How to get around with nb and toddler?

[Peppa33]

Dc1 is 2.5 and tall/chunky, about the size of a three year old. But still needs a sleep in the day, usually in the buggy (we have an umbrella fold maclaren which has been brill).

Dc2 is 3 weeks.

I got a buggy board to use with our m&p sola, but dc1 is too scared to even try it!
I have an ergo sling which i love and so far have used with the maclaren to get around. But it is tiring for me as dc2 is on 90thcentile and growing fast.

When i tried having newborn in the sola and getting dc1 to walk, she sat down half way home and i ended up carrying her...while baby screamed for milk! Hideous.

I love going to the park and shops with the children but this involves 2-4 mile trips. I dont drive.

Can anyone recommend a solution? Have been looking at doubles on ebay and cant work out what would be ok for us. Or if i should stick with single maclaren and sling as best of poor options?

Thanks for help.

[mumofboyo]

I never used a sling and have no idea about makes/models of pushchairs and prams, but I had a double buggy for mine, (dc 17 mo apart) which made getting out and about easier. It was one of those long ones: the baby lay flat at the back until 6 mo when she could sit up and the toddler sat at the front. He did used to fall asleep in it. When he wanted to walk it was fairly easy to steer one-handed (I used to put him in the reigns and strap them to the buggy frame) and he had somewhere to sit when he got tired. I got rid of it a couple of months ago, he walks everywhere now.
The only problem was that it was very long (I'd never have been able to get it on the bus) and front-heavy when the toddler was sitting in it, making steering difficult.
I would suggest you try them out if possible, go to a shop where you are able to test them out (with your dc inside) before buying.
They don't have to cost an arm and a leg either; ours was only £120 new from asda living.

[SirChenjin]

I used a double buggy - the long ones rather than the side-by-side ones which I found too difficult to steer or get through doorways. As Mum says it was quite heavy, so not great for getting on/off public transport and heavy to lift into the boot of the car - but great for walking.

[MrsNormanBates]

I bought a second hand phil ans teds. Dc1 is 2 fc2 is 11 weeks. Dc2 hates lying flat though so unless its raining I use the phil and teds for toddler and put baby in ergo. That way my hands are free to push toddler on swings etc.

[suntodayplease]

Double buggy for sure, my DD is nearly 2.9 and I've a 5 week old. It's the only place DD will now nap. I use it all the time (also a phil and teds), I encourage walking but it's so useful around nap time or if we are in a rush - normally nursery run which is a 2 mile trip. I'm sure you can pick them up easily 2nd hand, or if you buy new the re sale values are pretty good.

[Peppa33]

Hum, all phil and ted users!

My instinct is against them, dont like the idea of the low seat...i was eyeing up double maclarens - are they really difficult to push? I likethe ideaof having both dcside by side anddc1 loves her single maclaren...

Sorry for typos, one handed typing...

[AHardDaysWrite]

I got a mini city baby jogger from eBay and have been very happy with it. Def buy 2nd hand - double buggies don't get as much use as singles (unless you have twins) so they're usually in good condition and you can get a bargain. I tend to use the single and sling combo though - maybe try a sling meet to see if there's a comfier sling for you? Personally I love my connecta.

[Theironfistofarkus]

P & t here too. Really good and easy to steer with one hand if needed. Instinctively, I didn't like the one on front arrangement. DC did not care at all

[curlyclaz13]

Dc 2 in the sling and the maclaren for dc1 ?

[ShoeWhore]

P&T - the second seat is fine honestly (once mine were old enough to have an opinion they used to fight over it!)

Side by side a nightmare due to weight difference.

[weasle]

Sling!

I'm quite weedy but can easily carry a two year old for an hour or two in a proper well fitting sling. Your ergo should be fine or try a stretchy wrap. You can bf in them too, but takes practise!
I didn't go out that much with a three weeker except play groups or school run for eldest.
It will all get easier as feeding settles down etc.

[mumofboyo]

When I was choosing a buggy for my dc, the thing that put me off tandem, or side-by-side, buggies was that it would be very heavy on one side, therefore making it difficult to steer (like when they both sit in the trolly at the supermarket), unless they're designed to balance the weight? Also, they look very wide making it hard to get through door's, down the isles in shops and into the loos/cubicles for bum change duties. But I never actually tested them so I might be spouting rubbish

[MirandaWest]

I had a Phil and teds which I loved :)

[BobaFetaCheese]

Sling and a Mclaren Volo here.

Buying a Joovy Caboose Ultralight next year when ds2 is 6 months, only problem is amazon is the only uk seller i can find.
You can buy a szie 0 car seat holder for it, the second seat is a bench that you strap ds1 onto, and faces you (or proper seat with a seperate purchase seat)

[diddlediddledumpling]

Maclaren twin is fine! I managed to push ds1&ds2 everywhere in it, could get it on and off buses, no difficulty through doors. I didn't drive then, so I really mean I took it everywhere. And I'm not even that fit.

[mumofboyo]

Noticed an erroneous apostrophe: doors, not door's. It doesn't affect the message behind my post but it annoys me, sorry!

[Yodeleeiay]

I used a sling and mountain buggy that could lie flat so have either baby or DD1 in - I never used the pram/carrycot bit for DS2 as found it more convenient to be able to pop DD1 in if nec.

At the last minute got a 2nd hand Phil & Teds from DP's neighbours, which I found invaluable as DD1 went on napping for years longer than I anticipated. We call the bottom seat the racing car seat as you feel the speed more down low...

I also got a scuttlebug, which is a three wheeler ride-on that folds up small into the shopping basket of the single pushchair, so DD1 could go a bit faster than walking pace, and have fun too. After she could rest in the pushchair while DS2 went in the sling for a bit.

[cheminotte]

As pp have said, if you are finding the sling uncomfortable at 3 weeks you are wearing it wrongly or need a better sling. I used sling regularly until ds2 was about 9 months. 3 year age gap here and by the time ds2 was born ds1 was mostly on his balance bike. This could be taken on the bus if we were tired after a day out and perched on top of our buggy (3-wheeler not maclaren) and ds2 put back in sling if necessary. Ds2 is bigger than ds1 and was using balance bike just after turning 2 so if your dc1 is big that May be an option.

[Monkeyandanimal]

I used Out and About Nipper double buggy, and i loved it. It does go through most doors and is very lightweight to fold etc. 20months between my boys, and there were some issues with squabbling, but nice to see them chatting and holding hands together too. i still love it and am planning to use it when i have DC3 in a couple of weeks.

[Pennythedog]

I'm surprised you are struggling with the Ergo at 3 weeks. I used mine comfortably until around 18 months. Are you tying the waist strap around your hips rather than your stomach? Perhaps you could ask at the shop for advice.

[Awkwardsis]

I'd save the ergo til the baby's a bit bigger really, I never got on with mine til the dc were 5/6 months old. I'd really recommend a stretchy wrap for the newborn, a Kari Me or a Moby, and if you can stretch to it, a phil and teds will save your sanity. You can pick them up second hand for under £100 now, search ebay for local listings and look on Gumtree. And congratulations :)

[Artandco]

I hated the philand teds. Very heavy to steer. Always used a single with board/ sling option here in the end with 18 month gap. However by 2 eldest walked 99% of the time.
Eldest napped until 5 years but we would just come home to nap as easier and allowed us adults to rest/ catch up also

[Trapper]

Another vote for Phil and Ted here. Ours are one year apart and we don't have a car either. The wedge shaped front is good for barging onto tube trains in the morning rush hour.
You can pick up panniers for £4 on eBay which, together with a mummy clip, mean you can carry a week's shopping home too. We've road tested ours on beaches, long haul flights, Central London etc. and I wouldn't change it for the world. No need to buy new - buy second hand on eBay - far cheaper, plus all the 'add ins' are generally included.
Regardless of model, you should definitely get a push chair, and with one so young, you need one that will let one child lie flat.