Will I need a double buggy for a 2 year old and newborn?

[charlottexox]

I am due with my second baby at the start of October and when October rolls around DD will have just turned 2 (birthday right at the end of August.)
Basically, I'm wondering if I will need a double buggy? DD has only just started walking - started small steps at 17 months now she is nearly 20 months, I do get her out of her single buggy to walk around as much as I can but she gets tired after about half an hour she gets tired and wants to get back into her pushchair for a rest.
I do not drive so rely on buses every day to get out as I live in a small village too.
My in laws seem to think by the time she is 2 she will not need a double buggy - but then again, they're very opinionated people!
A buggy board I don't think would be doable as DD wouldn't stand nicely on one for long periods. She is also starting nursery in September for 3 days a week and I am 99% sure that when I go to pick her up from nursery she will be absolutely shattered! So that's another reason why I'm thinking a double buggy maybe wise at this stage.
I'm just wondering if any ladies had this age gap or a similar one and what you did to get your babies around?

[The8thMonth]

It's really a personal preference. I had two boys with the same age gap as you. I carried the baby in a sling and then the older used the buggy. When older one wasn't in the buggy (ie walking), I'd put the baby in the buggy. I also had no car and used public transport. I think a double buggy on public transport would be difficult.

[megletthesecond]

Yes.
22 months between mine and we walk everywhere. I tried a buggy board but it stopped me from walking with food posture.
Bear in mind that juggling and newborn and toddler is easier when you can pop both of them in a buggy and off you go. And waiting for a dawdling toddler isn't always practical.

[megletthesecond]

Hmm, I missed the bit about buses. That would be tricky.

[delilabell]

My dd is two next month. There is no way she'doesn't manage without her pushchair. She walks a lot but if she's ready for a nap then there's no way I'd be able to get her to walk (or stand on a buggy board) I like the idea of a sling and pushchair (loved my sling) but I think I'd have a double and then use the single if in was taking new baby in sling. ( if you have room for both! )

[InDubiousBattle]

I had a smaller age gap (19 months) but absolutely needed a double. We bought a Phil and Teds for £80 off e bay and it has been a fantastic buy. I don't drive either so rely on buses and trains and the Phil and Teds has a pretty small foot print for a double. I had a sling too so would sometimes take a single for ds and have dd in the Caboo but it's much easier with the double tbh.

[katand2kits]

I had a 26m gap. I absolutely needed a double. Two year olds don't like to walk far and they often don't want to go at a reasonable pace in the right direction. I would never have got far walking without a double, although if I was going on a bus I used a single and took a sling for the baby.

[MiniDoofa]

Yep you'll need a double!! Good luck

[Mrsfrumble]

What are the buses like? Busy or quiet? Spacious or not? Would it be easy to get a double on and off?

Also consider: does your older child nap in the buggy? Or do you prefer to be at home for nap time? Are naps part of a rigid routine or spontaneous?

Do you have space at home to store a double?

I have a 23 month gap between my children. When DC2 was born we lived in London, in an upstairs flat with no lift and no storage, on and off London buses all day. So I coped with a sling / buggy / board mix. A few months later we moved to a place with very little public transport and still no car, so I walked miles each day. We also lived in a bungalow with loads of storage, so the first thing I did was buy and double and it was great! We did spontaneous naps on the go too, and it was lovely and peaceful to wander around the shops etc with both children asleep in the buggy.

All things to consider. Your inlaws are not living your life!

[lornathewizzard]

2 year gap here and we used a Phil and teds double until baby was about a year old and was a bit squashed in the bottom bit. So we used a single for 6months or so after that, but also walked as the little one is actually a great wee walker.

Know they are 1.5 and 3.5 and I’ve just bought a second hand city mini jogger double as the big one tires easily so it’s heaps easier to go anywhere if I can get them both in the pram.

So yes, I’d vote double buggy!

[charlottexox]

I have heard so many good reviews about Phil and Teds double buggys, does anyone know if they're ok to fit on a bus?
@Mrsfrumble thanks for your reply! The bus I get on is usually quiet and gets busier when I get on it for home time. There is usually another lady who gets on the same time as me as we live in the same village and I usually give up the buggy space for her as her LB is only a few months old and is still in a lying down pushchair, so I park DD up in hers at the side of the aisle which gets a few tuts and grunts from others getting on
Also yes, I usually go out in the afternoon and get the first bus that arrives in the afternoon (just after 12) and she will usually nap an hour or so later on in the pushchair.
As for room, yes I do have room as recently just moved to a bigger flat and have an airing cupboard which I store her single buggy in when not in use.
I'm just panicking about what to do, and wondering if I should hold off buying one until August time to see how much she's walking and how she copes with long distances.

[lornathewizzard]

We used our Phil and teds a few times on the bus with no problems, although our buses are pretty spacious and quiet during the day.

[lornathewizzard]

On and see if you can go to a big pram place or morhercare or somewhere to try different ones out - my 2 yo was too big for some of them even before her brother was born!

[AJPTaylor]

Buy one.
You also need to factor in your 2 year old even if she was a good walker not being happy about being usurped in her place in the buggy

[Flowersonthewall]

I'd get a double, definitely something that's on top of each other rather than side by side for the bus. X

[3stonedown]

I think you could manage without but I wouldn't choose to if that makes sense. My DD is 2 in July and she can manage big days out with not much time in the buggy (we take it to store our bags) so in theory if she was tired I could take a newborn out and pop them in a sling, but in reality it would be so much easier just to have a double.

[TheFreshPrincess0fBelair]

philandteds.com/uk/Products/push/dot#.Wt3qVhbTWEc this is the smallest Phil & Teds, I had one and it was fab.

[Hogtini]

Could you get a pram that adapts to a double? The egg, icandy etc? Then you would have the option for both a single or double. There's plenty on second-hand groups.

[DunkandEgg]

Remember there are buggy boards that allow a child to sit.

[thatwouldbeanecumenicalmatter]

What about one fo those sit/stand buggies? Joovy Caboose and Graco (can’t rememeber the model name). I saw a one like the Joovy in a charity shop recently, it wasn’t massive for a tandem but when it folded down it was quite long -21” x 45” (we measured it )

[coragreta]

Out and about was my best purchase. I tried a sling/buggy combo but sometimes you just want to put them both down.
Good luck.

[charlottexox]

Thank you for your suggestions lady. I'm worried as well in case DD will be too heavy when her baby sister arrives. She is currently 13kg. Does anyone know what size the Phil and teds go up to?

[SinkGirl]

I definitely would. It’s different because I have twins and they’re only 19 months but there’s no way I’d go out without somewhere to contain them both if necessary.

[pinkflamingo121318]

I had exactly 17 months between my first two.. i was sceptical when people suggested a baby carrier and keeping the single.

It was brilliant!
"Baby wearing" is the best.

If your DD is starting nursery, are you able to leave her pushchair there? It would be easier for you to get on the bus with new baby in a carrier.

I couldn't ever chance a double buggy on a bus. I'm not even willing to try my single buggy at school time because the bus is busy. I see someone get on with a double on the way home and they always struggle!

[Namechange128]

If it's going to be a pain, you can definitely manage without. We actually had a double for my 2 year old and newborn and barely used it, the extra hassle of getting it around pavements, through shops and on and off buses outweighed the occasional niceness of them both sitting down. Also, my eldest wanted to be walking or on the buggy board or scooter, and my youngest preferred the sling... It felt silly to push around an empty double!
For dc3 we've bought a cheaper second hand maclaren double for longer trips like the zoo, and then are keeping our single with buggy board, plus slings.

[RatRolyPoly]

Mine have a 25 month gap and we don't have a double. Baby is 8 months now.

What we've done is use a carrier for baby when she was smaller, with the option to put her in the pushchair as necessary and when the toddler's happy to walk. Now I have a back carrier that either can go in, and the pushchair that either can go in, but mostly the toddler will walk.

I suppose lifestyle is a big factor, but you could always try without and save buying until you know for sure you'll need it?