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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

AIBU not to get a double buggy?

56 replies

hopecro · 18/12/2024 18:30

I have a toddler who will be exactly 2 when I have this baby in March 2025 and I am trying to avoid getting a double buggy.
My daughter walks well but will still ask us to carry her.
I am planning to use sling at the beginning for the baby and buggy for my 2 year old for some time and then baby in the buggy with 2 yr old on the buggy board. If we do any longer walks my DH is with us so when I'm alone with kids it will mostly be going to shops with car, playgrounds or toddler groups which I will drive to so planning to use either buggy or a sling for a baby and toddler to walk.

AIBU not to get a double buggy in this case?
We don't have a big car and I can't be bothered with it.
Or you think I will definitely need it?

OP posts:

Lou1984 · 18/12/2024 20:48

I had the same age gap, and did the same as you describe and it was fine, I don't think I ever regretted it and wished I had a double buggy at any stage.

AspirationalTallskinnylatte · 18/12/2024 20:50

I had a gap of 2 years 5 months and used the double buggy for ages. I don't drive & we walked everywhere. It was useful for naps, getting anywhere quickly and also as a mobile jail for over tired toddlers. YMMV

CraftyOP · 18/12/2024 20:52

Just over 2 years between mine and booted the eldest out of the pushchair when his brother was born. If anything it's a positive thing, it's good for kids to walk. Buggy board really helped but occasionally we kept the pushchair to take one on the pram and one in the pushchair, not very often though. We used a little life rucksack with a rein as running off the biggest problem. Also had a handle thing on the buggy to hold which made it easier to get them to stay put!

biscuitcat · 18/12/2024 20:56

20 months between my two and I like my double very much, especially as my oldest was a very late walker so getting anywhere at pace was impossible - and my back wouldn't stand up to constant sling use sadly. I'm expecting my third next year which will be a gap of just under two years and I'm sure will get good use from the double again. I will say though, I'm quite looking forward to getting rid of it once my second can be trusted to go in the right direction at the right time as it's quite bulky and not as easy to manoeuvre as the single!

Wasywasydoodah · 18/12/2024 20:58

I had a second hand double buggy. I needed it for less than 6 months, then a buggy board and sling combo worked. But there were (many) times when my lively 2 year old was kicking off, I needed to secure him, and it wouldn’t have been safe to do that with a baby in the sling.

TheFunHare · 18/12/2024 21:02

Definitely a vote for a buggy board. Similar age gap and I hated the idea of navigating a double buggy around. Toddler also had a scooter which was a bit hairy at times but made him very happy.

DinosaurMunch · 18/12/2024 21:11

I had a double buggy as I walk everywhere and often do a big shop so carrying a baby in a sling wasn't really practical. I had a mountain buggy duo which are narrow enough to get through a standard doorway. The age gap between my kids was under 2 years. I only used it for a year as it got very heavy to push uphill and my kids also used to attack each other in it. My older child used a balance bike or scooter from age 3. Or sometimes we got the bus home. My kids are 3 and 5 now, they squeeze into single buggy sometimes if it's raining or we're late for school. But you can't do that with a tiny baby obviously. If you have an uppa baby the older one can go in the basket underneath.
If you don't walk much you probably won't need one but there are plenty second hand if you change your mind.

Fluufer · 18/12/2024 21:18

I couldn't have managed without my double. Used it for years. But it's not as if they're hard to acquire - see how you get on, buy one if you need one.

curliegirlie · 18/12/2024 21:23

When I had DD2 we had a double buggy but I found it bulky and awkward and did the single buggy plus sling combo until DD2 was about 20 months. Give it a go and see how you get on!

Crumpetandcake · 18/12/2024 21:24

I was in exactly this situation and we didn’t buy a double buggy.
We planned to buy a buggy board but baby was 6 weeks early so we didn’t get round to it and then never felt like we needed it (baby is 9 months old now).

Our older son walks really well (or takes his scooter/bike).
We have a pushchair that adjusts easily and I keep a sling in the basket underneath, so if he gets really tired then I can swap them (but I’ve only actually needed to do this once when he was ill). I also do this if we need to go somewhere quickly or if he needs to be contained (e.g. when he kept trying to run off and then had a tantrum whilst I was queuing to send a parcel).

If it’s going to be a long day out then we assume there are going to be lots of stops so he can rest (but with a baby we need to stop a lot to breastfeed etc anyway).

RabbitsEatPancakes · 18/12/2024 21:29

2yr gap here and I never got a double. Did the sling and pushchair or pram and buggy board. Also my DS got very good with his scooter very early- could do a mile to nursery on foot or scooter before 2.5yrs.

I don't drive so walk a lot, do all my supermarket shops with the pram too. Ds walked early though, that might make a difference but he was very good. Although he would bolt at the park, he was good on the roads.

WhateverThen · 18/12/2024 21:32

I thought this and then got a double buggy! Used it for way longer than I expected to. Toddler could walk, but not in a very useful way. We also had meltdowns at the baby getting to be in a pushchair and the toddler not. So double ended up working well for us for a while. I bought it on marketplace and sold it for almost the same amount, I wouldn’t invest in a new one!

Wakeywake · 18/12/2024 21:36

I had a 2 year gap and never used a double buggy. Baby in a sling and then buggy board and walking for the eldest.

ribiera · 18/12/2024 21:37

Why don't you want one? You can get them second hand for cheap. Phil and Ted worked well for us while the little one was small, we then went for a donkey side by side. Honestly I wouldn't have been without it. Wrangling a baby and a toddler when out can be difficult. If you can secure two screaming children and have two hands free you're onto more of a winner

RandomMess · 18/12/2024 21:46

When it's pissing down with rain, you are running late and one is having a tantrum (the eldest) they are a godsend.

Nineandtwenty · 18/12/2024 21:49

I really regret not getting one with a 2.5 year age gap. I made my life so much more difficult than it needed to be, even though id been such an enthusiastic sling wearer. I'd get an Out and About second hand if I had mu time again.

Original poster

hopecro · 18/12/2024 21:51

So interesting to see different opinions!

I drive, as i mentioned in the post, so my toddler is usually not in a buggy anyway, unless we have few stops around town Centre which is pretty rare (post office, boots, tescos...)

To get to toddler groups I also drive so there is usually few mins walk where again I don't take a buggy.
Oh and when she was a baby, she hated the carrycot so I've used sling then carrier quite often and was fine with it.

The reason why I really don't want it is because my toddler won't stay in a buggy for too long, she likes to sit for a bit and then will ask to walk and I can't see myself pushing a double buggy with only a baby in it.
Also it's much bulkier ( obviously) and I get annoyed even with a single one when my toddler is not in it.

OP posts:

Christmassydecs · 18/12/2024 21:53

My 2 youngest grandchildren are 16 months apart. The parents asked my advice and I said I thought they’d need one. I was wrong. The 16 month old was a great walker and they hardly used it. I used it more than the parents. Baby one side and shopping the other and toddler happily walking beside me. She sat in it very occasionally for brief spells.

Original poster

hopecro · 18/12/2024 21:53

I guess the best thing to do would be to wait and see. I wouldn't buy a new one anyway, saw loads on Facebook marketplace.

OP posts:

natwalesrug · 18/12/2024 21:55

Depends on the child and your own preference.
Ihad double buggy for 22months age gap and it was used every day for at least 18 months. I preferred to have both strapped in shopping,walking etc .

RandomMess · 18/12/2024 21:55

Be aware that when a baby turns up they can regress over night.

Personally I loathed strapping 2/3 into the car and preferred walking but perhaps it's too far for you to walk.

soundsys · 18/12/2024 22:12

I have the same age gap (twice!) and never had a double-buggy - did exactly as you plan to with a sling and buggy board and it was fine

mamatoTails · 18/12/2024 22:20

DD1 was 18 months when DD2 was born and she never used the double pushchair.
She used to sometimes just stand up in the bottom seat, but mostly walked.
So I soon sold it and just got a buggy board for the single pushchair.
She was also a very good walker, and always liked walking.

I'd not get a double and see how it goes first.

RabbitsEatPancakes · 19/12/2024 11:54

hopecro · 18/12/2024 21:51

So interesting to see different opinions!

I drive, as i mentioned in the post, so my toddler is usually not in a buggy anyway, unless we have few stops around town Centre which is pretty rare (post office, boots, tescos...)

If you don't walk anywhere then you definitely don't need it. If you're only going car park to door then there's no point. Toddler can just walk, you'll use a trolley in the supermarket. You don't need the faff of getting a double in and out of the car.

lateatwork · 19/12/2024 12:03

I had twins plus toddler so always one not in the buggy. It's a lot easier to have the option for 2 in a buggy...

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