Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Parenting

For free parenting resources please check out the Early Years Alliance's Family Corner.

Flip

1 2 3

Original poster

2.5yo DD refuses to walk - am I expecting too much.

51 replies

CorpusCallosum · 04/08/2021 18:29

My 2.5yo DD really struggles to walk any kind of distance. Today we parked in town for a couple of errands and the promise of a balloon at the end - total about 1km. She had a massive meltdown about half way, I ended up sat on the pavement with her - obviously just picking her up and carrying her would have been giving in to the tantrum so I didn't know what else to do 😢

I used to just carry her but I'm pg with number 2 now and I just can't do it over any kind of distance. I started being firm about no carrying a few weeks ago and thought we would be past tantrums for a change of routine by now.

If I strap her in the pram all the time I think she's missing out on noticing/exploring things and I worry about her physical development if she's not walking enough.

Am I just expecting too much from her?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

lljkk · 04/08/2021 19:43

Balance bikes are very scary in command of a toddler near a busy road. Don't go there.

Crabsy · 04/08/2021 19:54

YABU. If you said she was 4 then I would say yes make her walk. But at 2.5 she probably still needs a buggy, that’s a lot of walking and she will get tired.

purplesequins · 04/08/2021 19:59

any chance her shoes don't fit properly?

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

2 year olds Behaviour & development Families General parenting

careercareering · 04/08/2021 20:01

@Needapoodle

Mine were out of the pushchair at that age. 1km isn't too far. I certainly wouldn't be buying a double buggy. When the baby comes get a buggy board for her.

I agree with this.

Blueskyemily · 04/08/2021 20:07

Mine was like that. At the time I made my life very difficult by trying to get her to walk. On reflection, I wish I'd just used the buggy!

I sometimes used to take the scooter and that was even worse, because then you get extra grey hairs worrying they're about to scoot into the road and/or you end up carrying it. I know some love them but they're not for me and I sold ours rather than passing down to my youngest!

Hercisback · 04/08/2021 20:07

You don't need a double buggy. Get a buggy board.

My 18mo will walk a km on a good day. They need regular practise and stamina build up.

BobbleWobble1 · 04/08/2021 20:09

Mine is 2yr9mo and would definitely walk that easily in the right mood. He is a good walker but it's definitely been the last couple of months where he's been a lot more willing to walk with purpose. We did nearly 1.5 miles yesterday with just one wobble because we just had to play on the bench other than that he walked brilliantly. I wouldn't be confident that he'd be up for that every day so I always take the buggy along just in case. He's a solid chap and there's no way I could carry him. I'm gradually using it less so I'm hoping it might disappear in the next few months. Also expecting #2 but I've no intention of getting a double. Every child is different though.

Quartz2208 · 04/08/2021 20:12

Yes buggy board or similar attachment for the pushchair

And take the pushchair because you are expecting too much let her out when she wants

lljkk · 04/08/2021 20:22

Relying on toddlers to be in "the right mood" -- oh well, better you than me.

Buggy board worked well enough when I had a 3yr+8m gap. Would not have worked when I had gaps < 3 yrs.

Juancornetto · 04/08/2021 20:31

Buggy board was great for my little girl who was 2 and a half when DS was born. He's now nearly 3 and I use the pushchair with him quite a bit because it's so much easier.
If I were you I'd stick your daughter in the pushchair when you need to and get a buggy board for the pram when your baby's born. you can't risk having to wrestle a 2.5 year old when you're pregnant

Skybluepinkgiraffe · 04/08/2021 20:38

She's only very little still. How about using buggy/double buggy when you have to get stuff done, and enjoy walks together when you're just walking for fun. Worked with my children. Youngest didn't walk far till she was nearly 4, but still went on to be active and as an adult loves hiking and climbing.

Quietcrown · 04/08/2021 20:42

Just use the pushchair, especially if you are pregnant. When baby arrives get a buggy board. Mine was willing to walk for a bit but liked to jump up for a ride when her legs got tired. Meant I could walk faster too.

Original poster

CorpusCallosum · 04/08/2021 20:45

@Hercisback

You don't need a double buggy. Get a buggy board.

My 18mo will walk a km on a good day. They need regular practise and stamina build up.

This is exactly what has me shying away from the easier option of using the buggy all the time. Right now I have time for her to be awkward but also build her strength/stamina. When the bub is here (if on time DD will be just 3yrs) I'll be split and won't be able to devote so much time or patience to this.

I had high hopes of a buggy board but honestly when we are out with the buggy now she often asks to be carried. I'm firm with my boundary and say she can walk or go in the pram and she gets so irate I just have to strap her in and wait for her get over it (at which point I give her lots of positive interaction - she's forward facing so we play I spy etc). I don't see her sitting or standing nicely on a buggy board 😔 I just see us getting trapped in the house once newborn is here.

We do have lots of lovely close time and play, she really isn't starved for physical affection! I just cannot carry her over any kind of distance 🤦‍♀️

OP posts:

Yika · 04/08/2021 20:50

Just use the pushchair. My daughter was in the pushchair till 4 and I had to force her out of it because she’d started school and I thought it would be embarrassing (she didn’t care). Some children are just not great walkers. Make life easy for yourself.

Hercisback · 04/08/2021 20:51

Buggy board is a different type of "ride" so quite novel to start with. It's also much easier to jump on and off than faffing with pram straps every time. Shove a wrap sling under the buggy for emergencies so you can carry newborn if needed and buggy 3yo. They change a lot by 3.

Don't carry her. I walk off from 3yo if he wouldn't come. He soon caught up.

Santastealer · 04/08/2021 20:52

My 2.5 year old always wants to be carried too. She refuses to go in to pushchair but then won’t walk and just stands there pleading “carry me”!

Drives me potty!

AnnaBegins · 04/08/2021 20:52

Toddler carrier? The toddler tula would be perfect to pop her on your back when she gets tired. Or stretchy wrap/close caboo for baby and toddler in the buggy.

CallMeNutribullet · 04/08/2021 20:53

Yeah you're expecting too much. This is normal for a 2 year old

Danikm151 · 04/08/2021 20:55

I would recommend the trolley me pushchair.
Folds one handed and has a handle to pull along like a suitcase.
When my 16 month old wants to walk I can just pull it along rather than trying to push his stroller 2 handed or having to leave it behind and run after him when he gets adventurous 😂
When he gets tired pops right back up for him to go in again 🙂
Hopefully by the time next baby comes along your daughter will be wanting to help push the pram so a buggy board will come in handy 🙂

Greenmarmalade · 04/08/2021 20:56

Having read your response, I’d get a double buggy. It’s not forever. You can’t strap a tantrumming toddler to a buggy board ( and they really hurt my back- you end up pushing from a weird distance).

Mine have all been similar. It will pass, and it’s not a battle you need right now. A rest and snack in a pushchair can be a lifesaver, and you can get to places much faster when you need to, rather than walking at toddler pace.

Plus you can shove all the baby stuff and coats in it!

ChakaDakotaRegina · 04/08/2021 20:58

Same op. I take the bike and end up carrying the child and the bike. I take the pram and end up carrying the child and pushing the pram.

I’m embracing the car but we’ve had some corking ‘i don’t want to get in the car’ tantys too.

Mama1980 · 04/08/2021 21:04

Going against the grain here I don't think you're expecting too much at all, all of mine would easily walk for much longer at that age.
But building up to distances is the key. I would totally persevere, walking is great for fitness maybe start with slightly shorter walks and build up.

FriedasCarLoad · 04/08/2021 22:23

Since she loves the shopping bit, can you have more stopping points? Then it's never more than a few minutes walk to the next shop to go in, or ATM to get £10 from, or the bench to sit on and play I Spy.

FriedasCarLoad · 04/08/2021 22:36

By the way, I also agree with @mama1980 that

you aren't expecting too much
building up distance gradually is key

My 2.5yo happily walks 2-3 miles most days, but it's noticeable that if we have a couple of weeks without much walking, she'll then be down to half of that for a few days.

Elderberry84 · 04/08/2021 22:43

My son was like this, he turned three when I was pregnant with my daughter and would barely walk to the end of our road without complaining. I just kept him in his pram. Otherwise he was a normal, energetic toddler who could run around for hours in a garden or soft play!

Hyperemesis was a cure for my handwringing and I had half a plan to buy a buggy board when the time came, but he started walking normal distances of his own accord not long before my daughter was born (when he was three and a half). Not a bother walking anywhere now.

By contrast my daughter refused to stay in her buggy from shortly after her second birthday and seemed to have boundless energy. Now at five she complains about her legs getting tired on the short walk to school!

All kids are different, yours will do it at their own pace

Flip

1 2 3