Toddlers and shopping centres??

[SammyRo]

I've been letting DD walk for a while, but I do have a 'leash', as some have called them! For me, its piece of mind that whilst I want her to hold my hand, at least I've got another 'bit' that's attached to her if she decides to suddenly let go. I think of the reins as an additional safety measure really! Especially as I've started walking with her to the local shops (about a 5min walk), and knowing that I am going t be getting slower with my growing bump, I want to have that added control. IMO, kids can do random things, however much you teach them that they have to hold hands etc. They just don't understand the dangers of cars and roads etc, and accidents can happen with vigilent parents.

[sconeonamission]

Pram. Jensen sometimes likes it, sometimes not (he's 2 tho) Hated the pram when he was 1!

Now if he wants out, he doesn't want to walk, he wants mummy to carry him... soo frustrating

[skybie]

DD1 is 3 and i still have her in the pram!! i really dont feel like having to sprint through the masses to catch her when she runs off!
She gets antsy when we go past those claw machine things and the rides u put a dollar into, but other than that she's generally a good girl

[Bathsheba]

I have an extra large pram... I call it my car... it's an Emmalunga and will comfortably hold my youngest until he is 5... it it probably will!!! I let him walk when we are heading home but not very often in the supermarket... he runs everywhere and I just can't keep up anymore... maybe if I didn't have my Graves (disease) or were 40yo LOL He gets enough exercise... doesn't need it in the supermarket.

[SammyRo]

I have an extra large pram... I call it my car... it's an Emmalunga

Oooh, you lucky thing! I've always wanted an Emmaljunga but DH wouldn't let me splurge!

[Bathsheba]

It's cheaper than a car I don't drive. Worth every cent! It can also hold a box of Huggies nappys in it's cargo tray... there is a photo in my gallery.

[Lolli]

Emmajunga's are awesome. I borrowed one off a mate when ds was a newborn- it was almost 20 years old and still the best pram I've ever used

[Bathsheba]

They probably wouldn't be good if you needed to fold it down and lift it into a small car everyday though They are very robust because they are made of metal (chrome coated steel) instead of mainly plastic and aluminium like most prams... but with that comes weight. I like a sturdy pram but they are not good if you have to lift them every day.

I remember now that I did take my middle child to the Show in it when he was 5yo! I'm currently using it daily for my 3yo... looks like I'll get another 2 years out of it at least.

[Lolli]

[QUOTE=Bathsheba;2056637]They probably wouldn't be good if you needed to fold it down and lift it into a small car everyday though QUOTE]

yep, that was it's only problem- it actually had to be deconstructed to fit in the car, and it was quite heavy- you couldn't just push a few buttons and fold it down, then toss it in ifywim.

[Bathsheba]

Yep, that doesn't surprise me Lori. I guess there is no perfect pram... they really are like cars... you need the right one for your circumstance. Emmas are like Landrovers.... but most people need a mini for portability.

[Junglemum]

i let DD walk in shopping centers as soon as she was able to walk. She would toddle along with me right behind her. I found it a great way to burn off some energy. Now at a little over 2 she walks a lot, we too have rules, she has to hold my hand and if she runs off she's straight into the carrier or pram. Initially she always wanted to go on the rides, but now she is great, asks me first and is mostly good when i say 'maybe later'. She is pretty good in shops when we go in a say "Now what's the rule?" She says "Look but no touch mummy" Again if she touches anything i pop her in the pram.

I guess with DD2 she wont have as much free reign because i will be splitting my attention between the two and wont be able to keep as much of an eye on her.

If we are shopping on strip shops or anywhere near cars she has to hold my hand or go in the pram/carrier.

I don't let her run wild but i do find it a good opportunity to let her have a little freedom and learn a bit about rules.

[Bathsheba]

yep, that's the thing... when you have more than 1 child to supervise it gets harder and you have to be tougher... I let my middle child walk around more... but I don't have enough hands to hold my 6yo's hand and push the pram and hold my 3yo's hands when we are crossing the road etc.

[amberj]

I've been trying to let DS walk sometimes, but its never been very successful. One time he wanted to wander into every single shop. Another time he ran like a banshee through the supermarket (although that was funny- it was quiet and I let him run, he had a blast). And the other day I put him down at Bunnings and all he did was stand still and stare around at this HUGE place he was in. Seems like I always end up carrying him if I try letting him walk, so if I'm not prepared to do that, in the pram/ trolley it is!