What do you do when kids too old for pram but too young to walk far?

[Coriandersucks]

I’ve got a 4 year old and nearly 3 year old. Ditched the buggy a few months ago but have found it difficult when wanting to go on a long walk or visiting somewhere like the local farm place we went to today. I dug out the old buggy and thank god I did because my youngest would never have made it around - we were out for over four hours and it was quite hilly and whilst we stopped lots to play on the different rides, they were both really struggling.

They are both over the weights for the buggy, it has a flat tyre and was creaking all the way round whenever he sat in it so what do you all do at this stage? Is there another buggy size I’ve missed or do I just have to wait until they’re older?

I honestly don’t know what I would have done had I not thought of taking the buggy with me as we were over a mile from the car at one point and I was on my own with both of them.

not be stuck in a seat for hours

That's an interesting acknowledgement. Because 2 hours = 6 miles ime. I knew a lady who walked up to 7 kids to & from school each day. She lived 1.5 miles from school so that was a default 6 mile walk daily. So about 2 hours.

Damn straight the little ones stayed in buggies until they were school age and only had to walk 3 miles/day (1 hour). Benefits to all.

My DC all walked by 11m -- 2 of them walked well by 10m old. My dad & his twin (infamously) walked by 7m. Not clever at all to ditch the buggy then.

@timeforanewnameagain it might be worth seeing if you can pick up something like a Cosatto whoosh on eBay or marketplace to do for this summer.

Quite often you can get back what you paid if I it’s in good condition.

We have a 3.5 and 2 year old. If I know we are going for a 2+ mile walk, I will take the double buggy and a scooter for eldest so if she needs a rest she sits in. I often do long walks 5+ miles with 3.5old in the single buggy because it's easier and I can walk faster. I don't imagine we will ditch the pushchair for over a year as it makes my life easier and it's useful. I will probably use it until my eldest is embarrassed by it.

We use something like this:

www.blacks.co.uk/15983277/littlelife-explorer-s3-child-carrier-15983277/?istCompanyId=d92b362f-ac8a-4a8a-87ca-c56eafad7955&istFeedId=2f99410f-1124-43d5-8232-86c184f09479&istItemId=ilprmqmpq&istBid=tzpr&gclid=Cj0KCQjwpdqDBhCSARIsAEUJ0hNVt1oQx99zL01x9iSxfzagUH3IQKjLcknS0mPU64QmBtmsAEKUiawaAlNwEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

Got it in the sale at £30 so worth keeping an eye out for. DC1 hated it but DC2 is much more amenable.

I use a toddler sling for DS (nearly 4) - it means I can get out for long walks sometimes, he's happy on my back or front. Occasionally I've carried him in the sling and his best friend (same age) on my shoulders but I couldn't do that for a long distance, they're too heavy.

I ditched the buggy for a 18 month old, she never got back in. Then twins - threw the buggy out at 2 years.

Kids are permanently in their feet all day so what’s the difference between running round the house and garden all day or being out in the park or zoo?

@BluebellsGreenbells

I ditched the buggy for a 18 month old, she never got back in. Then twins - threw the buggy out at 2 years.

Kids are permanently in their feet all day so what’s the difference between running round the house and garden all day or being out in the park or zoo?

Because at home most of them will be able to stop as and when you want to?

@SparrowNest we also have the City Mini double, and it has huge seats and is rated to 22 kg (in the US at least). It's really sturdy and has big seats, I've temporarily had 2 6 year olds in it and it was ok.

My eldest was quite competent walking long distances from quite young. My eldest still moans about it now.

My kids have a two age gap and I generally recall when they were 2 and 4 being a quite akward and difficult time. I know what you mean about still having to carry a lot of stuff. The only thing I missed about getting rid of the buggy was having somewhere to put all the crap instead of carrying it. I seem to recall, I would save the big day trips out for when DH was off work too so we had a child each (and he carried the rucksack). I stuck to soft play and places we could travel to by car when it was just me going out with them.

@SparrowNest

The out n about is brilliant and can take up to 22kg per seat, not sure if that would be sufficient for what you need?

I made a point of walking with my now 2.5 year old on the journey to nursery and back from very early on - it’s only a short walk approx 5-10 mins but it’s become very much part of her routine to do it now and I think that’s been the key in her willingness to do it. I’ve practiced lots of road safety stuff with her on that short walk - she doesn’t like to hold my hand when walking but she does respond very well to voice commands now so she knows to “stop at the curb”, “hold mummy’s hand now we are at the crossing”, “wait for the green man” etc. Doing that has built up my confidence to walk lots of places with her now, without the safety of the pushchair. She loves to walk to the local shop with me and to library / local park etc. I just try and time the walks for shortly after meals / when I know she’s not shattered etc. Or if she gets tired I try and play games like “come on chase mummy. Shall we sing while we walk? Ready, steady gooooo (run)” etc but it’s hard work sometimes!

If her dad is with us on days out he will put her on shoulders when she’s tired. She has a buggy on the day her nan looks after her as it makes it easier for her to take her to the park.

It’s a tricky age though. I try and do days out that involve taking her to a big field / garden and she can run ragged and get lots of exercise there but the car is parked not far away to get home!

Don't you just make them walk? DS refused his pram from 18 months, it's never been a problem. We just take breaks to rest if we're out and about, and sometimes he goes on my shoulders. Surely by age 4 they can just keep going?

Don't you just make them walk?
Yeah that works when you have a bus to catch, older kids to collect from school, make that doctors appointment on time....

Urgh, I am in the same boat here. DS hasn't been in the pram for months at 2.5. He can walk 2.4 miles (it took about 2.5 hours and a snack/drink stop half way around) but I am definitely not doing that every day!

So now I tend to take the car for trips that are more than half a mile or so. Tesco is about 1.5 miles, I used to push him there and back in the pram but now I will drive.

My second is due in September, I am planning on getting a second seat for my pram (it can take two children) for those tired legs.

We also have a toddler carrier that DH will use, but I can't currently use it because I'm pregnant (if I had a need to, I would buy ones without a waistband, they do exist). So long family walks can have baby in the sling and then toddler on DH's back.

@Brokenrecord3006

Don't you just make them walk? DS refused his pram from 18 months, it's never been a problem. We just take breaks to rest if we're out and about, and sometimes he goes on my shoulders. Surely by age 4 they can just keep going?

Which is fine if you have time for them to rest. At what age do you expect them to push through tired legs and keep going for the greater good of not being late for the school run? I'll have two nearly 2 year olds come September school run, no way in HELL are they walking the school run

@ButeIsle I'm looking at having a baby when my son will nearly 2 and everyone keeps asking me if I'm getting a double buggy. I don't want to get one but I'm not sure how well my son will be able to walk. Do you manage okay without a double pram? How long/far can your 2 year old walk? You give me hope I won't have to buy a new pram!

I had a double buggy for long walks as otherwise mine were a nightmare and I still have it on days out mine are just 5 and just 2

You need to start training them up little but often and start to gradually build distance and difficulty. We did with DN from 2 so by 3-4 she could walk 3-4 miles comfortable, which is essential where we live. I think just get your kids out and about everyday

@lljkk

Buy another buggy, omg, don't understand this self-flaggelation mania for avoiding buggies.

Scooters? They fall off, cry, won't ride, then you have to drag reluctant child AND carry the darn scooter. (we knew a school mum used to carry 3 back from the school run, DH reckoned she had arms like a wrestler)

Snacks? I have seen this a lot. But not every child responds energetically to sugary junk food, especially when weather terrible.

Drive? I'd rather push a buggy myself.

Balance bikes? The kids end up going way to fast unless you like running fast too -- until they fall off (see Scooters? scenario)

Carry the kid? This might be why I was discussing shoulder replacements before age 50.

Buggies are wonderful: let you walk fast, in all weathers, no arguments, no junk food snacks required, instant nap space if required, no expensive alternative wheeled things to carry or get stolen, room to store some shopping. What's not to like.

Agree with every word ...using a buggy for day trips / shopping until mine were at least four was a no brainer for me !

@Teddyandsuzie

I don’t really understand the race to ditch the pushchair on MN.

My DC had a buggy until they were 4 (but we had no car and walked everywhere). They would walk when they wanted to and sit down when tired. I also had somewhere to put the bags for a day out.

Win win for both of us. Why make life more stressful?

Absolutely agree. We got a second hand out n about pram with pump up tyres and used it up until kids were well over 5. It's a creation of wonder. We walk loads and alternate with having bags in the pram or a child when they are tired. No shame in it at all.

Scooter with a bungee cord for pulling along.

DD is 2.11 and still uses a buggy. She naps blissfully every afternoon in there for a couple of hours, so I can see us still using it until she drops her nap at least. I don't drive so I find it far more convenient than carrying bags of stuff plus a scooter around (I hang them off the handles - we carry our lunch, water bottles, spare clothes, sand toys, books, hats/scarves everywhere!). Dealing with stairs isn't a problem now she can walk down stairs on her own - she gets out to do the stairs and I can carry an empty buggy down. The only problem is buses where there's only space for 2 buggies, which is why I prefer taking the tube/overground now.