Would you bother with a double?

[Hannano1990]

Hey,

I am currently pregnant with my second child and wondering whether to get a pushchair that goes into a tandem. My son will be 3 when my baby is born towards the end of year.
I thought I would be ok with a buggyboard but I'm unsure if I should have a pushchair that I can add a second seat as a back up. Thoughts please x

[MrsJamesMathews]

My DD was relegated to a buggy board before she was 2.

I do feel a bit bad about that. But actually she loved it and was never that fussed about her pushchair anyway.

I wouldn't bother with a double if I were you. By the time your first is 3 1/2 he or you aren't really going to want to be pushing him around in a buggy. You start getting those types of looks!!

[Notsure1234]

Dc2 is due when ds will be 22 months and we're not getting a double. I don't walk far and mostly use the car and ds hates the buggy now anyway although he's too small and unsteady at the moment to go without. I'm hoping he makes big improvements in 4 months haha although will buy a buggy board. I do have another stroller and a big boot though so I have the option of 2 for long day trips out

[Notsure1234]

Slow not small

[MrsJamesMathews]

Why does it depend zzzzz? Buggy boards mean you move just as fast as a double.

[NotAnotherUserName5]

Don't like buggy boards at all. Every time we crossed a road it wouldn't go up the kerb with DC on it (Also my dc alternated between being a fast runner escaping and being so tired she'd need a nap!)

However some prams have built on boards to the frame that won't do this-icandy orange, joovy do one too. Worth looking at if you consider that route.

The will be my second 2.6 year gap pregnancy so I've gone for a double that converts to single for us (icandy peach) worked well before, so sticking with something I know!

A good double if you do consider one is the mountain buggy duet too, as takes children up to the age of 5!

[TestingTestingWonTooFree]

We have a gap of 32 months and have just got a single with a buggy board. Not convinced a bb is that great, but we've only really used it once so more practice is needed. Think it's a rough ride on uneven surfaces. We didn't bother with a double because dc1 can walk as far as I can.

[newmumwithquestions]

Personally I wouldn't bother with a double. We had a 15 month gap so got a double. Then when DD turned 2.5y I got bored of fighting her into it so put a buggy board on our single one and prefer it. It's not without hassle as DD prefers to walk but I tend to negotiate a part run/part stand on board journey with her.

[NightWanderer]

How much does your child use the pram now? My daughter is 3 and we stopped using the pram once she could walk really as we drive most places and she just sits in the trolley at the shops. If you walk 5 miles a day through countryside then a double would be better. I agree that it deends on your circumstances and how much your eldest likes the pram.

[toomuchtimereadingthreads2016]

We will have a three year age gap too potentially to the day and were not bothering. We can either have toddler in pram and baby in wrap, or baby in pram and toddler on buggy board x

[spacecowboy99]

With a 3 year gap I wouldn't even consider a double. Lascal buggy board worked perfectly for us with same gap as you. It can be tiring on the arms and you do need to get used to how to walk with it (downhill hardest) but it's really only for when they get tired not constant use at that age. I think a double is only really essential under 2 year gap and possibly useful 2-3 year gap depending on child.

[spacecowboy99]

And keep a decent sling under buggy so if eldest needs to sit, pop baby in sling and eldest in seat. This is why I used a 'from birth fully reclining' buggy rather than pram style much sooner with my second as they could swap.

[Blueberryblueberry]

Definitely a buggy board. A 3yo will be absolutely fine with one - my age gap was similar and I do loads of walking. I started using the buggy board on an empty pram a couple of months before I was use to get DC use to it as so they didn't feel chucked out of their buggy by the baby. If you have a sling as well it can be great for the very occasional time the older one needs the pushchair (only happened a couple of times on very long days out)

[chopsticky]

Does your 3yr old still nap? This is the only reason I would get a double so that if you're out for the day they can still have a sleep.

[LaContessaDiPlump]

I'd get a double - they still conk out aged 3 and you don't want to have to carry a 3yo while pushing a pram....

[Emma2803]

I'm considering one. I will have a 2y9m age gap and thinking of going for walks for exercise purposes. Although saying that my sis has a mountain buggy duet so might hold out til she's finished with it!! Her oldest is one yr older than mine though he will be starting nursery so she might use it for school run as is about a mile walk

[Heatherbell1978]

A lot depends. DS was 2.5 when DD was born 10 wks ago. I figured I would try without one. DS loved the buggy board but I could barely push the pram up a kerb and there's no way that it would work for more than a 15 min walk. The buggy was so heavy.
DS will still nap in a buggy so after unsuccessfully trying to get him to nap at home while breastfeeding and dealing with colicky baby I caved and bought one.
I bought the mountain buggy Duet and it's been a life saver. If DS won't nap they're both bundled into it and sleep while I get a walk and fresh air. We've used it for a few family days out too. Couldn't do without it

[SignoraStronza]

We have a 27 month gap and picked up a 2nd hand P&T Sport before the baby was born. The seat behind was brilliant for dumping school bags et for dc1 - and dc2 could hop in occasionally if got too tired or we ended up having a late one with friends across the village. We took it to weddings and all day things, mainly to cart stuff around in but good if dcs2 and 3 got so tired and cranky that they needed a nap.
So, not essential but has actually been quite unexpectedly useful.

[Hannano1990]

You have all given me a lot to thibk about. I don't use a pushchair loads with DS1, however I can't work out if that's because I work full time. I like to think that i would be going out a lot more once I have the baby.

[GlitteryFluff]

I would say don't rush out and get one now, wait and see.
You can use current pram for new baby, older one can walk. Then can put baby in sling whilst older one sits in buggy for a rest.
If after a few weeks you find this isn't working you can go get a double.

[BikeRunSki]

The gap between my DC is 3 yrs and 1 month. WE did have a double for a short time - bought second hand on eBay and sold a year later for £7 less than what I aid for it. Like zzzz it was a P&T tandem (Sport). The reasons were very similar to zzzzz's:

I walk a lot, it keeps me happy and keeps me fit. Its 2 miles to the next village, and I used to of this several times a week for playgroups, shops, etc . No way would 3 yo DS been up for this.

DS was, and still is, very tall. Too tall for a Buggy Board to have been practice, especially as the buggy we had had a single "loop" handle, rather than 2 single ones with space in-between.

It's very hilly where we live, which is also difficult for a buggy board.

DS still napped when DD was born, and I was so not up to being housebound by his naps (or indeed hers).

DD was born in October, and the double was invaluable for getting DS to nursery that cold wet winter!

Sometimes, when the baby is crying and the preschooler is tantruming, you just have to get out....

[Hannano1990]

There's so much think about. I live in the fens. Hills are not a problem here whatsoever. So a buggy board wouldn't be too bad. I had already considered having a pushchair with a sling in the basket if ever I need to swap over. But I think if i get a pushchair like the icandy/oyster/egg then k can buy a second seat and attach as and when needed and maybe sell on after I'm done with the second seat. I hope to do a lot more walking once I've had the baby. I don't get to spend a huge amount of time with DS1 in the great outdoors so I deffo want to be outside more.

[FraterculaArctica]

I wouldn't with that age gap. DS was 2.4 when DD was born (and largely refusing the pushchair though occasionally forced into it) and we didn't bother with a double. Decided on the rare occasions I needed him in the pushchair I would put DD in the sling. Still do this now he's just over 3 and DD is 8 months (only when his behaviour deteriorates to a point I have to manhandle him into pushchair). We have a BJCM GT so could be used from birth with either child.

[LaContessaDiPlump]

I recommend Phil and Teds Sport double if you want to be out and about; 3-wheelers don't trap as much mud! We had this model and it was fab.