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Original poster

Do I need a double buggy? Experiences please!

45 replies

Poppytime · 21/03/2015 08:09

DD will be just over 2 when DC2 is born (currently 12 weeks). DH is convicned we don't need a double buggy. To be fair we already are tight for space with two strollers (one big one we for when DD was born and a cheaper fold up one we now use for nursery and travelling). I'm worried though that even though DD walks well, she will have the inevitable meltdown when out and won't want to walk and is DC2 is in the buggy, what do you do? He think a a buggy board will suffice, but I can see her refusing to get on it at times! She is pretty forceful at times, like most toddlers! Any experience with similar age gaps? And if I need one (which I think I do) any recommendations for ones which aren't enormous? Side by side look huge so I think I'd prefer the other type, although I always feel a bit sorry for the kid underneath!! Thanks in advance

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Original poster

Poppytime · 21/03/2015 08:10

Sorry for the typos, on phone and DD keeps climbing on me!

OP posts:

andadietcoke · 21/03/2015 08:13

You could get a buggy board and put that underneath and also keep a lightweight sling under the buggy to carry the baby when she really won't walk?

softlysoftly · 21/03/2015 08:15

I tried no buggy with my 2 and 1 month yr old and newborn. I had a double within the month.

Sometimes toddler got tired or just didn't want to walk. But most importantly if you are out and about and your newborn needs a feed at the same time as the toddler decides to bolt you are buggered. I needed somewhere safe to strap older DD in!

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LittleRedDinosaur · 21/03/2015 08:16

We've managed with a buggy board. DD (just 2 when DS born) was getting to the stage where she would often wAnt to walk anyway and she stands on the board if she gets tired or if I need to be quick. It's more manouvrable than a double buggy and has saved a nice lot of money

marshmallowpies · 21/03/2015 08:18

Do you walk long distances & does your DD complain of being tired? Ours is nearly 3, DD2 6 weeks and we bought a second hand double buggy.

At first we thought DD1 would refuse to get in it, but now it's more like she refuses to get OUT of it! She's actually walking less than she was before and I do wonder if we'd refused to get a double buggy and enforced walking everywhere, she'd never know the difference.

But to be fair to her, we live in a hilly area and our original buggy won't take a buggy board (city jogger is the wrong shape for one), so I don't think we could manage without. And I guess a 3 year old still gets tired legs sometimes! I just hope she finds her legs again soon as she's spending far more time riding in the buggy than before.

Artandco · 21/03/2015 08:18

I personally would say a board is fine. You have months left for her to get use to one also

We have a 15 month gap is kept just a single. With board. It worked well. The first few months we used baby in sling and eldest in pram a bit, then baby in pram and eldest walking or on board. But we had a much smaller gap. By 2 years eldest wasn't even using the board daily, only put on for long days out. Ds2 also stopped using pram by around 2 years.

Get a decent sling like the boba 4g. It can be used on front from newborn and on back for toddlers. If you keep under pram at least you can sling one and pram other if needed.

I really liked using the sling and tbh by the time eldest was 2 we often went out pram free with youngest in sling and the oddest walking with backpack reins on

CountingThePennies · 21/03/2015 08:19

I havent experience of two children so close in age but i would imagine a just 2 year old is too young for a buggy board as a pram replacement.

A just two year old wont understand that they have to walk properly by your side or stand properly on the buggy board.

Also you will have the problem of your child getting off the buggy board everytime you stop the pram.

I would get a cheap side by side pram then after 18 months when the 2 year old will be 3 and a half i would get a decent stroller and have a buggy board then

Artandco · 21/03/2015 08:19

eldest not oddest!

OrionsAccessory · 21/03/2015 08:19

I have just over a 2 year age gap between my dd's and we didn't have a double buggy. Dd2 was in the sling and dd1 was in the pushchair for the first 6 months ish then dd1 wanted to walk all the time so dd2 swapped between sling and buggy. I planned on getting a buggy board too but never got round to it!

ragged · 21/03/2015 08:20

23 months between my eldest pair and I couldn't have coped without a double buggy. In addition to absconders, buggy board doesn't let them sleep & most toddlers still conk out in afternoons. I walk a lot, though. If you are happy to accept the restrictions imposed on your life by when they might need to nap then doing without buggy could work.

Notfastjustfurious · 21/03/2015 08:20

I had a moby for baby to begin with and now have a buggy board but mainly my toddler just walks. They are nearly 3 and 9 months now. A double would have been used for a month at most so not really worth the expense.

Justusemyname · 21/03/2015 08:22

If he is the main carer then he gets to dictate.

My dd was born when DS was 2.4 and a double buggy was essential. It went back as faulty and I can't picture the replacement but I know I had a buggy board when DS was four, dd was in a single buggy at 2 and the baby was I a sling.

I think a double buggy is essential. A two year old gets tired easily. Does he fancy wrestling a child who doesn't want to stand on then board, won't walk as you want and you have the shopping to get?

MrsPeabody · 21/03/2015 08:24

I made sure I had a buggy that was flat (to be used from birth). I then used the sling and buggy. This worked for about six months.

I eventually bought a p&t that they both screamed in. Then a bcjm, which they both love. Both second hand. could you sell your main pushchair and buy a second hand double?

If you are short on space the p&t is great. My kids just prefer the sling and eldest was too tall for it. Side by side nipper 360 has small footprint.

Justusemyname · 21/03/2015 08:25

When I was a mothers help I had a two year old and a three month old and then buggy was one in front of the other. Nightmare. I had a side by side and it was fine. The problem with it wasn't to do with the buggy itself but accessories. Since then, 2003, there has been huge developements in buggies but I know I wouldn't have used one where the toddler is
higher up and the baby underneath

Artandco · 21/03/2015 08:25

Oh and we just went home for kids to nap most days or if out was at friends etc at this time so eldest also napped in his bed/ on friends sofas rather than in pram. With two within 15 months I also often wanted to rest and nap during that afternoon slot so it made sense to try not to go out then. We had 9-12 then 3 until 9pm daily to go out so no hardship heading home or inside at friends around lunch as they needed to eat anyway ( have always slept 9pm-9am)

MrsPeabody · 21/03/2015 08:26

Oh, both my dc are late in dropping their naps and I walk large distances. So even though eldest is 3.5. I still go for long walks while they both snooze.

FusionChefGeoff · 21/03/2015 08:29

Another vote for the sling option here.

We have a slightly bigger age gap but have only used the double buggy twice and I do a lot of walking. Especially if space is an issue. Newborns much prefer cuddly walks rather than being in a buggy anyway. I got a cheap Close Caboo on eBay for first few months and now have progressed to a Mai Tei carrier.

BUT!!!!!!!, important warning.

Never think the toddler will be fine on his bike all the way to the park and back. Always take the buggy even if it means pushing it empty. The walk back to our house with baby in the sling and me trying to carry the bike and the toddler was not one of my fondest memories!

whatsagoodusername · 21/03/2015 08:31

It depends on your lifestyle and your DD.

If you walk a lot, do big days out, then I'd get a double. There are great bargains on eBay. Go to a shop, see what kind suits you best, then find it on eBay.

If you mostly drive and use the buggy for just quick trips to nursery or the shop, a single will probably do - although navigating a small shop with tight corners with a buggy and board is more irritating than a double in my experience

Artandco · 21/03/2015 08:36

What's - not necessarily. We don't drive at all as live in London. We travel lots around but can you imagine using a double on tubes and buses regularly, even with a single we often had to wait and miss some to get enough space.
Long days out here if both needed to sleep would still have to be one in sling as a double wouldn't work logistically.
Oh and we live in a flat without a lift so a double even worse

Original poster

Poppytime · 21/03/2015 08:41

Thanks so much for all the replies! A sling is a great idea, I really want to get one I like this time, before we borrowed a baby bjorn and I found it really uncomfortable and hard on my shoulders/neck. Sounds like I may need a double buggy - I can see DD getting tired and yes we will walk a lot rather than drive. I'm in central London so I walk everywhere as driving just not worth it. And a good point about main carer etc - it will be me so I guess I should have more say! So what are good brands for doubles? We don't want to spend a fortune, we got a bugaboo for DD (pfb) and I still recoil at the price now, it was and still is the more expensive thing we got for her! I would still definitely want to use that with the bassinet for the baby, it's just those times when I need to get out with both of them, say over nap time. I pray some naps coincide!!

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MildDrPepperAddiction · 21/03/2015 08:57

Dd1 was 22 mths when dd2 was born. I used a sling for baby for a while and now dd1 just walks along. I wouldn't buy a double when you will realistically only use it for a few months. Maybe borrow one if you can so you don't have that outlay but feel you need it.

MildDrPepperAddiction · 21/03/2015 08:57

softlysoftly · 21/03/2015 09:04

I have the baby jogger city mini double (and single from DD1 & 2 before surprise DD3!) Its fab. Very very easy to steer with 1 handed fold and fling open. Rare in a double! It is huge bucket seats too so my 5yo can crawl in sometimes (which makes hills fun).

I have a bugaboo purchased for DD1 and to be honest if it wasn't for the carseat fitting I wouldn't have used it again with either subsequent DDs so in London I would sell it and spend on the BJCM.

I had newborn DD3 in the jogger with seat on full recline on a lovely lambskin and she looked probably more cozy than rolling around the huge bugaboo pramtop.

I luffs my joggers! (Have yet to jog with them though).

My only downside would be tube/bus? Bt you'll have a mare with them with any pushchair? If you get a sling too at least you can whack baby in there. Stand toddler and 1 hand fold the jogger?

Artandco · 21/03/2015 09:04

You could buy anothe frame for the bugaboo. You already have the material parts for both bassinet and main seat. An extra frame is fairly cheap. Then you can just swap the seats on and off depending on whether you want baby in sling and eldest in pram, or baby in pram and eldest walking with board.

Ps the bugaboo board is one of the best imo as it only has one wheel so you can walk to the side rather than behind if you prefer. I also used the bassinet with baby in and lifted eldest in sitting up with legs either side of baby (shoes off) if I wanted to speed walk home if no board with us and it started to rain for example

BikeRunSki · 21/03/2015 09:05

I had a double and a 3.1 year age gap. When the baby is crying and the toddler is tantruming and you just have to get out, you'll really appreciate it. Dc2 was an autumn baby - the double was invaluable that winter fir getting dc1 to nursery.
Also, dc1 still slept in the day when dc2 was born, do the double allowed is to get out and about with 2 sleeping children.

I bought my double second hand and sold it for £7 less a year later.

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