toting around your 3 year old - Page 3

[BetsyS]

We always tease that my 3 year old walks twice as much as we do whenever we go anywhere. He runs ahead, then back to us. Runs ahead, then back to us. He covers all the ground twice.

And, he never gets tired. He's like the energizer bunny. He's never complained about being tired or asked to be carried unless he was sick. He's one of those kids that is 100% on or 100% off, though. No in between. Even at night, he talks to his stuffed animals, then just falls asleep mid-conversation (we can hear him as he does it, and it cracks us up).

[RoadBuddy]

I have a DS who will be 3 in May. He still easily fits into a stroller, and we use it sometimes, but not much at all. For the zoo and other outdoor stuff, we have a radio flyer wagon - he can get in and out easier and I think feels bigger. He walks, and doesn't get tired, but he also likes to go his own way and I need somewhere to contain him every once and awhile, like if I try on clothes.

I think it would have to be a very big 3 year old who actually doesn't fit in a stroller. Wanting to use it...that's a different story

[sewaneecook]

Our MacLaren Volo stroller was a great buy, it's compact, and my nephew, 6 years old, has used it when he got tired at Disney walking all day. My 3.5 year old would never tolerate walking for long distances. On outings (no matter the length) DS2 (7 months) will ride in the Ergo. I can carry DS1 in the Ergo for up to an hour, but I don't like doing it, he's too big to fit comfortably.

[ann_of_loxley]

We use the pushchair until very recently (We don't have to anymore! Yay!). We don't have a car so often have to walk places - which could be a few miles there and back! So there is no way I would expect a small child to be able to do that! (despite funny looks and the seemingly majority ideal that children should no longer be using pushchairs much past the age of two!)

(now - I love my slings - I have many! lol I am also a big fan of carrying a baby continously - and using slings more than anything else if the need may be...but 45lbs was my back limit! lol)

At 3, my son was 45lbs and 45cm tall ( he has always been pretty large for it his age - people always assume he is much older!) - but he still fit in his pushchair just fine! He might have looked a bit silly - but so what?! He wasn't sleeping in it at that age, so his height really didn't matter - he was just sitting so his legs could rest. His weight was the only thing that started to become an issue - but that was only because I was having to push it!

One rule of thumb when getting one though - and it serioulsy made a HUGE differene... PROPER TYERS! lol - The kind you have to blow up. They take so much more weight and make pushing much much easier - and over many more terrains than just pavement.

No need to splash out. Freecycle or ebay will do! Even if you find yourself using it for another two years - will be worth it!

If my son was still needing it (and honestly - that would be understandable because we don't have a car and do walk everywhere) - then I would have splashed out and bought a 'special needs' pushchair - they are designed for much higher weight limits (most up to 100lbs or more) and of course bigger children - so accomidate for taller children, more bum space, etc. - of course I wouldn't have splashed out that much, I would have still used ebay for that! hehe

[phathui5]

I think the wagon is a great idea if you're only taking out one or two kids. It could be a pain if you're not somewhere with good open spaces though, because they're huge.

[minkleaf]

My 3 year old still uses the stroller on longer walks, (zoo, grocery store, etc.) and I definitely need it for carrying our stuff. I find wagons kind of dangerous, though, between getting clipped on the heels myself, and either having to twist around all the time to check on it or risking dumping the kids out on uneven terrain.

[alaskaberry]

My almost-4 yr old walks everywhere. We take a lot of breaks, though.