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 wouldn't buy one for a child that age - they're a bit of a headache, I'd get a scooter instead.

Ours has been brill,the lascal maxi. Defo do your research as some are better than others, that's why I went for the Lascal one. We've used it a fair bit, ds was 2.4 when dd born. Great for walking to play group etc, as it keeps him safe and we get there quicker. He often chooses to walk though.

Check the weight limits. We got one for DD when DS1 was born, she was 2.5. Very useful til she was 3 or so, but was soon over the limit.
DS1 is 4 but now DS2 is here I got the buggy board out with the pram so we can walk for a long time, esp when the two eldest are bickering.
They resell well second hand, esp cheeky lascals.

Do bear in mind that if the board is on, DC will ask to go of it. If it is off, they will whine for ages.

You can have lovely conversations with them when they're on a buggy board, which you can't have when they're scooting.

I loved having one - so invaluable when I had 3 under 5s. That said, my 2.5 year old has outgrown his and scoots now. Although sometimes he's too tired to do the last hill home during the school run, lies down and sobs until I relent and pick him and the scooter up. And then I wish I had the buggy board back again!

It really depends on your circs.

our 3.5 year old would refuse to go very far without one but i am impatient and couldnt carry them for long as i have our dc2 in the pram.

its literally a life saver for me in the last 6 months since dc2 has arrived and i cover miles on foot and use it for 2 or so hours at a time when im running errands around the town.

when dh is with us, dc1 walks into town/around town or wherever we are and DHH can carry for horse-y or piggy back them home which i cant as i have tiny one in pram.

the buggy board branded ones are designed for use up to 20kg which i think is 5 year old. my 3.5 year old is 15 kg exactly at the mo'. im not sure about kiddiecare own brand other other stand on boards.

sorry, we have lascal one.

We had one for DS1 when DS2 came along (2 yr, 6mth gap) and was v useful but he also rode a balance bike from his 2nd birthday so that was even better.

The board was at its best when shopping and I wanted to keep DS1 in check and not wander too far away but the balance bike was much better when we were walking longer distances.

Did it all the same again when DD was born (again, exactly 2 yr 6 mth gap). Worked perfectly.

The bike has the added advantage of giving them all the skills to move up to a pedal bike at 3.

I'd highly recommend a scooter over a buggy board for a 3.5 yr old.

The main reason for my recommendation is the weight of your child - I had one for our buggy but it was rarely used. On two occasions I was running late and I stuck it on so I could put my 3 yr old on and literally run with her on it.
On the first occasion, we came down a sloped section of path at speed onto a flat road and the whole pram scissored falling on top of my daughter on the buggy board who thankfully had slipped off. I put it down to a freak accident but when it happened a second time going over a very gentle speed bump in the road I ditched it completely.

On the second occasion, the pram completely scissored onto my daughter with enough force to be completely wrenched out of my hands hurting my shoulder badly enough to require physio, I landed on my knees and had two badly bruised and scraped knees and a shocked 3 yr old.

Thankfully on both occasions, my toddler was strapped into the pram tightly and was fine.

Both the pram and the buggy board is a Stokke which may make it more prone to this. My daughter was within the weight limit for the board but I wouldn't risk it again.

Micro sell a tow bar for a scooter which is easier to tow a child and push a pram, but the alternative, a flexible strap is handy to sling the whole thing over your shoulder or the pram handles when they give up

www.micro-scooters.co.uk/suitable-for-scooter-mini-micro-ages-3-5/mini-micro-scootow.html

Having just had a nightmare with the scooter and my 2 year old dd, I will be getting the buggy out or she can walk. Scooters are dangerous where we are - cars and loads of people!

We have a lascal, it has been very sturdy and we've had no problems, and my ds is at the top end height and weight so would recommend. We have quite a heavy, wide based 3 wheeler pram though too.

It rather depends on the child, as my ds cannot manage a scooter at any speed coordination wise, he'd be slower than walking pace! Great on a balance bike, but that's a pita to carry/leave outside places.

There are 54 weeks between my two youngest and I used one from when DD as around 2.

The double buggy died a death after a year of use and it was an emergency solution. DD could be a bit of a runner thought, so she has reins on as well. I thin she may well have used up until she was 3.5, gradually using it less and less until it got removed.

I do think your DS is too old now.

My DC are 15 months apart and now at three my DS wouldn't go near a buggy or buggy board. I bought one but what a waste. The more they walk the more stamina they build and the faster they become. My DS walks everywhere and the only time he complains is when we've walked about five miles in one day.

What pram do you have? I think they work best on Bugaboos (I've never had one but pushed a friend's with two kids on the buggy board and it was easy peasy with none of that bashing the shins/ankes.

My son was 2.5 when my daughter was born. We've been using it 17 months now and honestly I don't know what I would have done without it. It's faultless. I refused to have a double buggy and this is just perfect.

We use a bugaboo official buggy board with the bugaboo bee.

Oh god please don't get a scooter. Fucking annoying things.

Agree with icecream! Hate kids on scooters. Especially younger ones who have even less awareness of other people.

I love my buggy board. 23 months between my two and I use it loads. My eldest has just turned 3 and it's brilliant when I'm in a rush because she walks so slowly. Also greT for when she's tired.

I don't think scooters help much as if they are tired they are not any more likely to go a scooter than walk. DS has been going a scooter since he was 2 years when we are out but he goes so fast it can be stressful with other people and he gets tired on it eventually.

Thanks for all the replies. I hadn't actually considered the fact that it would be harder work pushing it with 3.5 yo standing on board, so thanks for pointing it out!! Am erring on side of not bothering and persevering with walking.

As for scooters... I have walked miles carrying the bloody thing after ds has rejected it mid journey. Its now in the garage and can stay there til ds asks for it - I'm not suggesting it :)

Am I the only one who can't stand buggy boards?! I find it's just where my feet want to be- I can't bare it. I'd rather stick with a double buggy then they can walk more as they get older, but have the option to sit when tired.

A scooter can be balanced on the hood of a pushchair...

Ds was 3.6 when dd born, but he couldn't get the hang of his scooter. He was in the buggy again while I was heavily pregnant, weaned off it in 3 weeks while I used a sling for dd, buggy hidden for another 3 weeks, then brought out for dd and he walked. There was the threat of a LittleLife backpack if he didn't. Being on mat leave meant we were rarely in any hurry. A year later he walked to school fine and then scooted (in a sensible fashion).

DS has used a buggy board since he was 2 years 1 month when DD was born. I am about to try to wean him off it, as he can now walk fast enough to get himself home from nursery - I am making 3.5 the cut-off. He often takes his scooter to the supermarket now, so he is using it less.

But if I had a longer walk, I would keep on using it happily (nursery is only 5 mins from home...)!