Double buggy for 2yo and newborn - HELP!

[hawaiibaby]

We found out last week that I am pregnant with number 2, due the day before our LOs 2nd birthday (please be a bit early or late!!) We are beyond chuffed but my head is already spinning with a million things, the main one being the buggy situation.

Our 16mo isn't quite walking yet so I am pretty sure he will still be reliant on the pram aged 2. He is big though - already 85cm tall and 28lb and most of the double buggy reviews for the slightly smaller / sleeker models comment on it being a bit of a squeeze with toddlers.

I would prefer something that isn't too wide for obvious reasons but also really want to be able to clip the car seat in as I found this invaluable last time. Love the iCandy style option (in that it's not side by side but doesn't have the newborn practically on the floor and at the back) but was concerned about the size issue for my biggish boy.

Wondered if anyone had any experience, recommendations or ones to avoid please? We do have some savings so cost isn't the main factor, especially if we sell our Maxi Cosi Elea and buy second hand. If we don't have to spend a fortune that would be fab of course, but the priority is getting one that works for us as a family the best.

TIA

Mine was also only walking at 14months but out of pram by 2 so you never know

How about the jane Twone?

However I wouldn't add car seat tbh as it's best for baby to lay flat. With toddler also you may be out longer than before and baby could end up in car seat for hours some days which isn't good for spine or can develop flat head.

Oh and the Twone would work best with eldest at front in main seat and baby in carrycot. Actually the jane carrycot is also a lay flat car seat I believe ( or can be). Then by the time baby is 6 months , eldest is 2.5 and can prob walk many places and just use bottom for occasional or get board

You might find that, no matter how late he walks, he might be completely refusing the buggy by 2 (my twins are already at 21 months and while I fought them for a while, because walking twins are a nightmare, I've given in now and just let them walk everywhere). I would go for a single which can be converted to a double when needed (such as the Bugaboo Donkey, or Phil and Teds) or just have a plain single with a buggy board attached. Personally I would leave it until much closer to the birth and see how your eldest is getting on with walking before making a decision.

I have a baby jogger city select, it's great, can be used as a single or double, clip car seat on and the buggy board also fits really well so when biggest doesn't want to walk I can just flip it down and off we go!! Folds small enough to fit in a corsa boot too. There are 20m between mine (now 28 and 8m) and I still use it as a double at nap times and when I need both secured in one place!!

Ooh thanks, I hadn't come across the Jane Twone - I do like it! I feel a bit odd about the baby being so low down though, almost on the floor and not being able to see anything! Am I being daft? I've thought that with a few doubles, but I know I'm perhaps just not being realistic as I can't have everything!

I know about the car seat, but I think more than ever, when nipping to the shops or if doing the nursery run by car, it will be really useful to be able to just clip the newborn in and out of the pram / car without waking them. That's a good point about playgroup though - the two we go to the most are in walking distance but guess if we drive I will just take the newborn out for a stretch / to sleep on me if needed... So much to consider so thanks for raising.

Baby city jogger select looks good - had missed that it took the car seat so that is a real plus. Brilliant that it can be used as a single or double, as, even if DS is strong willed and wants to walk a lot, I have no doubt there will be times when I NEED to have them both strapped in! Thanks, good to hear personal recs!

Feesh - I can totally imagine walking twins are a nightmare! I will wait until a bit closer and see how we go then - I started browsing more with excitement as wouldn't be buying of course so early, and then felt a bit dismayed at how many boxes seemed un-ticked by the doubles I could see!

Some of the Phil and Teds models can do a toddler plus baby in a car seat.

We have 16 months gap and like said didn't get a double. But did get a decent sling.

I would def look for one ie the boba 4g is great as suitable for newborn and toddler. Then for the times ie quick to doctor/ on bus/ in car to nursery you can jut hold eldest hand and baby in sling and go pram free.

That's another option, which we did . Could keep current pram. Get sling, and buggy board. Then first few months mainly sling baby and eldest can walk and use pram as needed. Gradually moving so baby uses pram and toddler walks or uses board when had enough. If both get really tired either can go in pram and either can be in sling ( baby goes in sling on front, toddler you put sling on back).

To add, my daughter is 2.2 now and I've got an 8 month old son, and we rarely use the double nowadays. Nearly always go out with the single (BJCM) and DAd on a Kid-Sit buggy board (has a little seat). She's pretty good at staying on it. I know mumsnetters love slings, but both my children hated slings, as did I, so we never bothered.

I wouldn't worry too much about it all now. See how your DC1 is doing nearer the time. Practice walking and build up their stamina.

DD started walking at 15.5 months. DS is now 7 months and we have managed without a double. I lusted after the Bugaboo Donkey (already had the Bee) but DH nearly had a heart attack at the price

There is a 21 month gap between my two and I use a sling for DS and DD goes in pushchair. Shorter trips he will go in pushchair parent facing and she will walk.

DD on the buggy board, not dad!

Yes I'm not keen on using a sling loads next time TBH. It was a help with DS who was velcro and had reflux, and if the situation is similar then that's what we'll do, but ideally I'd like to be able to leave newborn in pram when asleep so I can play with DS properly, easily do stuff around the house or even.... chill out for a minute!

Beccajoh - My crawl obsessed DS will be walking eventually I'm sure so will see how he goes once he's up and running then!

I shall call you - yes the donkey price really made my eyes water! It's nice though I must say!

My twins walked at 14 & 16 months and we haven't used their buggy for 5 months now. They walk everywhere.

Decent double buggies are expensive, save your money and use a buggy board

Stopped using the buggy at 19 months

I've got the Graco Stadium Duo for DD and new one on way in Jan. The graco junior baby car seat clips into it and a fixed base in the car should be really helpful.
The cheapest one I've seen, tbh, but has a one handed folding mechanism which is so easy to do too.
My dd is a tall 2y2m so am not sure whether/how long she'll want to ride in a buggy, so I managed to get it from EBay for 40 quid, and the base for the car for a tenner.
Do have a look round before committing to anything expensive! Good luck!

That's a great bargair joosiewoosie! Thanks, I will definitely keep my eyes peeled as yes - don't want to spend a fortune when DS might not have more than a few months use from it!

I saw a local advert for a Donkey with all the gubbins for 750 yesterday. London so pm me if you are interested and I'll pass on the details. Looked in perfect condition

And have been offered a P&T Dot today for 300. Again, perfect condition.

Another one for the city select, I have one for my twins and its been great so far. I'm so glad to read it fits in a corsa as we're looking at getting one soon.

There is just over 2 yrs between my dd2 & Ds and we got a double for them as dd was a lazy bugger and wouldn't walk anywhere, ds was also in a pushchair until 3 ish as he needed more restraining than not walking. He was a runner as soon as your back was turned and when you have other kids restraining for safety reasons is the way forward.

I liked thw look of the jane twone but went for a britax bduel, it was good while the youngest was very small and you can also fix the carseat to it. However it was heavy and hard to push as the nearly 2 year old was big so I swapped after 4 months to the p&t explorer.

The dot was too small for my older one, maybe look at the p&t navigator as its a little bigger. Ive found the wheels being bigger on the p&ts much better with a bigger heavier toddler

The older one is 3.5 now and has mainly walked everywhere since about 2.4. However I found he wasnt keen on bad weather so occasionally hopped in when it rained and goes in now some days when hes been in nursery all day. I don't drive though so do a lot of walking

I've got exactly 2 years between my boys and have the Graco duo system. I really like it. And the bonus is that it was cheap.

my eldest wasnt walking when youngest was born and I opted for an oyster max. mainly because I already had an oyster and the bits were interchangeable and I can steer it with one hand. 2yo and 1yo still use it, but 2yo only when tired. we find the bottom seat holds a lots bags and toddler stuff for when out and about.
I also used sling sommetimes but I am happy with the oyster max and would buy again.

The buggy manufacturers have made a lot of progress in recent years, and as a result, there are lots of choices for double buggies now. Some to think about that our users liked:

• Baby Jogger City Mini Double: side by side so neither of your children get bored of being in the back (think about when baby is older!), and you can use a car seat adapter
• Joovy Caboose: great for toddler and baby
• Obaby Zezu: you can add a tandem kit to make this a double
• Obaby ABC Design Zoom tandem -- very stylish and functional as a double tandem buggy
• Babystyle Oyster Max inline pushchair: also very stylish and functional
• Buggypod Smorph2: this is an interesting choice -- you basically add a sidecar buggy for your toddler to the side of your existing pushchair, and it can fold up!

Hope that helps!