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Parenting

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Original poster

Will I need a double buggy?

35 replies

Willow33 · 21/12/2014 22:39

My dd will be 2 yrs and 8 months when next dc is born. Are a lot of toddlers able to walk longish (20-30 mins) distances by then?
Or is a double buggy advisable?

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Miele72 · 21/12/2014 22:48

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Miele72 · 21/12/2014 23:04

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Speckledy · 21/12/2014 23:09

I have the same age gap, 2yrs 8mths, my smallest is now just turned one and I havent ever needed a double.

Does your 2yr old go in a buggy much at the moment? Mine didn't after about his 2nd birthday but that was partly because we didn't have to walk to get places every day when I was at work. While I was on maternity leave we did a lot more walking but he was old enough to walk, scoot or go on a buggy board depending on distance.

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NuzzleandScratch · 21/12/2014 23:10

We had dd2 when dd1 was 2.4. We used a double for the best prt of a year, it was great! However, dd2 is now 2yrs 5 months, and I can't remember the last time we used a pushchair! She walked late (18 months), and has pretty much wanted to walk everywhere since! So if they'd been born the other way around, we wouldn't have needed a double.

We got our double (Babyjogger City mini) second hand, in very good condition, so it's not necessarily a big expense.

It's a tricky one! If they'll sit in it without a fuss, I would say a double does make life easier, as even if they can walk, they're very slow!

Vijac · 21/12/2014 23:13

My son was 3 and one month when dd born. I have not bought a double buggy and it is working well so far, a month in. We have a buggy board, which he loves but most of the time I either take the sling and he walks or go by car. I think if in the habit then they can walk for 30mins but it is possibly a stretch and they will get distracted on route! My friend walks with her ds a lot and he is very good on the scooter so that's another option.

TwentiethCenturyGirl · 21/12/2014 23:16

I have the same age gap and really wanted to avoid having to replace my buggy with a double, so just bought a buggy board.

DD1 is quite reasonable walker though, so we tended to encourage her to walk or scoot for shorter journeys and we bought a buggy board for longer trips.

9 months on, we tend to only ever bring the buggy board if we need go get somewhere in a hurry!

MotherOfInsomniacToddlers · 21/12/2014 23:17

Depends on the child tbh. My 3.5yo gets tired quickly but won't go in a push chair, my2.3 year old hasn't been in a push chair for months. I have dc3 due in march, I have a double as only had 15 months between dc1 and dc2 so I'm keeping it, but if I didn't already own one theres no way id get one for this age gap of 2.5 years. But at 2.5 dc1 still used her push chair very regularly.
I'd leave it til closer to the time to see what your dc1 is like

Guyropes · 21/12/2014 23:19

Do you use a car to get most places? If so maybe not. But if you walk everywhere, it's a godsend really. I used mine til my older daughter was nearly 4 and it was nicked. I then ended up carrying my 2-3 yr old everywhere as we had no buggy, and I thought we wouldn't need one anymore and it ended up such a struggle. Don't struggle.

Innocuoususername · 21/12/2014 23:29

Depends on the child, depends on your lifestyle. DS has always been a good walker and at 2.8 could walk for 30 mins without complaint.

I have 2.3 between my two and used a combination of sIing, single buggy (suitable from birth so either baby or toddler can go in it) and buggy board. I use public transport a fair bit and double buggies, even the tandem ones, can be a nightmare in terms of space on buses etc.

myotherusernameisbetter · 21/12/2014 23:36

I had 13 months between mine and we never had a double as such, we had a pushchair with a toddler seat. Both were good walkers and we did without a buggy completely by the time DS2 was 2 and a half - all children are different though and so are each families requirements and routines.

MrsMeeple · 21/12/2014 23:41

2.2 between my two, and we have a double. Because of the travel we do, we're still usng it, although DS1 is now 3.9. It has been fabulous.

AliMonkey · 21/12/2014 23:46

Depends on whether you have to get anywhere fast and your patience levels. We originally planned just buggy board and so tried it out before DS born for a few weeks. On one occasion DD refused to get on it and sat in the floor while I cried in frustration. I realised the usefulness of being able to just strap them in and go. I didn't actually use it that much during maternity leave but when I went back to work (DD 2 years 9 months, DS 6 months) it was vital to ensure I could get DC to nursery on time to catch my train and then get home at a reasonable time. On other hand having buggy board, buggy and sling at all times gives you two options depending on mood of toddler and baby.

TheBookofRuth · 21/12/2014 23:46

DD was 2.6 when her little brother came along, and we have been managing fine with just a buggy board.

FishWithABicycle · 21/12/2014 23:50

A single buggy and a buggy-board is fine for many many families with that kind of age gap.

Or if your DC1 isn't quite ready for a buggy board, DC1 in single buggy and DC2 in a sling will also be absolutely fine for a few months until DC1 is a little bigger.

Double Buggies are a right pain in so many ways.

SparklyReindeerShit · 21/12/2014 23:51

We have a 2.3 age gap. Tried buggy and board but I kicked the board constantly and dd fell off once which really worried me (and she's good at holding on/doing as she's told).
Also I'm a fast walker and she can't keep up. It's great for getting places when you need to get there fast.
It also means I've got free hands/arms instead of holding her hand or having to sling baby and bag if she needs the pushchair. Sometimes puttin everything on the buggy and feeling 'free' is nice if you're feeling a bit 'touched out'.

Original poster

Willow33 · 22/12/2014 22:17

Thank you all. Our street goes up a hill and we live at the bottom it so my concern is how dd will be with going up. It's pretty essential to go up to get to groups, do shopping etc. So will see closer to time.

OP posts:

TreadSoftlyOnMyDreams · 22/12/2014 22:22

Look for a second hand one but nota side by side type. You can get an old P&T for half nothing on eBay/gumtree. It will simply make life easier, so much easier to have the choice when you need it.

TeaandHobnobs · 22/12/2014 22:24

We will have a 2yr11m gap, and I have just got a double buggy - I don't envisage needing it a lot, but for my sanity I felt I needed an option to have them both strapped in and safe if I am out with them both alone. I'm happy to sling new baby and use the stroller for DS most of the time, but although DS is happy walking for reasonable periods now, there will be times when he wants to sit back in the buggy. I figure once I no longer need it, I can sell it on for the same or not much less than I just paid. Buggy board with our current buggy doesn't work all that well (especially if the seat is fully reclined).

Gabriola · 22/12/2014 22:25

I had a buggy board, but quite a big pram. There were a few times when dd fell asleep so I had to squish them both in the buggy together.

If they had been around then, I'd have got a phil n ted type pram as I did a lot of walking (no car) and buses were impossible with a pram, a buggy board, a baby and a toddler.

nottheOP · 22/12/2014 22:26

If you get a bjcm double second hand you are likely to sell it for near enough what you pay for it.

We walk a fair bit and wouldn't be without a pushchair for days out at 2y6m. He'll sleep in it too if he's being agreeable

BikeRunSki · 22/12/2014 23:02

3 yrs and a month between my 2. I had a second hand double P&T. I didn't need it for long, but that first cold, wet winter when dd was newborn, it was essential. When the baby is crying and 3 yo is grumpy and you just need to get out - oh yes, the P&T was worth it's weight in gold. Used it a bit for days out that summer, and sold it for £7 less than I bought it for a year later.

dancingwitch · 23/12/2014 00:13

It depends on so many things. I had a 2yr6mth age gap and found it invaluable. I sold it just after my eldest turned 4 by which time it was pretty impossible to push with them both in but still missed it a couple of times in the following months... wet, miserable evenings walking home from gymnastics when we all just wanted to be home & DC1 was exhausted was the usual.

dancingwitch · 23/12/2014 00:17

If you're not sure you're going to need one, I'd go to a shop and have a play around with doubles to see which one you like (or at least to decide if you want a side by side or a tandem) as then if, once DC2 turns up, you decide you need one and you need it NOW, at least you know which one to get. In the meantime, keep an eye out on ebay and see if any of the ones you like come up locally to you.

BikeRunSki · 23/12/2014 00:20

if your first child no longer naps and is not particularly tall, then you might be ok with a sling/buggy/buggy board. But my 3 yo was too tall for a buggy board and still napped. And it's really hilly round here, he would have slid off s buggy board!

TreadSoftlyOnMyDreams · 23/12/2014 01:40

My DD1 was on the weight limit for the buggy board by 3yrs. The pram tipped on top of her twice, sort of scizzored in two so I wouldn't use it any more.
Generally she was great but all bets were off when she started school nursery at 3.2 (summer baby) and started to crash out on foot, on the bus, at the bus stop.... Far too big to carry home.

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