best pushchair for 3 years old

[margobambino]

Hi, We have Stokke Xplory but DS is now growing out of it. We are looking for something roomy for a 3 years old who looks like 4 and sturdy enough to carry him when he wants to run but has to stay in the pushchair. I'd appreciate any advice.

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Hello,

We've noticed this thread is quite old and some of the product recommendations are a little out of date. We've spent weeks speaking to parents and testing out lightweight strollers and buggies. Here's our round up of the best buggies available to buy now

Hope that helps!

[HelenPD]

Thanks for asking the question 🥰 as I too am looking for a stroller for those days when you have a tired non-compliant child sized toddler and have no strength or spare hands to carry them.
I learned a lot about the models available from the kind respondents, so thank you.
Also learned about some of the ‘contributors’...
www.psychologytoday.com/gb/blog/evolution-the-self/201308/what-you-should-know-about-advice-givers

[AlwaysSunshine81]

I have a just turned 4 yr old who is tiny. I will still use a Maclaren if going into town or my bugaboo if gojng for a long fog walk at the end of the day. She has a balance bike and scooter which she will use but sometimes it’s more
Practical and safer to use the buggy and I know exactly where she is. Every child is different

[TurquoiseDress]

This is a zombie thread....just read through my posts from November 2016.

Apparently lots of posters getting their feathers ruffled by a 3 year old in a pushchair!

I gave my opinions- best pushchair to go for and why my then 3 yr old used a pushchair- didn't read all the comments above.

[TurquoiseDress]

Maclaren Techno all the way!

They are pricey though- I've got through 2 of them in the past, both bought second hand for less than £25. Still did the job!

[Reinaestele]

Why do people criticise eachother so much especially on parenting? If you can't recommend what she's looking for then dont bother replying at all. To keep telling her a 3 year old doesnt need a pushchair isn't helping, and she's right the are some 3 year old or more older childern in strollers. Like she said its not to be used all the time. You also have to think about if your toddler usually has a siesta....what on earth do you do if your little one falls asleep on you whilst you're out shopping or on a train....carry them? Sure! And for how long!? That's why yes, they do still come in handy! Not to have them in there all the time but when there are hiccups makes life a lot easier!!!

[Mamabear4180]

I know this is a zombie thread but I had to comment. I was searching for a buggy for my 3 year old for our holiday in April and was disgusted by the comments on here. My 3yo has autism which is a completely invisible disability when she's happy and behaving well yet she is delayed in so many areas including emotionally and despite being the size of a 4 year old she has the mind of a baby in so many ways. There are many situations where it would be unsafe to allow her to walk and many environments where she would be overwhelmed without being able to hide under a buggy hood. It's really gutting to think that despite all my friends reassurances that I don't have to worry about what people think there are parents out there who would look at my lovely daughter and judge me when my whole world is dedicated to caring about her. I wish there was more awareness of hidden disabilities but in the meantime I just want to say please think about it. That mum might be already finding things very tough and for all you know might be more of a super mum than a lazy mum.

[babboo77]

i am in the same ish boat, my dd is 2y 2months and i need a pram that is big enough for her, i have started walking her but she gets tired quickly, i have her on reigns but when she gets tired she just dangles and i have hand and wrist problems so it hurts me, the buggy i have is a cossato pow and its awfull she sits forwards in it and hangs her feet down so i cant get it up curbs. i considered getting a back carrier but i have chronic bursitis in both hips so i cant carry her about either. i just need a one handled big pram that i can pop her in when she gets fed up of walking

[Inadither]

My 2.5 year old turned her nose up at the buggy as did her sister. Now she's hit 3 she's in love with it again. The babyjogger city mini does have a roomy seat but the weight limit is only 18kg if I remember correctly. I sold mine as with a larger toddler it was a bugger to steer. We bought an 'out n about 360' and out of all my buggies it's my favourite as it's soooo light to steer, relatively easy to fold and great on rough surfaces. It also has a 25kg weight limit and (shhh) my 5 year old has been known to sit in it when she's been too shattered on a Friday after school to walk the mile home. So yes, we use it for our 3 year old, she walks plenty the rest of the time and the school run is not the time for tired tantrums as we're always in a rush. It's either that or use the car and I bet plenty of people sit their children in a car seat to go to school so what's the difference?

[BBQsAreSooooOverrated]

Does anyone know the max weight for a Maclaren XLR pushchair? The UK website states the standard 15kg weight but US is 55lbs (25kgs). Even on Amazon.UK it says 15kg and 55lbs in the same product description

Are the US ones produced to be sturdier or will the UK ones also hold the same weight?

[nephrofox]

Genuine question for those with 3+ olds on buggies: are they always the youngest (or only) child? Or do some of you have double buggies for a say 2 & 4yo?

I have a 2yr gap and everyone told me I wouldn't need a double buggy. Persevered but it was bloody awful, I wish I'd just had a double

[TurquoiseDress]

Nah it's always been a bitchy place!

I've been on here since about 2009

The thing is, it doesn't matter what question is being asked on here...there is always someone who can put the boot in or make bitchy observations to ensure the OP feels like total shit.

I take it all with a massive pinch of salt!

[nennyrainbow]

Interesting, from the perspective that the popular view is that MN has got bitchy all of a sudden. Looks like it always was. This was 2010.

[smilingmind]

I had a very big 3 year old who had to be in a pushchair as he has ADHD.
He wouldn't use a wrist strap or a backpack with a monkey's tail to hold or even hold my hand (just lay down and screamed).
He was also very fast and would run away, across roads even if he got away from me for one second.
He's 11 and a very good footballer now as he is so fast.
I found the only pushchairs that would fit him were Maclaren. I tried him in an XT and then bought a second hand Maclaren from a charity shop. Not an XT but can't remember the model.
I got the impression though that all Maclarens were big.
We previous had a Quinny Zapp but he could drag his feet on the ground and stop it.

[TurquoiseDress]

Have just realised that this is zombie thread!

Reading back over the old messages, what a horrible bitchy lot some of you are!

[TurquoiseDress]

I'd say go for a Maclaren Techno or similar.

Very easy to get hold of second, do not pay the extortionate prices for brand new! They are very sturdy and hard wearing.

My LO does not turn 3 until next Spring but we use a pushchair as we need to get moving in the mornings so that LO is in nursery and I can get to work on time.

They are perfectly capable of walking but we simply do not have the time to meander in the mornings!

We still have the Stokke Xplory (love love love this pushchair!) and will use for all other times when we can stroll around at leisure

[BBQsAreSooooOverrated]

Most pushchairs only go up to 15kg so she's a bit heavy now, she keeps disengaging the folding mechanism on her current one so looking for a more heavy duty one! It might have to be a special needs pushchair but they're very expensive.

[ghostspirit]

bbq could you get her one of the disability type buggys? If not though I've old have thought a really basic buggy would be the best. I think the jive is ok. Although they don't have foam handles do not as comfy to push.

[BBQsAreSooooOverrated]

I'm also looking for a buggy for a tall 3 yr old who weighs 19kg - 91st centile for weight 98th for height. I was a bit sad with all the judgey comments on this thread tbh. I realise people probably think dd is too big to be in a buggy as she looks nearer a 4-5yr old than a 3 year old we get looks anyway when she shouts and flaps so to think people are judging about her being in a pushchair too is upsetting.

My dd has autism, low muscle tone and cannot walk for more than about 10 mins unfortunately. I don't drive although I'm learning so I do the school/nursery runs on foot - 30mins each way , Dd would need to walk for 2hrs a day which she just cannot do!

[Andormeda]

Honestly , I have never seen as aggressive judgmental people as mothers. They know all about it ! guess what, nobody does.
Mine is 2.5 (nothing is wrong with his legs, he is sporty, runs faster than me, and can walk for more than 40 mins continuously) and occasionally when we are going for a long day trip or travelling for few weeks, WE NEED A BUGGY!!!
he gets tired and he is not light to be carried especially if you have back pain or have your period. Even when his dad is with us, it is not easy to carry a little one comfortably for a long time , if you have no car !!!! and also have suitcases on you. Also what if he falls asleep and you still cannot or don't want to to go home/hotel !
please remember to be kind to other women and mothers, what works for you , might not work for others, or even might not work for you again with your second child !
Good luck

[minipie]

ZOMBIE THREAD

(agree about the judginess by the way - horrid and completely unhelpful)

[s88]

It really pisses me off when people get all judgey about other people's kids in pushchairs !

OP didn't ask when was a suitable age to stop using one fgs!

My ds is 2.5 and he is in the joie brisk lx, he is quite big for his age (would easily pass for 3.5) and he has plenty of room still.

[summerdreams]

This thread is mn at it's worst.

[LauraMc1987]

I googled this topic looking for some advice and came across this thread - I know it is very old now! But reading some of the comments, my god some of you need to think before you speak! Why is a 3 year old needing a buggy, they can use their legs etc?! How do you know their situation. My daughter will be 3 in July, she didn't walk til 22 months and now although she has been walking for nearly a year she still cannot run, jump etc & is still very clumsy and falls over a lot. We are actually waiting on a referral to a community peadiatrician to have her checked as there seems to be a delay in her walking development, therefore we still need to use a buggy often. I don't drive and due to there only being 24 hours in a day it would be impossible for me to have her walk everywhere. She can't manage. End of. So think before you air your views and give parenting advice, every kid is different!

[mrsfab2009]

Appreciate this post goes back to June, but just wanted to say thank you to those who gave sensible suggestions. I am also looking for a buggy for my 3 1/2 year old. She is perfectly capable of walking with me and does walk nicely, but gets tired at the end of a long day having fun running and walking! A buggy is also very handy when it rains! So once, again, thank you for the decent suggestions.

[diwhit007]

I am quite frankly disgusted at some of the censorious, critical comments of so many people on here. Come on mothers, let's support one another not add to the already overwhelming burden of guilt that's continually heaped on us parents (and mothers in particular). I am a mother and a grandmother and I came across this message thread because I am taking my three and half year old grand-daughter on a longish holiday very soon and wanted some advice about buying a cheap pushchair to take with me. My husband and I love walking, as indeed does our grand-daughter, but we worry she will tire before we do, and as neither of us is strong enough to carry her for any distance then we feel a pushchair or buggy will prove invaluable. I am also thinking of the long walks at the airport etc. I'll probably just look for a second-hand one on Ebay to be honest, but wanted to post something to those sanctimonious "perfect" parents out there. Get off your high horses and concentrate on bringing up your own kids instead of criticising how other people are bringing up theirs.