May 2013- boys , girls or the unknown? Over half way there!

[scooby26]

Hi all, new had for may 2013!

I'm really wondering whether we'll need a double. DS will be 2 years 6 months when DD arrives in May. He's a good walker and loves walking but his creche is 2.5 km away and we're normally in a rush to get there so him walking there won't be brilliant. I was going to get a buggy board and use that with him.

If we went for a double we'd have to get a pretty robust one as the cobbled streets are horrendous in parts of Brussels. Most of the doorways are narrow so it would have to be a one behind the other style. All of which would make a buggy really expensive! It seems so silly to spend a small fortune on something that we'll only use for 6 or so months.

I'm going to have to buy one aren't I?

Mamma what do you use currently? We have a Phil and Teds and they have the second seat thing that slots on top or underneath. Our DD will be 2 yrs old when the baby comes.

I am hoping we can cope with that and not buy a new one, the one we have now was expensive enough!

NG We've got a Stokke XPlory, a MacLaren Volo and a bike trailer which can also be used as a double pushchair from 6 months upwards! The Stokke is the one that gets the most use, it's fab and they do a sibling board so I was planning to use that. I think that a combination of pushchair, buggy board and Baby Bjorn should be enough until she's 6 months.

This baby was a bit of an accident had a lovely summer holiday with far too much wine . We were going to wait until DS was 3 to avoid all these issues.

Friends have had Phil & Teds and been really pleased with them, you'll be alright with one I reckon.

We have a Phil & Teds already and I love it.

mamma if you don't really want to buy a new pushchair and it would only be for 6 months or so could you use a baby carrier or wrap for the new one and it could go in the buggy when DS doesn't need it?

X-post

Mamma sounds like you don't need to buy a new one. Seem to have it covered!

Our second was planned although maybe not too well as he/she is due around our DD's second birthday!

Seven which model do you have? We have the explorer. It is great but a little heavy for me to collapse and put into boot of car at the moment!

There isn't a double that ticks all our boxes, but the one we've gone for is the Mountain Buggy Duet. It's a side by side, but the narrowest on the market (AFAIK), only as wide as some of the bigger singles. We ummed and ahhed about whether to get the carry cot or put a Phil and Teds cocoon into the seat, but found a deal (and I like that LO will be that little bit higher and closer to me) so we're getting the carry cot.

Pros:

• short, important for us on the buses which I use a lot. Some of the one-behind-the-other prams are really long and would never fit into our buses.
• full recline for both children. DS still naps in the day.
• decent wheels for snow and slush - we're in a snowy slushy country. Maybe not in May, but before you know it... And that means we can go a little off-road if we want to.
• easy to turn, manoeuvre, good turning circle and one handed steering (swivel front wheels that you can lock). Great for shops etc.
• neither child sitting with something in their face, sitting/lying in a cave. Just my personal thoughts on some of the other options. Don't want DS to feel he's been demoted, and want LO to be able to look at the world (and me!)
• good balance, so not too hard to tip up curbs etc.
• four wheeler (I can't balance three wheelers to tip them up curbs or into the bus etc).

Added bonuses:

• decent raincover
• decent shopping basket
• individual hood
• seem to have quite good resale value around here.

Cons:

• No rear facing seat, only carrycot. LO will have to be forward facing much earlier (if DS isn't out of the pram by then, and we can go back to our single).
• narrow seats. DS will not have much elbow room.
• risk that DS will poke the baby. (Guess this is the same for all side by sides, but is a negative that has been commented on when I've asked others for opinions)
• not lightweight, but we don't use a car much, so not much lifting in and out for us.

DS will be 2+2 when LO arrives (if on due date). We walk all around town and take the bus a lot, and I'm not really strong enough to carry LO for a long day in a sling. DS still naps after lunch. We walk to and from daycare, which would take a very long time if we were to expect him to walk, and I'm paranoid about him running into traffic... So I think I really need a double, at least to start with.

If anyone's considering singles, we have a Teutonia Cosmo that we are really happy with.

Goodness that turned into a v long post

Mamma - can you get the buggy board now and try taking your DS to nursery with it? If he (or you) can't manage it, you'll know before the LO is here.

I was planning on switching to the new pram before LO arrives, so DS doesn't experience too many changes just on LO's arrival. Same with new bed etc.

For all those talking about double pushchairs I had loads when had my first two.Hated any side by side as they are so hard to manovere.Loved my grace tandem but its a very bulky pushchair for the boot and quite heavy.

My fave was Phil and Teds I got one off eBay just before I no longer needed a double and it was my best purchase ever.Plus the boys loved it

Forgot to say my bump has popped out all of a sudden.People have made so many comments this week.They obviously thought I'd just over indulged at Christmas before

Rheinne get the buggy board now and try taking your DS to nursery with it - fantastic idea. Thank you everyone

seven great to hear about the scan. I'll be almost 29 weeks when we go. Really looking forward to it.
I'm teaching 'pregnancy' to my bottom set yr 7 and today I took in my Doppler for them to hear the heart beat. They loved it (although one asked why my heartbeat was down there and not in my chest-think he missed the point ). My DH was appalled with the idea! He works at same school and thinks I've stepped the mark .

Buggies. DD will be 3.5 but a terrible walker. She won't sit in pushchair either tho! In going to use our baby jogger city mini but was thinking of a buggy board. I'll have to investigate. I'm hopefully going to borrow sisters carrycot off her petit star. Apparently they fit on the bjcm.

Cribs: rocking or not? We had a rocking Moses basket last time but not convinced we used it. What do people think? I haven't bought anything for this baby yet!

seven love the name you've picked. Beatrice is a favourite of mine but DH says no. In fact he hasn't given a reason, so might bring it up. At the moment we have Alice.

Thanks maybe, Alice is lovely too.

ng we've also got the explorer.

We have Alice for a girl too Maybe - the only girls name we want. If its a boy I'm clean out of options.

I have quite a lot of friends with the Phil & Teds and all seem happy with it.
I have also got a buggy board, even though DS has just turned 4 I can't see him trotting along with all the walking I'll be wanting to do when DD arrives! May is going to be beautiful here, we have very deep snow at the moment but I think Chicago copes slightly better than England in terms of the roads etc! Everything seems to carry on as normal, which seems v strange to me

Maybe I think that's lovely about the doppler! It will have made it much more real for them and helped them understand more about pregnancy, which can only be a good thing.

Seven I know what you mean when you said about reaching a milestone in your head for the pregnancy - I have appointments made with the doc for every week now, and also 2 more scans (one in 2 weeks and one when I'll be 36w) and it seems so odd thinking about being that pregnant!

I haven't experienced anything past 31 weeks so it'll all be new to me!!!

Hi10, a few hours since you wrote....how are you feeling? I can't help much I am afraid as several years since last expecting... But if in doubt check it out and after all you have been through no one will think you are paranoid... Sending lots of hugs x

10 I hope they are BH, but not sure they sound like them . They shouldn't be regular. And I'm sure I've read if you're having more than 3 in 30 mins you should go in.

Good luck. Wonder if you've already gone in? Or hopefully they've subsided?

10 hope everything is ok x

10 hope everythings ok xx

10 I agree with maybe I'm not sure they sound like BH. Hopefully I'm wrong, or you've gone in and they've managed to stall labour.

Just popping out to say 10 that doesnt sound typical and with your history i would call your mw team or labour ward to ask for advice. Hope you are ok and it has all stopped now. Bh shouldn't be regular or painful. Tight and uncomfortable if you overdoing it A bit, yes but this seems more?

Hope everyone is well :) am just plodding along to 27 weeks and have popped out hugely this week! Move house in two weeks, can't wait. Love reading all your news but rarely have time to post any more as thread moves so fast!

Tea and hot butties all round :)

10 hope you're ok and have had it checked out. I've been told to call in if you have more than 3 in 30 mins as well so would definitely call your ante-natal team. Really hope its all ok. Fingers and toes crossed for you xxx

berri you're in Chicago?! LOVE Chicago so much! Just thinking about the pancakes we had for breakfast there is giving me serious preggie lady food cravings :)

Am having quite a lot of what I now assume are BH when overdoing it. I thought it was just bumpache from using stomach muscles too much when playing, but whenever I overdo it my stomach feels really tight and uncomfortable. Have ridiculous 4 days of long driving and heavy gigs so DP is coming along today to do the driving and provide moral support after I got home last night looking like I'd been dragged through a hedge backwards! My arms and back were SO painful by the end last night. Am getting worried about my workload for March. Might have to pull out of some of the more long distance work. Less money for us :(

maybe that sounds like such a lovely thing to have done, what a great experience for them!