toting around your 3 year old

[naturallymommy]

lets say we went to the zoo, or a very long mall trip, or an amusement park. I can't have him walking the whole time, and I can't hold him on my hip the whole time.

I can't use a stroller, because he's too tall and I don't really wanna (but if you have suggestions for portable ones for taller kids let me know)


So what do you all do?

[Alyantavid]

Mine walks for the most part. I do carry him sometimes, but he's big and too heavy to carry long distances. If we're some place like the zoo or something, dh will carry him on his shoulders.

My kid's a great fan of piggy back rides too, which is easier on me than having him on my hip.

[possum]

My almost 3 year old is 40 lbs and 40 inches tall. We do not own a stroller. Most of the time he walks, but I do carry him quite a bit. If we are going to be out (zoo, hike, etc) or I need my hands free (like to do shopping at the farmer's market) we take a carrier. My husband prefers a SSC, and I prefer a woven wrap. Both distribute his weight well and are quite comfortable.

Melinda

[naturallymommy]

Originally Posted by possum

My almost 3 year old is 40 lbs and 40 inches tall. We do not own a stroller. Most of the time he walks, but I do carry him quite a bit. If we are going to be out (zoo, hike, etc) or I need my hands free (like to do shopping at the farmer's market) we take a carrier. My husband prefers a SSC, and I prefer a woven wrap. Both distribute his weight well and are quite comfortable.

Melinda

Mine is about 40in 40 lbs too. I didn't know that could go in a wrap! What kind do you use? Whats an SSC?

[mamadelbosque]

DS1 is nearly 3 and way smaller than yours (~28-29#s and ~36"), but I haven't reguarly carried him around, let alone worn him in... at least a year or two. My back's just not up to it!! He walks pretty much everywhere. If DH is along he'll let him ride on his shoulders, but with me he walks, or very, very rarely rides in the stroller (babyplanet)

[possum]

Originally Posted by naturallymommy

Mine is about 40in 40 lbs too. I didn't know that could go in a wrap! What kind do you use? Whats an SSC?

I have a Didymos and a Hoppediz. I prefer the wider sturdier Hoppediz nowadays, but they are both great carriers.
SSCs are soft structured carriers. We have an Ergo that is okay for short trips, but if we are going to be out all day with an SSC, we have a home-made one that has a much taller body so that my son can get a nap. I basically made a pattern from a mei tai I liked and out Ergo waist band. There are several tutorials online, I believe, if you are interested in making one.

Melinda

[HarperRose]

SSC is a Soft Structured Carrier. Beco and Ergo are both big names. Infantino recently started selling what they call a "Wrap & Tie" and I was impressed w/ the quality. BabyHawk is a brand of Mei Tai (which the Infantino company copied, among other makers of MT carriers). Then there are Ring Slings (RS) and Wraps (Moby Wrap is a brand), and simple pieces of cloth. It's AMAZING, really, the options available. I've done the zoo w/o a stroller before and regret it *only* because I didn't have anything to hold our crap. Toting the toddler on my back was no problem.

So look into a Mei Tai, a Wrap, or a Soft Structured baby carrier. I carry my 30+ lb 2.5 yr old frequently, as well as my 13 mo old niece. I'd carry my 3 yr old cousin, too, if he'd let me, but he wasn't accustomed to being worn as a baby and isn't a fan.

Here's the MDC forum for babywearing: http://www.mothering.com/discussions...play.php?f=245

And http://www.thebabywearer.com has a GREAT selection of the various types of carrier available. It has instructional videos and pictures, too. I don't think there's a carrier type out there that isn't on TBW. It really gives a good variety to look through and see what works for you.

ETA: My 3 yr old cousin is currently in my Ergo on my back. He's sick. So even if he's not a big fan, he's tolerating it. Poor guy.

[floiejo2]

What about a wagon? I'm thinking about getting one, I know not very convenient to take in car, but you can rent them at like the zoo and amusement parks. My friend has one and it's great for carrying all your stuff and then if the child gets tired, they can sit and ride for a bit. You could put your farmer's market finds in it too. My 2.5 yr old walks most of the time too, but she gets tired or sometimes we want to walk a bit faster than she can.

Does anyone else have a wagon, are they actually practical?

[fyrwmn]

we use the wagon when we go to the apple orchard and the beach. it works great! we took dd to the zoo whenshe was around 3yr and i wore her in the ergo almost the whole time. we brought the stroller around to carry our stuff in, but dd didn't end up riding in it. she's very light but tall. it was comfortable for me!

[MJB]

I don't carry 3 yr. olds. They walk. My husband will still carry my 4yo sometimes, but my back can't take it. I think the last time we used our SSC was when we took a trip to NYC when he was 2.5. Maybe a couple times after that. If they get tired at the zoo, sit down and rest! It's not a race.
Also, my son could ride a bike at 3 so we'd do that for long walks. Not in the mall though, obviously!

[One_Girl]

I used to carry my three year old when she was tired of walking or I would make her fold herself into a stroller. Most zoos rent wagons for a really high price, but if it is a one time thing maybe you can save up for it to make it fun. Our local mall also has little cars that kids can be pushed around in, they are smaller and easier to push than the carts at the grocery store. When I went to the mall with dd I planned out the stores I was going to first and hit them, then we had a lunch or treat before going to some unplanned stores. I left when dd was not able to hold it together anymore. It really isn't that fun to bring a small child to the mall so I didn't make it a habit.

[nextcommercial]

For trips like the zoo or the pumpkin patch, we used a wagon. For trips to the mall or the amusement park, we rented a stroller.

[LuckyMommaToo]

Huh. We just use a stroller for Disneyland or the zoo. Didn't realize it was that unusual for a 3 y.o. It's nice to carry water bottles, sunscreen and snacks in the basket, too. We have a Phil and Ted's with nice air wheels. DD (3) and I also often walk DS to school. It's about 3/4 mile one way -- there's no way she could make it there and back in a timely manner. We use the stroller at least a few times a week for that trip, too.
-e

[snoopy5386]

we use a stroller - a maclaren, they are great for tall/heavy kids. They fold up small, are lightweight, turn on a dime, etc. If nothing else it holds all of our stuff - lunch, coats, stuffed animals, etc. Personally I'd rather push that stuff around than carry it around all day.
In your case I might rent a stroller at those places - the rental strollers tend to hold bigger kids well and there is the novelty factor.

[bobandjess99]

I make my kids walk, its good for them. if it is truly too long of a walk for them, i use a stroller. I'm not sure what you mean about the kid being too tall for a stroller? I have a cheap $20 BRU umbrella stroller that folds up into nothing and my 45 lb 5.5 year old can jump in it and I'll push her.

[lonegirl]

My son is 35lbs 39". We have both the BOB stroller (no not compact) and the Baby Jogger City Micro....he fits well in both. I always have a stroller with me because it seems he is ready for a nap about the time I am out and about. I don't care about the dirty looks I get for pushing around my 3y/o....he's sleeping, I am not about to carry him around the mall, and even i I had to that renders me useless to actually shop.
I always ask when we go to the mall if he wants to walk....generally he does. I still tend to take it in as by about halfway around he is asking me to carry him.

[jgale]

WE have a Maclaren volo too. My 3 year old still rides in it whenever we go somewhere further and a block or two. She can walk, of course, but veerrryyy slooowly. Sometimes my 6 year old gets in and holds the 3 year old on his lap. I consider the stoller a huge help at places like the zoo.

[karemore]

I do not understand what people have against strollers.

My almost 5 year old rode in her MacLaren stroller yesterday.

She was sick, tired and bleeding from the ear. The ENT office is up a long hill from the parking garage. I pulled the stroller out of the back of the car and pushed her up the hill. There's no way I could have carried her, she's 46 lbs and 45 inches tall. She fits in the stroller just fine.

Of course she walks 95% of the time. I use the stroller to get books to and from the library, to cart chairs and coolers to concerts/picnics etc. But for those times when DD is too sick or too tired to walk, the stroller makes more sense than pulling out my back or forcing her to walk.

My stroller recommendation is a Maclaren. We have the Triumph.

[Think of Winter]

When my dd says she needs to be carried, I take her at her word. That said, I get tired and have to put her down more than she'd like.

We don't own a stroller, but I would have no qualms about renting one at a zoo or a mall. They get a kick out of riding in one, and it makes the trip a lot more pleasant. The strollers that you can rent/borrow tend to be made for bigger kids, and they don't have to collapse so they're easier to push.

[dex_millie]

Originally Posted by bobandjess99

I make my kids walk, its good for them. if it is truly too long of a walk for them, i use a stroller. I'm not sure what you mean about the kid being too tall for a stroller? I have a cheap $20 BRU umbrella stroller that folds up into nothing and my 45 lb 5.5 year old can jump in it and I'll push her.

:

I use to try the no stroller thing but that is more work and hassle in certain situations. We just went to Disney World for Christmas and we had strollers for the 2 kids. We would not have been able to manage without them.

OP I don't see why our 3 year old can't fit in a stroller. DS is 36lbs and 40" tall and he fits in the cheap $20 stroller so I would assume he can fit in the bigger more expensive ones. I mostly use strollers with DD but if we are going somewhere that will be too much walking then I bring it as an option for when he feels he needs to rest, he prefers walking though.