what age should a child stop using a pushchair?

[choochootrain1]

I'm thinking of buying a 2nd hand iCandy (it's cheaper than a new stroller and I've always wanted one) but DS is 20 months. Currently he's not showing any signs of me being able to give up the buggy, even if we go to the corner shop, he wants to be carried back and will tantrum about it. I'm usually on my own with him plus shopping/hopping on and off buses etc so I figure for us it's probably at least another year away before he'll walk everywhere. I also don't have a car, we always use public transport.

But, what age do you think a child SHOULD give up the pushchair? am I soon to head into the disapproving looks? Should I even care?

There isn't a set age. My third child is 3 and a half but the size of a five year old. He still sits in the buggy occasionally despite being a fantastic walker. He walked half way up Snowdon and back with no complaints but he gets tantrummy and tired sometimes and it is just easier all round if he is in the buggy.
My 4th is 2.2 and still goes in the buggy daily, he will walk for a while but seems to get tired easily and ends up just plonking himself on the floor for a rest.

At Alton Towers recently there were loads of people hiring buggy's for children who looked about 7 or 8 and I know my friend bought a double for her 6 and 7 year olds to use in Florida.

My dd is 3.8 and shows no signs of stopping pushchair use. We walk everywhere and it's just easier to bring the damn thing than to have her dawdle, whinge, and finally lay down in the pavement in protest. Scooter and balance bike have the same effect, and are annoying to them have to carry whilst dragging aforementioned whingy child to wherever.

Yes who cares? If you think you will find it useful I'm sure it'll be worth it. DS is 3.6 and only just moved from the buggy to a buggy board, as others have said, while he is perfectly able to walk, and does walk, it's very useful for when they are tired or you need to get somewhere fast!

Waggamama, when you see those children in their pushchairs how do you know that it isn't just a temporary respite for them after they've been walking for ages? And how do you know that they don't have special needs?

My not quite 3.5 dd does a lot of walking. We don't have a car, so walking is necessary. She holds hands nicely most of the time and yet... And yet... i can't trust her not to bolt. children don't just bolt because their parents have never tried letting them walk. My daughter has a significant speech and social communication disability, which you might not realise simply by looking at her. She thinks it's a game, and we can't explain otherwise because she is unable to understand. She's also got to the point where she's simply too heavy to carry. So if she's tired (again, we do a LOT of walking so of course she gets tired) or isn't cooperating it's pram or nothing.

Do you drive? Would you feel the same way about parents who strap their kids into cars just to go to the supermarket or the town centre? And if not, why not?

So glad to read this thread. I have an almost 3 year old, but I can't drive. I still use the buggy for trips to toddler group as it's almost 2 miles each way, and even if I can get her to walk the whole way, it's coming back that's the issue after a morning playing!

We used one until ds was about 4. Quite often it was for hanging bags on and him trotting along holding the handle though. I didn't drive then so walked everywhere.

Wagamama, ime, having had both bolter and non bolter DC, the bolter is strapped into the pushchair or on a lead, until older than expected because they are a bolter (they are not turned into a bolter by pushchair use!). One of my DS was a danger to himself and we had other DC who also needed out attention - a difficult situation. That DS was in a pushchair till past 4 and on a lead well after that... I'm sure we were judged by many but he's alive and well, which was the point of constraining him!

Indeed Miaow, indeed.

They're should stop using one when they're physically and behaviourally ready to stop using one. That might be before they're 2. That might be when they're school age.

Use it until when it suits you. Kids are safer strapped into pushchairs than wandering into the road or wrecking shelf contents in shops. I saw a man in a shop discussing something intently with the shop assistant, meanwhile his toddler was unloading shelves containing bottles of toxic chemicals. I cannot understand why people don't use buggy or reins in these situations. Ignore people who judge you for using a buggy.

My dd is 3.5 and still uses the pushchair, she shoots or goes on her balance bike as well but my school run is two miles each way so some days I do 12 miles (when she has pre school) and we have to be there on time So she goes in the pushchair or bike seat. She often walks on the way home but when I need to be there on time for drop off or pick up she goes in the pushchair.

Ds1 was out of pushchair by about two years but I didn't have school run and he was happy to walk.

By the time I had ds3 I used a buggy board for ds2 as I had places I needed to be and ds4 was in the pushchair or on the buggyboard for longer as I had the long School run and three elder children to deal with.

I don't drive, we walk or bike everywhere and dd can walk miles but not necessarily at the pace necessary.

wow peoples children can walk miles?! My DS walked a mile twice on consecutive days...and has refused to walk very far ever since

After having a chat to a friend today as well as reading all the replies, I am firmly back in camp of "he's an individual" and i think I just have to go at his pace. On some things he is way ahead of some of his peers (like language) and on others he is far behind (like walking any distance) I think I shall insist we always leave the house without him already strapped in from now on though, he can get in once he has tired and I shall need to leave earlier to allow for his walking pace.

Getting the iCandy....I may never have another child, at least I will have fulfilled my buggy dream (buggy addict) and they sell on pretty easily from what i've seen on Ebay so even though by then it may be 3rd or 4th hand I'm sure there will be someone wanting it for 50 quid after I've used it.

I'm a toddler walker, and don't drive. But then most amenities are within half a mile.

It depends on the child.

DD2 has been a pushchair refuser since 18 months old which was a pita as I don't drive so couldn't walk the long distances that I was used to and had to take more buses. She's now 3 and happily walks 2 miles a day.

DD1 was in the pushchair until 3.9 (when dd2 came along as we didn't want to get a double pushchair). It was handy if I wanted to go anywhere but sometimes I feel as if I made a rod for my own back as she's now 7 and whines if she has to walk for longer than 10 minutes!

I used to be a pushchair judger

Now I have a 2yo dd with mobility issues. There is no outward sign of this once she is dressed and had her splints on.

She can walk but her legs get tired very quickly (no amount of exercise will build up her leg muscles I already do extensive physio, they are as strong as they can be)

Even though I drive I still have to have the buggy as she just can't keep going.

I already get judgy looks, especially when she is fighting going in and begging to walk (even though she's already overdone it and can no longer manage 2 steps without falling over)

I anticipate using a buggy for as long as she fits in it. I have a large off roader so this could be 7/8, after that we will need to consider a wheel chair (i would like to put this off as long as possible)

But don't worry... Judge away!

Luckily for me I don't give a shit what ignorant arseholes think

I don't give 'judgey looks' as I know there are sometimes other circumstances why children are in pushchairs at an older age (disabilities, one offs etc). But I also think there are many more parents who keep children strapped in buggies for an easy life rather than teaching them how to walk further/safely/nicely.

Obviously it's personal choice but my ds was out of a buggy at two because there were no other issues to contend with and now he can walk much further than many of his peers who are still coming to preschool in buggies (no other mobility issues, live nearby).

it's a real bug bear of mine seeing massive 3/4/5 year olds in a buggy. They really should be walking. Fair enough occasional use for days out or nap times. waggamama yep thats not the slightest bit judgey to say something like that

I don't get how you can automatically distinguish who to judge and who not to judge. Not all mobility issues are obvious and not all 2 year olds (as a nursery worker its quite unusual actually) can walk long distances without getting worn out or can be trusted beside big roads.

None is saying they should be confined at all times so its silly to suggest that its the parents fault that their child cannot do so.

Completely depends on the child, the number and age (and needs) of siblings and the situation at any given time. Is that helpful?

My DD was out of a buggy well before 2, she scooted the 3/4 mile to nursery and again for the return trip and could easily manage 3-mile round trips either walking or scooting. I felt v smug and judgey. Then when she was 2.7 DS was born. Suddenly I had an urgent need to be somewhere in time for the next feed or change, and was faced with trying to chase a fast escaping toddler who was acting up to get attention whilst pushing a newborn in a buggy. Speed and restraint became important factors. Judgey pants came off and we bought a double (BJCS so we could revert to single).

Used it as a double for maybe 6 months, till DD became a little more reliable and faster, and DS could go longer between feeds. DD back out of a buggy and walking everywhere at 3 or so. Judgey pants back on.

Then DD started school, as summer-born. Bloody hell, did that knock the stuffing out of her. The number of weekend days out that we had, that we ended up coming home with 18mo DS trotting along happily or on shoulders or in a sling, with 4yo DD snoring in the buggy, having been literally unable to walk another step and falling asleep on her feet... Judgey pants now donated to charity shop!

DS still used his occasionally until about 4, but exclusively used the maclaren umbrella fold one from about 2.

We put ours away at about 2.5 by which point when DS was competent on his mini micro.

I don't think we've ever not had some kind of wheeled assistance for long walks. Now at 3.10 he uses his Sprite or rides his bike on dog walks.

It is most unfortunate that scooters and bikes don't have places for mummy crap all the useful things you can put in a buggy. My friend and I were discussing whether it would be sectionable to take buggies out when we were by ourselves.

it's a real bug bear of mine seeing massive 3/4/5 year olds in a buggy. They really should be walking.

I suppose I give a double take when I see 6 year old in a pram (not one with SEN)

You know that a child who is disabled might not always look like, whatever a child who is disabled, should look like - don't you?!