Two year old wants to walk not go in pram but we don't drive

[theotherfossilsister]

Basically what title says. He wants to walk. Gets furious at pram but we don't drive and need to walk two miles to get to nursery so I can work. Nursery seem to think we are babying him as he can walk nicely to park and museum with them, but that's a lot closer.

If I wanted to let him walk to nursery for eight we'd literally have to set off at six am and I don't think I have that in me.

Also, I like running and literally the only way I can run is take him in running buggy which he enjoys once he's in, but is this selfish of mr? We normally do a half hour run for me then an hour/hour and a half in park for him.

Our park is across the road so we can take him there ok although I pick him up if he won't hold my hand.
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You’re the parent. He doesn’t get to do what he wants. One of my kids hated the car, it was tough. We went in the car. Strap your kid in the buggy. Ignore the screaming and off you go

Thanks, yeah I do this then feel guilty I'm limiting his natural curiosity and desire to walk

He’s 2 - doesn’t get a choice surely?

I used to just bribe my 2 year old for getting out the door door nursery with a biscuit or a yoghurt pouch or something to get her in the buggy if short on time - not ideal but it worked

if not she was literally forced in and strapped in and wheeled off crying - what can you do!!

There are times for gentle toddler walks.

And also times for strapping screaming child in so you can get somewhere in a reasonable time.

How long and how frequent is he in the buggy. Ie only 2 days to nursery its 45 mins each way in a buggy, is different to 5 days. Plus the additional park trip. It's not very clear.

there is no reasoning with a toddler

let him walk the first/last 100m and make it a nice ritual getting into the pushchair.

or use a baby carrier?

I didn't have a car, DD still went in the pushchair for long journeys or we'd take it on days out to the zoo etc until she was 4 even if it was just for the bags although she happily got in a the end of the day when waiting for a bus etc and very tall almost the size of a 6 year old so we got some looks

I used to just put DD in the pushchair,with difficulty sometimes at around 2 as she'd scream and arch her back although that was phase that passed. You could also try a trike with apart push handle which is basically just a pushchair but the child feels it's different, or get a buggy board and let them ride that instead of sitting in the chair

I drive now and can see how much easier and simpler things are with a car and I'm not sure Id ever use a pushchair for a child that age now as it's a case of just popping them in and they would fall asleep on the way home. Entirely different ball game to walking a long distance with a slow toddler, juggling bags and public transport.

Thank you all for confirming what I'm doing is ok. I literally feel so guilty because yes I do strap him in screaming as he tries to escape. He gets so upset and furious. Although then he enjoys the journey and pointing things out as we pass them (tractor! bike! digger!)

I think if walking we would have to stop ajg properly look at all these things

Putting him in the buggy to get to where you need to be in reasonable time is perfectly right and normal.

He’s not going to need a buggy at 18 if you do this. But a limitation of not driving is that you will need to sometimes make time
for him to walk.

@theotherfossilsister bribe with chocolate buttons or other snacks of choice

As DD was a back archer I used to hold her in with my knee and have a rice cracker between my lips and as she unarched her back to reach forward for it I strapped her arms in.

Until he can walk faster he has to go in a buggy. You can't plan your life around a dawdling pre-schooler.
I used the buggy until mine were over 4.

Three days, plus running buggy on days he's not. He goes to park or museum with nursery and walks. They mention he's not always great at holding their hands though. I feel like this is my fault for using buggy so much.

2 year old sometimes have to learn that you are the boss. This is one of those times. Put him in the buggy by force if necessary and go to nursery. Explain why. He will get use to it.

Two miles to nursery and no car? Yeah he needs to use the buggy, no other way. No need to feel guilty for making it happen.

I used to have to strap a screaming tired baby into a buggy in front of all the other parents at home time, it wasn't fun. One day it lashed and by the time we got home we were both crying.

There's walks for toddler walking and curiosity - these are the walks that nursery are doing. There's also walks that are from A to B in a tight timescale, that's what you're doing.

We have a backpack thing but I find him quite heavy in it and he doesn't seem to like it more than the pram. First and last bit of journey might work though.

How about a balance bike - for the last half of the journey? When my middle was just under two she could cycle at a good pace for 4 miles at a time.

Maybe try letting him walk the last 10 mins and use it as a reward for getting in the buggy first of all. Of course, you've got to keep him safe and soon he'll be walking better and it won't be such an to increase that walking time, even if it's only on one or two nusery days.

If you had a car he would be arching his back and screaming about going in the car seat too. Take no notice of nursery, I am sure he does great walking for short distances at a slow pace for them but that is not remotely the same as getting to work on time...how many of the nursery staff have kids of their own? At our nursery they were lovely and great at their jobs but also mostly very young, childless and a bit clueless about life outside of nursery with kids.

Can you try a little 3 wheeled scooter? My daughter used one from 2 and is still
using it now at 4. I can also drag her along on it if she’s tired of scooting

Probably not helpful but mine was the same with the car seat for a phase.

I'd be stood in the rain at the car door while he'd be bucking and screaming and escaping like Houdini, jumping over the seats to glare at me from the other side.

Honestly it was horrendous and made it hard to go ANYWHERE (this was off the back of a car sick phase, which was off the back of covid, so I felt like a prisoner).

PPs are correct. Do what you have to do to strap him in and don't entertain that walking is an option. Most importantly, IT WILL PASS.

Two miles to nursery so you have no choice, he has to be strapped in to his pram. On the days he's not at nursery though I would practise walking nicely. He's not going to be in his pram for too much longer so he does need to learn and have the opportunity to walk instead of being in the pram every day, but nursery runs are not those opportunities.

I mean, I don’t disagree with the essence of this but it’s so aggressive and unsympathetic it makes me feel a bit sorry for any child on the receiving end!

When you’ve had to crowbar your kid in to a car seat for the 20th time you’d lose your sympathy too. Thankfully mine are older now but I remember the ridiculousness of toddlers

It's fine, let him walk as much as is convenient and the rest of the time use the buggy.

Let him walk loads when not in a rush to build up his speed/stamina and then before long he'll be able to do the nursery walk in less than two hours.

Also get him a scooter!

It’s not really ridiculous, it’s actually a good sign as it shows a desire for independence and curiosity about the world. Obviously that isn’t always convenient!