AIBU to think a 2.5 year old doesn't need a pram?

[Sissynova]

Will have two months less than a 2.5 year age gap, nursery is a mile walk 5 days a week and we do all the usual days out on the weekend.
Would you just use the pram for the baby when you didn't want to carry them all day?
Is 2.5 too young to sit properly on a buggy board or walk 2 miles a day??Would a 2.5 year old need a pram to nap if you are out of the house all day?

At nearly 3 my DD was so tired by teatime that she fell asleep standing up on her buggy board and fell off it, bless her.

I couldn't walk a 2 mile comfortably for a few weeks after my first section never mind doing it with a baby in a carrier.

I am not sure what you are asking? Do you have a pram for baby that you'll use but toddler currently uses a different buggy? (so you are swapping prams totally)

Or will your baby be going into the pram the toddler now uses?

Or something different?

FWIW there was 2 years between my older two so we put baby in pram (went back to the carrycot part) and the older one on a sit down buggy board.

3 years between DC2 and DC3 so no need for buggy board as the older child was already mostly out of the pram by then.

I'd be careful if you are putting baby in pram the toddler currently uses. It could be a little difficult for them to understand. That's why we got a snazzy sit down buggy board - so the older child didn't feel too put out by having his new sister "take" his pram.

I had a bugaboo bee with the soft cocoon insert - it fits in the basket of the buggy so you can swap between baby and toddler mode when you’re out and about. I forgot all buggies aren’t so flexible, I found it brilliant being able to chop and change so easily.

My 4 year old wouldn’t walk a mile after a day at nursery and he’s really active so not sure a 2.5 year old would comfortably.

You probably need to look at something like an icandy. Something that you can have as a tandem but can choose between actual seats, infant car carriers or a lie flat carry cot.

I’d factor in your toddler not being impressed by her baby sibling getting the buggy/pram and not them. I’d get a buggy board.

at 3 years old both of mine needed a buggy for the journey home after nursery, and it’s less than a mile

If your toddler still naps and is willing to go in a buggy (my DS refused from about 18months but dd will happily jump in aged 2.5) and with the trip to nursery, I think I'd just get a double from ebay/fb marketplace etc just to have in case. It'll be easier for days out and in the early days. Then if you have an existing buggy/pram from your toddler you can transition to that at some point.

Or this one says it converts "easily" from a pram basket to a buggy seat so could work for wheeling baby then carrying baby and putting toddler into: https://www.bounty.com/offers-products/pushchairs/travel-systems/obaby-chase-mars-3-wheel-pramette-travel-system

I'm not sure what it's like as haven't used it personally.

My 2.5 was still in a buggy for the walk home from nursery as it was 2.5 miles and coincided with her nap time.
I did feel bad having an older child still in a buggy but always thought people might not realise how far we had to walk if they were being judge-y about it.

Buggy board with a seat
After a day of nursery, 1 mile can feel like a lifetime. If they want to walk you can dump their bags on it.

I have a 22 month age gap and I struggled with the toddler walking, I've struggled with the baby in a sling and toddler in a pram but my back started aching so in the end I got a double which I never wanted to do.

I got the mountain buggy duet which is amazing, it's so easy to push and it's about the same width as a normal single pram so there's no faffing and being unable to fit like a normal double buggy. They have baby bassinet bit as well you can put on. They are not cheap but I actually got mine off Facebook market place.

Honestly been a god send and most of the time our toddler doesn't actually sit in it just the little one but it's there for the tired melt downs and when her little legs don't want to walk anymore.

My double is and was invaluable! Just got the cheap Joie side by side and I adore it. 18m gap so a bit different and then a 2 Yr gap between my next two but I'll be using it again!

You seem to have a problem with every suggestion op 😂

Yes you can get lie flat pushchairs suitable from birth, or you can use a sling. You seem to hate these suggestions so just buy a double buggy.

The Joovy Caboose or something like that has a folding seat at the back for toddlers.

Mine had a push trike at that age, which was good. He'd no way have been able to manage with walking that distance twice a day and not make us late - in fact, I'm not sure he'd manage now at 4! I'd invest in a baby carrier - I've only started using one with my second but it's been great.

We had buggy board and pram for baby. DD was 2y3m when second was born. Didn’t fancy a double. Too bulky

I honestly have never wondered or worried about my 3 year old being in a pram. We dont drive, we walk everywhere and use public transport. A pram is often the safest and quickest way for us to get about. She also has anxiety and will refuse to walk certain places and my back literally cant handle carrying her anymore.
As long as she is getting plenty of exercise elsewhere, its so a non issue and you should do with what works for your family, not on the varied advice and opinions of strangers.

Then you aren’t going to be able to do it pushing a double buggy either, are you?

It really depends, my child of that age hasn't used a pram since before Christmas and happily comes on 2 mile walks with me. But they're not all like that. I think your safest bet is probably to have a sling for baby.

No idea why you are taking such offence at me knowing I wasn't up to using a sling for long walks in the early weeks of having a section. Cool for you if you did.

Plenty of people have good suggestions. Putting a newborn in a stroller rather than a basinet isn't one of them in my book.

If not quite two you probably haven't hit the terrible twos (threenager, furious fours...) stage yet - their willingness to do as you tell them will inevitably reduce from here rather than increase, especially when tired.

Also, you won't be able to take forever on the walk home when the baby needs a feed or a change - or the toddler needs a wee.

Honestly, get the double.

What make you think you'll manage this time, with or without a pushchair for toddler? Do you drive? I think you need a plan b for getting there if you're not comfortable walking that distance initially, and then you can use a carrier without an issue after those first few weeks. I can't see why you're so reluctant to use one? It's honestly the simplest solution! And after baby is 6+ months and you can use the buggy with the youngest, your eldest will be able to use a buggy board when tired.

I didn't say I would find it easy to use a double. I would rather avoid that at all costs due to storage and it seems many people felt the same and have helpful suggestions.

Pushing a buggy is very different to having a baby right against your abdomen when you're still recovering from surgery from my direct experience.

I tried for 3 months to manage with a sling and lie flat buggy and gave up and bought a double. A side by side baby jogger mini city. It just gave me so much more freedom. My youngest is 2.5 and when she’s tired she just sits down and nothing shifts her.