{"id":54108,"date":"2019-05-15T04:12:41","date_gmt":"2019-05-15T04:12:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.babyhealthandcare.com\/what-to-do-when-your-toddler-wont-stay-in-the-stroller\/"},"modified":"2019-05-15T04:12:41","modified_gmt":"2019-05-15T04:12:41","slug":"what-to-do-when-your-toddler-wont-stay-in-the-stroller","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.babyhealthandcare.com\/de\/what-to-do-when-your-toddler-wont-stay-in-the-stroller\/","title":{"rendered":"What to do when your toddler won\u2019t stay in the stroller"},"content":{"rendered":"
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As a mom of three, Terrie Malcolm has experienced pretty much every toddler phase\u2014the good and the bad\u2014at least once. The \u201chating the stroller\u201d period\u2014where a toddler just won\u2019t stay in the stroller\u2014is one she\u2019s lived through three times. Her daughter Rebekkah was especially anti-stroller for a while. Strapped into a double model at a Canada Day event alongside her nine-month-old<\/strong> brother, Rebekkah wanted out so badly, \u201cshe actually tried to chew through her five-point harness,\u201d Malcolm recalls.<\/p>\n

Why your toddler won\u2019t stay in the stroller<\/h2>\n

It\u2019s fairly common for toddlers to freak out in the stroller\u2014and it makes sense developmentally. \u201cToddlers are just starting to gain control of their bodies. They really want independence, and they want to explore and learn about the world around them,\u201d says Tanis Shanks, a parent educator from the Saskatchewan Prevention Institute in Saskatoon. Put that together with a toddler\u2019s natural state of pretty much non-stop action and movement, and it\u2019s not surprising that stroller meltdowns happen<\/strong>. (Of course, it\u2019s also important to check that the stroller isn\u2019t pinching or otherwise causing discomfort.)<\/p>\n

There are days, though, when strapping in just isn\u2019t negotiable\u2014maybe you\u2019re zipping through an airport or doing daycare drop-off on foot or by public transit. For those times when you simply can\u2019t let your toddler walk on their own and you don\u2019t have the option of a carrier, try these strategies to take the stress out of strollers.<\/p>

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1. Use your words<\/h2>\n

It might sound a little airy-fairy, but empathizing with your kiddo can go a long way, says Shanks. Say, \u201cI know you don\u2019t want to sit in the stroller. You want to walk or run. But it\u2019s time for you to get in the stroller so we can walk to daycare.\u201d Malcolm and her husband, Pat, who are also the parents of 20-month-old Everlea, use silly songs and voices, crooning, \u201cSorry you have to be in there\u2026.\u201d Toddlers don\u2019t understand the concept of time, so instead of saying you\u2019ll arrive in five minutes, point out something they can see, like, \u201cWhen we get to that red building, then you can get out and walk.\u201d<\/p>\n

2. Distract, distract, distract<\/h2>\n

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\nWhat\u2019s the difference between a tantrum and a meltdown?<\/span>This is one of the golden rules of parenting a toddler, and it definitely applies to stroller time. Break out a special book or toy<\/strong> that is just for when they are buckled in and co-operating (it should be something that can be attached to the stroller so it doesn\u2019t get tossed out). Tell stories, or play a game like I Spy. You can also buy a toy steering wheel so your little speed demon can \u201cdrive.\u201d Sometimes the Malcolms will jokingly offer to get into the stroller so the kids can push, and the giggles are often enough to smooth over the fussing. \u201cWe\u2019re also not above bribery,\u201d says Malcolm, who will hand over a juice box or snack once they get in. (Note that snacking in the stroller can be dangerous if you aren\u2019t keeping an eye on your child, since unattended eating is a choking hazard at this age.)<\/p>\n

3. Change the ride<\/h2>\n

Borrow a friend\u2019s jogging stroller to see if the different angle or height helps. Some stroller-hating toddlers are perfectly happy in a wagon\u2014a number of models have an extra-long handle for adults to pull more easily, or you can lever the handle so you can push the wagon rather than pulling it. Pedal-less push bikes and tricycles<\/strong> can also be good options if it\u2019s a slower or shorter walk, such as to the park. Many malls and amusement parks have specialized strollers or carts to borrow or rent. \u201cMy kids are happier to be in something that looks like a toy fire truck or dump truck,\u201d says Malcolm. Or try a stroller board\u2014also known as  a buggy board, glider or ride-on board\u2014which looks a bit like a skateboard and attaches behind the stroller\u2019s rear wheels so your toddler can stand up while hanging on to the stroller\u2019s handle. Many parents say these boards are absolute game-changers.<\/p>\n

4. Get active beforehand<\/h2>\n

If you can, take five minutes before stroller time so your toddler can get the wiggles out by dancing or running around, or make a game out of reaching arms or waving feet while they\u2019re in the stroller to release some energy, recommends Shanks. \u201cWe know toddlers need 180 minutes of activity a day, and 60 minutes of that should be pretty vigorous,\u201d she says. \u201cIt\u2019s also recommended that a toddler not be restrained in a stroller or car seat for more than an hour at a time, so take breaks.\u201d<\/p>\n

Above all, remember that this is just a normal stage of development, depending on how active and curious your toddler is. And while every parent of a toddler knows that sometimes just getting out of the house can be a marathon, try to give yourself extra time so you can get from A to B without anyone melting down\u2014including you.<\/p>\n

Read more:
<\/strong>Best umbrella strollers of 2018
<\/strong>How to curb your toddler\u2019s fake crying<\/strong><\/p>\n

Belly Bootcamp<\/a><\/strong>, shows you five moves you can try. Do 15 to 20 reps of each exercise, then rest for a few minutes as you walk or jog. Then do it all over, doing three sets of the circuit during your walk. Keep working out with you tot with this baby-carrier workout<\/a><\/strong>. <\/p>\n

Jogi yoga mat provided by PC Home.“> \t\t<\/p>\n

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