How do I get her to stay put?

[monkeytoes]

DD1 is 2 1/2. I also have a 9 month old.
Problem is my toddler will do a runner at every chance she gets. At the shops, at the park, during her dance class etc. I know most toddlers do it, but I am not talking about occassionally. She does it everytime. Whenever we are out in public I have to either have her in the pram, in a trolley or holding my hand.
I find that I usually chase after her and grab hold of her hand and bring her back, but it's getting difficult for me to do that with bubs as well. I think she thinks it's a game, she wants me to chase after her. So, I feel like I have to stop the game, but don't know how else to get her to stay by my side.
I have tried the 1,2,3 counting, I've tried explaining to her why she needs to stay with me. But still no luck.
Any ideas?
Am I expecting too much of a 2 1/2 y.o?

[JabberJaw]

I am totally unsure what you could do.
My sisters little boy was the same and he always wanted to walk never go in the pram. She got him a little backpack that strapped onto him ( it was a monkey backpack) and it had a mummy handle, kinda like the old fashioned wrist to wrist things that made mums look like they where leading dogs! LOL, these are far more trendy, nicer looking and a great idea for an escape artist toddler!

I recently saw them in Kmart, where the baby educational toys where, they Had all sorts of cute animal backpacks.

Just an idea, nor sure if its suitable but it saved my sister alot of stress with her son, he still had freedom but not the obvious dangers.

[MrsMiggins]

My almost 2 DS is the same. :rolleyes:

So frustrating, isn't it?!! :hair:

I had one of those monkey backpack things my DD used to wear when she was going through a similar stage (nowhere near as bad as DS!) and she loved wearing it & it worked really well for her.

I recently found it in the garage, so I've pulled it out, ready to use for DS, but I haven't tried it yet! I think I'm too scared it won't work! :o

He will happily sit in the stroller so long as we're moving, but aside from the fact that you can't always take a stroller (doing a big grocery shop, for instance), the moment you stop to do anything, he's screaming & trying to climb out. I absolutely refuse to let him out while we're shopping, as he thinks it's the best game in the world to run as far & fast as he can. Trolley is a nightmare - depsite any snacks/activities/bribery - he just doesn't want to have a bar of it!

[codswallop]

i have one of the above mentioned back pack harneses (unicorn) and my god its a life saver! i just dont leave the house with out it! and because we always use it and 9 x out of 10 we go some where intresting Aby loves to put it on .
and when she dose manage to get away from me i can usualy grab the handle as it trails behind her
i think there made buy "goldbugs" there available at Kmart and big W as well as toys R us and the big baby retailers but theres quite a few online places that sell them (and heeps on ebay) too

[Me]

If it's safe to do so, I give DD to the count of 3 to come back to me otherwise I start to walk in the opposite direction. She'll usually run after me in a few seconds. I then stop and explain to her why she needs to stay with me. That said though, DD is about 6mths older and I can't remember if we were doing this 6 mths ago.

[BoyCrazy]

yup, goldbugs make them, i bought one 4 days ago from kmart for $34.95 a teddy bear one...must say as much as i love it, DS still tries to run away from me in it...think we will need to practice with it some more LOL.

altho it is alot better than trying to chase after him with a 32 week baby belly ;)