to buy a double buggy for a 3 and 4 yr old.

[AmberSocks]

I have 4 children aged 5,two 3 yr olds(one was 3 last week one is 4 next week)ad a 6 month old.The eldest is at school full time now(was going to home educate but decided to try school,and he/we are loving it)my middle two go to the o site pre school 2 full days a week.

DH does the school run in the mornings as he drives past there at that time anyway,i collect ds from school and the the other two from pre school on the days they are there.

On the way back the younger two are so tired from a full day at pre school,they are so slow,which would be ok if they were only slow but the moaning!It is terrible and i the cold weather its taking us about half a hour to get home,which is about half a mile away!

I am thinking of getting a stroller type buggy for them,and putting the baby in a sling just for those days when they are tired,or possibly a stroller so i can put just dc3 in it and then the baby in a sling,or baby ad dc2 int he double?

Dc2 is getting a mini micro scooter for his birthday so maybe this will solve the problem?dc1 has one and he whizzes home on it.

[Twattybollocks]

For half a mile I wouldn't tbh. Take high energy snacks and a drink for them, they will be so busy scoffing the food that they wot have time to whinge and will be home before you know it.

[Yellowtip]

Do whatever makes life work, nothing in the least U about that. I had six DC under seven at one point and some had far less energy than others, so would go on sit down strike fairly often. I adopted the same policy about hoiking them into my bed if they cried in the night and none appears to have been especially scarred (eldest now aged 22). Don't overthink it and just go with what works.

[Mumsyblouse]

Children vary as to whether they are great walkers, I had one brilliant walker who ran/walked long distances from the off, and another who was very sleepy after a day at pre-school and we still used a buggy with her when she was 4 and we went to London, we could have managed without but it meant we could go a long way round all the sights. She also used to do a sit down protest if tired, not something you want to be battling with after a day at school. But buggy board/scooters/bribery should see you right!

[Solopower1]

Do whatever makes your life easier! You have your hands full and don't want to arrive home exhausted too.

Snacks, stories, songs and frequent rests - what everyone else has said, really. Scooters are good, but scary, ime. The kids go so fast on them - this granny has to run her socks off to keep up with 2 1/2 year old grand daughter (while her mother just stands and laughs till the tears run down her cheeks).

[JockTamsonsBairns]

You know your own Dc's best, do whatever makes your life easier.

When I only had Dd1 and Ds1, I would've been the first to scoff at anyone who put their older kids in a buggy as mine were brilliant walkers. Then I had Dd2, who has wiped all trace of smuggery off my face on pretty much every front.

[lljkk]

do it, the 2x3yos will take turns as they get older & you need something to help you carry shopping, anyway.

[HorryIsUpduffed]

Hurrah for buggy boards!

[Meglet]

yanbu. Mine were both in buggies until well over 4yrs old. The P&T double was used until they were 4.6 and 2.8.

I loathe walking at child speed I'd have them back in the double these days if I could.

[spidermanspiderman]

I still use my double for my ds 5 and dd 3.I have the out n about nipper 360 and it's fab and v easy to push. Ds is quite tall for his age too. Ds has hypermobility and asd. I am 39.5 weeks pregnant with dc number 3 and just want to be able to go round the shops without losing my marbles completely (and get some last minute bits for the new baby).

Don't think I could survive without the double pushchair. I can just drape a blanket over the front and the dc have a fab time in their little den (and I can have 5 minutes mental downtime).

[Shelly32]

My twins are almost 3 and a half and due to living in a very hilly area, It's too hard uphill so the buggy has been abandoned. If you're not on any kind of mad slope then go ahead if it's going to make life easier!

[BoringTheBuilder]

Hi
I usually push a very good double buggy - Niper Out and About - with a nearly 3 and a 2,5 year old and it is heavy, very heavy.
And I am considered athletic, energetic and strong (not saying you aren't)

[TokenGirl1]

My two are 3 and 4, 15 months apart. When my second was born, a friend of mine who had 3 under the age of 2 said "don't make your life any harder than it has to be" and I often use that advice. Dd (4) does have some minor mobility problems.

Our nursery is a 10 minute walk for me but it can turn into a painstaking 40 minutes with two tired toddlers. I understand where you're coming from. If it's going to make life less stressful for you then do it!

We use the Easy Walker Sky Duo and I absolutely love it! Easily push one handed with both toddlers in and shopping. Ds is 18kg and dd is 14kg (although the buggy is recommended up to 15kg each child).

We don't always use the double, they often takes turns in a single when we're out and about but sometimes I just need them to be in the buggy especially when on a shopping trip. Sometimes we don't use the buggy at all but at least you'll have the choice if that's what you want to do.....

[Ionasky]

I've only got one dd, 2.5 and she'd never walk half a mile after a day at nursery, so yanbu, they often spend all day running around...

[TokenGirl1]

I know exactly what you mean Spiderman!

[treesntrees]

my four children were all born close together therefore the eldest was forced to walk everywhere from the age of two then the second eldest also from the same age when number four was born. They do manage if you keep them interested. What colour is that door? Look at the black dog etc and a treat when you reach home.

[Primafacie]

I wouldn't do it. My rule is scooters from age two (we don't drive so they walk everywhere). Look for the scoot and pull handle that attaches to the mini micro (and I guess any other scooter), it sells for about £6 on Amazon. I would make them walk and pull them if they are too tired.

[lljkk]

I don't like carrying scooters (coz we all know how quickly a 3-4yo can get bored of something) or when they crash the scooter into something & acquire a legfull of road rash, but YMMV.

[ComposHat]

is the whole world mad but why on earth does a healthy four year old need to be pushed half a mile in a buggy? What are you going to do when the four year old starts school in a few months? drop them off in it and ask the teachers to wheel him around the school because he doesn't like walking?

[Crawling]

I have a double for my autistic dd age 3:8 and my dd 2 aged 18 months its a god send I love it to pieces.

[Clary]

I agree with those who say an NT 4yo can surely walk half a mile.

Even at dawdle toddler pace (which I quite liked but aybe I am odd - I loved the things that engaged my DC) that can't take more than 15 mins surely?

Anyway OP buggyboard sounds like a plan. They can take turns to hop on and off.

[neunundneunzigluftballons]

I am going against the grain here but I would say no and say a 4 year old should be walking or scooting or cycling. By all means the 3 year old and the 6 month old could use the double buggy but I think the 4 year old will benefit from the exercise. My 2 dds 3 and 7 walk to school each day while their baby brother goes in the stroller. I had a fight on my hands with the 3 year old until she got into the routine but now she is great. The 7 year old has always been a great walker since she started school just after she turned 4. People leave our estate in their cars for school at the same time we're walking I think they are a bit mad as they get stuck in morning traffic for half an hour doing the drop off while we get some exercise. I also think walking to school sets them on a good exercise routine for life.

[villagebird]

Do what makes life easier for you. You must exhausted. I put my 5 year old in a buggy. My sister said he looked like he had 'special needs' so had to abandon that idea! You have lots of children and you have to sometimes think of yourself. Tell you what would be good. Only joking but quite funny. A SHOPPING TROLLEY.

[neunundneunzigluftballons]

ok I realise I missed the second page of the thread and it is only half a mile. The school is a mile and a half from our house YABU to buy a double buggy for a 3 and 4 year old IMHO.

[KateShmate]

If it makes things easier for you, then why not? It's not like you are going to be still pushing your 3YO and 4YO when they are 10 and 11!
I have 3.5YO triplets and they still go in the buggy when it's a long walk. I am trying to get them to walk more, and scooters do help. I'm in the opposite situation and am thinking of downsizing from a triple to a single (1 of DTrips has a long term illness) so that they have no choice but walk.