Double buggy vs buggy board vs sling

[BelleEtLaBete]

Wasn't sure where to post this:

Am pg with Dc2. Ds will be 2y5mo when new baby gets here. Do I need a double buggy? I love my buggy and don't really fancy a big one (I don't drive so needs to fit on bus etc).

I've been looking at buggy boards but while ds is a good walker, he does get tired and I walk a lot. I was thinking new baby in a sling and ds in buggy if needed (bearing in mind I slung ds everywhere for ages as he hated the buggy for at least 5 months.

Just not sure I want to fork out on a double buggy when DS will grow out of it quite quickly?

Any thoughts?

[SunshineOutdoors]

No advice sorry but watching as dd will be 2 when lo arrives.

I thought about a sling and then that I'd wait until baby's here to decide on buggy and get a cheap second hand one if needed?

[harrietspy]

I had a similar age gap, used the bus/walked everywhere and definitely wish I'd got a double buggy. My ds1 was sometimes too tired to use the buggy board and I ended up with the baby in buggy and carrying ds1. Not great. I did get a sling after a while, which I absolutely loved (an incredibly simple wrap, the Didymos, which I used till ds2 was 2.5!), but it was quite hard work with sling plus buggy.

Everyone who said I didn't need a double buggy had a car and I was far too susceptible to their opinions. I wish wish wish I'd got one!

Good luck!

[Mummydoctor]

DS1 was 2.1 when DS2 was born. We didn't bother with double buggy. Had a babybjorn carrier for baby when he was small and toddler either walked, scooted on his balance bike or was in buggy depending on where we were. We then got a buggy board to attach to the buggy (initially travel system then fold up buggy) when we needed to put baby down and got toddler to stand. It was good idea to take baby sling as well though for long days out so toddler could sit if tired.

We now usually take buggy plus buggy board out with us so they can choose who wants to sit and who wants to buggy board when tired, they are 3 1/2 and 1 1/2 now!

[Mummydoctor]

harrietspy has a point - we mostly used car or walked locally/had day trips, so didn't have to contend with buses or trains.

[HeffalumpsAndWoozles]

We use a combination of single buggy, double buggy and sling. I think it depends on the child as to what will work out best for you. DD1 was 2 when DD2 was born, I use my Phil & Teds quite a bit especially when we are out alone. Whenever DH is with us if DD1 wants to walk I will put DD2 in the single stroller or sling and DH will usually end up giving shoulder rides by the end of the outing. DD1 is 2.3 now and wants to walk more & more but if we're going out without DH unless its a short trip I do still always take the double in case she gets tired.

I found my moby sling really helpful in the early weeks too but couldn't rely on it solely, there are times when the baby just wants to be put down or I need to put her down and deal with her older sister so I don't take both girls out without at least the single buggy and a sling.

Haven't tried buggy boards, not sure my eldest would stand on one for long but do see them bring used in town quite a lot.

If cost is an issue (definitely was for us!) have a look on eBay or gum tree, we picked up our P&T double for £110 which is a fraction of the price of doubles in shops. If you don't mind a side by side double you can get a stroller style one even cheaper.

Congrats on your pregnancy & good luck with it all :)

[DeathMetalMum]

It depends really do you drive? How much do you use your buggy at the moment?

Dd1 will be 2.1 when dc two arrives I have opted for a double (second hand). We don't drive, I can't imagine going to town for example and not being able to have dd somewhere I know she is safe for my own sanity.
Also all the swapping round if I decided to go with baby in pushchair and dd walking. If you have to have a c-section that also rules the sling option out. I picked my puschair up for £60 out of the local paper. I was lucky as same model was double price on gumtree and ebay.
From my research doubles keep their value well so you can also sell on after you use it for a good price if it has been lpoked after.
Have a look on the pushchairs section this topic comes up a lot. Dc1 might still need the pushchair at 3.

[BelleEtLaBete]

Thanks all. I don't drive, I do all my shopping with the buggy on foot and I walk all day long sometimes with DS. I've got a money wrap and I'm making a Mei-tai for DS so I could even put new baby in the buggy and ds in the mei-tai for a while. This is of course assuming no cs.

I've been looking at doubles. Or even a pram seat to go over the carrycot. I just can't imagine doing my tesco shop with one in a sling and ds running about!

[3littlerabbits]

I live in london, loads of walking, public transport and couldnt have survived without the double buggy (phil and teds sport). Expensive but so so worth it. Think about when you are shopping and y cant containthe toddler, getting in and out of buses witha wriggling toddler and baby in pram, trying to feed baby while out and toddler trying to escape. Too early to think of more examples but honestly Just being able to just pop them both in the buggy safely and go is essential! Double buggies (well the phil and teds anyway) seem to get really good prices on ebay and mine looks perfect after 2.5 years of constant use (had dc 3) so you can always sell it once you stop using it.

[Preposteroushypothesis]

I'm a childminder so although I am only pregnant with my second I do have quite a good handle on this! I would say that at that age you could probably get away with a sling and a buggy board so that your ds could spend most of the time walking or on the buggy board but if he is really acting up too tired you can swap them around. It would be much easier on buses to have a single buggy, I use buses constantly and I have a phil and teds and also a Maclaren twin techno and actually the Maclaren is so much better for buses as it slots in widthways so you can still fit another buggy on, the length of the phil and teds makes it quite awkward on the bus. But then i wouldnt want to use the maclaren on a newborn as its forward facing.

Also worth bearing in mind that if you get a buggy board maxi then your ds can sit on it if he gets really tired. I generally would always avoid double buggies if you can because its so much easier getting anywhere around shops and transport etc with a single but it also depends a lot on the children. If your ds is a good walker and quite well behaved then you should be fine and you can always do your main shop online for the first few weeks until you're feeling a bit more settled and confident with 2.

If you do decide to get a double then I second eBay for bargains, my Maclaren only cost £50 and my p&t just £100 both in fab condition.

[jkklpu]

My ds1 was exactly 2yo when ds2 was born. I always did loads of walking, bussing, trains, Tube, etc. Never had double buggy and decided trip by trip whether pram + sling or pram + buggy board. It worked for us and I'm really glad I never invested in a double pram. If you have more than one pram, you can get an extra set of clips for a buggy board so you can attach it to either one (with a little bit of fiddling).

[gingergaskell]

Another solution, depending on the type of buggy you already have is a sitting buggy board {IE the toddler can sit down on it}.
I used the Kid- Sit and loved it. You need a buggy with a horizontal axle for this, I had a Bugaboo Bee.
There are also other seated buggy board options out there.

[Jules125]

I tried the buggy board and sling options first of all but found that DD1 (only 24 months when DD2 arrived, though early and very good walker generally) needed picking up too often and that started giving me back and neck pain, quite severely. [imagine pushing pramette up hills with with one hand, 12kg todder in other].....

So although DD1 does mostly walk well I needed a double buggy to preserve my back!

[CrackleMauve]

Crashing the thread! Can you tell me more about the KidSit gingergaskell? I have never heard of it and also have a Bugaboo Bee and a second baby on the way. I am hoping to avoid having to buy a double as I barely used the pram with the first baby so am assuming sling/buggy board/pram combo will work. If it doean't I will look at the doubles. Kid Sit sounds very interesting, how well does it work with the Bee?

OP I am going to see how it goes with no double. I will have slings for baby and toddler, so I can carry whichever one makes most sense. I have a similar age gap and people I know with it have coped without a double so I shall see how it goes. Are you going to have both full time? My toddler will still be going to her childminder which I think will make a big difference as that cuts down on the days of the week when I have to manage both by myself.

[Mylittlepuds]

DS is going to be 24 months exactly when DC2 is born. We've gone for a Bugaboo Donkey (a double). He hates being in a pram initially but I just can't see how I'm going to handle a newborn and him on a walk out to the shops otherwise. A walk with just him is difficult enough, stopping to examine every leaf etc. Unfortunately he's going to need strapping in and have to deal with it! I can see the appeal of a buggy board when you have DH/partner there for the fun factor but in terms of gettin stuff done a double buggy it's going to have to be! I'm also diabetic though and so need somewhere to pop them both if I need to test my sugars etc.

[Mylittlepuds]

God I've made DS sound awful! He's lovely - I promise!

Also Donkey is great in that it coverts to a single in a few clicks.

[Jakeyblueblue]

Double buggy.
My friend is Preg with a 13 month old so we went double buggy shopping last week. We were in the show room for ages and tried all the different types, with the 13 month old and my massive 18 month old and by far the best all rounder was the I candy peach blossom. It's the smallest and most compact but has the widest seats. It handles way better than the rest and converts to the best single.
Also some Buggy's warrantee's are null and void if you've used a buggy board on it. Worth thinking about

[leannac]

I'll have a 22 month old when dc2 os born & am planning to wing it with pram/sling/buggy board until I can figure out if I really need the expense of a double buggy. Saying that I live in London with no car & walk everywhere so really hope if we do decide we need double that I can get one pretty quickly as don't want to be stuck at home!!

[ItLooksLikeRainDear]

I definitely needed a double buggy but DS was 21 months when DD was born. He is just 3 now & if we are walking a long way (particularly along busy roads) he still goes in the buggy.

He does go on buggy board but I find it awkward to push - but that might be the board I bought!

[Stonefield]

Our DS will be just 17 months when his brother arrives in march so really too little to manage without a double. We just got a second hand mountain buggy on eBay but it certainly won't fit on a bus or train. We don't drive either so looking for a new sling for going on journeys. Not sure that any one thing provides the ideal solution sadly so buying carefully second hand seems the best way to manage costs. Though to be fair we had everything else already given the little gap.

[NAR4]

I will have a 23 month gap when baby arrives and was the same as you, couldn't decide whether I would need a double or not. I just bought a Phil and Teds because the extra seat is only an additional £50 and it can be folded with the extra seat on the front, which is where the toddler goes until baby wants to be sat up. I think by then I will probably not need to be using the second seat anyway.

Was just going to use a sling for the baby until Dh pointed out what a pain that could be if it was pouring with rain. Dh also pointed out how usefull it is to be able to strap my toddler into a pushchair when out, if she decided to have a massive tantrum.

Lots of differrent makes on the market now that are the same style as a Phil and Teds, might be worth a look, as they don't take up any more room than a single.

[gingergaskell]

Crackle {and OP} this is the Kid Sit:
www.bestbuggy.co.uk/category/buggy-boards-other-options/revelo-kid-sit/

Google for the best price, they are a bit exxy but sell very well second hand, I got most of my money back selling it on e.bay when I was finished with it, having used it for a couple of years.

[Emsyboo]

I have gone for the phil and teds e3 tandem buggy seems ok but second hand so a bit stiff, I do a lot of walking and DS is a good walker but its a mile into town then a mile back he could prob be ok standing into town but would be tired on way back.
I have a baba sling which is nice and secure I didn't like the baby bjorn with DS but personal preference baba sling is ok to use with him on hip but probably wouldn't.
We have thought about a buggy board but after spending a lot on a pram (well more than a buggy board not as much as full price far from it) thing the buggy boards are quite expensive I hope we made the right decision DS will be 2.2 when baby 2 arrives.
May look at the kid sit as MIL keeps saying she will buy something for new baby.

[lovemybabyboy]

I have a phil and teds sport for my 2 DS's, DS1 was 2yrs 10 months when DS2 was born and I still use it now that DS1 is 4yrs 1 months and DS2 is 15 months. I wouldn't have coped without it as I don't drive and DS1 has autism so he doesn't walk nicely beside me, he will run off and keep running so it's not safe and easier than pushing pram and holding his hand at the same time.
I am expecting DC3 in July when DS2 will be 21 months so will be able to use it for DS2 and DC3. I am just a bit worried about DS1 when DC3 arrives as he will have to walk.

[3littlerabbits]

Lovemybabyboy - when my dc3 arrived I used double buggy plus sling for the baby for the first 6 months until I was a bit more comfortable with dc1 walking next to buggy, so you can maybe buy yourself some extra time that way?

[eltsihT]

My son will be 25 months if baby arrive on time. I don't have access to a car so walk etc everywhere. I have an uppababy baby pram and am buying the second seat, only £99. (Were planning 2 close together) As I had a lot of back pain from using slings/breast feeding (I have bad posture) but planning in using sling combo if needed.

Been wondering about getting a buggy board - as I have a friend whose toddler fell asleep on one and fell off. And the one that fits my pram is expensive. After chatting with friends and reading here. I think I probably will get one to use as my son gets nearer 3.