Letting just turned one year olds out of stroller

When you take your babies to the park or zoo- and they've just turned one, how do you let them out of the stroller to stretch their legs? They run opposite directions. After being at the zoo awhile, I feel like they need to get out for a minute, so I let them out at a little playground there and the entire 5 minutes (that's all I can stand) I am running back and forth trying to bring one baby over by the other one. To top that off, my almost 3 year old will go in a different direction. The same thing happens at parks. Any one have tips on doing this?

 

QUOTE(amyamyv @ Apr 24 2007, 02:18 PM) [snapback]232017[/snapback]
When you take your babies to the park or zoo- and they've just turned one, how do you let them out of the stroller to stretch their legs? They run opposite directions. After being at the zoo awhile, I feel like they need to get out for a minute, so I let them out at a little playground there and the entire 5 minutes (that's all I can stand) I am running back and forth trying to bring one baby over by the other one. To top that off, my almost 3 year old will go in a different direction. The same thing happens at parks. Any one have tips on doing this?

All I can really say is some days we're constantly yelling at them to stay together. :lol: If you can convince them, get them to hold hands when they're out walking. Otherwise, a few instances of "Ok, you're not listening, so you have to go back into the stroller" might convince them to be more mindful of where they're going.

Good luck!

--> Andy

 

I don't have these yet, but would those leash type harnesses work? This would enable you to let them stretch their legs and they can't go in all different directions. Previous posts in other forums have discussed the different types.

 

At that age, I rarely let them out at crowded places, unless I could find an area that I felt like I could keep them contained in. I took them to a small zoo once (I was pg with #3 at that time) and thought I could keep up with them... but between the stroller, being pg and chasing two 18 month olds, I vowed to not do it again at a park or zoo. The park is a different story. I try to pick parks that are fully contained so that even if they move in opposite directions, there is no fear that the could end up in a parking lot or street. It's tough sometimes and takes a lot of energy, but at 2 y.o., they are getting much better at walking with me and holding hands.

 

I was going to suggest the harnesses. I know I saw pictures of Stef's twins with the harnesses at the zoo.
We usually take my girls to the zoo with at least one other adult. So one adult gets the stroller, and the other 2 each take a girl.

 

When our twins were that small I didn't let them out in places like that if I didn't have some one else with me to help. I would let them play out side when we got home or I went someplace they could get out and play. I rarely went to open places because it scared me that some thing might happen. I was always so afraid that they would all go running in separate directions and some one would take one of them while I was busy trying to round everyone up.
We have always had the rule that they cannot go more than 10-15 feet from me in open places, so now they just know not to go to far away from me. I have relaxed quite a bit since then. It has also helped that we have moved to a nicer place.
Now that I have older ones, they help alot. It's is more fun now to go out to those kinds of places.

 

I do it in settings where they can't get into something dangerous before I can catch them. There are plenty of places at the zoo that I'd let them out. I don't require them to stay by me all the time, but if one starts getting far away, I will snatch the other one up and go get the runaway, then haul them both back to home base. It does get tiring, but sometimes they just need to get out. I also tend to combine run-around time with snack time. When they first get out of the stroller, I sit on a bench and dole out bites of muffin or something. They stick by me while they're eating, at least, and it gives them an incentive to keep coming back.

I don't generally take them to playgrounds by myself, because I don't feel comfortable with them climbing when I can't be within arms' reach of both at the same time. But in a grassy park or a large flat area with no traffic, it doesn't bother me if they get 15-20 feet away.

I don't know what to say about the 3yo, though! That has to make things more challenging.

I haven't tried the harnesses (yet). I've heard they are not much good when the kids are just barely walking, because they fall over if the harness tugs on them. We may use them when the girls are a bit older.

In general, I keep reminding myself that this is a stage and it will get easier sometime in the next few years. In the meantime, I just do whatever I think I can handle.

 

I have to be feeling really energetic to take the boys to the park by myself. It's hard at this age because like you said they want to go in different directions and at the park they want to climb on different things, I'm afraid one is going to fall. As for crowded places I just don't let them out of the stroller. I don't want them to think its an option and start crying to get out all of the time. I've considered those leashes too, but I don't think it will work for them yet.