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Original poster

Can we avoid a double buggy?

58 replies

Skiaddicted · 10/09/2019 16:20

Dc1 will be 18m when dc arrives if all goes well so I'm starting to think about what we may need. Dc1 lived in a carrier for the first 6 months of his life, he hated a pram and i found a pram a hassle so it worked well for us, however i know with 2 things may be different. I know i may want to give dc1 attention while dc2 sleeps or something out and about but a lot of me is thinking I'd like to avoid the cost of a double.

Has anyone managed it? I'm likely to buy second hand if we do get one so if we are going to get a double I'd need to decide before baby arrives so i have time to get one of the two i am considering.

OP posts:
UnalliterativeGeorge · 10/09/2019 16:24

We have a 17 month gap and managed without a double buggy. Had a single and a sling. The only downside we had was when we wanted them both to sit down at the same time. We do love semi rurally though so anywhere not close enough for DC1 to walk we'd have had to go in the car anyway!

ThePolishWombat · 10/09/2019 16:26

If you are pretty confident with baby wearing already, then I personally wouldn’t bother with a double.
We spent £350 on a second-hand double when DC2 was born (17 months between DC1 & 2) and I can count on one hand the amount of times I’ve actually used it in double mode! I used it more as a single for DC1 until she outgrew the buggy stage and used a sling/carrier for DC2.
Now pregnant with DC3, and I’ll do the same now that DC2 uses the buggy in single mode.

whataconundrum · 10/09/2019 16:26

I really would advise getting one. There is such a small age gap and will it really be practical having the younger one in the sling, especially as they get older. I have a 2 year age gap and my eldest is 2.5 years and I think we will be using it for a while longer for his naps or when I need to walk into town and strap him down. Also good for play groups as I can wheel the pram in,leave baby in and focus on playing with toddler. Second hand ones aren't badly priced and you should be able to sell on for what you paid x

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LER83 · 10/09/2019 16:27

22 months between mine, never had a double. Eldest was happy to walk. If we went on a big day out etc we just took 2 singles. You could get a buggy board.

theconstantinoplegardener · 10/09/2019 16:28

I didn't have a double buggy. Initially I had DD2 in a baby carrier while DD1 sat in the buggy. When DD2 got too big for the baby carrier, she went in the buggy and DD1 went on a buggy board. It worked well for us.

Spanneroo · 10/09/2019 16:35

Sling for the baby, then a buggy board once your older one hits about 2. It can definitely be done.

Original poster
Skiaddicted · 10/09/2019 16:38

Seems like theres a mix of opinions but it is achievable to go without! Dc1 used to have to go in the carrier wherever i went, poor thing used to have to stay in there when i went to the loo if i was out on my own Grin

OP posts:
DappledThings · 10/09/2019 16:52

For me it was down to sleep. I had a 22 month gap too and we were out most days nearly all day. DC1 still slept about 1.5-2 hours in the day and I needed to be able to put them both down to sleep. Used my Mountain Buggy Duet every day for well over a year.

ThePolishWombat · 10/09/2019 16:57

@Skiaddicted same as both of mine!! I found the sling so much more practical than a buggy when out and about - no waiting around for lifts in shops etc, DCs could go wherever I went.
Only started using the buggy for DC2 when my DC3 baby bump was getting too big to carry comfortably, and he was about 2 and a half by that point!

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 10/09/2019 16:58

Buggy board. We had a slightly bigger gap (21 months) and used the double about 10 times. The buggy board got used a lot. I would say though make sure the pushchair can easily be converted between baby and toddler. There will be times you need to put baby down to deal with toddler (unless you back carry).

Sunshine1235 · 10/09/2019 17:02

I think it depends a bit on where you live and how much you want to carry. I had an 18 month gap and lived very rurally so although we had a double I barely used it as most places I was driving to. Now we’ve moved and although they’re a bit older now (1 and 2) I use the double every day because we walk to the shops/Park/town etc. Yes I could use a buggy board/bike/sling but sometimes you just want them both strapped in and to get somewhere quickly and peacefully. Also I found having the baby in the sling was sometimes tricky when I needed to quickly chase a toddler or get down and talk to him etc

mistermagpie · 10/09/2019 17:34

Twenty month gap here. I was a big sling user with DS1 and thought we could avoid a double but DS2 had other ideas! Bear in mind that some babies hate being worn, so you won't really know until it's here.

FWIW we have the baby jogger city mini double and it's hands-down the best thing I bought. It was about £100 second has but I've used it loads and it will be coming out again when DC3 arrives at the end of the year (DS2 is now 2 but will still go in a pram). There are usually loads on gumtree.

DinosApple · 10/09/2019 17:35

17 month gap here too. Someone gave me a double and it was pretty handy.

The first six months to year really is fine, it's the second year when you have a 2/ 2.5yo and a 6mth/1yo and they are both running/crawling in opposite directions or both knackered and cranky, being able to strap them in something is handy!

mistermagpie · 10/09/2019 17:36

Yes to what a pp says as well - it's really tough to wrangle an uncooperative toddler while you are wearing a baby. Sometimes strapping them in is easier and safer.

Original poster
Skiaddicted · 10/09/2019 18:31

Ah some good points to consider, i think maybe we will go for one then and just sell it if it doesnt get used.

I hadnt even thought about dc2 being not a fan of being in a carrier!

OP posts:
Housewife2010 · 10/09/2019 18:33

There's 21 months age gap between my two. We tried with a buggy step but my daughter hated it so we ended up getting an Out N About double buggy which was excellent.

heidipi · 10/09/2019 18:55

We had a 2.5 yr age gap and bought a second hand Phil and Ted's for £90 and sold it 3 years later for £40 so it definitely earned its keep. In the early days DC1 still needed a nap, and later on a bit of quiet time was still good even if not sleeping. The double decker style means you can carry on using it as a single when you don't need the double any more. I definitely walked more than I would have done with one in a sling or the other on a buggy board so it was good for using the car less too.

Minai · 10/09/2019 19:04

I have 18m between mine and I would never have managed without one but it really depends on you and your children I think. I found it hard on my back to push a single stroller with a baby in the carrier and my toddler is incredibly stubborn, runs off, won’t walk where I tell him to so I need him strapped in or he would just run off into the road if he was walking. If you have a cooperative toddler who is good at walking and you are ok with a baby in the carrier you may be ok without one. I would see how you get on and you can always pick one up pretty quickly if it’s not working for you.

JC12345 · 10/09/2019 19:18

If you're used to carrying your eldest, how about a good toddler carrier for them, then baby in buggy? Or single buggy that they can both fit in (we have a babyjogger city mini) and sling for either depending on situation. I have just over 2 year age gap (youngest are twins) so used double buggy for twins and sling (toddler connecta) for 2 year old when he didn't want to walk. Now twins are two I use single buggy and sling for them.

GreenTulips · 10/09/2019 19:21

I had twins and an older child son needed a buggy for the babies
Toddler never went in the bigger after 18 months and happy to walk or sometimes go in the hood, we also had a buggy bored which she used

Bobbybobbins · 10/09/2019 19:51

We used ours quite a lot. When both were asleep in it at the same time it was absolute bliss and I could have a hot cup of tea so I would recommend for this reason alone! We got a second hand Phil and Ted for £150, brilliant.

ThereWere10 · 10/09/2019 20:03

I had a 2 yr 3 month gap. Double buggy was a lifesaver for the first year.
I had no car - went everywhere inc shopping on foot. Far easier to manage double buggy plus shopping trolley than alternatives.
DC1 - heavy, DC2 disliked carrier.
Could play with DC1 in park.

The most important for me (as no car) was when they were ill to get them to doctors.

Or to the train or bus or anywhere we had to be at a certain time.

MattMagnolia · 10/09/2019 20:13

If you’re walking a lot the elder child needs to be in a buggy when tired ornot well and in bad weather. You can’t walk through winter cold, rain, snow with a 17 month old baby standing on a buggy board.

ArfArfBarf · 10/09/2019 20:18

I ended up feeling really “touched out” with two under two. Being able to put them both in the pushchair and go for a long walk was really helpful.

Fivechatchacha · 10/09/2019 20:21

22 month gap and loved my double buggy. Couldn't have coped without it. Bought it second hand on fbook and sold it for same value on fbook. Only downside is storing it and as it was a side by side one I could only use the wide check out at the supermarket.