Pushchairs and Child Carriers

Pushchairs and child carriers are essential for young children who can’t yet walk, or who can’t walk far, and being in the outdoors with your child is good for both of you even if they’re not walking. But do encourage them to walk at least part of the way if they can, or stop at a safe green space where toddlers can move around safely. Doctors recommend we should reduce the time children spend sitting, including when strapped in pushchairs.

Baby and child carriers that strap to the body are a good way to take very young children out on walks, and there are a number of models especially designed for more adventurous use, with additional comfort and plenty of built-in storage and pockets. Young babies who can’t yet support their own heads should travel in a front carrier. Models with a two-way facing option allow older babies to see where they’re going. Babies who can support their own heads (normally around six months) should travel in a back carrier, which can usually take children of up to four years or 20kg. Look for comfortable, adjustable and well-balanced models and take care to adjust them to your height and build. Avoid particularly difficult, slippery or uneven paths where there is more of a risk of losing your balance.

Pushchairs (buggies) are best for heavier children or when you need to take out more than one child per adult, though you should avoid uneven surfaces with babies who can’t support their own heads. You can legally take a pushchair anywhere open to walkers, though you will find many paths are not suitable for pushchairs designed to work on pavements. “Telescopic” pushchairs are easier to drag behind you over difficult sections while the child walks, though too much lifting and folding will spoil your enjoyment, and don’t just leave your child to walk the difficult bits! For easier options, use pavements, surfaced paths in parks and country parks, along rivers and canals, off-road cycle routes, and country routes such as broad track ways and old roads. There are a few books of walks for pushchairs. Read more about finding good places to walk.

All-terrain pushchairs have three wheels with pneumatic tyres, a light but strong aluminium frame and a longer wheelbase for greater stability, so can cope with more difficult and uneven surfaces but will still have to be lifted over stiles and steps. Even cheap models from high street stores are much easier to push over difficult terrain, though they can be more cumbersome, especially on public transport.

Double versions of both conventional and all-terrain pushchairs are available: models in which the children sit side by side rather than one behind the other are easier to steer. Make sure the model you buy will fit in your car or on public transport.

Buggy boards, skateboard-like attachments that enable another child to ride standing up over short distances on good surfaces, can be fitted to most models of pushchair and are useful to give a walking child an occasional rest. 

Take special care to protect children from the weather when carrying or pushing them on long walks. Children in back carriers will be facing in a different direction to you and their movement will be restricted, so be aware of the need to protect them from the sun. Make sure children in carriers and pushchairs are warmly dressed: you may be keeping yourself warm through exercise, but the child is sitting still and can quickly get cold.

Filed under: Walking for Children and Families
Tagged: child carriers, Children, prams, pushchairs, Ramblers, walk, Walking
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