 2nd back seat off the P&T and put up with DS1 moaning and whinging about not being able to get in. Tho am loathe to have to do that as the back double seat comes in very handy for slinging handbag/change bag/shopping in. Think its possibly the only option ?

For those of you that say a 4 year old should be walking by now, I don't know where you live but most 4 year olds I know still hop into pushchairs, esp when their parents have a double.

OP posts:

PrinceRogersNelson · 20/10/2010 13:56

My DS is 4 and would love to hop in a buggy and is a terrible walker. But there has to come a point when it stops and you have to enforce that.

Tell him it is going to stop and what you expect from him and then stick to it.
He will soon know you mean it and will get used to walking.
He may well be tired to begin with as he is not used to walking, but once he gets his stamina up he'll get better.

Good luck.

EssieW · 20/10/2010 13:57

Definitely take the seat off or use a buggy just for the smaller one. I'm sure my 3.5yr old would jump in a pushchair if he had the opportunity. He doesn't - so has to walk or chooses to balance bike instead. I also strategically 'lost' the buggy board too as I was getting fed up of pushing a heavy pushchair plus DS up a hill!

juicy12 · 20/10/2010 14:00

I'm going to go against the majority here. My 3.9 NT DD still goes in teh buggy a lot. She also has a micro scooter and can ride a bike with stabilisers -just depends what she fancies doing. Sometimes she'll hop in and out of the buggy. It may make a difference that she's my youngest, so I'm not that bothered (by her buggy use, not by her in general! . The buggy is about 6 years old now, so when it finally conks out we'll ditch it and not replace. I don't see this as a big issue tbh

pagwatch · 20/10/2010 14:02

It doesn't actually make any difference what the parents around your way do. A child of four, barring SN or difficulties, should be able to walk.
Some of the parents around here thump their kids or feed them monster munch. I don't therefore think that is what I should be doing

Do what you want.
But making parenting decisions based on what other do isn't going to serve you terribly well.

Doyouthinktheysaurus · 20/10/2010 14:06

DS2 was a shocking walker and in the end it was a case of just going cold turkey. He went to school when he was 4 and 3 months so he had no choice really. Once he got used to the fact the buggy wasn't going to come out again however much he moaned he got used to it...sort of. He still moans walking home from school

I do think you just have to get tough and remove the option of getting in the buggy, even if it is an inconvenience.

Ds2 is 6 now and I still miss the buggy for putting shopping bags in, you just adapt in the end.

wholelotofarse · 20/10/2010 14:13

Ermmmmm tell him to walk, he is 4 right so you are the boss.............or am I missing something? Oh and by the way my youngest is 4 (5 end of January) he hasn't been in a pushchair since 3.5 when I used reins if he tried out the running off because I can game.

Sidge · 20/10/2010 14:28

If it's an option to get in the buggy because it's there, and he is unfit because he has always gone in the buggy and not walked, then he is unlikely to voluntarily walk.

So don't give him the option. As he gets fitter he'll find a walk around a shopping centre much easier.

Oh and strolling round shopping malls is incredibly boring, so you might need to bribe him with a 'reward' at the end

witlesssarah · 20/10/2010 15:54

loads of adults would hop in the buggy given an option! And part of the problem seems to be that you have plenty to handle with two children, and shopping.

We only have one and I was dreading losing the buggy especially while travelling, but I was amazed to find that its an illusion, the buggy does carry things, including tired children but it also takes effort too, you are much freer without it.

Try doing short pleasant trips without it - even your two year old can go short distances and you may find you prefer it.

RhinestoneCowgirl · 20/10/2010 16:02

A double buggy with my two would be really heavy! My 4yr old weighs 3st and my toddler is a good weight too. I had a double for about 6 months, but hated it.

DS got a mini micro for his third birthday and hasn't really been in the buggy since. Now I just have a lightweight maclaren for toddler DD. DS either scoots or walks to school and I don't think he would expect to use the buggy. And we have always walked a lot, and used public transport.

alarkaspree · 20/10/2010 16:06

Yes just take the second seat off. I bet when he sees there is no buggy option for him that will stop a good amount of the moaning anyway.

I agree with you OP that many 4 year olds will want to go in the buggy if there is one available. That doesn't make it good for them though.

mamatomany · 20/10/2010 16:15

Well I don't think it's any worse than the kids who get driven everywhere, how much exercise do they get ?
If you want to get rid of the double option then fair enough but I used a P&T with my coming up to 4 and 2 year old for containment nothing else.

Original poster

sparkle1977 · 20/10/2010 16:16

Will take the second seat off and give DS1 no option then from now onwards I think, seems the only solution really.

BTW its not a question of him being "unfit" and not able to walk distances, he can walk just fine when the mood takes him, he would just rather be lazy.

Think I will stop using the buggy so much even with DS2 who is 2.5, just for the odd occasion when we are out for a long time.

pagwatch - I don't base any of my parenting decisions around what others do at all, just an observation that 4 year olds using a buggy seems commonplace here thats all.

OP posts:

anonymousbrainsnatcher · 20/10/2010 16:23

Neither of your children should need a pushchair, unless on a really long walk somewhere.

I ditched mine when youngest child turned two.

Alternatively, turn the P&T back into single and JUST TELL YOUR CHILD NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Original poster

sparkle1977 · 20/10/2010 16:42

Alright alright, don't increase your blood pressure "anonymousbrainsnatcher"!! Calm down.

Just because you ditched the buggy at 2 doesn't mean we all have to be quite so harsh.

Your opinions have been noted.

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