A pushchair in one hand, a toddler by the other, and now a bad back...?

[latrucha]

What shall I do?

I sometimes have to take or pick up DD (3.10) from pre-school which is about 30 minutes walking there and back and I have a bad back. Until recently I have cajoled DD into getting into my wonderfully easy to push, high-handled, air-tyred Baby Jogger. She's had enough of it now though so this week I took a single for DS and let her walk holding my hand. I insist on her holding my hand as, although she is usually very sensible, she did a freakish dash into a road recently. She also now insists on holding my hand which is fine with me.

After 4 days of pushing a not-very-easy-to-push single and holdng her hand a muscle in my back has gone into spasm and is very painful. I can't bend properly and couldn't get out of bed this morning without help. I made her ride int he double on the way home today and she protested the whole way home.

What do you think I should do?

DS is 16 months, by the way and too big for a sling. I can't afford a new single pushchair.
How do I get her to school and back without being in agony?

LaT - I have M's old rucksack/reins thing if you want it

The other thing which works well is a scooter. M scoots but I have told her the points she has to stop at (every lamp post & kerb) and it works well.

If she fails to do so then she does not get to scoot at J's pick up time/the next day.

That's a very kind offer Simpson. Thankyou. I'll ask DH and see if he thinks she'll go for it.

I thought of her scooter but we live in a very hilly place, including a very steep one at the end of our road. I think my stress levels would be abysmal.

We have one hill coming into our road and I make M get off and walk and I always say to her "when you are 5 you can go down it" When she is 4, I will up it to 6!!!

I am embarrassed to say she also sodding hates the scooter. And bikes. And trikes. Anything wobbly. [blushes as the mother of the world's fussiest girl]

What about a Little Life backpack? They have a parent strap which has a hoop at the end so perfect for looping your arm through when pushing a pram.

I used to o this with DS2 when DS3 was a baby and he hated it, but I allowed him to hold the hoop if he promised me he would walk with me, and made him hold the pram when we crossed the road. If he didn't, I'd hold the hoop again and he soon learnt to stay with me and got more independant.

The backpack also has a handle on it where you can grab hold on to if you think they are going to run.

If you are going to get a single pram for your Ds, I recommend a Micralite as they are very very easy to push one handed while holding a toddler hand.

Maybe that's worth a go. You make it sound workable. I guess the problem is she really likes holding my hand.

If she really likes holing your hand, then get a decent pram. The Micralite superlite is ideal as very easy to push one handed and very light.

I don't work for them but have had the same pram for each of my three boys.

LaT - these sound like good solutions. Personally I dislike the whole reins/backpack thing, but if it is a solution that works then I would give it a go. DS2 (e) likes to feel like he is contributing to pushing so he holds the pushchiar and I hold his hand on top IYSWIM so I am still in control.

Is a buggy board an answer, although not sure at this late stage it is worth it although sometimes I pray that I had a buggy board for those moments - you know the ones I mean!

5inthebed - I had just thought to myself, with some relief, that I may never need to buy another pushchair . I don't think I'm up for it, although the micralite looks good.

I think I will try taking the double and the reins (which I think she will hate). The double is easier to push.

I suppose I have taken against the double a bit because every single time I push it I get the same two comments - 'You've lost one' (when I'm on the way there) and 'Ooo you've got your hands full.' Every SINGLE time. I just got a bit tired of a cheery reply every time. It's also a bit scruffy now.

I had also got fed up of it because it's a nightmare to go in any shops with a double at this time of year. There are standouts everywhere laden with chocolate etc that I hve to negotiate. It is so much easier to push in the street though.

Mixedmama - I LOATHE my buggyboard. In fact, I just sold it. We have done a lot of that hand over hand pushing to get us home. It's fun but also S refuses gloves and uses my hands instead!