Is it hard to walk with a buggy board?

[GwendolineMaryLacey]

DD1 starts school in September and I am determined to walk instead of taking the car. However, it's a bit of a way, up a bloody great hill and DD1 is going to find it hard going. So, I was looking at buggy boards.

But, I'm only 5' 2 with short arms. Am I going to find it really hard to walk behind it, will I be able to reach over it and will I end up like the Hunchback of Notre Dame?

Don't laugh but I even looked at double pushchairs. She'll walk most of the way but DH has had to carry her some of it (church is next door) and that won't be an option for me. But I want to avoid the inevitable fight on the way to and from school which will make me resort to the car.

TIA :)

Personally I think it depends on the pram/board combination but in many cases you definitely have to make adjustments to either your stride or the position from which you push the buggy. If you really have short arms it might be quite difficult to find a good combination as I always kind of assume that had I a buggy with a telescopic handlebar it would be easier to position myself further behind?! But then you'd have the problem of the bar being too high...
Maybe I should have started this with what pram do you currently have?!

Came back to add that bit! It would be an iCandy Apple.

I personally found it very hard to walk with a buggy board. I'm 5'8" so not short. I found it difficult walking down hills and I always ended up kicking the bloody thing! Might have been my massive feet though!

I bought it on the recommendation of a friend who loved hers. So I might just be a one off, but I found it a pita.

It served a purpose for me, but I hated the buggy board. It gave me terrible back ache. I am also a bit taller 5'7". Could you encourage her to use a scooter? at least it is fairly lightweight and you can hook it on the back of your buggy when not in use.

using a buggy board absolutely killed my back. i ended up using a double buggy for the first couple of terms.

I borrowed one for a day. It was hell. I coudn't stand up straight. DS couldn't stand up straight. Buggy was a bit wobbly (P&T Sport, and BJCM). I kept kicking the damn thing. Neither of us liked going up or down hills, which is pretty much all there is around here.

I managed with a buggy board ok.., and DS found it more acceptable then a double buggy.

Would a scooter work for your DD. Depending on how steep the hill is ( and how good the brake is for going downhill!) .. you can carry it to and from school on the pushchair .

Thanks all :)

Scooter might work. Do they tend to scoot off into the distance though?

What's that ugly looking scooter that every child seems to have? DD1 has a scooter but I don't think it's up to long distance scooting!

The Micro Scooter? You can get a tow rope for it which may work when needed??

I think so. I see them everywhere. I'll have a look. Thanks.

Consider buying the joovy instead!G

www.joovy.com/c-18-double.aspx

Thats a very good suggestion Starshit. What we don't know is how old the other DC is because the Joovy isn't great for an under 6 month old. Equally it could be difficult putting a buggy board onto a pushchair with a carrycot.

:) DD2 is currently nearly 16 weeks....