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?

I had the same age gap between my oldest two. We used a pram, buggy board and sling. Worked well.

We had a pram with e abuggy board for baby and a pushchair for DD. Obviously couldnt' use both on my own, but most of the time ended up with baby in the sling and DD in the pushchair. And she was 3.5.

It depends on the child, some kids are keener and quicker at walking than others!

There are buggies that go completely flat, Oyster for example. We've had that for our two and it worked perfectly. You could try selling yours and buy second hand?

Get a 2nd hand Bugaboo Donkey, you'll get most of your money back when you come to sell. Has nice tall seat for the toddler and proper bassinet and can be changed to a single with a very handy basket. I got one when they first came out when my 2nd child as really struggled with same age gap as yours and 1st born wouldn't go on a buggy board or walk. Ended up using it for all three chilidren.

I used to leave the 2nd seat of the donkey at the Nursery while toddler was in so wasn't having to have a double on the part of the trip without the toddler.

I had a Phil and ted and also a double city jogger and both were needed. I only had a 14 month gap but we used it until the eldest was 3.5 as she still napped and also would be exhausted on long days out/after nursery. Plus it was handy to keep stuff in. Like other PP, I wouldn't bother with a brand new one but they're definitely handy if you find a second hand deal.

The Phil and ted one was pretty funny when people realised there was a newborn hidden away underneath on a shelf while my one year old was happily sitting up top.

We have 2y 3m and I didn't want a double pram.

The 2 year old was still getting very tired on days out and needing a nap until v recently (baby 5 months now). For first couple of months I kept him in the pram and put baby in the carrier. Now he's just about ok with the buggy board but I wouldn't trust it for long journeys when he's tired. Tired toddler = buggy board refusal.

I think you’d be pushing it to not have a buggy. My eldest was 2 but closer to 3 when we had the youngest- used the buggy board once and hated it and never used anything again. She was tall and a great walker However, on days out she’d often have a piggy back etc so be conscious that people who say their child didn’t use a buggy at that point may have been carrying their child at times (which is obviously not going to happen when pushing a newborn). With my youngest, I found she could do the school run reliably from about 31/2 at a non painful pace. At 4 she is much better but can still be frustrating and she’s harder work than my eldest at the same age so it does vary child by child.

We had a 2.5 age gap and we used the travel system (with a buggy board on it) and swapped between the baby bassinet bit and the bucket seat for the toddler - on ours that was just clicking one out and the other in. Obviously we didn't do this out and about so did have to decide before going out, but it did mean that I could decide on the day who to have in the pram. I don't think a double would have been worthwhile for us. I did use the sling a lot with DC2 though.

Balance bike is a terrible idea for nursery run!

Mine loved their balance bikes but supervising them on them near busy roads was not straightforward and would be a huge pain with a pram as well. And they have a tendency at 2 to decide they are all done and then you somehow have to carry their bike and them and push a pram.

We have 3 DCs with two gaps of 2.5 years. We just had the one pram/buggy for all 3. DC1 and DC2 both had the pram 'put away' about 2 months before next baby arrived to get them used to walking. The pram finally broke when DC3 was 2.5, so that was it. They all managed, but we had to factor in the extra walking time. DC1 started school the same September that DC3 was born, so DC2 walked the 0.75 mile school run twice a day from age 2.5. First time took 45 mins, but it was very soon down to 20-25 mins, which was fine. The biggest challenge was trying to keep hold of the 2.5 year old DC if they tried to run off towards something 'shiny'. Reins were essential. So for me it was doable, although your walk is a bit longer.

I actually found trying to go shopping with a pram and a walking 2.5 year old the most challenging thing, as it was harder to keep hold of them when they were into everything. I started doing a lot of online shopping at that time!

Good luck OP and I'm sure you'll find whatever works best for you.

my toddler didn’t get a nap after nursery or he would b a nightmare to get to bed a night and if he had the choice to go in the buggy he would have fell asleep. Mine was 2.5yrs when the baby came along so we had the buggy board with the seat ds loved it

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/304992026563?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=0seyukiesuy&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=QtAjXNjZTjS&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

Toddlers are so unpredictable. Theres a 2y 4m age gap between mine and i thought i wouldn't need a double pram, but i did, i ended up getting one off fb marketplace 3 weeks in to birth of 2nd so we could get out the 3 of us. We used it for about 6m then oldest seemed to have mastered not needing it, so switched back to normal pram, then all of a sudden at 3y 3m she needs it again. She can walk a good distance as well, and was also still napping at the time. I would see how it goes and if you feel like you need one get one, i didn't like the look of the buggy boards.

I'd personally be v cba with dragging toddler a mile each way. Would prob do double buggy!

I got a Phil and teds with a second seat that you could add or take away as you wished. It was fabulous for carrying picnics and gear on days out of not needed for a 2nd dc.

I had a 2yr 10 month age gap and wouldn't have coped without a double. Being able to strap a naggy or flight risk toddler in was a godsend in busy shops.

Have you seen the yoyo connect that might be an option for you.
I wouldn't use the yoyo board it looks like it will back you walk differently. You have to be careful with pushing push hairs as much as carrying a baby. Having had 2 sections the second took longer to recover, you have less time to rest. I would have a back up plan for the a school run.

I have direct experience of c-section recovery and slings and if the baby was anywhere near your abdomen you were carrying them dangerously low. Newborns should be high and tight on your chest with their head on your sternum. If you want to try carrying again with DC2 (and of course you may not) then I think a better sling or some guidance would make a world of difference.

I have a photo of my 2.5 year old asleep half on the buggy board and half in the buggy basket on a family day out. I’d pick up a cheap double buggy secondhand and then sell on again. It’s usually not a long window that you need it but when you do it’s invaluable. As convenient as slings and buggy boards are, it’s amazing to be able to strap them both into the buggy and enjoy a coffee with two hands free whilst they both nap.

Where are these 2.5yos that still nap and why didn't mine get the memo?!! Mine transitioned to no naps between 23-25m😭

DS1 hasn't napped since he was 20 months and hasn't used the pushchair since he was 2. I wish he still napped so I could too!

@Toddler101 my DS had afternoon naps right up until he started in Reception. He needed them and I needed a couple of hours to get stuff done in the afternoon! When he first started in Reception he'd come home and fall asleep on the sofa! Kids who nap sleep better generally.
I know everyone is suggesting buggyboards but your 2.5 year old can't sleep on one!

No, there is no "should", bodies are all different.
I have had a c section, I have had a newborn, I'm well aware of what it feels like to use a carrier and the baby is against my abdomen because I am short. A different carrier won't give me extra height on my torso.

So many people use yoyo's in my area but weirdly I have never seen this!! Will have a look into it. Might be a good option as it isn't a permanent double.