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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To want a double pram

104 replies

mumwhatnothing · 18/07/2017 07:33

I am expecting a baby in December. My DD will be 2 years 8months when the new baby will be born. I think I will need a double pram and want the Uppababy Vista but DH is adamant we won't need a double pram. I think he has no bloody clue just how much a 2 year old will need to sit or nap or be strapped in when going around town. This will be the closest in age our children are. We have 19 year old DS, 7 year old DD and 2 year old DD.

I want and think we will need a double pram. Is he being an unrealistic tight arse?

OP posts:
Joinourclub · 18/07/2017 07:54

I wouldn't get one before the baby is here. See how you manage with a combination of sling and buggy board - you can get ones with little seats . If you struggle then buy a second hand one once the baby is here as most 3 year old I know are out of buggys so you'll probably only get 6 months use out of it.

Babbitywabbit · 18/07/2017 07:57

You're after a very expensive model for something you may not need for long. How about sling for newborn and buggy for older child, and then see how things go? I second the idea of waiting because making a decision now means you have no idea what your older one will be like by then. Some at that age hate being strapped into a pushchair (specially the smaller more restrictive models) but will happily ride a buggy board

Easilyflattered · 18/07/2017 07:57

2 yr 9 months and we did need a double, although my husband was adamant that we wouldn't.

My almost 3 year old was not a happy walker, she'd run off down the road and not hold onto pram or my hand. Or sit down and not move.

It was freezing when her brother was born ( barely got above 0 degrees Celsius for first fortnight of his life) all his sister wanted to do was ride in buggy under blankets, can't blame here.

We didn't have a car and walked everywhere.

She'd had chicken pox that winter and had been left with post viral fatigue.

If I hadn't had a double buggy getting out of the house would have been near impossible, and I would have gone completely mad.

Cheap double buggies are a bit rubbish. With the weight of two kids you need one with decent engineering, buy a good one secondhand or a decent one with view to sell on.

ElspethFlashman · 18/07/2017 07:58

Sorry I had 22 months in between and didn't need one.

I didn't get one cos we had a sling already so I didn't want to drop that money unless the sling wasn't working out. Of course it worked out perfectly and I was dismayed as I REALLY wanted an Out and About Nipper! (Still do! 😂)

DartmoorDoughnut · 18/07/2017 08:01

Elspeth me too 😂

Crunchymum · 18/07/2017 08:01

26 months between mine and buggy board (the sit down type at first) was fine.

Pickleshickles · 18/07/2017 08:02

2.9 age gap between 1 and 2 and it never occurred to me to get a double. A buggy board is a must.

Eldest still napped way into being 3 but we didn't seem to have timed naps. It'll hardly be used tbh so if you really want one get a cheap second hand one.

NapQueen · 18/07/2017 08:02

Sling for the baby for the first three months then baby in the buggy.

It just seems an unecessary expense.

trilbydoll · 18/07/2017 08:03

I used the double everyday until dd1 turned 3, now I use buggy board, scooter, sling - various combinations with the single. We walk a fair bit but mainly dd1 loves the pushchair and will still leap in now aged 4y2m! DD2 isn't such a fan, if we had another baby now I don't think I would get anywhere near as much use out of a double.

DappledThings · 18/07/2017 08:05

I'll have a 22 month gap in December and hoping to manage without buying a double with a combination of buggy board and sling. Was going to start my own thread the other day asking if I was being naive but the answers here have been very reassuring!

wornoutboots · 18/07/2017 08:05

there are 2 and a half year gaps between children 1&2, and another between 2&3.

I used my double buggy twice.

Mostly a sling/baby carier, and the single buggy, and a buggy board. combinations depending on who was most in need of being in the buggy at the time. much easier!

MargaretCabbage · 18/07/2017 08:09

We had a 20 month age gap and we used a double buggy three times before giving it away. We do a lot of walking and travelling by bus, and I found the double really awkward and heavy getting onto public transport and walking on narrow pavements. My toddler is a really good and sensible little walker so he stopped using the buggy quite early on, and I found it more convenient to carry the baby in a sling so I could hold his hand/chase him in the park/etc.

I think it really depends on you and your children whether you'll need one. It really varies between my friends with children of that age, some have complete buggy refusers and others don't walk far at all, and I know people with similar age gaps that can't imagine being without a double. Could you get one second hand and upgrade if you find you need it?

Catsize · 18/07/2017 08:09

We got a 2nd hand city double on eBay. Children are now 3 and 5. It is still used occasionally as I don't think it's fair to drag tired children around events etc. For example, we will probably take it to the Edinburgh festival. And I can't tell you how grateful we were the kids were in it during a crushing incident at the Euros.
That, and the big single Mountain Buggy have been brilliant investments.
My son was too tall for a buggy board when he was 3.5, so that's another consideration. And they can't sleep on a buggy board.
Sometimes we've done the pushchair/sling combo, but that's obviously harder the bigger they get. The toddler Connecta has been great.

breadedbrielarson · 18/07/2017 08:09

If your toddler still naps and you walk a lot then I would get a double, maybe you don't need an uppababy though if it's potentially not for long.

Cakescakescakes · 18/07/2017 08:10

Totally depends on your own child. My eldest used a buggy till he was 3.5 (hypermonile joint so walking could be painful). Youngest was out of the buggy and waking everywhere very early and I actually sold our buggy when he was 22 months as it hasn't been used in weeks.

Used a combination of buggy board and buggy or sling and buggy or eldest walking and youngest on backpack reins.

Both mine had stopped napping before they were 2 so suppose that wasn't an issue.

My sister has a 2 yr old and almost 3.5 yr old who both still nap so she has a double that she still uses daily (walks almost everywhere as she doesn't drive).

Catsize · 18/07/2017 08:10

The double was great at airports too but we don't use it now really for that.

LooksBetterWithAFilter · 18/07/2017 08:11

Dd was 2 yrs 7 months when ds1 was born and I debated a double glad I never because she went in a buggy literally once after her brother was born and I just carried him in a sling that time. I didn't drive at the time either we walked everywhere.
But if it had been the other way around and ds1 was older we'd have needed a double and would have used it a good year but he napped in the day for a looooong time. I think it depends on the child really.
I'd hold off tbh she may start walking a lot more between now and December when dd stopped going in a pushchair it did happen very quickly.

NataliaOsipova · 18/07/2017 08:13

2.5 year age gap between mine. I had a double buggy. Only used it for about three or four months.....but it was brilliant for that time when you're nervous about getting out and about with the two of them and I don't think I'd have been as adventurous without it. So it was nicer for DD1 (in terms of maintaining her routine) to have one. Maybe look for a cheaper one that'll "do" if money is an issue? I doubt you'll be using it for long.

Ameliablue · 18/07/2017 08:15

Depends on how much walking you have to do. There was 2 years 4 months between mine and we didn't need one. The toddler walked most of the time and only on occasion went in the pram with baby in a carrier.

Tingotango · 18/07/2017 08:15

Buy uppababy vista as a single pram. Buy the other seat and adapters etc when you feel you need it. Compromise.

Littlecaf · 18/07/2017 08:15

We'll have a 2y7m gap and I initially said we just buggy board it, but now at 30 wks pg I'm looking at second hand Phil & Teds/Oyster Max l. DS naps in buggy and is a bit of a bolter. I'd use it for getting places swiftly & without him running into the road constantly. Make life easy fir yourself.

notWORKzilla · 18/07/2017 08:15

There is 22 months between my two, and we used the double buggy for well over a year and a half. And then we swtiched the double buggy into single mode (bugaboo donkey) with a seated buggy board.

My eldest loved the buggy and is also not very tall, so he still fitted in the buggy at 3.5. He still loves to climb into the buggy given the chance.
My youngest started refusing the buggy at 20 months, and so if we were to have another child I wouldn't bother with a double buggy for him, but it was perfect for my older child.

As many other posters have said, it completely depends on the older child.
But if you are the one that is going to be doing the majority of the childcare and you think you need one, and you want it, then yes, he is being a tight arse.

Bobbybobbins · 18/07/2017 08:16

We had 22 month gap and got a second and double for about £100. My me it was really worth it as we walk a lot and it was my most peaceful time of the day having them both strapped in Grin

smilingthroughgrittedteeth · 18/07/2017 08:17

22 month age gap here and I use my double most days. Ds is 2 years 3 months and although he does love walking he gets tired after a while. I also use my single and the sling a lot too

MuddlingMackem · 18/07/2017 08:17

YANBU to want a double. I don't know the style of the pram you want, but with that age gap a tandem is better than a side-by-side.

There are 2yrs and 9mths between my two and we had a Graco Stadium Duo. I expected to use it on the odd occasion (we also got a new single pushchair), but until DC1 got too heavy to push as well, when DC2 was 10 months old, it got used most days, as we didn't have a car and DC1 alternated between dawdling and bolting. I wouldn't have been able to do very much without it.

There will be loads of people who didn't need a double with that age gap, but also plenty who did. You know your 2 year old. If she still needs a pushchair she still needs a pushchchair, so do what you have to do. :)