Buggy boards - do you use them?

[knowler]

Hello

Just wondering about those boards on wheels that attach to buggies/prams. I have always tried to encourage my 3.5 yo son to walk, mainly for the exercise but also to learn about crossing roads etc.

It does however takes a long time to get anywhere. Most of the time it doesn't really matter but in the event that we do need to do a slightly quicker or longer journey, am considering a board.

Is 3.5 yo too old for one? And do you think it encourages laziness? Thanks :)

I didn't. There's a 2.5 year ago between our 2 and we never went anywhere in foot that ds1 couldn't walk.

It might have taken a bit longer to get there, I just factored that in. I do drive though, if I didn't that might have made a difference.

I use one for my 2 year old, sometimes it's just not practical to walk at her pace or if we are going on a long walk she gets tired.

We have one for our toddler (24 months) but she prefers to walk. It just takes a long time!

Thanks, I think I'll persevere with walking 'normally'!! 3.5 seems a bit old for one.

Thanks again.

I had one when dd2 was about two and a half and dd3 was still in the pram. Oh, the amount of times I clipped my ankles on it. At 3 and a half, I wouldn't bother.

I got one at 2 and a half because we walked everywhere. My ds is an extremely good, non complaining walker but if we'd had a long day, he'd done a lot of running about, or he was feeling under the weather it was good to have it for the journey home. I'd never offer it, only bring it out if he asked for it. We gradually used it less and less, but he is now 3.4 and just starting preschool over a mile away and I am pleased we've got it as it saves a tearful walk back and means we can do stuff in the afternoons as he is not too tired.

I've used it as well for going around the city if I've got a lot of shopping and stuff to do as it keeps him quiet and close and he tends to just chat nicely, whereas on foot he can get a bit hyper in crowds and runs ahead, or on big theme park type days where he could just use a short rest. So I've found it really useful, but did get it earlier and rarely use the car.

If you walk a lot I think it is worthwhile. My DS used it even in reception, as after a day at school, and an hour or so in the park, he was shattered - a 20 minute walk would have taken 40, plus whining! I didn't want to take the car everywhere, and I figured that it must count as a bit of a work-out for me to push him and the baby home. He did walk at other times, but for those early evenings of wanting to get home in time to put the dinner on, it was absolutely fabulous.

I have used one but don't need it so much now. What they are really useful is when you are at the zoo.

DD2 was born when dd1 was 3.2 and we decided that a buggy board was the way to go. To be honest, we only use it for shopping centres and long walks where it was really good to have it. 6 months on, dd1 still loves the buggy board but I am putting it on the buggy less and less - esp if we are out with friends who don't have one to encourage her to walk. Btw, i live in London and it's really good to use it when we go into town on the tube as long as you clip it up in the stations. Really glad we didn't get a double now.

3.5 definitely not too old for one! I don't drive. We walk or bus everywhere. My four year old goes on the buggy board and we still use the double buggy sometimes. He gets shattered and it's just not fair to ask him to walk the distances we sometimes have to. Not to mention that I can't cope with the tired medtdiwns!

I am all for encouraging them to walk. But also do what works for you and is best for your child.

I use one for my 3.5yo. I don't drive so we walk everywhere, the nursery run when we need to get a wiggle on. Long country walks etc. it means we can huge days out with huge amounts of walking without needing to worry about it. I can go for a run with the buggy as she stands on the board, I can use it as a timeout space when she isn't walking nicely and it's also handy for when I collect a heavy parcel that won't fit under the buggy. Bloody marvellous thing and I wouldn't be without it, but then we ate rural and regularly do walks of 7 miles + which probably isn't the norm for city dwellers!

Oh god, so many typos I don't know where to start!

We used this one. It's a scooter buggy board & can be used independently as a scooter too. It for a phil and teds but think it can be used with other prams but not all.

I lost 2 and a half stone after DS2 (12 years ago) by walking with the buggy and DS1 on the buggy board. it's great exercise!
Plus I always knew where DS1 was in the shops. I loved mine.

Yes. Ds is nearly 5. I've used it for 30 min walks mainly or in a hurry.

Forgot to add that a lot also depends on the terrain - there are places where a buggy would be fine but a board isn't. Like today - we went to a pyo fruit farm. Buggy fine. Didn't bother with the board - ground too rough.

I have a Lascal Maxi one and use it a lot. My son is 3.10. It quite possibly does encourage laziness; he loves scooting but hates walking and usually chooses to go on the board if he doesn't want to scoot. For example, he will scoot most of the way to nursery, about from one street that is unsurfaced so he goes on the board for that.

I find it a bit easier to use than a double buggy. We have a bungee cord to hold it out of the way when he's not on it.

I don't usually drive in the week as DH has the car so it is ideal for when we need to get a move on, for example to get to the bus stop on time.

Watching this with interest. Baby number 2 due in the spring, by which point DS will be 2.5. Was thinking of a buggy board rather than a double buggy.

Can I ask what buggy board people have or would recommend?

I want one but can't get one to fit my buggy. DS2 is 3.9 generally fine walking but once he is tired he just becomes awful, screaming, crying and needing to be carried. DS3 is 2.4 and only any good walking short distances plus I look after a 15 month old a couple of times a week.

I have one that's a board and seat its very handy

Do you want mine!? Bought it a couple of months ago and DD1 won't have it. Tries to step off it when we're on it. In fairness, she's a great walker (she's only 2.4) so I don't really think we need it. We have the double if I want to contain her for longer journeys. She'd easily walk a couple of miles now though.

I don't drive and the supermarket is a bit over a mile away. We have to walk on a busy, dangerous road to get there. I used the buggy board for DC1 and, later, for DC2 because they got tired and also because I couldn't push the pushchair and hold their hand.

I have never used it anywhere else though.

we are ttc #2 DS will be 3.5 at the earliest and fully intend a buggy board for him I don't drive so sometimes he need to walk really quite far and I don't think he would be able to manage it after nursery or getting home from soft play. I only intend to use it if we will be walking either more than 30/40 mins or if we are going shopping not for walks to the park etc.

I used a buggy board when I had a baby and a 3yo. I had one that you could clip up and down. 80% of the time the 3yo walked, but when we needed to get somewhere in a hurry, they rode on the board.

We walked almost everywhere, so it was brilliant.