Would you bother with a double buggy for a 3.3 yro?

[Bumperliouzzzzzz]

DD will be 3.3 when DC2 comes along. We have a Quinny Buzz which we are keeping for DC 2. The plan was to make use of the sling more often so we could interchange with the two if necessary (although this won't work in the beginning really as well be using a carry cot). DD has been walking since a year old so it competent but tends to refuse to walk sometimes and will insist on being carried.

A chap at work is selling a Graco tandem for £40 (RRP £145) so that is the only reason I am ow considering it (we had mainly dismissed the idea due to not being able to afford a decent double).

I'm thinking more for if we are going out for the day or something. Other than that I will try and make DD walk as much as possible.

What would you do? Is it worth getting this one even if we just use it for a couple of months?

[luciemule]

I would say don't bother because at 3.3, your dd will be walkiing progressively more and more. Guess you could use the single buggy for your dd if you still have it and when you go out for the day, she could go in that and the new baby could go in the sling/carrier?
Or (b), instead of DD insisting you carry her, you insist that you don't carry her .

[MrsBadger]

at 40 ge it

I didn't tink I needed one but dh bought a chap maclarne o ebay

dd got hicxkenoix whn ds was 5wksand woulkdn't walkkkkk - it saved my bacon

(sorry, kbd needs battries)

[janeite]

Gosh, no. They soon get used to walking, if there is no choice.

[DilysPrice]

For forty quid, if you've got the space to store it, I probably would - even if you only use it a handful of times you'll probably be able to sell it on for as much as you paid for it.

[MrsGravy]

I wouldn't. I got one for DD who was 2 when DS was born and we never used it. I'd get a buggy board. Although DS will be 3.5 when no.3 is due and I'm not planning on getting anything for him.

[SparkyMalarky]

Depends on how much you use a buggy, how far you walk on a daily basis etc. DS was exactly 3 when DD arrived - we did get a double and we've used it pretty much every day for a year - but then I don't really drive, we walk everywhere, very often go out for a day of walking and so DS needed the buggy.

But then some others have just managed with a buggy board (although I seem to remember that some fit the Buzz better than others) so that might be another option.

If you get that tandem for £40, have you checked what they're going for on eBay? You might be able to sell it on in a couple of months?

Good luck

[janeite]

We don't drive. DD1 was 2 years and 3 months when dd2 was born and had a buggy for the first month whilst dd2 was in a sling. After that, she walked - we didn't have a buggy board either although, looking back, it might have been useful on a couple of occasions.

[KnottyLocks]

Can you fit a buggy board on a Buzz? DS1 was 2.11 when DS2 came along. We made do with a buggy board (when DS1 got tired) and carried sling for DS2. It was a case of juggling, but worked for us.

Mind you, unless you find one 2nd hand, most boards are aroung £40 anyway.

Easier to store though and getting through doorways.

[Eglu]

I wouldn't bother. DS2 is 2.6 and walks almost everywhere. Neither of my two used a pushchair at all anywhere near their third birthday.

[Bumperliouzzzzzz]

It's debatable whether any boards fit the Buzz, and they certainly don't with the carry cot attachment.

It's difficult to know about the walking. We don't walk as much as we could now as we have 2 cars and when DD refuses to work she is very resistant! But we are going to be moving before DC2 and it may be somewhere where we do more walking.

[NonnoMum]

For forty quid, I would...

(For those over-tired moments)

But then it depends on what that would mean to your family budget.

If that's just a couple of take-aways, then fine, but if that's your food budget for a week, then perhaps not... (with me, it always comes back to food...)

[StrictlyKatty]

I would so get it for £40! What the worst that can happen, you use it a few times when you really need it, then you sell it on.

DS will be 2.8 when DC2 comes and I'm seriously thinking about a P&T Vibe as there are times when I need to get somewhere quickly as DS won't/cannot walk fast enough or far enough.

[kitkatsforbreakfast]

I wouldn't get it.

I had a double for when ds2 came along, but only 21 months between the boys. But I sold it less than a year later, so ds1 was not 3 at that point.

When dd came along, ds2 was 2 yrs 9 months and no way was I pushing him up hills!

dd has a long school run that she has to do twice a day with me - a mile each way, so 4 miles a day. we ditched the buggy this Easter when she was 3 yrs 2 months as she is perfectly capable of walking. It sometimes takes a little longer, but I really got to the stage where I don't want to be pushing my children around in their chariots any more. Does mean I have to carry the shopping though.

[Jamieandhismagictorch]

I wouldn't

I'd get a Buggy Board, scooter or walking bike

[Jamieandhismagictorch]

or a toy buggy for her to push might encourage her to walk (worked for my DS1)

[auntyviral]

i would

[BeehiveBaby]

I wouldn't TBH. It's another thing to get DC1 out of using. Sling for a few months, then a buggy board for very long trips.

[runnybottom]

Depends on the child/ren. I didn't need one when DS2 was born when DS1 was 2, but I needed one for ds2 and 3 and there is a similar gap.

For DS2, its not so much about how far he can walk (he's a strong walker) its more that he will never walk in the direction we need to go in, at the speed we need etc. Also he tries to run into roads and runs away in shops, so a double makes life so much easier!

[alysonpeaches]

The graco tandem is heavy going when the biggest child is in the front. I found getting up and down kerbs with the weight in the front to be a challenge - I had a 3 year old and a baby but needed a buggy because the 3yo had special needs and was easier to cope with strapped in when near roads etc.

When I had the next two, I successfully used a buggy board as DGD1 was very sensible. I couldnt have used a buggy board with DGS1. With DGD3 and 4, I got rid of the double buggies and DGD3 had an almighty tantrum on an outing because she couldnt go in the single pushchair instead of DGD4. I ended up buying another double pushchair from ebay for £15. Dont just buy the graco because its cheap, its not necessarily the best double/twin for you. I found the side by side ones with a single long handle the best eg Mamas and Papas Aria or the one Im using at present which is a Little Tikes twin, but I havent seen this on sale anywhere in this country. If you want to go second hand, have a look on ebay, also look at reviews of twin/doubles online to see what other mums make of them. Many are like me and find the tandems heavy going.

Another option is a second hand Emmaljunga pram/pushchair which is a single, but you fit a toddler seat on it. Its easier to push than a tandem and I was tempted to get one before the Little Tikes came up.

[alysonpeaches]

This is the sort of thing I meant
cgi.ebay.co.uk/EmmalJunga-Tandem-Use-Pram-double-buggy-400-/280497000446?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_Baby_Bab yTravelPushchairsGL&hash=item414eec8ffe

[biddyofsuburbia]

I got one (2nd hand) for when DD was born and DS was 2.5. Never used and eaten by mice in garage. Complete waste of money. I got a buggy board and a bit later a scooter for DS, which worked fine. He was a good walker though. DD is a lazy bones so possibly would have needed if she was the eldest.

[alysonpeaches]

Im on my fourth double/twin pushchair and this sort
cgi.ebay.co.uk/NEW-GRACO-DUOSPORT-TWIN-DOUBLE-BUGGY-BABY-STROLLER-/190390928293?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_B abyBabyTravelPushchairs_GL&hash=item2c542f03a5

is easier to push than this

cgi.ebay.co.uk/GRACO-STADIUM-DUO-MIDNIGHT-DOUBLE-TWIN-TANDEM-PUSHCHAIR-/330424244289?cmd=ViewItem&pt =UKBabyBabyTravelPushchairsGL&hash=item4ceed1d841

I have had both so I know!

But the Emmaljunga might be better for a new baby and a 3 year old.

[Miggsie]

No, it would be bloody heavy and difficult to manouvre.

I walk to school with a child minder who handles a double buggy daily and she does not enjoy it.