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Parenting

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Original poster

How to amuse 19mo DS in pushchair

16 replies

sharond101 · 18/12/2013 21:44

DS is becoming a nightmare in his pushchair. He whines and whines and it gets me so uptight. I walk every day, we have a dog and apart from a once per week swim it's all the exercise I get so I don't want to stop. I always take a book or toy with us but that entertains him for 2 minutes maximum. A snack is on hand too but that doesn't take along time either. Does anyone know of any miracle solutions??

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HaveAFestiveLittleChristmas · 19/12/2013 05:34

Lose the pushchair.
Mine were definitely out of one by this age.
They are old enough to walk, benefit hugely from the exercise, and are not suffering the boredom of sitting still when they want to walk and run - so behaviour improves.

It can be a pain, it slows everything up for a time, but its just another stage of development.

TheGreatHunt · 19/12/2013 07:01

He needs the exercise too! You'll have to teach him to walk outside at some point.

What I do with dd is walk with her (and ds) into town. This ten minute journey takes about an hour but I see it as a learning and fun exercise as she loves it. Then she's tired after that so goes in the pushchair happily while I zip around doing chores. I wouldn't dream of keeping her in it the whole time we're out.

MinesAPintOfTea · 19/12/2013 07:05

Yes let him walk. If you're managing a buggy and a dog as well you'll probably need reins. I generally take my ergo to stick ds in these days, leaves me both hands free to manage him and them I duck him on my back to get home when he's tired.

Still use the buggy for emergency dashes to the shops etc but he gets at last r one walk a day.

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Artandco · 19/12/2013 07:05

Yes I agree with above. Let him walk as much as possible, then he will be tired and happier to sit in pram

peeohayess · 19/12/2013 07:25

Another vote for letting him walk. Take a soft carrier with you for tired little legs. My 21 month old hates being in the pushchair unless he's tired.

KatAndKit · 19/12/2013 07:29

My 20 monthh DS is usually ok if i turn the buggy parent facing. I put it front facing if i am expecting him to sleep. Although he is getting better at walking he isn't up to a 2 mile trip to town yet! If he is getting fed up i let him out to walk for a little if we are not along a busy main road. Mostly i just chatter to him a lot.

Original poster

sharond101 · 19/12/2013 10:00

It's 2 miles into town for us too so cannot ditch the pram.

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Bunbaker · 19/12/2013 10:10

I would get some baby reins and let him walk alongside the pushchair until he is tired, then pop him in the pushchair.

"Lose the pushchair.
Mine were definitely out of one by this age."

Well, bully for you.

MinesAPintOfTea · 19/12/2013 10:13

You don't have to ditch the pram. Get reins and let him walk alongside it until he gets tired then he can get in and will be glad of the rest. At the moment he feels he's missing out by not getting to walk.

Artandco · 19/12/2013 10:27

Is your pram parent facing? Both of mine hated facing away. I think it's more they were overstimulated when young by people/ traffic so wouldn't sleep and when older they got annoyed they couldn't talk easily

Take pram but start off on reins, after they are tired pop in pram. Eventually they will find the 2 miles ok after practice

ZebraZeebra · 19/12/2013 11:44

Yes - take pram but encourage him to walk. He obviously doesn't want to be in it, but it's too far a walk for him to do completely. So do bits and pieces. He walks some, he's in the pram for some, then he walks a bit on the way back.

clairikins · 19/12/2013 12:34

Try a sling

pootlebug · 19/12/2013 12:36

Get a decent sling. Set off with him walking and the sling in your bag. When he gets tired carry him on your back....from where it is much easier to see everything and interact with everyone than from the pushchair.

Have a look at things like the Manduca, Ergo, Boba, Tula, or toddler-size Action Baby Carrier

KatAndKit · 19/12/2013 13:31

Now, I do like slings and I have used a few myself, decent carriers not BB type, but now my DS is 20 months I know I could no longer carry him two miles home from town!
I think for many people with one year olds, ditching the pushchair altogether is not realistic.

Another thought? would he go on a smart trike instead? They aren't as easy to push as a buggy I find, but he might find it more fun. Obviously he can walk part of the way and then hop on the trike when he wants to.

Original poster

sharond101 · 19/12/2013 14:02

A sling is not going to work. I am petite barely 7 stones and he is almost 2 stones himself. I also have back issues. He has a trike, sometimes works, more often not. I tried to let him walk some today which he enjoyed but only very short distance as he kept getting distracted and roaming away from me which with pushchair and dog was too much for my two hands. He then ate some lunch (at 10.30am) but hey ho it kept him quiet! He has a littlelife backpack so I could use the reins on that to take control of him.

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Eletheomel · 20/12/2013 12:34

Many sympathies sharond - I don't have a dog (nor any real solutions) but I remember how hard it is do push a buggy with one hand and hold onto a toddler with another (especially with their veering onto mud tendancies...) Can only imagine the difficulties of holding a lead too (mind you, your dog is probably easier to control :-)

Apart from the suggestions above and things like singing to him, taking a bag full of toys (noisy/flashy ones) and chatting to him/pointing stuff out (can you see the pussycat, etc) which you probably do anyway, I think it's just a crappy phase to go through until he gets a bit more focused while walking and starts to view the pushchair as something that gives him a rest (rather than something you put him in to restrain him).

I remember pushing in pushchair, out for 5 minute glacial walk, then back in buggy for 5 mins, out for toddle, etc etc (as a fast walker myself I did struggle with the slow pace of him walking if I'm honest).

I also remember DS1 at this age preferring to be carried when tired rather than being put in pushchair (he was a big boy so I didn't use carriers at this age - although I've bought a manduca for when DS2 gets to the same age in case it helps) so I'd be staggering back from park holding him whilst trying to push the buggy one-handed (not fun).

Here's hoping it gets better soon!

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