<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!

My sister didn't have one with her 11 month gap. She carried the baby in a sling and when baby was around 8 months she got a buggy board for her eldest.

I had a 25 month gap. Used buggy and buggy board.

It depends on lifestyle. Plus whether eldest naps in the buggy and/or is a bolter.

I've got a 24m age gap and have a collection of pushchair solutions

I would have felt really daunted at the thought of managing without a double, and someone kindly gave us their babyjogger side by side. As it happens, dd2 is totally unimpressed by the carrycot so we have had a lot of journeys with dd2 in the sling and the changing bag travelling in comfort. Big advantage is that dd1 can nap.

We also have a P&T. The cocoon is a hit with dd2, she seems much happier when she can't see anything. But dd1 can't nap because the second seat doesn't recline so I have to make sure I'm home by lunchtime.

And for quickly nipping into shops / toddler groups etc, we are currently putting the carseat on the wheels of our original single travel system and dd1 is sitting underneath in the basket!

I had the same gap as you and didn't get a double buggy. Between a scooter, a buggy, a buggyboard and a sling we had sufficient options. Good luck!

BJ City mini double - its brilliant! and I have an almost 3yr age gap.

Friends of ours swear by the micralite twofold.

I have a micralite single and it is amazing.

I got a second hand double MacLaren buggy from an Nct sale and it was fabulous when out and about with both

I have a 16 month age gap between my boys and the double pushchair was a complete necessity for me. It meant I had somewhere secure to put both children whilst I could actually shop/walk without worrying about the eldest legging it or trying to make him stay on the buggy board (stay still for more than 30 seconds and he's gone!)

I dislike the 'stacked' double pushchairs personally but I loved my Mountain Buggy Duet. Didn't find one single door I couldn't get through, both boys were comfy and could see their surroundings. We bought it second hand off eBay, sold it on 2 years later and made 90% of our money back :)

Thank you all so much for the replies. This has been really helpful.

DD has never been much of a napper and is on one a day now so she may well have dropped it altogether by the time DC2 arrives. That might cut down on the long walks with the two of them.

I'm living fairly centrally in a large town so can get everywhere in 5 to 10 minutes really hence sling and buggy would be feasible. That said it might be nice to have the option of plonking them both in a buggy- for containment if nothing else!

We do have friends with similar age gaps and I know some of them have doubles so whoever mentioned the borrowing/renting option I might look into that.

Will have a look through the suggestions here over the next few months. If I spot a second hand bargain I might go for it but equally the wait and see option sounds reasonable.

Thank you all so much for your input. I've been sort of paralysed by indecision and this has definitely focused my mind!

Think ahead a bit. ..my 3 year old still.naps in the buggy and gets tired if we are out all morning. I have the same age gap as you and really really love having them both in the buggy when we are on way home from and outing and both are tired...uts so nice and easy ! The 1 year old is too heavy to spend long in the sling and obviously I prefer her to nap in the buggy. ...

Get a double buggy. ..you won't always need it but there is no better feeling than two tired children dozing peacefully in the buggy.....

24 month gap. No car so reliant on walking, bus, tube. We got a second hand Phil & Ted and I will expect to sell it again for 30-50£ less when we are done.

Ds1 is so much easier if you know you have the option to restrain him... With regards to the weight, yes it is heavy when loaded with toddler and newborn but has big wheels so very easy to manoeuvre up sidewalks. We have 4 steps up to our front door and I tend to ask toddler to get off before I bump it in.

Also....remember that baby in sling makes it much much harder to control a toddler in full.meltdown. you are not at that stage yet ....! I had some really bad moments when out with single. Buggy and crying tired toddler. ..trying to control them with a newborn in my arms !

Try wiping your arse while sitting on a toilet with hefty baby in a sling. I need say no more.

We had a 21mth gap and double is invaluable. They are nearly 2 and 3 1/2 now and it still gets daily use term time.

It depends hugely on your lifestyle though, if I drove I think we would manage fine without.

Ye - once baby is big enough I just put baby change mat on floor and say them on it

Seriously grotty public toilets & baby is a roller, Art&Co.

Or (ps) you've parked the toddler in single buggy outside your cubicle door where you can see the wheels & hope no one nicks your big child. In meantime your knees almost touch the tiny cubicle door & there ain't anywhere to put a baby on the floor.

I tried for ages to do the sling and buggy or toddler walking and I look back and wonder why on earth I bothered what a waste of my own energy...just so much easier sometimes to tuck them both in...don't get the obesseopn with kids walking ...if they run themselves out in the park it's so much easier to strap them in and just walk at normal speed home.

Also with a 2 yr gap...hold on to that toddler nap !!! That may well mean that if they resist it you need to take them for a walk in the buggy to make sure they sleep. ...The day is loooong with no nap. ..and they are monstrous when they don't get it...not what you need with a newborn ..

YeOldeTrout, your graphic description may just have made up my mind. Thank you. I really felt like I was there.

FYI A soft fabric Graco carrycot can be fastened by the D rings into the City mini double, and will fold with it attached. Best tip I've had, it was brilliant with newborn and toddler.

www.gumtree.com/p/prams-strollers/graco-carrycot/1126542735

I couldn't bear the thought of one of those massive side by sides or one of those where the baby is suspended underneath near the pavement
My baby was in a sling or pram if it was a short journey then reclining buggy and by 2.5 eldest walked everywhere.
She slept well at night