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Original poster

Alternatives to a buggy

15 replies

Imicola · 31/08/2020 20:04

DD will be 2 shortly, and I'm wondering about alternatives to a buggy. Prior to lockdown her buggy caused way too much drama as she just wanted to get out and push it around, then had a tantrum when she couldn't. During lockdown we ended up doing lots of walking, and I would just pick her up when she got tired, so we have pretty much not used the buggy in over 6 months. We still do this, but our closest park is too far to walk with her, so we end up driving. All she wants to do now is visit the park, so id prefer to walk rather than drive, but I don't really want to go back to the buggy. It's about a mile away.

Just wondering about alternatives to a buggy that might help, anyone have experience? ...would a scooter be suitable? How far could a toddler scoot? Alternative would be a push trike... In laws have an old hand me down one, but I'll need to check if it can handle that distance first! Any other options?

Thanks in advance!

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Babs709 · 31/08/2020 20:05

What about a balance bike?

Babs709 · 31/08/2020 20:06

We have a push trike (just googled it as didn’t know what that was). Sometimes DS will happily go in it and sometimes he just insists on walking, I wouldn’t say it was dramatically different to the pram, but less easy to harness and keep them in!

Original poster

Imicola · 31/08/2020 20:08

We do have a balance bike, another hand me down, but she doesn't seem to know how to use it, is reluctant to get on it, and prefers to push it around instead (then gets in a pickle when it falls over). Maybe I should leave her to it in the garden sometime to see if she can master it?

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HavelockVetinari · 31/08/2020 20:10

Toddler sling? We use ours loads when hiking, DS is 3 and nearly 15kg.

Shelley54 · 31/08/2020 20:11

My two year old was delighted when the buggy came out again after lockdown lifted. He loves it - novelty factor all over again!

EdwardCullensBiteOnTheSide · 31/08/2020 20:21

Go on smyths and look at Globber

Snailsetssail · 31/08/2020 20:24

We have a smart trike and use it every day for the school fun and walking to the park or shop. It’s done miles and is still going strong.

LaTomatina · 31/08/2020 20:31

Do you ride a bike yourself? Put a baby seat on the back? Easy to push when she wants to walk with you, and when she wants a seat you get to ride too.

I know it depends a bit where you live/how confident you are on a bike, but it's my favourite way of ferrying the toddler....

Rubyroost · 31/08/2020 22:25

Could you just walk instead. Last time we went in a buggy was just after my sons two year b day. He's got a scooter and a balance bike, but he's pretty crap on both of them. He's walked everywhere since 2 and its good for him, he's 2 years and 8 months now.

Rubyroost · 31/08/2020 22:29

Ahhh I just re read. I think you'd be surprised at how quickly they adjust to walking a mile. I would keep up the walking and soon she will comfortably walk a mile. Could you just carry her the last bit in a toddler carrier and get her to walk longer each time, or get a bike seat and do the same. Put in bike seat when she gets tired. It won't be long before she can do the walk.

Fatted · 31/08/2020 22:33

Smart trike. Or just strap them into the pram so they can't get out and deal with the tantrum. I spent a year of the second option while on the school run with DS2 when he was 2-3.

DappledThings · 31/08/2020 22:50

I would use a sling. I have a Beco Gemini that I used with DS till he was about 3.5 (only for maps by that point but weight and comfort wise could have been for longer stretches) and currently using for DD 2.5 and expecting to for some time.

TigerQuoll · 01/09/2020 00:47

Get her to walk as far as she can and put her on your shoulders the rest of the way. Much easier on your back and arms than carrying them at your side.

I think the bicycle suggestion is a good one too. Last thing you want is that they want to be carried and you have to carry a balance bike as well as them and a nappy bag or whatever

badg3r · 01/09/2020 11:50

I would recommend a scooter for that age. Our kids didn't get good at going places on their bikes till age three but could scoot for a while from age two or so. Get a scoot n pull strap, you can pull them along on the scooter if they get tired and hook it round the wheels to make a carry strap.

Original poster

Imicola · 01/09/2020 18:59

Thanks for all your replies, food for thought!

I'm not a great fan of cycling, but DH is and has a bike seat for her. I don't currently have a bike I can use myself. We also have front and back carriers... I sometimes use the front carrier, but she doesn't like to stay in it for long. She loves the back carrier but I'm not confident getting it on and off... I will perhaps try it this weekend.

By the end of lockdown she could walk about a mile, but now she is back at nursery she seems much more reluctant to walk far... Maybe less practice of walking distances, or just that she is so tired after nursery. I'm also aware that she may get to the park, but then be too tired to walk back as it is a mile each way.

The comment about trying to carry a toddler and a balance bike /scooter is also good to bear in mind! I think I will try out the trike thingy and see how that goes, then consider something else if we need to.

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