Newborn & Toddler: Tandem buggy versus Pushchair & buggyboard?

[arwen110578]

2nd DC due in April and my DD will be 2.2yo when baby arrives. Every day she is getting more and more independent and we are using stroller less and less.
Hubby and I had initially assumed that a tandem buggy would be the way to go with a toddler and newborn (side by side buggy not possible as town we live in has loads of really small shops and we have watched other people having a nightmare trying to negotiate them around the shops!).

We were going to sell our perfectly good Maxi Cosi Mura 3 and buy a tandem (prob Phil & Teds). But I am now thinking that we won't actually get much use out of the tandem and we may be better off keeping our existing pushchair and using a combination of buggy board and good baby carrier to cover various out & about scenarios.

I will be on mat leave for approx 9 months so also confused about what would be best/easiest for times I am on my own.

Does anyone have any experiences or advice about which option they used or suited them? Thanks for your help! (not sure if this was right area to post in??..)

[LastDaughterofKrypton]

I went the buggy board route. As it turns out only Mr Tickle would be able to push my pram with buggy board attached.

[NellyTheElephant]

I wouldn't go out and buy a double buggy just yet, you really might find that you don't need it (or if you do you can get one then). I have exactly 2 yrs between DD1 and DD2 and thought I'd see how it went and I never needed a double. DD1 loved walking but if she needed to go in the buggy DD2 went in the sling (I always had the sling with me just in case, although i only remember a handful of times when I needed to swap them over as usually I could tell from what sort of trip we were doing whether DD1 could walk or would need to be in the buggy e.g. pick up from nursery she needed to be in the buggy as tired but on the way there she liked to walk). I lived in London and was on buses a lot so often couldn't cope with buggy at all (close to impossible to get on busy busses with a buggy), so I suppose DD1 got very used to walking everywhere very quickly and soon progressed to a scooter anyway. 2.2yrs between DD2 and DS and it never even crossed my mind to consider a double. I HATED my buggy board. Only used it once or twice as it was so heavy and difficult pushing the buggy with DD1 on the board.

[madamginger]

I did the buggy board McLaren combo with a two year gap. I had a sling for baby when DD was tired as well.
When DC3 was born two years later I had dd on the board ds1 in the pram and ds2 in the sling.
I borrowed a tandem off a friend, used and it once and hated it. They are wide and heavy.

[Sandra2013]

My son was 2.5 years old when his little brother arrived.

Now 1.5 years later I can say that I couldn't have managed without my Phil & Teds tandem.
I found a really nice one from Ebay. It's been worth every penny.

I couldn't afford to spend £400-500 for brand new but £150 was ok price for the one we got

We go to long walks alot, but this pram is also very good in towns.

I never use public transport so I cannot comment that one.

[WoTmania]

I used a sling and pushchair/walking with my lot (17 month gap between eldest two) as I found a single puschair a lot easier than a tandem/double. But DS1 was walking miles and miles by then (had no idea how 'good' uncomplaining a walker until DS2 was the same age).

[notnow2]

I am wondering how those without double buggies managed naps for the the 2 year olds or did they just not have them anymore.

[Limelight]

Buggy + sling here. Your toddler will be out of the pushchair before you know it and then you can use it for your newborn.

[Sandra2013]

My older son is 3.5 years old and he still sometimes sleeps in the pram after a long outing

Never had any problems. Even there is a second passenger in the back.

[WoTmania]

notnow2 - DS1 stopped napping at around 11 months, which was hellish.
If we were going miles and miles I would take a fold up buggy and he'd either walk next to it or get in (and occaionally fall asleep) DS2 just snoozed in the sling

[Nevercan]

I got a maclaren double buggy for 40 at a nearly new sale. It was great for the first two years as baby and toddler could go in it and both snooze if tired. I tried buggy board but found it a bit fiddely and dd2 ended up trying to sit on it rather than stand. My hubby can't walk very easily with a buggy board on the pram as his feet are too big and he can't get them under the board

[DeathMetalMum]

I woukd go for double every time. We have a second hand jane powertwin which we got for £60 it is a lifesaver and being so cheap meant we kept our other pushchair. Having dc strapped in is invaluable you know they are both safe, so no need to worry. If you drive it may be slightly different but I don't.

[DeathMetalMum]

If you go on the pushchair board they say to treat a double as a rental rather than a purchase I should be able to sell mine on for a similar price once I have finished with it.