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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To panic slightly at how I am going to get about with 2 DC?

62 replies

raininginbaltimore · 13/05/2012 15:41

Ok, maybe panic is a but strong. I am due in August. DS will be a week or so off being 3.

I won't have a car on ML, I work full time now so only have to do this in school holidays (I'm a teacher). I walk or get bus. I have a BJCM pushchair, only use when walking to toddler groups (45min walk)

DS will be at CM two days a week, but I am worried about other days. I have a sling, but what if DS does his "refuse to walk and lie down" act? I can't carry him, baby and changing bag?

Not sure a buggyboard will fit on pushchair when it is lying flat.

Tell me what other people do!

OP posts:

GrahamTribe · 13/05/2012 18:08

I'm another who's DC walked everywhere at that age, including a similarly long walk to school and back twice a day. My Dc just got used to it, there wasn't an alternative.

TheHouseOnTheCorner · 13/05/2012 18:13

Graham some DC just wont or are very awkward about it and if you have a disability then it's nightmare...my older DD walked everywhere happily but DD2 moans and pulls and demands to be picked up the WHOLE time and we DO walk a lot....I take her scooter with us now...but I understand why the OP wouldn't want to deal with a whiny toddler and a new baby.

SpagboLagain · 13/05/2012 18:19

We got an out and about double on eBay for 70. I love it as its so easy to steer and quite compact for a side by side. Use it for long walks. Buggy board for shorter trips, bus, shops etc

GrahamTribe · 13/05/2012 18:20

Sorry, TheHouse, and sorry OP, I didn't see that the OP had a disability.

AFAIAC though, there's no such thing as DC "won't" walk. You do what it takes to make them walk when you have no other choice. I could hardly have stayed where I was all night because a child wouldn't walk. Not only had we no alternative but my DC knew no different, so walk they did.

What I'm trying to get at is to reassure the OP that actually walking may not be the nightmare she envisages. I often find that those who are very reliant on their cars panic unnecessarily when they haven't got access to a vehicle.

halcyondays · 13/05/2012 18:46

Get a double

Joiningthegang · 13/05/2012 19:06

Philip and teds are a
Axing. We borrowed an out and about double - easiest thing to push ever - get one or other (or both) you won't regret it!
I could never get on with pushing a buggy while baby in a sling.

Joiningthegang · 13/05/2012 19:06

Axing?? I meant amazing

Gentleness · 13/05/2012 19:13

I'd get a double so you have the option while ds is adjusting.

Britax dual - cheaper and better than p&t imo. I get more stuff in than my friends with p&ts. It's not a 1 handed fold, but not sure you get that in doubles? I love mine completely.

hazeyjane · 13/05/2012 19:17

Out and About double.

sling and stroller for bus journeys.

hazeyjane · 13/05/2012 19:18

sorry that should have been out n about double for walks (can pick up cheap on ebay)

Byecklove · 13/05/2012 19:25

Just wanted to add that I remember feeling similarly panicky when DS2 had just been born. DS1 had just turned two and I remember asking my mum how I was going to be able to keep up with him, with DS2 in the sling. I did, it became second nature and now I'm doing it all again with DD. You'll start to find it easy once you've been out a few times.

skybluepearl · 13/05/2012 19:26

I know some say their toddlers walked by that age BUT walking to toddler group would be about 2.5 miles EACH way - so 5 or so miles at a snails pace.

It might work to have a sling, single buggy and micro scooter. when walking to toddlers. Baby can either go in buggy or sling. Toddler can either walk, go in buggy or scoot.

Head protection and reflective jacket needed for scooter depending things

Fresh01 · 13/05/2012 19:30

You asked about the size of the cocoon on the p&t's - my 19 week old 66cm long, 8kg (she got weighed and measured last week!) not so little one still fits in ours and I reckon will do for another month.

I have a p&t's side by side twin and have walked miles with it. Have also used a Jane Powertwin and it is good too but not the best if you have a tall or older toddler. Also not much to support the head of the taller child if they are in the front seat and fall asleep.

In your shoes I would get a twin. Could you look on gumtree in your local area?

wigglesrock · 13/05/2012 19:33

There are 2 years and 4 months between my dd1 and dd2 - I didn't drive when I had them. I bought a cheap double buggy from Mothercare (around £120), it was awkward, heavy and at certain points the bloody bane of my life but it did its job. I also had a walk to do the shopping, dd1s playgroup etc. I tried a buggy board - not very successfully, it annoyed the pants off me. I didn't use a sling at all.

ChippingInLovesEasterEggs · 13/05/2012 19:41

P&T - the one with the 'spare' seat behind/underneath. You wont look back. it's brilliant because it's only a single wide and you can put LOADS on the seat if it's not being used. The will, in time, fight over the back seat :)

Don't waste your time convincing your DH, just do it. No one died and made him boss and he's not the one using it/doing the walking - when he is, he can choose.

MissCoffeeNWine · 13/05/2012 19:47

Sling and pushchair until he gets used to it? Then you have loads of options

Baby in sling older in chair.
Baby in chair older in sling.
Baby in chair older walking.
Baby in sling older walking.

If you're out with baby in the sling and you think he might be awkward it's easier with the baby on your back. Changing bags get in the way just take a normal handbag or rucksack or better get your older DC a rucksack.

Astr0naut · 13/05/2012 19:49

26 months between mine.

I've used a combination of sling and pushchair and pram and buggy board.

I find sling/pushchair easier, but I'm tall and there are too fucking many lots of hills round here, so the pram/board can be a bit of a trial.

PermanentlyOnEdge · 13/05/2012 19:55

ValiumQueen My P&t (sport) is not flimsy, it is solid and will carry a hell of a lot of stuff and weight when needed. My not smallDD was in the coccoon until about 8 months, as she got bigger I just packed her in with less blankets as the coccoon itself is very warm. She definitely loved it and slept many hours in it both in the buggy and in the house. It's so great not having to unpack a sleeping baby and to be able to carry her around to where you need her, playgroup, house etc.
As for the seats, both of mine reclined, so I put her in them quite early, tho to be fair she was one of those babies who supported her head pretty much from birth and was obv strong. The straps are very good with the huge padded bit which came almost to her chin, and the tight fitting waist straps, so they held her up beautifully.
I think the model that replaced the sport is the explore? It's brake is massively better, but I think the little seat no longer reclines which is a shame, tho it does now have a hood, which mine didn't.
I would honestly say, go for a second hand sport.

ValiumQueen · 13/05/2012 19:56

Chipping I love the advice to do it anyway! I think I shall quote you when I decide what pushchair I will be dealing with for my 1 year Mat Leave

ChippingInLovesEasterEggs · 13/05/2012 20:08

VQ - feel free - I'll even put it in writing again should you need it

monstertufts · 13/05/2012 20:13

21 months between my two: always DD in the pushchair (or walking) and DS in the sling. It's possible to manage a toddler with a little one in the sling, especially early on, since a newborn doesn't weigh much. Also, a baby in a sling is much more likely to stay quiet and content: I would have felt uneasy putting him in a pram when out with DD in case they both started bawling at the same time!

Might your worry about this be part of a general worry about how you'll manage to cope with two? Don't worry - yes, it's hard work, but you'll find ways to manage. Do consider a sling, which is useful indoors too for keeping the baby content while you're hands-free with the toddler. I don't know how I'd have managed without mine.

Pozzled · 13/05/2012 20:15

I had a very similar age gap. I started off with DD1 in the buggy, DD2 in the sling. Then gradually got DD1 used to walking longer distances. I always took the sling with me, encouraged DD1 to walk but if she was especially tired I let her go in the buggy for a bit. I didn't want the hassle of a buggyboard or double.

stigofthelump · 13/05/2012 20:27

I had same gap with DS1 and DS2 and used maclaren with buggy board and a sling in back of pushchair for emergencies. TBH didn't need the sling musch as DS1 loved the buggy board. I didn't want the hassle of a double and found the buggy board easier to use.

ValiumQueen · 13/05/2012 20:29

Cheers Chipping

Meglet · 13/05/2012 20:32

Get a second hand double. And with a double you can put shopping in the seat if you have to and get the older one to walk a little bit.

DS was able to sit in it until he was 4.5 and DD was 3.7. I hate walking at child speed when I have things to do.

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