Baby no2 due when DD turns 2, do I need a double buggy?

[LiliaAndBumpsMummy]

My DD is 19 months, she uses her pram if we go out for long walks, feed the ducks in the park etc but only gets in it if really tired. Baby no2 is due in May, a couple of days after DD turns 2.
I'm thinking of buying a double buggy but not sure if it won't be just a waste of money that I could use for something else for dc.
Then I'm kind of thinking it might be useful if not essential when out and about with both and DD wants a nap etc
What would you do?
Shall I just get a buggy board and get her used to hopping on that when tired ?
Won't she get jealous that baby now took over her buggy and she needs to walk everywhere ?

[Mol1628]

I really needed a double and used it for a year with a 26 month gap.

Absolutely hated the buggy board.

[LiliaAndBumpsMummy]

Ahhh thank you Mol1268, maybe I should start looking around for one then x

[eltsihT]

I have a 25 month age gap and used one for about 1 year.

[Alpies]

Yes. Juggling 2 babies whilst out is hard work. One single buggy with buggy board won't work. Think abt rain or bad weather and logistics of looking after 2 babies. Also when they kick off whilst out/tantrums/general naughtiness it's best to contain them. My best advice is to buy a double.

[AllTheBabies]

Depends how much you have to walk I think.

We have to do 5 miles a day for the school run so a buggy is essential. You can pick up second hand ones very cheaply so if you only use it a couple of times a week for a year it's okay.

[Heratnumber7]

18 mths between my two. I alternated between pram/back pack or buggy/sling combos.
Never bothered with double buggy. They look like hard work, and you wouldn't need it for very long.

[Enidblyton1]

It totally depends on how much you need to use a buggy.
A buggy board would be fine if you don't do a huge amount of walking, but they are hard work for the toddler. Just 2 is young for standing on a board for any length of time.
If you do a fair amount of walking with a buggy, I think you'll get at least a year of use out of a double buggy.

[superram]

My eldest was 2y 9m and I didn't think I would need one-I caved after 2 months. Was just so much easier-but I did walk everywhere.

[Mypoorhat]

My DD was a month off 2 when Ds was born 6 months ago, and we decided to see how we got on without a double buggy. We have the bugaboo board seat, and DD mostly uses combination of that and her scooter, and DS goes in the sling if she's tired and needs the pushchair.

There are definitely times when I could do with a double, especially when we're far from home and both need a nap after lunch. But with a bit of careful planning it works ok and I'm happy we stuck with what we had.

I'm not sure if I'd say the same if we were doing a 5 mile walk every day..

With the jealousy thing... we got DD used to the buggy board a month or so before her brother was born, and made a point of giving her the choice of who went where, and moving the baby to the sling when she asked for the pushchair in the early days, and she's been fine with it.

[BikeRunSki]

Yes, definitely if the 2 yo still naps.
I had one - only for 6 months - with a 36 month gap. It was a godsend when the baby was crying and the 3 yo was tantruming and I just had to get out. I walked miles like that. They slept, I got fresh air and exercise. Also, for getting DS to nursery that first winter.

Bought on eBay, sold a year later for £7 less than I paid for it.

[CoffeeDiamonds]

Have you seen these?

I wish these had been available when my kids were little!

[madamginger]

I had a 24 month gap with dc1/2 and 20 months with dc2/3 and I did a combo of single buggy, buggy board and sling. I borrowed my friends double pram and I hated it and gave it back after a week.
If really pushed I could get baby and toddler in the single pram but I obviously didn't do that very often!

[Keepingupwiththejonesys]

My second dd was born just before dd1 turned 2. I don't drive and walk for around 2 hours most days. I got a double and for the first six months it was an absolute god send. I got the my child sienta duo as its pretty small and was quite cheap (149.99 brand new) . I also then sold it for 60 pounds so really did get my moneys worth. I knew I wouldn't need it for long so didn't want to spend lots. Dd1 still had the odd nap in the day so I couldn't really rely on not having one as we could easily be an hours walk from home sometimes. A sling is a good idea sometimes but when its pelting down with rain I felt much better both the kids where snug and dry under the rain cover.

I'm now 37+2 with baby number 3, dd2 turned 2 mid October. I haven't bothered to replace the double but have got a buggy board. We've been using it on the new pram to practice and she absolutely loves it. Dd2 very, very rarely naps and never uses the pram anymore, she hates it. If it rains she wears her waterproof clothes and can hold a brolly on the buggy board. Obviously dd1 now 4 simply walks everywhere.

[Qwertie]

I would say yes. I'd get a 2nd hand side by side to use when you really need to. DD was exactly 2.5 when ds2 was born & I found I really needed it; I liked going out for walks it got us all out of the house and felt a lot safer if walking on a busy road. Plus the extra shopping basket space for the mountains of stuff you will need all the time!

[knaffedoff]

Would not have been without my double. Used the Phil and Teds, once baby hit 6 months, oldest child went in the back but got in and out if he wanted to walk and rest x

[MistyMinge]

Yes. I started off with a single buggy and board with a 2.4 age gap. But pushing the buggy for too long did my back in as you stoop over and I felt like I had less control going down hills. Ended up getting a second hand double for a few months. Was great when older DC was tired or just being a little bugger.

[Bubbinsmakesthree]

We're getting one and we will have a 2y9m gap. Cheap 2nd hand Phil and Teds - if it doesn't get used much not much lost, will hopefully be able to sell it again for a similar price. We only have a stroller now so unless we buy something new we'd have baby in a sling the whole time, which is possible but seems like hard work!

[LiliaAndBumpsMummy]

Thank you all your replies.
I didn't think of the logistics of my nearly two year old having tantrums when out and about ( she is still quite good and listens well) rain etc so that's a very valid point for getting a double buggy.
I'll have a look on ebay and see what I can get, I wouldn't want to spend loads as might not used it for a very long time.
I walk a lot during weekends, and I'm probably going to be using the buggy loads whilst on maternity leave.
I'm taking all your points on board - oh how things will change when baby no2 arrives! I'm still in a happy bubble of mummy of one and I don't think I realise yet it will be quite a challenge to look after both at the same time, never mind being out and about with the two of them.
I already feel like I need to take half of the house each time I go out !

[LiliaAndBumpsMummy]

I have been looking at the phil and teds voyager, it seems like a good option,
Do any of you lovely ladies have any recommendations ?
Perhaps some of the double buggies are much better than others ?
Any advice would be much appreciated !

[Endlesslllove]

It might be worth waiting until after the baby is born if that's feasible, to see how you feel then. I used a sling for a newborn and toddler walked, so we rarely use a buggy at all, although we do have to use the car quite a bit because of where we live. I found I was out and about rather less once I had two, getting out of the house with two of them seemed quite a mission in the early days!

[TooMinty]

23 month age gap - didn't bother with a double buggy. Put toddler in pram for the first few months and baby in wrap/sling/carrier. Then switched to baby in pram and toddler on buggy board or in backpack carrier. But we only live about ten minutes walk from shops/toddler groups etc.

[Bubbinsmakesthree]

I have been looking at the phil and teds voyager

There are loads of Phil & Teds Explorer/Sport/Navigators second hand (I think they're all broadly the same, just down to the age of the model). I've not seen many Voyagers.

You can pick up an Explorer or Sport with all the necessary kit for well under £100 if you scout about on eBay.

[icklekid]

I have 2yr age gap and got 2nd hand Phil and teds for £30. It is brilliant! Love being able to strap ds in when needed or when he's tired. We walk a lot though. Tried a buggy board and at 2.5 ds is now ready for it but painful before.

[calimommy]

Yes.

My ODS is 3.5 and still glued to the buggy. Pushing the two (3.5&1.5) is a work out!

[TheTantrumCometh]

We used our double for well over a year with the same age gap (well, slightly smaller). And then after that we would get it out if we were going on day trips. Even if we had bought it brand new I think we would have got our money's worth but we got it secondhand and made a huge saving.

My friend had the same age gap between her two and didn't have a double but then her son was a very confident (and cooperative) walker and they didn't walk long distances anyway.

We got the Babyjogger City Mini Double and were really pleased with it. We got the pushchair for £160 and bought the carrycot for £45, both from gumtree.

The previous owner had used it for a couple of years, then we used it solidly for a year and then I lent it to a friend for nearly a year and it still has loads of life left in it. We even took it on holiday recently as we didn't think DD (4) would manage all day walking around Disney. She's quite tall and was still able to fit in it comfortably.