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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to want a double buggy that fits in my car?

22 replies

ShadowStorm · 04/06/2013 20:29

I have a toddler DS, and am expecting DC2. DS will be just over 2 yrs when DC2 arrives, assuming DC2 arrives around the due date.

I've been thinking about getting a double buggy, as I'm not sure that DS will be old enough for a buggy board and / or reins to work well with a single buggy - at the minute, DS is only okay walking along holding hands as long as we keep moving and are going places he's happy with.

I often end up having to carry DS part of the way if we're both walking because he tries to run off if I want or need to stand still for a few minutes, or go in an direction he considers uninteresting. This is manageable at the minute, but I think it would be a problem if I also had a baby in a pushchair.

Anyway, today I went to Mothercare to look at the double buggy options. Due to the small size of my car boot, my buggy choices are very limited, and the ones that fit aren't the cheapest either.

I was talking about this to DH this evening, and he said that he didn't see why I needed a double buggy that fitted in the car, because why on earth would I want to take both DCs out in the car without him being there?

Surely it's not unusual for a parent to take 2 (or more) DCs out in a car when they're the only adult there? And there are places I might want to go to in the car when DH is at work, such as the library, parent & toddler type groups (not all the local ones are within walking distance), shops so on.

There's also places locally (other parks & toddler groups, doctors surgery, baby clinics) that are within walking distance for me but that are a long walk for a 2yr old. So if I'd want a double buggy to get to those local places anyway, why not get one that fits in the car, even if it is a bit more expensive?

DH didn't seem to get my point of view, so not entirely sure if he was just being a bit thoughtless, or AIBU here? Is it really normal for parents to only take small DCs out in the car if there's a 1:1 adult to child ratio?

OP posts:

Original poster

ShadowStorm · 04/06/2013 20:29

That turned out to be quite long! Sorry for rambling on a bit there!

OP posts:

NarkyNamechanger · 04/06/2013 20:33

Ha no.

I'm a childminder and after school have 6/7 children.

What car do you have?

gonerogue · 04/06/2013 20:33

Nope, completely normal to bring two or more DC with 1 parent. I would get nowhere if I had to wait for DH to come to even up the ratio.

I have a mountain buggy, which is relatively small but not very cheap. It fits in the boot of my Mazda 6 with room to spare.
WHat kind of car do you have... I researched lots of doubles so might know which one would suit... What ones have you looked at and discounted?

greenfolder · 04/06/2013 20:38

hes being an idiot.

with 1 dc i managed quite well with walking, public transport. with 2 i would have gone out of my mind without the car and double buggy.

hth

nextphase · 04/06/2013 20:41

What a stupid comment from your DH!

I had a 2 year gap, and going shopping other than in the supermarket was impossible without the double - ie it needed to go into the boot first. We also did lots of walking to and from places which was too far (or too cold and wet) for DS1 to walk.

A baby jogger city mini and a Phil and Teds both fitted in the back of the Yaris.

iamadoozermum · 04/06/2013 20:41

YANBU. We've always had double buggies, just about to get rid of one as DS3 doesn't buggy anymore - don't suppose you are in the midlands area? DH (SAHP) used the double buggy a lot including going on outings in the car to meet with other parents. Even when DS2 was going to nursery DH used the double buggy sometimes, especially on a Friday, if he knew DS2 would be tired and be fit from buggying. There's heaps of places you might want to go in the car and use a buggy at the other end, your DH isn't thinking it through properly. You could always go for a sling or a wrap though instead? We often baby wear DD instead of buggying.

Original poster

ShadowStorm · 04/06/2013 21:31

I have a VW Polo.

The Phil & Ted Dot, with doubles kit, was the only (affordable) double buggy Mothercare had on display that would fit in the boot.

Didn't try any Stokke ones as they were all over £1,000. Tried the Britax b-agile twin buggy, a Mclaren twin buggy, a Mothercare Xoob2 double buggy, a Silver Cross pop double buggy, and another tandam one whose name I can't remember - none of them fitted.

DH is normally fairly sensible, so hopefully once he's taken the time to think it through, he'll realise that getting a double buggy that fits in the car isn't too unreasonable!

iamadoozermum - I did wonder about getting a sling for DC2 instead, but we tried DS in a babybjorn when he was tiny and he hated it, so I'm a bit reluctant about relying on a sling / baby carrier instead of having a buggy option, in case DC2 feels the same.

OP posts:

KitCat26 · 04/06/2013 21:33

YANBU.

I had a tandem buggy (graco stadium duo or something). It was a bugger to steer but fitted easily in the boot, and a godsend when I had DD2 (just under 18mth gap). I used it for toddler groups, doctors surgery visits, trips to town, hospital appointments etc etc. It is also very handy if your firstborn turns into a bolter!

I also used a sling, a buggy board and a wrist strap, but sometimes, when you have a bad back, two tired children and a mountain of shopping only a double buggy will do!

anniroc · 04/06/2013 21:46

We used a foldable Cossato double buggy when DD was tiny - DS was the same age as your DS will be. Cheap, cheerful and a godsend when I was on my own. Now DS just walks or uses a buggy board on our Oyster. You may find you only need it for a short period so worth doing it this way.

wallpaperaddict · 04/06/2013 21:46

OP try reposting this in the pushchairs section-there are ladies with experience of tons of different doubles! Also you mentioned the babybjorn carrier, I never got on with those but found a stretchy wrap carrier worked much better for my LO. May be worth a try once the new baby arrives! Congrats by the way!

McNewPants2013 · 04/06/2013 21:55

I would keep the double buggy for out and about.

then a single one for trips that require the car.

adagio · 04/06/2013 21:56

Agree with wallpaper addict - I have a baby bjorn and a friend gave me a Mai Tai, and when baby was tiny newborn the MaiTai was far and away better than the BB. BB is fine now she is bigger and can face out, but still looks uncomfy under the bum and not sure I would use for long periods - the MaiTai is more natural (like you would carry them, only tied on).

See if there is a sling library to try near you after LO arrives?

With regard to the double buggy I have no advice, but I do agree with you it needs to fit in the car. Is it possible he is hoping you will opt for a cheaper buggy and a new car?! That would be my DH approach to the problem?(he likes cars)

Congrats

MrsBarlow · 04/06/2013 22:22

Definitely recommend the sling/buggy option, I used a BB initially but found it too uncomfy, moved onto a stretchy moby and an ergo - going along to a sling library is a gd idea as you can try them all out :)

mumofweeboys · 04/06/2013 22:23

You could try a buggy pod instead of buying a double.

foreverondiet · 04/06/2013 22:31

I have to say that actually when I went somewhere with car when DD and DS1 were little it meant we were not walking far - plus has a sling (for DS1) or buggy board (for DD) so hardly used. Hardly used double but that was because DD went to nursery in the morning so did car outings when she at nursery.

Did you try city jogger city mini? Thats what all my friends have bought recently - and apparently folds quite small.

Shenanagins · 04/06/2013 22:37

We have just got a city mini baby jogger which was on offer in mothercare.

my oh was initially of the same opinion as yours but i pointed out that our ds who is 2 still has an afternoon sleep and it would be better to be able to take them both out together to get them to sleep.

i have yet to test it out as we are in the final countdown to baby no.2.

iamadoozermum · 04/06/2013 23:32

We originally had a babybjorn but didn't like it. We have a kari-me that I got for £24 on eBay (same kind of thing as a moby) and it's great, especially snuggly for newborns. DH loves it as does DD, she's now 5 months and gets all excited when she sees it being wrapped around DH . We'll probably get a mei-tai next.

DewDr0p · 04/06/2013 23:34

at your dh OP.

We've got 3 dcs, should we all remain housebound do you think?

IneedAsockamnesty · 05/06/2013 00:39

Of course yanbu.

He's being daft

StatisticallyChallenged · 05/06/2013 02:49

definitely try the baby jogger-when all the seats in our car are up the boot is non existent but it still manages to stand up in it. and not too spendy, , ours was 320 brand new

foolmouse · 05/06/2013 07:14

Another idea could be to put baby in a sling or carrier and toddler in your usual single buggy until he's more confident walking everywhere and then baby can go in it? It could only be a couple of months of sling use?

foolmouse · 05/06/2013 07:15

Ahh see it was already suggested . Ergo baby carrier is my personal favourite but I do like the Ellaroo wrap for tiny babies, so snuggly.

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