How far do u go with a toddler and a 14 month old?

[Chattycat78]

Just that really. I have a toddler who is 2years 8 months, and a 14 month old.

Getting out is a massive task, toddler wants to walk, but is slow/runs off etc and I can't run after him with a baby in a pram. When I use the reins, that only works if he wants to cooperate. When he doesn't, he sits on the floor etc and I can't carry him far (16.5 kilos! And I'm small).

Double buggy is starting to be an issue too. Massively haavy. Toddler doesn't want to go on it and screams and resists, but it's the only way I can get anything done when out and about (e.g. Shopping!), I've experimented with letting toddler walk around in shops but he picks things up left right and centre, and I can't keep track of him, so don't get any shopping done.

I'm wondering if this is me, and I'm making a meal out of all this- people keep suggesting all these placed I could be taking them both on my own, but it's not that simple. The logistics are complicated- as described above, plus once we get anywhere I have to then negotiate one going in one direction and one in the other. Places for toddler aren't always suitable for 14 month old either, so he gets bored and screams, or the toddler tries to make a run for it and I have to run after him whilst carrying the 14 month old...

Anyone else successfully solved these issues?!!

Places, not placed!

Don't make life hard on yourself. The people that suggest taking them places don't have to do it!

Personally I would be going to play grounds, soft play etc. Will toddler use a buggy board? You might be able to go to farms, seaside etc if he can hop on and off.

Is there anyone to go with you? Would make things a lot easier!

You can have fun at home and in the garden.

Don't gof to shops unless it's a quick trip. Online shopping for groceries etc.

Wish I'd followed my own advice when my own were small as I ended up quite anxious about it all.

Thanks. Yeah I was wondering if it'd just me and I'm rubbish!

Buggy board have tried, but he's unreliable and likely to run off!

Shopping- yeah I only do local runs for a few bits. Doing a full shop sounds like hell!

And yes I suppose it is easy to say if you don't have to do it!

I have a 2 and 3.5 year old. When mine were that age, I ran a strict 'one in, one out' of the pram policy. Both were happy to walk or stand on the skateboard, but swapping made it seem like a good deal sitting in the seat too. If I needed to go to shopping centres etc, I made sure they'd had a good run around the garden before we left and went shopping first thing (when it was quiet). Whizzed around very quickly and bribed them with a babycino in exchange for good behaviour.

I still spend a lot of time telling them not to touch stuff in shops, but I find the only people that give you the evils are smug people with one child.

I'm quite lucky since my kids quite enjoy the supermarket, so I could always shove them in a double trolley (or one actually in the trolley - and I don't care what people think).

Places like the park, farms, library, NT etc I never find too bad actually. We went (still go) early when it's quietish, avoid places in school holidays, stick to child friendly stuff (park, kids museums, etc etc).

I think the more you go places, the more confident you become in managing them and the more the learn what's expected of them.

It's a hard age you're at - 14mth olds are liabilities. I think in 6 months time you'll find things quite different.

Also, don't try to do too much. Stick to age appropriate places and in small chunks. Mine arent great at a whole day out, so we generally do a morning somewhere then afternoon at home.

It's definitely not just you! I remember taking the dc out at that age. I would be a sweaty mess and hungry cos I never had time to feed myself. It won't be long before things are easier

Thanks! And yes I'm definitely a sweaty mess! Plus 14 month old can't actually walk unaided yet either, so interesting times!

Reins clipped on to the handlebar while they're on the buggy board so there's no jumping off.
Bribery - I make sure poundland is the last stop on a trip to town so I can promise we will go to the "toy shop" and they can choose anything they want if they are good

I remember that time and it was years ago! I was once at the end of the road with ds2 in the pushchair and ds1 refusing to move. I resorted to getting my phone out to phone my dh to rescue me and ds1 got onto the buggy board with my phone very happily! I could have cried.

I liked our local baby and toddler groups and parks with gates! I also found online shopping and never looked back. It is just a phase it will get better. Lots of training in short spells and leave before things get too bad.

Unbelievably all my 3 ds are now fantastic in shops, national trust properties etc and ds1 in particular was awful when small so don't worry.

Op no advice as I only have 1 6 month old, but @ElizabethShaw I'm remembering that one!

Not you, I didn't really go anywhere other than the playgroup, park or supermarket, and that was only to pick up a few bits the bulk was ordered online. I tended to let mine do walking back from somewhere and only recently have let both out in the supermarket. (3 and 2). I took them both to the zoo yesterday with their cousin and was wiped out by it. Don't take heed of others.

Better that 14mo isn't running around yet. My DS2 was already fast uncatchable at that age. (He's 19mo now, and it's not much better - a teeny bit more inclined to listen to me when I say stop... Maybe)

Similar age gap. We don't go out much when me or DP has them by outself, except when were able to rustle up another adult (DP and MIL are around a fair bit).

I have a similar age gap (they're now 3.8 and just 2).
We never bothered with shopping etc, too much hassle. We scoped out all the parks/farm parks/NT places that were fully enclosed and made sure I only took them to the ones that I knew would be the least stressful.

Similar ages here and older DD is like a Labrador - if she's not walked twice a day she pretty much chews the furniture.

We have a tried and tested repertoire of places I take them alone. Farm we have annual pass for (with good soft play barn laid out in a way I can see one if I'm helping the other), stretch of beach with parking directly alongside and a kid friendly cafe by the car (although this time of year we're out at 7am, in the cafe for breakfast and home before people start coming out), couple of enclosed shopping centres, pedestrianised town bit, supermarket with plentiful supply of double trolleys.

We go out for our big jaunt early, only for a couple of hours, come home for down time and do smaller trip out in the afternoon (kids playground three minutes walk from home usually!).

I only go to places where I know facilities, parking options etc. I worry I'm uptight but it's the only way I can cope. DS only gets to walk on reins briefly at the beach if I'm on my own - otherwise I just don't feel like I have enough hands :S

I won't lie, I feel pretty inept. I get them out but some days I dread it.

My oldest son stands on the back of the buggy/walks and pushes while wearing reins. If he isn't touching the buggy we don't move. It took a couple of weeks to get used to it but we have no problems now.