Using a pushchair for DS (nearly 5) +ASD

[TheodoresMummy]

I am going to resort to this for the school run (well we still use it for rare trips to town and stuff).

DS is a nightmare with walking anywhere and the school walk has taken us up to an hour already !!! (20 min stroll on my own )

I can't rely on DH to pop home in the anoon to pick him up as it is not always possible and I hate feeling like I can't manage DS.

Hey ho...anyone else still using pushchair in similar situation ? For behaviour rather than need I mean...

Yes!
Though ds ( ld asd ) was so large it was not very comfy! I still have it in the boot of the car(and ds is 9 soon) for those occasions ds has an afterschool appt (when he is tired and uncooperative)- I havent used it for a while though the sight of it is usually enough to get a little cooperation! Ds was given a 3 wheel folding scooter for his 5th birthday. He couldnt manage it himself for a few years but he was eventually happy to stand and be pushed along! ( and it adjusted for me to ride back ), It is still a godsend! He can even drive it himself now. Thankfully he goes by school taxi now - special school!

I can see dd2 being in a pushchair for a while yet, she's 2.7 but very tall for her age, she has no fear of traffic or people. Dd1(as) still uses it sometimes, shes almost 5 but very tiny ,she can be a pain if we are out in town as she has a thing about wobbily paving slabs gobbiling her up and tends to walk very slowly.

Hello! My DS (autistic, nearly 5) has a Mclaren Major (which I hate and has been relegated to my parent's garage) and a lovely big SN three wheeler which will apparently contain him until he's 7 or 8.

I try and take him for a walk to the local supermarket after school most days, and I always take the buggy. Although I really want him to walk when he can, he's terrible when he's out of the buggy, and he wants to be out of it at the most inconvenient times. I've recently had to resort to buying a Crelling walking harness, and the big buggy and the big harness together just about do the trick and keep him from running into the store rooms of every shop we walk past or straight into the road. I anticipate using the buggy for a long time to come if I'm honest!

I know plenty of other mums IRL who use a buggy for a similar reason with children the same age or older - you're certainly not alone!

Ds1(ASD) is 8 and stands on the back of dds pushchair. I still put ds2(5,NT) in the pushchair sometimes to pop to the shop. I am always amazed that someone with as much bounce and energy as ds1 won't walk up the road without whinging if it isn't in his interest!

Forgot to say that part of the reason for standing him on the back is because I haven't got enough hands to push buggy, hold ds2 and prevent ds1 scarpering to nearest park...

We still have to use the buggy for Ds1 sometimes (he was 5 in July). It's for when things get too much for him in town for example and he gets upset and becomes too difficult to move around and carry or get to walk. If the environment is ok he can walk a good distance, if things get too much for him it's a relief for all of us (him because he settles in the buggy, us because we can then get on with things).

Yes! DD3 is now 8, has Downs and ASD and I nearly always use our buggy when out with her. 2 years ago she got too big for a normal buggy, I now have a major buggy on loan from wheelchair services. Just needed a referral from my GP. I explained that whilst DD3 can walk very well when she wants to, if she doesn't want to there is no moving her. Also she would be disruptive in shops if allowed to walk alone, so I need to contain her IYSWIM

My 4 year old ASD ds1 uses the buggy board with ds2 sitting in buggy for the school run - it still takes us an hour and me on my own just 15 minutes! He has to keephopping off the buggy board to check it, fix it, etc but it's still preferable to the alternative of dragging him home! He would sit in the buggy but ds2 needs that, and somehow I feel the buggy board is better than a double buggy at his age (he's definitely behaviour rather than physical need)..he's so heavy that a big double buggy would be too much for me as it's pretty much all uphill!

my ds is 4.5, we use a bike buggy for the school run, 6 mins on the bike, or about 30 + mins with ds walking. (I know it is not an option when they are over 6 but it has been great for my ds (I have a 2 seater one so dd can go in as well)