to think I'll be able to manage with a newborn and a 20 month old without a double buggy?

[sausagedoesnotroll]

This is kind of an academic question, since we can't afford a double buggy and all the ones we've looked at would be far too huge to get into our tiny house anyway. I guess what I'm asking is, has anyone done it and managed ok?

I'm hoping to use a sling and buggy to begin with and then the buggy and a buggy board when they're both a bit bigger. We have a folding buggy too, so when DH is around we can use both and push one each. MIL and various other people seem to think I'm insane, though. Am I?

I had a gaps of that amount between various kids and could not have managed without a double buggy. It was less hard work than pushing a single buggy with the additional strain of a sling. We had a tandem buggy which we got cheaply second-hand and it did good work for several combinations of children.

Maybe it depends on whether you will be walking a lot.

As it's related can I ask to what age people carried dcs in a sling (without wishing to hijack your thread op :) ) dd is nearly 6 months and I plan to carry her for as long as possible.

I still use a sling a few times a month unrulysun, have never had a pushchair (DD is 4yo)

I had DS1 in the MT on my back in July - he was 5 in August. I think we're done now! DS2 I use the ring sling or wrap in the house when cooking, he's 22 months and a PITA otherwise because he neeeeds to help me.

Not unless you have a car.

Unrulysun try looking here www.thebabywearer.com for lots of info and ideas.

Join FREECYCLE you need a yahoo email account, then go on their website and find your local group. You have to be quick when you see one come up, but it is possible. We got our double buggy from there, folds up a treat, and it's FREE! Good luck.

DId you get my message sausage? Not quite sure how the private messaging works!

Hello staranise, yes I did. Have replied now - sorry for the delay.

Mine are 22 mo apart and I didn't have a double buggy. I only occasionally wished I had one. Mostly ds just stood on the back of the buggy. And then once dd was walking, ds sat in the buggy even though he was the older one and dd walked everywhere.

Sausage, I babywear (we have no buggy !) and have found the forum at www.naturalmamas.co.uk to be a godsend

DD2 was 2 when DD3 was born. I used a single buggy and a sling sometimes but really found I needed the Double buggy. But this was years ago when there weren't any buggy boards around. So you might be alright without a double buggy. One thing though is that DD2 stillhad naps at that age and would often sleep in the buggy if we were out when she needed a nap, She would not have ben able to do this if she was standing on a buggy board,

I didn't want to buy one as DD was already 2.5 when DS was born, but I caved in just bought umbrella folding maclaren. DD wasn't keen to walk and didn't like buggy board, I found sling and buggy hard work for longer walks / shops.

But you might be more determined than me to make it work without. No rush to buy double and you can pick up 2nd hand one very cheap.

We are TTC no 2 at the mo - if we hit the jackpot immediately there would be 2 yrs 3 months between them.

I had thought about the buggy board option, but also, what about having DD on my back in the back carrier, with baby in the carrycot pram?

Is that totally unrealistic?

After all we do quite a bit of walking and I often do carry DD on my back (and their weight gain tails off doesn't it, in the 2nd and 3rd year?) ??

Or am I mad?!

OP, 20 months is the age gap between my two DD's. I never had (or needed) a double buggy. We walked quite a fair distance most days, even in shin-deep snow last year without difficulty.

I used a sleepy wrap initially with the double buggy and eventually graduated to the buggy board. To be honest, I really enjoyed it!

Sorry, I used a sleepy wrap with the SINGLE buggy. Doh!

There is 17 moths between my DSs, I used pushchair and sling alot to begin with but DS2 nearly 10lb at birth and just grew and grew! Did buy a second hand double buggy, so glad it only cost £40 as used it once! DS1 was a pretty good walker so that definitely helped matters, we ended up buying a buggy board which DS1 likes when he is tired but hardly uses it really. So yes it most definitely is doable.

Hi OP, what area are you from (roughly if you want). I have one which I am willing to give away! Getting ready to freecycle it actually.

Buggy board is evil. Hate them. I am short. If you are, don't bother, couldn't lean over the buggy to effectively push.

There are so many variables that no-one else can say what you will or wont need/be able to manage. I think you are doing the right thing to wait and see how it goes.

You have lots of good offers/suggestions on how to get a good cheap double if you decide you need one later.