What wheels for 2yo - nursery run along busy roads

[AwkwardPaws27]

Trike with parent handle? Balance bike or scooter (the idea terrifies me a bit!)? Something else?

I have a 1.3 mile walk back from nursery with DS. He has just 2, & decided to try & climb out of the pushchair every day last week & again today. I think we need a new solution.

Parking & traffic are both a bit of a 'mare, plus I'd rather not use the car for short journeys, so I'm keen to walk, but there is no route which doesn't involve walking along some busy roads.

I was looking at the Doona trike but it only goes up to 3 years & I'm a bit worried hed outgrow it sooner (we'd need something that folds). Scooters or balance bikes give me nightmares near traffic but I guess I could use reins for extra safety?

My first choice would be to secure him in the buggy better so she can't escape.

Second choice would be a scooter with a pull rope and pull him along. I'd not let a just 2 year old scoot or bike along busy roads.

Take the scooter to the park/along quiet roads and practise and then in six months or so he might be able to scoot along next to you for the nursery run.

Definitely trike with parent handle and straps that hold them in - it makes them feel like they are more in control, so they don’t mess about / try to escape. I think it is a recurring theme as kids grow up - a lot of what is ‘challenging’ is about them trying to feel more in control. Good luck! I tried reins (attached to a strapped on backpack that they wore, and it worked a bit, but not much. Trike with parent handle definitely worked best for us at that stage. As my middle one grew, I started doing the pre-school run with him strapped in a seat on the back of my bike (but he tried to climb out of there too! I stopped at a junction, and looked around to see that he had undone his straps and was standing (teetering) in the child seat behind me! Last time we did that!!)

My first choice would be to secure him in the buggy better so she can't escape

Believe me, I've tried. I think he's half toddler, half eel. I had the straps as tight as possible today, he houdini'd his way out losing his trousers in the process.

I stopped at a junction, and looked around to see that he had undone his straps and was standing (teetering) in the child seat behind me!

That's terrifying. I'm sure DS would think it was awesome.

I have backpack reins but he just sits down when he's fed up with walking and he's getting a bit heavy to carry.

I cycle with my son in bike seat

DD2 has scooted since before she was 2. I find it easier to hold the top of her rucksack straps to control her speed and direction rather than using a pull strap on the scooter. Holding her shoulder also works, but the rucksack feels more secure, and the loop on the top is my emergency grab strap. Once I started letting go of her (on quiet roads first), I stayed between her and the street, even if that meant jogging along.