Picking toddler up from pre-school in stroller!

[JKCR2017]

We live a fairly short walk from the local pre-school and primary school (just under half a mile I believe). DD is happy enough to walk to pre-school but is a nightmare when she comes out tired (despite having a morning nap beforehand), grumpy, refusing to walk.

She finishes at 3 and we then make he short walk to the school to get DS by 3.15. By this point I’m usually carrying her, her bags, DS’s bags etc.

I’m thinking of taking a stroller over today? So she can get pushed which will make life a lot easier. Is a bit strange to take a stroller over to pick up a 2.5 year old? Is it too old?

All the other kids seem to happily skip out of pre-school and no one else seems to use strollers anymore but mine is crying to be carried. 🤔

[ItsNachoCheese]

Unless i get a lift to take/pick up ds from nursery he goes in his buggy as its a 15min walk there and the same back. It makes life easier for me rather than having to drag said sometimes grumpy crabbit ds home

[IToldYouIWasFreaky]

No one would blink if you picked her up in a car, would they? So why does it matter if she sits in a pushchair instead?
Pop her in the pushchair, load it up with all the bags and get everyone home happy!

[HowManyMoreTimes]

I remember plenty of occasions when my 1 year old walked and my 4 1/2 year old got in he buggy after school (reception)! Whatever gets you all home sane

[Mol1628]

I’ll be doing this for my 3 year old. He has a 15 minute walk there and back. Then we will have to do it again in the afternoon for school pick up. Lots of parents near me do the same till children are 3.5 ish usually. I wonder if lots of the ones you see walking are walking to a car.
If it makes life easier and she’s otherwise getting plenty of exercise then it’s absolutely fine!

[PerfectlySymmetricalButtocks]

When DS2 was at preschool I used to pick him up in the buggy. He'd missed his morning nap because it was too exciting, and I'd have to drag a tantrumming 2.5yo across a main road. I started taking the buggy, reclining it, moving the straps out of the way. He'd get in and sleep until teatime.

[YerAuntFanny]

We had a 30 minute walk to/from nursery with my eldest so took the pushchair with us for him to hop in and out along the way until he was 4 and decided it wasn't for him.

Do what makes your life easier and ignore any judgemental folks that know nothing about your life.

[JKCR2017]

Thanks all! I will be taking it! It’s only a short walk but I need it for my sanity 😂 she’s only in pre school two afternoons a week. The other 3 days she walks to and from the primary school twice a day happily so it’s definitely a tiredness thing after pre-school!

[Guardup]

I’d still go in a pushchair if I could and I’m 38- it’s the best seat in the house! Honestly, I wouldn’t think twice about it- why make your life any harder than it needs to be x

[nuttyknitter]

Do what suits you best! They all grow out of sitting in the buggy eventually, but while it makes life easier why fight it?

[NorbertTheDragon]

I did with my youngest because otherwise I'd have him screaming with tiredness the whole way home. He was in one after preschool till he started school. A whole day (he did 2.5 days at preschool) there, then having to walk 1.5 miles to pick up his brothers, then 1.5 miles home would tire most little legs. It tires my little legs!

[WhyBeDennyDifferent]

Mine is nearly 4 but still goes in a pushchair for the last school run sometimes.
We walk a 15 minute walk to school on the morning, then he walks the same distance home after nursery. Then we have to walk again to pick the older one up in the afternoon, so it is quite a bit of walking for him. Tbh I wish I could get in it sometimes!

[ILostItInTheEarlyNineties]

Of course it's fine. She's only 2 and you'll ruin your back carrying her all the time. I regularly put mine in a buggy at that age if they were tired, we had a long walk or out shopping. Don't worry about it.

[Tenroundswithmiketyson]

I used the stroller til both started school. I got comments but they're 9 and 13 and don't go in one now

[ferrier]

Mine went in a stroller until he started school. I refuse to feel guilty about it. He was tired and grumpy if made to walk.
Didn't cause any problems then and he's a strapping, physically ultra-fit 20 year old now.

[SeeKnievelHitThe17thBus]

Can you get a buggy board so she can stand on that, and use the buggy seat for bags and coats, but stress that she's not sitting in it if you're keen to ween her off it? I remember a just turned 4 DS in reception (summer baby) being very tired coming out of class in his first weeks and asking to be carried so for a 2.5 year old I'd say it's fine if she's still getting used to this pattern.

[Seeline]

I think it's fine too.

Perhaps in the longer term a trike (with parent handle) or a scooter might make things more fun?

[Duckeggbluetin]

Well maybe they are just walking to a car? I did this and she was older than 3, but I did feel a bit uncomfortable after a few months and switched to a pull along scooter.

[Decisionsohdecisions]

My ds 2.7 is still in buggy some of the way for anything longer than a five minute walk.
Bring it if it makes life easier.

[Cutesbabasmummy]

My 3 year old still goes in a stroller sometimes! Make life easier for both of you and take it :-)