nearly 3 year gap...double or single buggy?

[sugarplumfairy01]

Hi All,

I am due in Sep and DS will be 3 in Oct. At the moment he will walk when out and about around shops etc, but not long walks and then just wants to be carried!

I can't use slings for new born.

Do you think I would get away with a single buggy with board and then may be a cheap double stroller for long walks, all day outings etc? Or are there reasonable light weight doubles that would also be suitable from newborn?

All thoughts welcomes :-)

Thanks x

ps - I have a strange obsession with buggies etc and we could only afford second hand (maxi cosi loola, old old version) with the first so been promised we can get a nice new shiny one! :-)

[MoreThanUs]

Depends on if you HAVE to walk to places within a time frame (school run) and what distances are involved. For a 3 year age gap I'd only have a double if I had a school run of longer than a mile round trip every day, twice a day.

[Watto1]

I'd go for single with a buggy board. I used one that had a little seat. It was by Cossato. Hang on, I'll have a Google!

[jellycat]

We have almost the same gap (ds1's third birthday was 2.5 weeks after ds2 was born). We never had a double, we managed with a buggy board, and I did use a sling but only very occasionally. I think you'll find that by September your ds will be capable of walking a lot more than he is now.

[Watto1]

Hmm, looks like they no longer make the one I used but if you Google 'buggy board with seat' you get some alternatives.

[NotSoEagerBeaver]

I used a pram with buggy board once DS1 was about 2.5. The standing up tires them out, and it's easier to navigate around shops than a double buggy

[Phalarope]

Same age gap here. You might find he gets used to not being carried as you get bigger, and his stamina will increase a lot by September. We have a single buggy and use scooter/balance bike for anything lengthy or speedy. It's been totally fine. I embarked on a bit of a no-buggy-no-carry bootcamp from about 3 months pregnant to avoid needing a double.

[MinnowAndTheBear]

I use a single pram and DS has a balance bike. I started getting him out and about on his bike more while I was pregnant and he was soon able to cover quite long distances, and at a decent speed. It usually me trailing behind after him, rather than the other way around. We do life in an area with a lot of cycle paths and pedestrian crossings etc though, so perhaps in an urban area it might not be a safe option.

[sugarplumfairy01]

Thanks everyone!

Not sure of distances to school etc at the moment as we are also putting the house on the market next month so will be in new house but probably near to school, that's the aim.

Will have a look for the buggy board with seat too. :-)

[Thingvellir]

I don't think you'll get the use out of it. I would go with a sling always to hand and a buggy board. Unless you do major amounts of walking?

DD was 2.5 when DS was born, and a good walker. If we had a big family day out (weekends only) with a lot of walking we took two buggies - DS in the bugaboo and DD in the mcClaren.

I do get the fascination with buggies though...sorry

[adagio]

Yep, single with buggy board vote here too. Also progressed to scooter with pull along strap (3rd birthday pressie, realistically used it loads from about 3 and a quarter) so one handed push essential. Much easier to walk with than the buggy board! Check out the layout too - buggy with board where the child lands under/in front of the handle is much more usable than eg mclaren where they are right in the way.

[ElspethFlashman]

I had two under two and didn't bother with a double. A lot of people who buy them don't use them for long, which put me off considering the price.

[ChanandlerBongsNeighbour]

3 year gap between mine and we did absolutely fine with a buggy board, practised her on it a few times before DD2 was born (talked about the rules, 'no jumping off' etc etc) and it was great! (FYI I have bugaboo cameleon and LOVE it!)

[Calca]

I had 3 DC 2.9 gap and 3.1 gap and we only ever had single buggy and buggy board / walking. was absolutely fine. The unwieldiness of the double buggy really wouldn't have been worth it for us as they were fine on buggy board or walking.

[Asuitablemum]

I just had a buggy board and it was absolutely fine. Most of the time he walked anyway. But I agree if you have a school run with a long walk or something then maybe you'd need one. Though buggy board would probably still be fine.

[BikeRunSki]

I have a 3yr 1 month age difference. I had a double. I only needed it for 6 months, but of that time it was essential:

1 - because the 3 year old still napped in the day
2 - to get him to nursery on the cold. dark winter mornings (too close to justify driving really)
3 - so that we could all get out for some fresh air and I could get some exercise everyday.
4- because, sometimes, when the 3 year old is kicking off and the baby is crying, you just have to get out.
5- DS (the older child) is very tall, and a buggy board would not have worked for us. The pushchair handle, and hills around here were not in our favour for a buggy board either.


Even though DD was born in October, and DS was nearly 4 by the following summer, it was handy for days out in the summer holidays.

I bought it (a Phil and Ted's) on eBay, and sold it a year later for £7 less than I paid for it.

[Artandco]

I wouldn't. We had smaller gap (15 months). And did use sling/ board combo then. But from 2-2 1/2 the board was only used on very long days out (5miles plus), as they could walk happily.
Plus by 3+ you want them walking as much as possible to tired them out