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mommyIam
Member since 7/09 9209 total posts
Name:
Shana
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"soon to be walkers" at the playground, etiquette question
DS just started taking steps but for the most time he's holding on to something to walk just for backup. I don't hold on to him, I don't walk him, I let him figure it out on his own for the most part. If he can't maneuver it, I figure he's just not skilled for it yet I don't help him further. I've helped him up steps because he's grabs me by the pants and pulls me to the steps while trying to maneuver actually stepping up them  and makes me soooo nervous.
But he gets in the way of the running toddlers on the playground equipment and I alert him to the toddler, and I let him take his time to move away, if he doesn't cooperate I pick him up. But, I stay back for the most part and I wonder if that's rude?
No one gave me any comments, but I was getting weird looks from the moms who are pulling their babies around by the arms whether they could walk on their own or not. I was really hands off compared to them, and I don't know if I should have taken DS somewhere else. I had no intention of "walking him" out of the way. KWIM?
Opinions?
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Posted 3/18/11 9:18 PM  |
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Bridex100
Two Under Two Mommy
Member since 3/08 10420 total posts
Name:
Momx100
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Re: "soon to be walkers" at the playground, etiquette question
Even when DS was walking, we'd hold his hand on the playground equipment. I think it depends what type of playground you are on. There is no way I would have left 13-16m DS alone on the equipment in Central Park in ANY playground. There are so many kids, many much older. DS is 2yo and I'm still afraid older kids are going to knock him over.
If it was a relatively empty playground for toddlers, I would probably be more hands off.
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| Posted 3/18/11 9:24 PM |
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mommyIam
Member since 7/09 9209 total posts
Name:
Shana
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Re: "soon to be walkers" at the playground, etiquette question
Posted by Bridex100
If it was a relatively empty playground for toddlers, I would probably be more hands off.
Yeah its practically that. Its a fenced off toddler area of a large playground. The most I've ever seen there was 5 toddlers.
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| Posted 3/18/11 9:35 PM |
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saraH
happy birthday sweet kate!
Member since 5/05 16555 total posts
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I know that God exsists, I held her in my arms...
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Re: "soon to be walkers" at the playground, etiquette question
DD is walking and I move her out of the way of other kids. She can't move that fast yet and I don't want her knocked down.
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| Posted 3/18/11 9:48 PM |
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carissa1643
I LOVE my sons! :)
Member since 5/09 5283 total posts
Name:
Carissa
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Re: "soon to be walkers" at the playground, etiquette question
DS isn't walking yet either. I only let him do his own thing when theres no one around. We always go when its empty on purpose bc he's not ready to be around fast, older kids. For his own safety I move him out of the way when theres kids running around or trying to get past him. I let him climb the stairs and hold on and walk and go down the slide, things like that.
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| Posted 3/18/11 10:00 PM |
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Janice
Sweet Jessie Quinn
Member since 5/05 27567 total posts
Name:
Janice
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Re: "soon to be walkers" at the playground, etiquette question
I think you can do what you are doing...but you are doing very little to avoid a possible mishap...which is okay, my boy is a monkey and on these things from 9 mos old...but when a 3 year old plows into the younger kids, 3 is still young...it is going to happen...so i just hope it happens on a platform where there isn't a real fall...you know?
I know you are hands off, but depending on the height of a possible fall, just judge it for you...
good luck!
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| Posted 3/18/11 10:08 PM |
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DanandNette
Love my baby boy!
Member since 9/08 2830 total posts
Name:
Jennette
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Re: "soon to be walkers" at the playground, etiquette question
Even though the older toddlers are better and faster walkers, I wouldn't trust them to watch out for my baby or move out of his way. I would be a couple steps behind making sure there wouldn't be any collisions, trying to prevent nasty falls. I follow my baby trying to alert him to the other babies and constantly warn him to slow down and be careful. He usually listens and stops running, but other times I have to grab him to prevent a head-on with another toddler.
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| Posted 3/18/11 10:14 PM |
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smdl
I love Gary too..on a plate!
Member since 5/06 32461 total posts
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me
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Re: "soon to be walkers" at the playground, etiquette question
Are you on a specific age playground?
We have a few playgrounds by me that have age specific areas.
So I would not feel out of place to have a 1 yo on a playground for 0-5 yo. While older kids play, they ALSO have to learn to share and not run like wild beast.
I would probably be "closer" to my young child to "shelter" him/her from an older child.
But I would not bring my young child on a playground for kids 5+ yo.
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| Posted 3/18/11 10:23 PM |
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Re: "soon to be walkers" at the playground, etiquette question
I always tell my DS to be mindful and patient of the soon-to-be-walkers or new walkers.
I like him to learn some patience (and kindness) 
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| Posted 3/18/11 10:33 PM |
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maybesoon
LIF Adult
Member since 9/09 5981 total posts
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Re: "soon to be walkers" at the playground, etiquette question
Posted by carissa1643
DS isn't walking yet either. I only let him do his own thing when theres no one around. We always go when its empty on purpose bc he's not ready to be around fast, older kids. For his own safety I move him out of the way when theres kids running around or trying to get past him. I let him climb the stairs and hold on and walk and go down the slide, things like that.
ITA
when DS was learning to walk I made sure there were no older kids around, they don't care if there is a baby in the way
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| Posted 3/18/11 10:44 PM |
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itsbabytime
LIF Adult
Member since 11/05 9644 total posts
Name:
Me
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Re: "soon to be walkers" at the playground, etiquette question
Posted by DanandNette
Even though the older toddlers are better and faster walkers, I wouldn't trust them to watch out for my baby or move out of his way. I would be a couple steps behind making sure there wouldn't be any collisions, trying to prevent nasty falls. I follow my baby trying to alert him to the other babies and constantly warn him to slow down and be careful. He usually listens and stops running, but other times I have to grab him to prevent a head-on with another toddler.
I totally agree. My DD has been walking on her own for a while now (2 mos) but, at 13 mos isn't that sturdy especially on a playground. So, I am always right there with her. I think you might be getting weird looks b/c the mothers are probably worried that your child is going to get hurt by their child. Personally, I do get nervous when my 3 yr old DS and his friends are running up and down the stairs etc. and a child that is much younger and can't really support themselves is there all by themselves with the nanny usually sitting on the bench (not saying that is the case with you) but, im just saying that the 2-3 yr olds are not really capable for watching out for your son so, the other moms might be nervous your son is going to get hurt and you are going to get mad at them. I don't think you need to drag him around by the arms but, if he isn't really walking on his own yet, I don't think he should be on the equipment on his own. But, that is JMO.
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| Posted 3/18/11 11:30 PM |
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MaMaTeenie
Party of 5
Member since 4/08 6489 total posts
Name:
Mommy
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Re: "soon to be walkers" at the playground, etiquette question
Posted by DanandNette
Even though the older toddlers are better and faster walkers, I wouldn't trust them to watch out for my baby or move out of his way. I would be a couple steps behind making sure there wouldn't be any collisions, trying to prevent nasty falls. I follow my baby trying to alert him to the other babies and constantly warn him to slow down and be careful. He usually listens and stops running, but other times I have to grab him to prevent a head-on with another toddler.
I agree. I know at 2 and 3 DS would not always remember to be mindful of little ones. When kids are in playground mode they don't even remember to watch where they are going half the time never mind watch out for other kids. I'm always close by my DD and will move her out of the way just as I'd be close by my 2 or 3 year old to make sure he wasn't hurting anyone or getting hurt himself. If your DS is in a safe place and off to the side then I think what you are doing is perfectly fine, but if he is right in the middle of the runway or stairs or slide etc then I think you should help him out of the way or physically move him if necessary.
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| Posted 3/19/11 12:03 AM |
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Bridex100
Two Under Two Mommy
Member since 3/08 10420 total posts
Name:
Momx100
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Re: "soon to be walkers" at the playground, etiquette question
Posted by mommyIam
Posted by Bridex100
If it was a relatively empty playground for toddlers, I would probably be more hands off.
Yeah its practically that. Its a fenced off toddler area of a large playground. The most I've ever seen there was 5 toddlers.
DS is 2 and I don't think he would ever knock down a "baby". I would probably still hover. They are so vulnerable at that age. I wouldn't want him to fall and hurt himself.
I've witnessed a lot of bad accidents on the playground.
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| Posted 3/19/11 12:11 AM |
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Jacksmommy
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Member since 1/07 5819 total posts
Name:
Liz
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Re: "soon to be walkers" at the playground, etiquette question
I don't think there is anything wrong with what you are doing, but u definitely need to be prepared for your child to get mowed down. In addition, I think, if a baby was really taking their time, my own child might get frustrated b/c they want to play on the playground equipment and have a baby impediing on that. I personally would not have a just walker on playground equipment when their are older toddlers around. My son was walking at 9 months and by a year running and I still got nervous at a year when he was on playground equipment with other children.
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| Posted 3/19/11 6:07 AM |
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computergirl
LIF Adult
Member since 5/05 3118 total posts
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Re: "soon to be walkers" at the playground, etiquette question
Posted by Jacksmommy
I don't think there is anything wrong with what you are doing, but u definitely need to be prepared for your child to get mowed down. In addition, I think, if a baby was really taking their time, my own child might get frustrated b/c they want to play on the playground equipment and have a baby impediing on that.
ITA with this. It's fine from an etiquette perspective, but not too safe from a practical angle. Older kids WILL mow him down... not intentionally, just toddlers being impatient toddlers.
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| Posted 3/19/11 6:20 AM |
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