Do I need a double buggy?

[whyno]

Sorry if this isn't the right place to post, I couldn't find anywhere more suitable.

I am due a new baby in August and my DS will be 2. We live in the country so tend to mostly drive places or go for walks with a back carrier or sometimes a buggy.

I'm wondering if I need to get a double buggy or if I can just carry the new baby in a carrier and have DS in a buggy when they both need to be contained. Has anyone found they needed / didn't need a double with a similar age gap?

Would really appreciate your thoughts!

[equiliteral]

Almost 2 and a half years between mine; although I bought a (second hand) double buggy, I actually hardly used it. Really only when my older DC was ill and I still needed to get out. Like you I live in the country and walk a lot, but found that my best solution was a combination of single buggy / Ergo carrier (they are great - I could easily carry my 2 year old if he got tired walking and DS2 was asleep in the buggy), and as DS1 got older he used his balance bike a lot too.

It helped that DS1 was / is a very good walker, but overall I think a double buggy with that kind of age gap is probably not necessary - at most I'd get a second hand one (or borrow one?) because you'll probably find that in a few months your older DC doesn't want or need to be in any sort of buggy. Lots of people recommend buggy boards too - I didn't use one because we mainly walk on off-road tracks, but if you'll be on pavements they look good.

[JimbosJetSet]

My DD was 25 months when I had my 2nd DC. We tend to drive a lot but do short walks to the playground etc. We don't have a double buggy - DD walks or goes in the single buggy, and DC2 goes in a sling/carrier. DC2 is 5 months now and I have never once wished I had a double. As a disclaimer though, we don't walk long distances, and I have always preferred using a carrier to a buggy.
Good luck!

[JimbosJetSet]

I have an Ergo too! It is just marvellous

[Monstermashpotato]

I have a side by side double buggy and it is a pain in the arse.
There is 2 1/2 years between my two and I bought a M&P Morph carrier and just push my toddler in the single pram. That means I dont take up the whole pavement/get wedged in shop doors/end up like Arnie pushing a heavy pram all day.

[PhyllisDoris]

18 mths between my DDs. I didn't think it was worth spending money on a double buggy. I put the elder in push chair and baby in sling, or baby in pram and elder in back pack style carrier.
I used to feel sorry for people struggling with unwieldy double buggies.

[bigTillyMint]

There is 19months between mine.

At first we used a sling for DS, but as he got bigger, we got a second hand double buggy, mainly for taking DD to nursery 3 days a week. We passed it on after about 6months and got a buggyboard - as your age-gap is bigger, perhaps you could manage with a sling and then a buggyboard?

[weegiemum]

Mine are huge now but my experience was this:

When ds was born, dd1 was 24 months. I pushed her in the buggy with him in the sling (prior to being pg with ds, dd1 had gone everywhere in the bushbaby backpack). By the time ds was about 6 months we did buggy plus backpack. I got a lot of rural buses, which in practice were coaches - not easy with a double buggy.

When ds was 22 months, dd2 was born (yes I had 3 under 4). Then we were on to buggy (but dd1 would walk a lot), ds on buggy board an dd2 in sling/ backpack. Ds in buggy with board folded up when dd1 walking.

I never owned a double buggy and never felt I needed one. But our rural location and the fact I liked carrying them really helped.

We used buggies until dd2 was 7 as she had a hip condition (which we're just about to find out if it's totally better this week) so I really missed the buggy (for shopping!!) when she was declared it to walk!!

[whyno]

So helpful thanks! Will try without. Issima you made me laugh!

[livealoha]

I have a phil and teds - second hand with the double kit.

Only use as a double when know I will be walking a long way but we live in the country and have a dog so it's great to have options on long walks or if we go in to town and I know I need to spend some time shopping.

I wouldn't be without the options it gives me.

Second hand it cost me 100 pounds and I hope to get the same back when I sell on.