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

[raininginbaltimore]

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!

With the britax either kid can go in the lower seat which I find useful especially if I have the baby asleep in the car seat. Ds is 2.5 now and likes the lower seat best when sleepy and can hop in himself when tired of walking.

I second the Graco tandem, we had the Stadium Duo. Tons of storage space in addition to two seats. 2 years 9 mths between our two.

We were unusual in that DS had to go in the back seat because he was too heavy to push if he was in the front, so DD went in the front in a Graco autobaby car seat (which we'd got with the single pushchair we'd bought for DS when he was born). This had the unexpected benefit of the kids being able to see each other. DS was actually quite upset when dd grew enough to be turned around in the proper seat after a couple of months, although we only used it until ds was about 3 1/2 when their combined weight meant it was impossible for me to push!

I did try a buggy board with the single pushchair but my arms weren't long enough so I always had to use the tandem if I was out with both of them whilst ds still needed a pushchair.

FWIW I never really mastered a sling, baby too long and heavy to be compatible with my c-section recovery and huge residual bump.

I have 2.5y between my DCs.
I just had single buggy, but kept sling and buggy board in/on it at all times, so could cover most combinations. Once DC1 was 3, I got rid of buggy board and sling, and DD was fine with walking pretty long distances, although I started keeping a micro scooter in the bottom of the buggy for when DD got tired.

We did a lot of walking, but probably not regularly as much as 5 miles round trip (more like 3 miles x several times a week)

18 months between mine, DS2 is 3 weeks old.
I've had my Graco Stadium Duo (as travel system with carseat too) for three days and I am madly in love with it

I have an ergo baby sling which is amazing. I can carry my two year old (who I admit is a scrap of a thing) in it all day if need be comfortably. I also can put my just turned four year old in it in the back position. Again it's comfortable weight is evenly distributed- she has fallen asleep in it more than once.

I also have a mountain buggy - urban I think, with the scooter attachment. The scooter is good but it takes a bit of getting used to as you can't walk as close to the pram as you might normally do. The MB is really great small enough to fit with another pram on the bus and really easy to manoeuvre around as it is a three wheeler- great to run with if you are trying to catch a bus.

I do think scooters/buggys can cause a few more problems sometimes though as I too have a child who sometimes refuses to walk and we would have some massive tantrums if I didn't want her on the scooter. You also have to be sure they won't step off it mid journey.

Not sure if I've answered your question, but that's what I do.

People who say there is no such thing as a child who won't walk have just been lucky enough not to have one! Good luck :-)

i think if your child is nearly walking, I would go with something like the phil and teds. a double, siide by side is awkward for buses and some shops. there was less choice when we needeed a double 4 years ago but the designs seem to have improved and are more practical. you can have a rucksack for shopping and nappies and even take a sling with you so yyou can shift pasengers and shopping arround depending who s walking and how much you need to carry.

I don't have a disability. I haven't had a car for 5 years, didn't have one on ML with ds either. I know I am being a bit daft, it follows a weekend of walking with ds wanting to stop.every 2 mins to pick up stones/look at worms etc. He walks all the time. I very rarely use pushchair anymore, he often needs bribing to sit in it. But he is also a stubborn Bugger.

I suppose I was imaging his almighty tantrums (squirmy,.refusing to move,.kicking etc) whilst with a newborn in sling or pushchair and I panicked. And thought "you are mental to consider two!"

I will look at second hand Phil and teds. Thank for all the advice and reassurance. It has made me feel less panicked!

I used to sit my 3 year old on top of the hood of my sturdy Graco pram.

The first few months I would have the baby in the babybjorn, and the toddler in the pram. The shopping in the bottom of the pram.

we did not have a car, and somehow me managed but it requires patience (there will be tantrums) and a positive outlook :) People are generally very helpful.

I'm getting a BJCM double I think. I don't want to push DD into walking distances for my convenience. She'll be 2.8, and if she were to remain an only child I'd be using the stroller with her for a while yet.

I would also recommend getting a cheap secondhand double. DS1 used to do the lying down and refusing to go thing too, so I can see where you're coming from, it's all very well to say they should walk (particularly when they can run for hours when it suits them) but sometimes, you just need to make life as easy as possible for yourself.

I got a P&T but wouldn't if I had my time again, DS1 absolutely hated the back seat so I'd always end up with him in the front and then he couldn't hop in and out, as the P&T would overbalance with just one in the back. Also the storage on them is rubbish. Try out some doubles in the shops so you have an idea what you might like before going on ebay.

I had 2 years 7 months between my eldest 2. I had a buggy pod which went on the Maclaren (should have fitted the silver cross but didn't) for about 3 months when I was going out on my own. We then got a buggy board and ds went on that. There is 2 years 10 months between ds2 and dd. I used the buggy board from the start but on days out when using the Maclaren (the 'car buggy') I used a sling for dd when ds2 wanted to hitch a lift.

I agree with the suggestion of p&t if you have quite far to walk it makes life easy cos they can still walk most of the time but if they start daudling too much just get them to hop in the back. You should be able to get 2nd hand ones quite cheapish i would have thought?

However, if you just have a single he will just have to adapt and it should be fine really - baring in mind theres a couple of more months left til then and at nearly 3 he will be more sensible than 2.5ish which he is now

When i had my 3rd dc, my oldest was just turned 3 and i was a bit worried about having him walking everywhere as i would be needing the 2 seats in the p&t for newborn ds3 and toddler ds2,cos i dont drive either. but he had no choice but to walk, so that is what he has had to do. sometimes he moaned but he just has to walk there's nothing i can do about it really he knows i wont carry him so he will just have to walk, or we can get the bus.

although saying that it is quite a pain sometimes, and i am really desperate to drive now! but if you have no choice then its doable.