Help me to get my 17mo DD to like her stroller again!!!!

[Shanti]

So we all know 99% of babies/toddlers don't really enjoy sitting in their prams for very long right?! I don't blame them, it's restrictive and especially as toddlers, they want to walk/run/move around and don't want to be strapped in!

My 17mo DD has always gone in her stroller when out and about and been happy to sit in it for a while until she lets me know she's had enough...... whether this be 5,10,20mins..... anyway, the last few weeks DD WILL NOT let me put her in the stroller. AT ALL......
We get the stroller out of the boot, go to put her in it and she cracks it big time, arches her back, throws her head back, screams murder, you name it (she's very strong minded!! LOL).....

Yes, we've tried food bribes "if you sit in your pram I can give you a biscuit" and we've tried "look dolly is in the pram do you want to sit in the pram too?" and pointed at other kids in their prams and said "wow look at that big girl in her pram" but to no avail......

It makes shopping really hard for me because DD also doesn't really enjoy being in her Ergo much anymore as it's confining, she wants to be either on my hip or walking.......and of course she's 11kg now so gets very heavy on my hip!!

Yes, we also use the shopping trolleys too, so when we get to the shops I grab a trolley and put her in one and use that instead of the pram and that worked fine at one stage but then she didn't want to sit in the infant seat strapped in, so we then let her sit in it without the seatbelt, then she started standing up on that so it was the safest option was to put her in the main compartment of the trolley (which I know you aren't meant to, but who friggen cares!!!! LOL) and she LOVED that for a while and NOW she won't even sit or stand in the trolley for very long......she wants out! Even with numerous biscuits and food offered to her

What else can I try?!?!? Any suggestions you could offer that I haven't already tried to get her back into her pram? I'd be happy if she only sat in it for 10mins even!!! Enough for me to zip around to the post office, and grab a few quick groceries...... at this stage I can't even do that without having to hold her on my hip the whole time it's so tiring. Although I must say, carrying her around is doing WONDERS for my weight, it's just dropping off!!!!!!
It's getting to the point now that I think I'll have to go shopping on my own at night when DH gets home from work and I don't really want to do that because I enjoy shopping with DD (when she sits in the pram or trolley) and by night time I'm too tired.

TIA

[Jennifer13]

Sorry hun, I'm probably not going to be much comfort here. My DD wouldn't stay in her stroller from a little bit younger than your DD's age. We gave up. I used the trolley and the HAB for grocery shopping, but the rest of the time I found it was harder to try to manage her and an empty stroller than just to get her used to holding my hand. It took a while, but she learnt. My problem was that when I'd turn my back she'd have gotten out of the stroller harness quick as a flash and be climbing out and running away!

It wasn't always easy managing a walking toddler at the shops, but it seemed less stressful.

[black_rose]

My 15mo is heading in the same direction, she stands up in the trolley seat even when clipped in so for now she stands in the trolley compartment, she is fine with dd1 in their too but when it's just her she tries climbing out. I think I will just have to let her walk. Have you thought about one of those harnesses you strap on to them with a lead? I always thought they were awful but with no 3 on the way I am thinking of ways to contain dd2

[Beautitude]

DS is the same. If i need to do a quick run to the shops and i want him in the pram i have to go first thing in the morning when he is in the best mood and give him something to eat. I find trolleys to be better so iv turned into one of those mums who walk around with an empty trolley just so my toddler can sit in it. I do let ds walk more now and just make sure i leave extra time as it is a slow process. Usually he is pretty good walking but today he did the carpark bolt while i had my hands full so i think he is going to have to learn to walk with harness as it was very scary.

[Arcadia]

If dd decides she doesn't want to go in the pram I explain to dd why she needs to go in (safety, too heavy, need to be quick) and then say I am going to count to three and then put you in (so she knows it's coming). By the time I get to three dd has usually calmed down and goes straight in. I know how impossible it is to put a stiff-as-a-board toddler in a pram, so fingers crossed she understands you need her to do this.

Otherwise, what about a trike thing you push along? It would save you carrying her. Our local toy library hires them out.

[Frangipani]

We had a similar issue with DS1 about then as well. At the same time we were also expecting another baby, so trying to get organised with strollers so we could have one in each car - we decided to get a little umbrella stroller to keep in DH's for if he took DS1 out- and we found that DS1 didn't seem to have a problem in that one- it is low to the ground so he can get in and out easily (though we do strap him in still, i think he felt a little more in control being down at his level).

As for the old stroller, we ended up selling it not long after and upgrading to a different one to hold both our boys and we've not had many issues with the new one (he did use it a few times on his own, but we mainly used the umbrella stroller before DS2 arrived)- though i think it helps now that DS1 realises DS2 is also in the stroller. So in our case here I think he found the new stroller a little more comfy. But i know this may not be your issue- just thought i'd share.

But i do recommend maybe trying an umbrella stroller- if you haven't tried or use one already (mum picked hers for $30, ours we paid about $100, cause we wanted it to lay down a little).

[Shanti]

Yeah I thought perhaps we should buy a new pram/stroller but the one we have is comfy enough and she's never had a problem with it up until a few weeks ago?! it also has a nice warm lambskin insert in it so it's super comfy and warm.
I think she is just trying to 'fiercely' try to prove her independence Her stroller reclines down and also sits upright too depending on how tired she is etc.

Yes we bought one of those monkey backpacks with the tail as a lead a couple of months ago and she loves it and calls it "nan-nee" hehe so cute but if he's on her she's happy but if i take the lead and walk with her she stops and cracks it and wants it taken off her! She will wear him but not with me holding it.......

I might try the "1, 2 3" count as I get her in the pram, but honestly I cannot see that working!!!! I will give it a go next time, thanks.

And one of those push along bike things won't work, not when i have a few things to get and have a trolley to push around too?

hoping it's a phase.....

[meow]

so it was the safest option was to put her in the main compartment of the trolley (which I know you aren't meant to, but who friggen cares!!!! LOL)

I'm sorry but *sigh* We've all been there!

My son is a bit of a nightmare at the shops these days too. I rarely go unless I HAVE to and I make it quick. I do all supermarket shopping at night.

[*TripleJ*]

damn i was hoping someone had a resolution lol im getting a double pram for #2 but DS doesnt like the pram probably coz we hardly use it if it a toy usually works at the moment though

[~Kim~]

Ergh I hate the 'stick thing' they do. Both my two have done this on and off. Now DD asks to go in the stroller and let DS walk lol.
One thing Jenn taught me when DD was little and refusing the car seat was to get her to help. Worked well with her in the stroller too. Let her climb in herself and put the straps on. Even DS is OK if I let him put the belt on himself.
Neither of mine did the sit in the trolley seat thing. I am 'that' mother, who sings through the grocery shopping (yes out loud) - I will dance if its required too , I have bubbles in my bag too....if not to keep my kids amused then to distract other patrons from my kids lol.
Hang in there babe.

[didispunk]

I personally, put the kids in the stroller from when they were old enough and they knew to sit there until they were allowed out. I never had a problem with them sitting there, as if they cried or complained, I wouldnt get them out so they knew quickly not to complain and winge as they wernt getting out and WINNING..

I wasnt going to get a 2 year old tell me what they are doing.. I am the parent!!

Good luck

[fionas]

I personally, put the kids in the stroller from when they were old enough and they knew to sit there until they were allowed out. I never had a problem with them sitting there, as if they cried or complained, I wouldnt get them out so they knew quickly not to complain and winge as they wernt getting out and WINNING..

I wasnt going to get a 2 year old tell me what they are doing.. I am the parent!!

Good luck

For DD and I'm sure for a lot of people in this thread, it's not just a case of a bit of crying or whinging though - if it was JUST that, I would have made DD stay there too. My DD would physically try to get out and she could get her buckles off. As I said in my previous post, she would also lean right forward with her hands dragging against the pavement and virtually headbutt the floor putting herself and passers-by at risk. I had to put her in a close-to-the-floor stroller at that stage because I couldn't lift her (the pelvis stuff) to put her in a higher pram.

[Shanti]

I personally, put the kids in the stroller from when they were old enough and they knew to sit there until they were allowed out. I never had a problem with them sitting there, as if they cried or complained, I wouldnt get them out so they knew quickly not to complain and winge as they wernt getting out and WINNING..

I wasnt going to get a 2 year old tell me what they are doing.. I am the parent!!

Good luck

I think it depends on the child and how vocal they are going to get, because perhaps your kids aren't as vocal as my DD, when she's mad, she can get pretty loud and screams and screams VERY high pitched so it's just simply not worth keeping her in the stroller when she's clearly trying to communicate with me that she's had enough (yes we used same stroller since she was very little too btw).... whether it be in a park or busy shopping centre, there is no way i can continue on walking with her screaming blue murder (and I mean murder!!) continously at me.
That doesn't mean I'm afraid to be in charge and be the parent.... I'm just aware that when my DD is letting me know she wants out, she wants out.....I can handle the whinging and sooking they do, but when it escalates and continues going up, change needs to occur. I'm sure most parents would agree with me!!

DD doesn't get out of the straps so that's not a problem, just getting her IN the stroller to begin with is the problem!!!! Never mind, we've just been doing very short trips to the shops when absolutely necessary and I'm only really going now when DH is with me.

[fionas]

We had the same problem with DD too so not much advice here I'm afraid I think I gave up after she was virtually headbutting the ground from her stroller in the middle of Melbourne and almost tripping up other pedestrians. That wasn't a good day!)

However, at almost 3 she has now become fascinated by her big pram which we haven't used for about 18 months and only just got out of storage for DD2's impending arrival. She keeps climbing into it and wants to be wheeled around the house in it. That's A LONG WAY off for you guys though and I'm sure no comfort at all.

We used the harness - had to, she was a bolter.

[Shanti]

Great news!! Lately I've been taking out our 3 wheeler jogger pram and DD seems to like that one!!!! So the stroller has been put aside for now, and we're back to using the 3 wheeler pram. She won't let me strap her in but that's okay as I just put the front bar up and just watch her closely. Yay!!!! She will only stay in for up to about 20mins but that's okay, its a huge progress!!!! I can go walking again with my mothers group!!

[Arimeh]

Haha I'm just reading this now!! I'm glad its all sorted out

FWIW, DS never liked the pram, and we didn't have any carriers for him so we carried him everywhere.. our arms got very sore.

Now - at 3.5, he loves both the pram and the carriers - probably cos he doesn't get much of a turn in them anymore cos someone smaller is always getting a go - and he has to walk!! haha!

[boomba]

safest option was to put her in the main compartment of the trolley (which I know you aren't meant to, but who friggen cares!!!! LOL)

ooops This is how i get most things done if i have to go to the shops...which I just avoid now as its not fair on the kids they ahte it! I never knew you shouldnt put them in there?

[black_rose]

I wish didi! dd2 is becoming an escape artist like dd1, they can escape the straps and then stand up, the are both skinny little minnies, if they want out if a pram, carseat or highchair there is no stopping them.