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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

If you had 2 babies 21 ish months apart..

171 replies

Jamesolo1 · 05/12/2021 17:21

Hi all, just looking to see what others did when they have a 21/22 month gap between babies regarding double pushchairs
We can't avoid getting a double buggy can we really?
I was thinking the older one could go on a buggy board but that's not practical for longer trips out
Or have the new baby in a sling for a while but that's only really doable first 6 months (I'm v short and will more than likely find it hard to carry baby in a sling post six months)
So what would you do/did you do please? What double pushchairs are best? I really would like as slim as possible really (not side by side
TIA

OP posts:
MaybeMaybeNotJ · 05/12/2021 20:00

Mine were 21 months
I had a city jogger select
It was AMAZING!
Plus you can make it a single if you want.
I’ve been trying to sell it for two years if you want one and are anywhere near Peterborough 😂

cupofdecaf · 05/12/2021 20:01

25 month gap. Didn't need a double buggy but the first could run at 9 months so was out of the pram well before the second was born.
We use a buggy board sometimes but I find it hard work. Baby in a sling if needed but if your first is a good walker you might get away with it.

CrabbyCat · 05/12/2021 20:12

We had a 21 month ago between DC1 and 2. I managed with a single plus sling until DC2 was about 8 months. DC1 still napped and while a good walker wasn't very cooperative with going on the same direction as me, and had a tendency to bolt. DC2 was a big baby, I could carry her no problem but pushing the buggy with DC1 in it at the same time was starting to knacker my back. We got a baby jogger city mini double, which is side by side, second hand. It's almost as easy to steer as a single, and has big seats - we still use it now for long days out almost 4 years later with DC2 and DC3 in it.

I wouldn't rush the decision, what you'll need will be very dependent on what your DC2 is like and exactly what sort of activities you end up doing once you have 2 DC in tow.

alphabetti · 05/12/2021 20:25

20mth gap between my oldest 2 and I had a double side by side pushchair. I did a lot of walking and used it until my oldest was 3. He would happily walk a fair distance holding on but was good to be able to put him in if needed a rest or got bit naughty. And having 2 little ones means 2 lots of things to take out with you so good to be able to put things in pushchair basket

Skinnyankles · 05/12/2021 20:29

25 months between my 1st two children. I carried the baby in a sling and the older one in a single buggy. However, broke my arm not long after I had the baby (a complete nightmare to try and look after them with a cast and pins).

I ended up buying a 2nd hand Phil and Ted's as I could push it with one hand. It was a great buggy.

Goodness that period in my life was hard work!

Jammiedodger27 · 05/12/2021 20:31

Buggy board with a seat works. 18 month age gap and the oldest loved it!

Meatshake · 05/12/2021 20:32

Get a second hand out n about 360, they are the lightest buggies to push, rugged and go over any terrain and hold their value well.

We couldn't have coped without a double, my kids were 2 weeks shy of 2 years apart lol.

EndoplasmicReticulum · 05/12/2021 20:33

19 months. Had a side by side double buggy, as toddler was slow to get walking. Was a pita in shops though.

suffolkcated · 05/12/2021 20:35

21 months apart here. We had an upppababy vista but an older version so no double option. We used the buggy board and it worked perfectly for being out and about. However, we did also have a out n about double for at home, dog walks and naps in the buggy.
Now, I’d choose the uppababy with the double option.
Having said that, my oldest decided that being the oldest, was not going to sit in the buggy anymore so the buggy board was sufficient.

Teaandtoastedbiscuits · 05/12/2021 20:36

22 months apart. Bought a joie side by side double stroller when 2nd was 6 months and if I used it 10 times it was quoted. I should've gotten an out and about 2nd hand from the start I think

Teaandtoastedbiscuits · 05/12/2021 20:36

Alot!

Beaversinjam · 05/12/2021 20:38

I thought the same OP can't get by without a double buggy...
Hated the thing, bought a buggy board.
Hated that too, buggy handles weren't long enough to make using it practical or comfortable.

Occasionally larger DS Sat in the buggy basket underneath Grin
Looked very cramped but he climbed in out of choice and seemed to enjoy it Grin

Noodledoodledoo · 05/12/2021 20:41

22 month gap, I had a double - City Jogger Double - loved it. I also had a buggy board for some days - killed my back as the positioning on my single made me have to hunch over too much pushing them both. Sling used fairly often but not really on days out, used for short non buggy suited walks.
Eldest is lazy so this was part of the decision process.
Got it second hand on ebay sold it on 4 years later for half the cost I paid.

AngeloMysterioso · 05/12/2021 20:41

We bought an uppababy vista when I was pregnant with DS because we knew we’d want him and DC2 quite close together and it converts to a double really easily.

Whitewolf2 · 05/12/2021 20:43

We had a second hand, side by side out n about double and it was a very good investment, we had it for a good few years! We used it more for outdoorsy trips, walks, farm parks etc than shopping as it’s big, but for us it was well worth having.

moosel · 05/12/2021 20:54

Mine were 22 months apart and I had a city select and also the urbo 2 with a buggie board. We kept the double in dads car. I used the single more mainly because I’m lazy and eldest dd wasn’t a liability like her younger sister is. If they’d been born the other way around I’d of had no chance with the board.

Willowowisp · 05/12/2021 20:55

Some prams will fit a pod seat to them. See what you can get second hand because after a few months, once the baby can sit, the Doublebuggy is easiest and fits best in a car.

lololololollll · 05/12/2021 20:58

We did (do) a buggy board and am so glad we did. We got a car with a massive boot and even with one of the smallest prams going, we still have no room for much else so we are pleased we didn't get a double buggy. Aside from that, the kids love it. Facing each other is the dream for them.

Totopoly · 05/12/2021 21:18

@CocktailOnion

19 months apart, I tried several combinations without satisfactory results before buying a second hand Phil and Ted's, it was fantastic the children used to argue about who got the bottom seat , they loved that bottom seat! I had years of heavy use out of that work horse.
Work horse is exactly what my Phil and Teds was (not side-by-side - one on top and the other in the bucket seat). DC are 23 months apart. We are very active. It was the best thing I ever bought when they were little by a million miles.
Seasidemumma77 · 05/12/2021 21:22

I started of with baby in sling, toddler in pushchair, then switched to baby in pushchair and toddler in back carrier.

Moonbabysmum · 05/12/2021 21:34

Be very careful if you're going to hold the youngest in a sling, especially if it's before they can hold their head up/roll. I know a woman who accidentally suffocated her 6 week old whilst chasing her toddler, it was a horrific tragedy. Slings are only good for short periods when babies are tiny - a flat pram is much better.

That's a very sad story, but if you follow safe slinging guidelines, and use basic awareness of the child you are carrying, its fine.

Your are also hugely contradictory saying that you should be wary using them when they are tiny and can't support their heads, but also that they are also only useful for tiny babies and short periods of time.

Many of us (inc me) use them for several years - some are literally designed for pre school plus age children.

Obviously, parents need to be aware that their breathing isn't obstructed by their position, but that goes for a buggy or carseat -and with a sling on your front (which is where using babies go) your are legally choose enough to kiss them and feel their breath. It's very easy to keep an eye on them.

If the OP doesn't want to use a sling, fine, but your post is full of scaremongering.

Hankunamatata · 05/12/2021 21:36

2 years apart and used Phil and Ted. Wouldn't have been without double esp in toddler years as could strap everyone in.

Mcginn · 05/12/2021 21:39

Refused to have a double with a 23 month age gap. Baby in sling toddler in pushchair, or pram and buggy board, or backpack carrier and pram… we had a few combos going!

Probably helped a bit we were in lockdown so not out for days out until the toddler was a little older.

HereLiesBetelgeuse · 05/12/2021 21:39

I had second hand Phil & Ted's with the newborn baby cocoon thingy.
26 mth gap, only needed the double for around 6 months, second was a winter baby, then I had a single with buggy board.
Can't get on with slings at all, they just aren't for me.

NotDonna · 05/12/2021 21:45

Mine were 18 months apart. I obviously already had a single buggy for the first one. A ‘Jane’ brand where the lie flat car seat clicks into a frame. I also already had a front ‘backpack’. I got a boogie board for the Jane so had a couple of options. Most of our trips out were short and she was fine on the board with the baby in the park/buggy. Or if a bit longer new baby in the ‘front backpack’ and toddler in the buggy. I did get a really lightweight very cheap 2nd hand side by side buggy that we used for holidays as it concertina’d for travel. It was quite cute as they used to sit on it holding hands!