<Whines> Do I ^have^ to get a double buggy?

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This is probably a bit previous but I'm in the very early stages of pregnancy with DC2 and already beginning to stress a teeny bit about buggies. Choosing one was the bane of my life for a short time while pregnant with DD1.

DD will be 23 months when DC2 arrives all going well. She's a great little walker but I've no doubt she would tire if we were to do a decent length of a stroll so I'm wondering will I have to get a double buggy or pram with toddler seat? Or would sling for DC2 and pram if needed for DD work?

I hate the idea of the side by side doubles as all the shops where I live have teeny doors. But equally I'm very small so not sure I'd manage to hoick a one-in-front-of-the-other double up the pavements.

I have a babyjogger city mini GT, which I adore, but I don't think a buggy board will work with it, especially as I'll be lying the buggy totally flat when DC2 is a newborn (don't have a carrycot attachment for it).

What think the wise folks of mumsnet; Do I have to get a new buggy and bid farewell do my beloved BJCM for a time? Do I have to start the horrendous trawl through the internet to find out what double will suit?? HELP!

You can see how it goes.
I had a 23 month gap & I would have been horribly miserable without a double buggy. (long boring list of reasons omitted).

My youngest are 1.5 and 2.5 and the double buggy is a saviour on outings.

Thanks both. I just need some people to shout "yes!" at me and I'll come around.

Out of interest, what buggies did you go for? I haven't a clue and am easily led!

Baby in a sling, toddler in a pushchair worked for us. By the time the small one moved into the pushchair, the big one had stopped using it and moved on to scooting everywhere.

We didn't get one with 15 month gap.

Just put baby in sling, and when eldest walks can put baby in pram. If you need to speed home again swap baby back into sling.

Your probably not going to go on huge day trips anyway when second is tiny and you will be tired so can go home for naps so you can nap also!

Oh and with yours just think, by the time baby is 6 months eldest will be 2 1/2. Very few use a pram at 2 1/2 even if only child

My sister never had one with a 16month age gap, but mine was a godsend with a 29month gap.
So much depends on the dc, and on your lifestyle.

Why not keep your eyes out on Freecycle or Gum Tree or local FB selling pages for a while, or ask around friends to see if you can borrow one for 6 weeks and see how you get on?

I have a 23 month age gap and no double buggy. Dc2 is still only a few weeks but he goes in the sling. Dc1 has just turned 2 and walks everywhere and refuses the buggy. I have no plans to get a double buggy.

I had a long Graco tandem in the day, but if buying today the Phil & Tedds looks great to me. I used some type of buggy until mine were past 4yo & then you have shopping & bags, just made life simpler.

Sling and Mcclaren here.

Buggy board would be a better investment imho.

Ye - I think it's easier now in general as there's so much online. Ie most people don't need to carry shopping as can get food shopping delivered, majority clothing and all odd bits delivered. Just leaving odd bits occasionally.

With a 16 month gap I couldn't do it without a double, but dc1 is a great walker. Not always in the right direction. Also find good to "park" him when going past busy roads, or supermarkets etc.

I will have the same age gap between my 2 (also pregnant with dc2) and have been back and forth on the issue. Otoh such a pain to have to get out the double buggy every time I want to leave the house, however the thought of trying to survive and shopping trip around town or a day out with the baby in the sling (especially when the weather gets warm) or my toddler getting tired walking just fills me with dread! I think I'm just going to buy a cheap, lightweight double and do a combination of that and the single buggy with sling/buggy board.

You could always wait and see how it goes?

I had the same age gap, and used a sling and buggy or a buggy with a buggy board.

My DC are teens now, so the buggies available are different, but I tried some out when I was pregnant with DC2, and thought double buggies seemed a PITA.

I did day trips when dc2 was tiny (also had a 23m gap) and the double was invaluable. Also meant we could go out at dc1's nap time and I might get a chance to sit and have a coffee not holding/carrying a baby at all! I liked my moby wrap for at home but the pushchair (and car) meant a chance to put cling-on dc2 down.

You'll probably only get 6m use out of it (after that a buggy board for dc1 worked better) so get a cheap one. I had a cheap Phil and Teds Sport v1 from eBay.

I'm only little and I had a Phil and Ted's. The baby went into the carrycot underneath and the toddler went in the top seat, then I swapped them round when the baby could sit up a bit. I loved mine and wouldn't have been without it. We then had it as a single with a buggy board when DD grew out of wanting to be in a pushchair at all.
Sometimes, when you have a toddler and a tiny baby, the only way to preserve your sanity is to get out of the house and you really want to make this as easy as possible. It's very well to say get the older one to walk, or have the baby in a sling, but those might not turn out to be the easiest things for you. Everyone is different.

depends how much walking and how far
sling and maclaren as a short term option
then revert to buggy of choice and make 2.5 year old walk

We had a phil and teds double decker type and it was great (I had c/s no slinging was happening). It was brilliant for moving several small people (you can get 3 or 4 of them on if you try) and large tents around at festivals and I do not regret its purchase for that purpose. However the option above would have saved us a few hundred quid.

As many have already said, it completely depends on your lifestyle. Do you drive? How many miles do you walk every day? Do you think your DD will still be napping regularly by then?

Also you need to consider whether you have room to store a double, and if you use public transport (doubles can be a hassle on buses).

I had a bugaboo with a buggy board that had a Twoo seat on it.

Never had one with a 20m gap just a buggy board.

I had a 2 year gap and got a Phil nTed. Was invaluable for just getting out, especially when both kids fell asleep at the same time and I could have a coffee in peace. I'm very small and found it very easy to push, and had added benefit of loosing weight with all the walking. The Phil n Ted baby carrier was fabulous when going to toddler groups / visiting friends etc
Bought ours off eBay and resold it a year later for £30 less.

We only got a buggy when DS turned up when DD was 23 months. DD started in the sling and then when she could walk she walked everywhere. DS hated the sling so we got a buggy for him. If your DD is a good walker encourage that it is soooo much easier in the long run!

I could have written your post!! I'm pregnant, my DS will be 23m when baby comes and I also currently have a CMBJ GT which I love!!! I have however just bought a P&T dot from ebay. It's immaculate and only used twice as her eldest daughter was 3. I figured that it's better to have the option and if I don't use it much I can sell it for what I paid and not lose any money. Then I'll move onto a buggy board on the CMBJ.