I have recently joined a new mother and baby walking group and several of the mothers have said that they have issues with making their children sit in a buggy.

Let’s look at this from the Childs point of view; they have just learned to walk after lots of praise and encouragement from their parents (how I believe children learn to walk here.)

Then suddenly they are strapped into a device that prevents them from exploring the world on their own two feet!

My second son was a nightmare when it came to the buggy.

When we went shopping in town, if both boys were good I would take them into a shop that had toys that children were allowed to play with while in the shop.

My boys loved the toy kitchen and played happily alongside any other children UNTIL it was time to leave, My 3 year old would come right over and hold onto his brother’s buggy when I called them both, while I had to physically remove my 18 month old from the kitchen. He would then arch his back making his body go stiff and rigid making it impossible to get him back in the buggy.

I had to almost knee him in the stomach to make him bend enough to place him in, then together my 3 year old and I would strap his arms in: Then we had to get out the door. My little terror would stretch out both arms and grab each side of the door frame. Again my older child would help by prising one hand away while I did the same to the other hand all while my little one was screaming blue murder!

I wish that I had the behaviour management knowledge that I have now, then more on that here.

When my toddler also started objecting to sitting in his car seat we bought him a toy steering wheel which really helped, so I clipped that onto his buggy when we went out. This was great until it rained and the rain covers wouldn’t fit over the toy.

Eventually I discovered that giving him something to eat took his mind off of objecting to sitting in the buggy: So I recommend giving your child a small container with a heathy snack in, such as dried or fresh fruit.

You could also buy your child a toy buggy and doll and show her/ him how to strap the doll in and encourage them to push the buggy along saying how much the doll is enjoying it.

t

Singing to your child is another distraction that may help along with pointing to things as you walk, can you see the dog going for a walk? look at all the cars lined up, etc.

I don’t wish to be the barer of bad news, but as your child grows you may come across a new problem, that your child doesn’t want to get out of the buggy! More on that here.

Hopefully my tips will help you all with your children.

Please share any tips that have worked for you and your children by leaving me a comment (which I love to receive and always read).

I vould like to thank my friend Kirsty Butland for letting me use the photos of her beautiful children in this post.

As always questions and comments are welcome.

Until next time.

Karen

x

0

Then all of a sudden they are strapped into a device that prevents them from exploring the world on their own 2 feet.

My middle son was a bit of a nightmare as far as the buggy was concerned.

When we went shopping in town, if both boys were good.

We then, however, had to get out of the door, where he would stretch out both arms and grab the door frame while screaming blue murder ( all because he wanted to stay and play).

I would prise one hand off the door while my 3 year old did the same with his other arm.

I only wish that I had the behaviour management knowledge that I have now ( through experience) then! more on that here

When my younger child also started complaining about sitting in his car seat too, we bought him a toy steering wheel which really helped so I clipped that onto his buggy and that worked, until we had to go out in the rain and the rain covers wouldn’t fit over the plastic steering wheel. With time I worked out that giving him a snack to focus on took his mind off of refusing to get back into his buggy. I suggest a little pot with a healthy snack in , such as fresh or dried fruit.

You could also try giving your child a toy buggy and doll and show them how to safely place the doll in it and while they are pushing the pushchair along tell them how good the doll is being.

You could also try singing to the child as you push them in their buggy.

I don’t want to bring any bad news, but as your children grow you may come up with a new problem of getting them out of the buggy!

When I was working as a registered child minder, a parent whispered to me that they were trying to get their 4 and a half year old to walk rather than sit in a buggy. They told their offspring that his buggy was broken and that if he wanted to go out he would have to walk and she asked me to try to perswade him to walk rather than ride too more on that here