[ladybugchild77]

Dd has been walking for 5 momths - running now is one of her favorite past times!

However, when we leave the house she is used to the sling and while she spends quite a bit of time in it every day she doesn't want to walk on her own in public. I have tried encouraging her to walk next to me and hold my hand but she always says, "Up!" (unless she can run away then it's "Down!!!"

) My poor pregnant back can't take this much longer and with a new one on the way I don't know how often I can realistically carry two...thoughts?

 

[apple_dumpling]

Is she kind of introverted/sensitive? I ask because my dd does the same thing *if* there are people around. If no one is around and we are out in public, she'll happily get down and run around. If someone else comes by, or if there are already people around, she screams as soon as I try to put her down (she doesn't say up... just screams

: )

that's the only link I can find so far, is that she just doesn't seem to want to get down around other people. That said, she will play ok with other kids and she's fine around people in general... she isn't overly shy, especially if its a familiar place. But sometimes if she isn't too familiar with the place and other people are around she doesn't want to get down.

I'm sorry I know it must be killing your back since you are pregnant, it kills mine and I'm not pregnant!

 

[asaunders]

My DD did this almost 100% of the time when we were anywhere but home until I got pregnant (she was 2.) I used to not mind it so much before then, but because she was/is over 30 lbs., I just got soooo tired carrying her around with me when we were shopping etc. that I HAD to start insisting she walk next to me (she never did the stroller thing - I'm assuming that's not an option for you, either?) when it just got too exhausting. It took a few outings before she stopped asking (she never had a meltdown, just would keep asking at first), but soon she just got used to walking when just she and I were out together. She is VERY shy and still asks to be picked up whenever anyone (even much smaller kids!) approaches her and/or speaks to her. If we are with my DH, she will insist on being picked up, but if she is with me, she knows I probably won't (unless, of course, she's hurt or crying or something) and just buries her head into me. She holds my hand most of the time we are out, but just recently has started walking alone (still right near me) at certain times (it seems to coincide with whether there are many people around us) and seems to really enjoy the newly-discovered independence. I wish I had better advice for you, but if she really seems to not be comfortable being put down and it truly upsets her, I would try to put up with it as long as possible, since I'm sure she will hit that independent stage soon enough be asking to walk, especially if she's seeing others toddlers doing the same, or I would just try to talk to her about how carrying her sometimes give your back a boo-boo and maybe she'll understand it enough to agree to walk when you can't handle it anymore. I don't know how well DD would've understood this (or cared!), though, if she had been 17 months, as opposed to 2, when I explained this to her. It's obviously very important that she feels secure while you are out, but you also need to take care of yourself and not wear yourself out, either. I think it's better to get her used to the idea of walking now (when you can blame it on your boo-boo back or being tired, NOT the baby itself) rather than when the new babe arrives, so as try to minimize any resentment regarding this particular issue. Good luck and I hope you find a solution very soon!

 

[wombatclay]

Our dd's must be related!

OK, this sounds really counter-intuitive, but... do you have a stroller?

DD is 16 months and loves to walk/run. But she is really shy around new adults (she'll be running in the park, catch site of a new adult, run to me and hide her face in my leg...then start to cry if I don't pick her up). Anyway, I WOH and my mother cares for dd a few hours each day. Grandma has a bad back and a bad knee so there was no way she could sling dd as a babe or keep up with her as a toddler. So we got an inexpensive stroller for grandma to use.

On their daily walks my mom noticed that DD was using the stroller as a "safe base" when new people arrived. Sometimes at the park dd would run and hide in Grandma's lap, but other times she'd run and put one hand on the stroller and one on grandma's hand. So maybe if you can't continue carrying/slinging your toddler you could introduce an umbrella stroller as a secondary "security" spot?

So it sounds weird, but maybe having a stroller for your toddler would be helpful? Especially once the new babe is taking up the sling and your toddler is tired of toddling?

hth

 

[ladybugchild77]

Thank you so much for the responses...they definitely got me thinking...

apple_dumpling - My dd is very smiley andtalkative...as long as she is in my arms or lap...She is very shy around new people whether they be adults or children now that I think about it. She will cry to be picked up even if she wants to play, ya know? Hmmm...

asaunders - When I try to get Kiera to hold my hand she sits down wherever we may be - parking lot, bookstore, house...she looks at me like, "Nope...I can do it myself thank you." We are still working on that!

I will definitely try explaining it to her - thanks for the suggestion.

Wombatclay - Yes, I have a stroller but we only use it for walks once a day. I always sling her whenever we are out somewhere...I guess I could try it more often??? I am just not sur eif I can haul the darn thing out of the trunk of the car - it's heavier than my dd!

Thanks for the suggestion!

 

[wombatclay]

Quote:

haul the darn thing out of the trunk of the car - it's heavier than my dd!

The one we have is pretty light weight and cost ten dollars at Target. It's nothing fancy, just a seat with a shade on top, and it collapses down to a pretty small package. We always used the sling (and now the ergo) so the stroller didn't need to stand up to much abuse!

Good luck with the coming babe!