My Son Refuses to Sit in His stroller...help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm so glad you asked the questions. My 21 mo. old is doing the same thing and we just brought baby no. 2 home, so I'm really looking forward to walking this summer!!

All I have found to work is bribing her with food!! I get her at a point where I know she'll want a snack and give her something extra yummy in the stroller--

Funny, my son will be 2 at the end of May and does the same thing! So, I try to mix it up, we'll bring his Radio flyer wagon - I'll put a truck and some snacks in it or his Step 2 "car", which he really likes. Sometimes, he just wants to walk/explore, which I'm getting used to...but he wants to explore every puddle and pile of remaining dirty snow, so just learning to be patient. I wouldn't want to be strapped in a stroller either! I guess this is just a stage! Good luck! By the way, I got an elliptical and use it in the morning before he wakes up - that is how I TRY to get exercise in, that way I'm not so annoyed when he doesn't want to power walk with me!

what about a harness that way when you walk with him he can't run to far ahead

Hi, a lot of kids go through this stage. There are bikes, wagons, cars, etc. Maybe you can let him pick out which one he wants to ride in. Maybe that will help. Toys, books, snacks, and stuff like that might help too. Just keep trying new things. I hope it works out for you soon.

How about letting him push the 2-year old on your walks? Get a stroller low enough for him to handle, like an umbrella stroller. Yes, you'll have to go slower, but he'll like being the big helper and you won't have the battle anymore. I remember how frustrating that is, when you want to go shopping for instance, and they don't want to stay in the cart. Let him be a helper in exchange for being able to walk rather than sit. Or, get him a little wagon that he pulls on your walks and he can collect little rocks and pine cones and other treasures. My boys loved to do that. Good luck!

My son started this when he was about 15 months old, so I got him a bike! We started with a small plastic car type with a seatbelt, that has the long handle on the back for you to steer. It gave him the feeling of freedom while I could still retain control. As he got older we had to switch to a tricycle (there is one on the market that also has a mama-handle), but now at three years old he is already riding the big boy bike. We also used the old-fashioned wagon, so on days where he wanted all his accessories (cups, snacks, toys, etc) he could have it with him. I would recommend checking out those kids consignment shops (like "kid to kid") as they should be putting out their sprig gear now!

My daughter is the same, she has never sat in a stroller without fussing. I gave up after and few tries and have used a Snugli ever since. We use the bigger Snugli backpack now and it is fabulous. She absolutely loves it and I get to walk lots and not worry about clear sidewalks. I highly recommend a backpack and the Snugli with the external metal frame is very comfortable.

I gave my little guy snacks or books when he was in the stroller, eventually he forgot to try to get out,then he liked being pushed around after a while!!

Don't plan on power walking with a kid in a stroller for an hour...how boring for him! Go alone or plan the walk for nap time and let him sleep in the stoller, or leave really early and let him walk/explore untill he's tired and then pop him in the stroller and power walk your way home.

I'm not sure how keen you'll be to this recommendation, but what about a backpack/ back carrier for you and carry your 2 year old??? Like I said, I'm not sure how heavy he is, but with weight baring exercise, you can do less and get more benefit than just pushing the stroller. He may enjoy the experience a little more and you'll definitely get more out of it. It may not be an option, but I actually did this with my son for a LONG time (until he was about 25lbs) and only when I got pregnant with my second did I stop. It got me into GREAT shape, aerobically and anaerobically, and it was just walking so that got me so excited!

The only other option is make sure that you strap him in TIGHTLY so he can't stand up and just endure the "looks" for walking with a screaming child! Either way, don't give up on YOU! Your exercise and sanity are JUST as important as your childrens welfare and happiness.

Good Luck--R.

My daughter also went through this phase. Like you, I found it frustrating that she wouldn't happily sit while I walked since I relied on it as my form of exercise and stress maangement. I tried to plan my walks for times when she would be tired - either nap time, or after a really active outdoor play session. If that wasn't possible, or if it didn't work, though, I walked anyway - with her strapped in, screaming the whole way. The stress of not getting my exercise was worse than the lack of serenity during the walk. Obviously it's not so nice walking with a screaming kid, but for me, it was better than not walking at all. I suppose some might say it's cruel but I say as long as the child is safe (strapped in, can't get out), the screaming is merely the child's way of registering his dissatisfaction with doing something he doesn't want to do. But the whole world can't revolve around him and his desires. It won't hurt him to walk for half an hour. It's good for him to learn that the world will only revolve around him for 23 hours 30 minutes - those last 30 minutes can be for you!

Hi M., I feel like this has happened to every one I know once their kid hits 2 y.o. if not earlier! With my daughter I started to carry her on my back. She didn't like the hiking backpacks, but did well in an ergo.
As she got older and better with communication we have been better able to reason with her and know she understands that it's better to have a ride than not.
So, I think they mostly grow out of it, but it might take a year.
I ended up joining the YMCA for a while, b/c they had a daycare room and it was the only way I could get real exercise in.
Oh, something else that helped (i think ;-) was that we took "short walks" for our daughter and she was allowed to walk or run and keep up. that way when we really wanted or needed her to go in the stroller we were able to say -"no honey, this is a long walk". She trusted us and understood the difference, so she was more agreeable.

good luck to you.

My daughter hates the stroller also. I went to Target and got a monkey pack. It starps on her like a back pack and the monkey looks over her shoulder. the tail is a strap for you to hold on to her. It gives her a feel of independence but safety. I got it in the baby section. It is made by Eddie Bauer. they have a dog and a bear i think. Good luck

Good luck, consider getting one of those harnesses. Those 2 year olds are pretty strong. Try to make it easier on yourself because otherwise, if you continue fighting with him, you'll never get out for that walk.

my youngest is just shy of 2 and loves to walk we go for long ones and he walks too he only goes in his stroller when go out for long day trips so he doesnt get tired so my suggestion is let him walk and take the stroller incase if after a few times he makes it no problem you can start leaving the stroller at home.

Things you could try:

1. Tell him this is Mommy's walking time & he needs to sit. You will do something for him later, the playground or he can walk when you are done etc. or you have already done some play time for him, now it's your turn.

2. tell him he can walk & not be in the stroller unless he's not being a good listener or cannot keep up.

3. put on ankle/wrist weights to get more from less walking and let him walk too.

It sounds to me he just wants to be like everyone else who gets to walk. He doesn't want to be treated like a baby.

Once I went for a walk in the woods with my 3 children & it ended up being hours & my youngest was about 3 at the time & he never complained or asked to rest or anything. I tossed the stroller.

As a practicing child psychologist, I have found that strollers are emotionally stressful for children of high levels of intelligence. There was a great study from Dundee University in Scotland that concluded; "Our data suggests that for many babies today, life in a buggy is emotionally impoverished and possibly stressful," said the study's author, Suzanne Zeedyk of Dundee University's school of psychology. You should take a look at how much time he is spending in the stroller and limit it to no more than 30 minutes a day, which would mean that you allow him ample time to investigate his surroundings, be it in a store or at a park, so that he may be intellectually and socially satisfied. In my professional opinion, there is a strong possibility that he has a very high IQ and he is extremely curious about his environment. Good luck!