3 year old hates buggy, what's the alternative?

[Prorespawner]

Hello all

DS is 3 and is pretty big for his age. He has started to get quite annoyed with his buggy and doesn't much like being in it. The problem is we do a fair bit of walking and he doesn't have the legs for it yet. He will walk for a bit but then demand to be picked up. He's over 2.5stone (he's tall as well, 90th centile for height and weight) so carrying him everywhere is not an option.

To be honest I hate the buggy as well now and would much rather something that takes up less room in the car etc. He has a scooter which helps but I now end up carrying him and the scooter which is not an improvement 😂

Anybody got any great alternatives that they find work? We are going on a seaside holiday next week so I am hoping for something that will do the job there

Also to other comments in here, my 15 month old stands and dances by herself, but won't walk yet without holding both hands. She's small with tiny feet, don't know if that affects things. She has more than 50 words though, I think they prioritise communication or movement when young. Her big brother was walking at 10 months with his giant feet (but very poor with words until 2-3).

Balance bike worked here - god knows why but my reluctant walker would happily do miles on the balance bike at 2 despite it being remarkably similar to walking! With the added benefit that he then could ride a pedal bike at 3

What sort of distance are you trying to do with him?

Shorter walks? more incentives?

I'm no help at all as DS hated pushchair from 1.5ish, by 2.5 he was refusing so had the buggy or walk option. Quite often I ended up pushing pushchair and holding his hand to walk

Good god there are some shit comments on here.

'My baby used to crawl five miles. In the snow. Up a hill None of those stupid prams for little fatty babies. Makes them lazy!'

I second the trike or pull along scooter!

I'd try a balance bike or trike so at least they're sitting down. They'll get more exercise that way, and good practice for a pedal bike

Wotsits are great incentives lol

You can get seat attachments for micro scooters. DS used to zip along at that age. Maybe slightly easier to master than a balance bike due to 3 wheels?

But we did have a period where he refused the buggy and refused to walk so I literally had to drag him along screaming. That was fun.

That’s all very well but not everyone has hours to reach their destination. Also mine would ditch his buggy in a heartbeat at 18 months and skip and run everywhere but we happen to live in a built up area where people drive like maniacs. If I were to Iet him free everywhere he desired in an attempt to pretend we lived in the rolling hills and the heather what do you think might happen? I won’t spell it out but it would be fairly grim and I don’t think I’d ever get over it.

Think outside your own lines for a change.

OP we use a combo of trike bike if we need to get from A&B with no pissing about, reins (which make him roar like a caged lion) free running if at all possible and safe, and a lightweight stroller if absolutely necessary (no car)

Toddler sling. Once in much easier to carry!

What about one of those beach / festival trolleys? Ideal for carting stuff about but also for giving tired little legs a rest when necessary. I recently holidayed by the coast and loads of families had them. Such a good idea!

I can't remember when we stopped using it, but I used to carry a hipseat around with me on holidays.

DD used to scoot about a mile to nursery. I am quite short, so I could easily drag the scooter if she was tired or wanted to walk.

A bike with a parent handle. Like this…..

my 3 year old has had it a few weeks and journeys to nursery are a breeze now

@Babdoc

Amused at the PPs who think it’s unreasonable or “cruel” to get toddlers walking, or take 3 year olds up mountains.
My two not only survived my “cruelty”, but are now in their thirties, and between them do Parkrun, krav maga, wild water swimming, aerial yoga and climb Munros.
DD2’s record is climbing six Munros in a day!
I suggest that NOT exercising your toddlers’ legs and developing their stamina is the “cruel” option, and probably one of the reasons for the rise in childhood obesity.

You didn't say 2 or 3. You said 16 months. When most children are still wobbling about and many not walking yet.
And believe it or not, child cruelty and Munroe walking and not correlated.

I can't remember when we stopped using it, but I used to carry a hipseat around with me on holidays

I had one of those for dc1 who was an early buggy refuser. It was great. He'd usually fall asleep on it at the end. Give him a stick and he'd walk for miles too.

Dc2 hated the buggy from the outset so we babywore and then had a toddler backpack. We also used bribery...along the lines of if you're still walking when we reach the shop you can pick a treat.

DD 3 has managed to do things in reverse - wanted to walk EVERYWHERE and refused the buggy from about 10 months but now would rather sit in it everywhere!

This can't be true as minimum age for junior parkrun is 4

I am certain my 3 yo DS would be exactly the same - fortunately I gave birth to DD last year and so he has the buggy board everywhere, it's perfect. Although perhaps not the best reason in isolation to be considering a sibling for your DS!

Whilst I was pregnant we used a scooter with a seat and a handle that we could push, this sort of thing: Scooter Link

Just give the option of buggy or walk, refuse to carry them. Bikes etc sound ok but u’ll end up carrying them and they r take up more room than a buggy, and hard to maintain safety.

For longer distances we cycle, we have a cargo bike and a standard bike with a child seat.
If the adult is walking, 2yo can scoot (try a scooter with seat and either a pull strap or a push handle) or go on a balance bike. DC1 went everywhere on the balance bike. DC2 is loving the scooter atm but am going to try her with the balance bike soon.
Agree with PPs suggestions of a toddler carrier, too. Just roll it up small in your bag and use it as a last resort.

If it helps OP, my dc2 still went in the buggy for elder DC's school run age 4. Bit embarrassing as he was starting himself in a few weeks. I couldn't carry him, on my back or otherwise, he's fucking huge.
If he'll stand on the scooter and you can tow it that can work. But you may just have to have a few roadside tantrums while he works out his choices are walking or buggy. Put your foot down.

I also suggest scooter with a strap to pull them along when tired. Also you can loop the strap handle over the kickboard to make it a carrying strap, if needed.

The issue with scooters is more a safety one IME - they get fast before they learn to stop at corners/for other people.

Toddler Tula sling.
I take all the time with my just 3 year old. He can walk when he fancies, but if he’s tired, under weather etc it’s far easier to use that to carry him the last 15 mins back home or to car if we are far away.

Im also taking his pram next week when we travel 3 weeks. We will be in the city and travelling about and although at home he rarely naps, I’m sure he will then out of routine. There’s also no way im
navigating busy roads and lots of people with him on the loose in meltdown mode

Balance bike. Kids love them.

I can’t believe a op would ditch the buggy at 16 months. Imagine pushing a child around until then. Didn’t you want to take them up mountains or off roading? Weren’t they bored of being pushed around flat parks by 16 months? It’s a bit lazy to just push them around until well over 1 year.

I ditched the buggy for DC1 at 4 months, DC2 was never in a buggy and DC3 went in a few times but never past ten weeks. My DC2 was wild camping at a few weeks old and my DC3 was up a mountain at ten days old. why on earth were you waiting to 16 months?

OP - toddler carrier, bike, trike, pull along trolley, and any combo of those. HIGHLY recommend taking a bike lock out with you to secure trike, bike, scooter, trolley. They you don’t end up carrying child and large metal item. Soft toddler carrier goes in your bag so the DC can’t see it so it’s good and they are a lot lighter in those than having to use your arms.