Will have two year old and newborn, do I need a double buggy?

[Hailtherain]

My ds will be just shy of two when dc2 is born in march. He is a very active confident walker, though goes his own way not wherever want him to go.

We live in a flat and there is nowhere to put a double buggy at the bottom of our flat, so lugging it up a and down stairs will be a huge pain. Do you think it is at all realistic to think I can get by without one? Is a two year likely to be able to use a buggy board or be more directable as to where he will walk? I have a wrap to carry nb in (though likely to have cs so will need to wait for that to heal). So can put nb in that and ds in existing buggy for some months.
Ds will also be in nursery three days a week so will only have both on my own for two days a week.
Is it mad or realistic to think I can do without double buggy?
P.s. can't drive and no family help other than dh.

I managed well with the baby in a sling and toddler in a buggy, but there were times when it was definitely easier when they were both in a double buggy.

A newborn is likely to be happier in a sling in the early weeks anyway, so you could use that time to decide what to do longer term.

could you get an umbrella one for emergencies? 2-year-olds can get very tired, depending on how long you might be out for. Or sling for the baby (though that wouldn't have worked for me with my bad back).

I don't have experience of a newborn and 2-year-old, but DD at 2 was in her buggy a lot, up until she was at least 3, if not a bit beyond.

We're in the same position & I've got a buggy board for DD which is going down well but DD hasn't been a pushchair fan for a few months.

I would just get a cheap one

Fwiw my dc1 wouldn't go near a buggy board until 2.6 years

DD was just shy of 21 months when DS was born and so far haven't bought a double buggy. He's 5.5 months now.

I use sling for him and pushchair for her, or he goes in pushchair (bugaboo bee so easily converts) and she walks.

Hi mumof3, it is not so much cost that is the issue, I am the bargain hunting queen of mean when it comes to baby gear ( that is why I am asking this question so early so that I have time to hunt down cheapest bargainyist of what I decide on!), it is more the storage. It was tough enough getting our small, collapsible pram cum pushchair down our narrow steps when ds was little and screaming at being left alone, let alone trying to get a double buggy down with a baby and toddler to manage too! And a double buggy will be difficult to find space for in our not exactly massive flat.

Could you use a sling in that case?

Thanks I shall call you squishy,fav and little red, it is reassuring to know others have managed it. I will look into bugaboo bee to see if that might be option for us.

I think it depends on how much/how far you walk. My dsis has a 2year 3 months age gap between her 2 dc and thought she'd manage fine with a pram for baby and a buggy board.
It doesn't work, we walk lots (we spend a lot of time together and neither of us have cars) He doesn't want to stand on the board and he still needs naps. She would have been so much better off getting a double.
As far as slinging baby and putting toddler in buggy, I did this with my dc and dd wouldn't go in a pram until she was well over 12 months so I ended up carrying her everywhere for far longer than I'd planned.

Yes, mumof3, as mentioned in op have a wrap, and actually also a connecta so could put baby in those, at least if not going too far (and doubt I will try to go far when by myself with two little ones).

If you don't drive then I would say absolutely get a double buggy, maybe something like Phil & Teds.

what about something like this?

That's good then I would try that and see how you get on

I couldn't sling mine due to back and pelvis issues

Hmm, definitemaybe, you have raised the true but thorny issue of all kids being different so is difficult to make definite plans fow how things will be as LO's may have their own ideas. You have given me flashbacks to my brilliant plans before ds was born, most of which were quickly abandoned once ds was actually here and asserting himself.

Thanks fanny and river for the pushchair suggestions. Will look into these.

I would recommend a double, dd was 27 months when ds arrived and although she liked to walk she got tired quickly. Other times it was needed when it was pouring down, needed to be somewhere quicker than she could walk or in places she just needed restraining out of harms way ie busy town centers. There are loads of brands out there that can easily convert into a double instead of a permanent double, oyster max for example.AnoAnother thing is although your dc might be placid and listens to you now there's the potential of a tantruming toddler phase to get through

I tried but couldn't manage. Mainly just to have somewhere to put the kids and GO when necessary. But then I never found any sling especially comfy and also always found a baby screaming in your face and a toddler screaming in the buggy a bit stressful. Once I got one they would often fall asleep in it at the same time which was unspeakable bliss at that time.

I think you could try without but don't try to struggle on without one if you find it hard. Wish I'd caved earlier.

I had 26 month age gap and had a double that could also be used a single which worked really well. If ds1 wanted to walk or was at nursery I still had single pushchair for ds2, but could attach the extra seat when needed. Ds1 didn't really like a buggy board until he was 3 so until then the double was a godsend when I actually had stuff to do and couldn't potter along at a 2 year olds pace!

My two are 2.7 years apart and the baby is nearly 4 months old now. We have the oyster max which is great for versatility as it easily switches between single and double mode. As for storage, if you've got shelves you'd easily fit the seat units on those and you could leave the chassis downstairs maybe? You can buy buggy hooks to screw into the wall.

As for whether I've needed it, well I often find myself pushing an empty buggy but that's more because dd loves to be carried and won't sleep in a pram etc. It's been great for containing ds, which is vital when out and about and feeding! Ds still naps in his buggy and is pretty lazy presented with the option. Sorry, rambling now!

I'd probably wait until your baby is born, to see what they like or dislike. Having had ds who hated carriers, I never thought I'd have a baby who won't sleep anywhere else!

I did buggy+buggy board+sling with dd1 and 2 with a 2.8 year gap and it was fine. Dd2 was a diddy little thing and my abs were in better shape so sling carrying was easy.

22 months between dd2 and ds (now 2.5 and 7 months) and I am really glad of our double. Ds is a big boy and my abs are shot after 3 cs, glad to have the option not to lug him around. Dd2 goes on the bottom so that she can hop in and out. I let her walk on the reins so that I can be sure she won't pull away from me. I don't have a car so the buggy acts as my donkey to carry our shopping and all the bits needed for two kids. It also means if I don't get back home in time for nap time that we don't have an epic meltdown and it works well if she is misbehaving too as I can put her in if she is tantrumming.

Thanks everyone, lots to think over. I have remembered that I thought when I was pregnant that I would just sling it with ds, but ended up buying an emergency pram on gumtree after cs and often was glad of the pram, so that makes me think that a double buggy probably will be needed. Thanks for all the experiences and buggy suggestions.

We have 16 month gap, and didn't get double. Worked fine tbh.

Used pram/ sling/ buggy board combo depending on where we were going. Even with ds2 though we got rid of pram by 2 ish years as I found any pram a pain as use public transport and live in flat.

It felt so free to be able to pop baby in sling, and have eldest at say 18 months just toddle along and be pram free. Jump in and out of buses/ taxis / on tube as needed in London, and easy up and down stairs to flat

Unless travelling we always went home/ inside over nap time after lunch though so both could nap. Worked for us as whoever had the children that day could have a rest also. If out at family/ friends we would just head indoors after lunch and let them sleep on sofa/ spare bed/ floor

I have 2.2 years between my two and bought a phil n Ted's double. It was the biggest waste of money ever! Baby dd hated the buggy and I still carry her in a buckle carrier on my back. She's 20 months now. I sold the p and t and we use the single buggy on occasion. I would wait and see.

Hth

25 months between mine & we didn't use a double, just got a buggy board which DS1 loved x