Toddlers love going on everyday little trips. Nicole Weinstein looks at the best ways to get them around.

Children are fascinated by everyday activities. A trip to the local bakery where they can smell a freshly baked loaf of bread; a short walk to the post box where they spot an army of ants on a mission; a trip to the library to choose some new books. It is these real-life experiences that babies and toddlers must be getting if they are to do what all two-year-olds love to do: recycle experiences through pretend play.

On foot

When choosing what mode to use to get children out and about, child psychologist Jennie Lindon says, 'Weigh up what will work best for you. If you are thinking about the youngest children, you may want double or triple buggies. If you only have one baby, a back carrier may be the answer. If you live in an area with smooth surfaces and you want to take groups of children out, a wagon may be best.'

But with all the modes of transport available, the simple act of walking is often forgotten. Ms Lindon urges practitioners to encourage toddlers, once they are stable on their feet, to walk for part of the way. 'We must keep them safe, but when they are out and about it's important that they learn that walking to places is normal.'

Backpacking

Babies at Mayfield House Kindergarten in Kidderminster are carried in slings and backpacks to the allotment to pick vegetables or outside to collect eggs from the chickens. Nursery owner Heidi Munday says, 'Having such close contact with babies makes them feel secure - and it also frees up your hands to deal with other children.'

Debbie Hampton, founder of Southampton Sling Meet, a group that provides a 'try before you buy' sling library service, says the easiest types of slings to put on and take off quickly are soft-structured carriers or mei tais. Mei tais have long straps that tie up around the wearer rather than buckles. For longevity, she suggests that a woven wrap - a long piece of material that is tied around the wearer and baby - can be used from newborn to toddler and beyond. 'They can be tied in a wide range of ways,' she says.

The US Consumer Product Safety Commission recently raised concerns about the safety of 'bag-style' slings, so be sure to check out both the sling design and how to hold the baby before buying. For reviews and advice, visit

By buggy

Babies and toddlers at Firbank Children's Centre in Lancaster are taken out for daily walks in buggies. The centre is involved in a national study that looks at the impact of buggy orientation on parent-infant interaction and infant stress. Manager Sarah Hargreaves says, 'We did a lot of research before we bought our three First Wheels City Twin buggies. They are forward-facing double buggies that are comfortable, easy to manoeuvre and height-adjustable for different practitioners. They are also light-weight, fold up easily and have swivel wheels and pneumatic tyres.'

City Twin buggies can be forward-facing, backward- facing or the two children can face each other. Visit www.firstwheels.org.uk.

In the wagon

At Heathfield House Day Nursery in Warrington, the under-twos are taken out into the local community in wagons. Nursery manager Lisa Kirkwood says, 'We go to the library, the bakery and the pet shop. We've even been to the hairdressers. The children love it.'

Each wagon, from Community Playthings, seats six children. Ms Kirkwood believes wagons are great if you are travelling on flat surfaces and you want to take lots of children out at once. 'They don't topple over, but staff never use them to maximum capacity because they weigh a lot.'

Mayfield House Kindergarten has a Radio Flyer All Terrain wooden wagon with pneumatic tyres that it bought from a local garden centre. Ms Munday says, 'We go to the forest and off-road, but ours is a very sturdy one. If you are considering buying one, make sure there's space to attach harnesses.' Popular wagons include Little Tikes Explorer Wagon, Walking Wagons from www.walkingwagon.com and KinderVans from www.communityplaythings.com.

Simple steps

Jan White, consultant for outdoor provision in the early years, says nurseries are increasingly being presented with barriers to taking children off the premises. 'Practitioners are worried about something going wrong or they think that staff ratios need to be higher outside,' she says.

She suggests taking children out for short, simple trips. 'I advocate tiny walks on foot and in very small groups into the local community, going with the children's interests and pace.'