Do I need a double buggy, 20 month age gap?

[giraffetales]

I'm current expecting #2 and all being well the age gap will be approximately 20 months. My mum has told me to not waste my money on a double and she did fine with my sister and I (24 month age gap) but she never went out for walks on her own or anything and I need to every day, mainly for my sanity!
I can afford it but wouldn't want to waste £1,100 either! Baby carrier is a no go ask have a dodgey back. I'm not sure about a buggy board as I've heard you have to straddle them weirdly when walking.
Any help would be much appreciated!!

We got a second hand phil and teds which did the job and we were able to sell on when we were finished. Same age gap as you. I got out a lot and did a lot of walking and the older one was a bit too little to walk/be trusted to want to go in approximately the same direction.

Do you drive? If so, you might be OK without one. But my dd is 2.5, she can walk far but we need to use the pushchair every day at some point but I often walk 20-40 minutes to places I need to get to as I don't drive.

Yes, you need one.

Mine are 24 months and there’s no way I could cope without mine. I don’t like driving and even if I did the amount of faff involved in getting everyone in the car, in the pram and back in the car is too much unless it’s necessary. We go for walks a lot as it’s easy and free and the toddler can walk a bit and then get in. If it’s busy/he’s having a tantrum I can strap in him safely and it’s the only place he’s likely to nap in.

You definitely don’t have to spend £1100! I have a new mountain buggy duet which was £600 and I probably could have got it secondhand.

If you don't drive, like me, then I think a double is essential. My almost 3yo only recently dropped her naps and has therefore only just stopped sitting in the buggy and goes on a seated buggy board instead when she wants to rest her legs. 18m between mine btw.

If you do drive maybe a single with buggy board could work but at that age I know my LO would have resisted staying on one.

Id get one, one that you can use as a single and a double so when the older one is confident walking you can take the seat off but say you know you're having a long walk you can put both seats on that day. You don't have to spend £££ (if you don't want to!) there are loads of lovely second hand prams about

My eldest 2 were 23 months apart and yes, I used the double a lot. I tried the single with buggy board and carrier but the double was just easier. It doesn't have to cost over £1000 though!
Ours was a nipper 360 and was fantastic.

I kept it and intended to use it for 2 and 3 when 3 came along but the age gap there was 3 years and I didn't use it at all. So sold it when no.3 was 6 months old.

Like cheese I have the same gap and got a secondhand Phil and Teds on eBay. I also have an older child so we have to go out st least twice s day for the School run which we always walk.

20m is still very small and you don’t want to have to do everything at toddler pace, or rely on a tired child to balance on a buggy board. Plus, the double bit is very handy for all their millions of bags as they get bigger!

Not at all. I had a smaller age gap and diidn't have one. We use a combination of buggy surfing (silver cross buggy that DS could stand on without a board and walk king along side the buggy. No problems at all.

Yes you need it because it will make life much easier!!! Buy 2nd hand.

I do drive but usually do about 90 minutes of walking everyday in the forest, I can do a 30 minute walk instead but we both love being outdoors. It has good tracks and raised decking areas to walk on so really good for pushchair access and I don't have to worry about cars for my eldest but she's only 14 months now and just started walking in the last couple of weeks. So I just have no idea what to expect really! I think I've answered my own question really!!

If you get on with a sling that is an alternative option but I didn't- hated them!

One of mine was a fantastic walker at 18 months, another was so slow... for my youngest I needed the threat of buggy time to get her to behave!

I would absolutely get one. I got a nipper double new for £330 and sold it after a year for £200.
So so so worth it. Even if the older child can walk, it was nice sometimes to strap them both in and have a relaxing walk with them both contained. Sometimes they napped at the same time which was amazing.
I tried a buggy board, total pain, you can’t reverse with it on, you have to walk at a weird angle, no good if the child is tantrumming. I tried a sling and older child in a buggy but it was a right pain trying to deal with 2yo with a baby strapped on my chest. I gave in at 7 weeks and got my double it just made things so much easier.

What on Earth is this nonsense about spending £1,100?

www.argos.co.uk/product/9020830

My friend has that double. It’s a nightmare to push! Couldn’t hold a toddlers hand whilst pushing it, couldn’t manage with it on the bus and they take ages to fold down and put in the boot.
Even the ones that cost about £100-£200 are very difficult to push and not at all practical.

Yes! I did for an 18 month age gap. Look out for a second hand Mountain Buggy.

You sure it's the same one? We have it, it folds in a couple of seconds.

Yeah it’s the same. They got it second hand though perhaps it’s an older model.
Guess different things suit different people, I couldn’t use it.

My age gap was smaller, 16 months.
At a push I could have made do with a sling and buggy board but it would have been a PITA a lot of times. Older DC was not an enthusiastic hand holder or reins wearer so I needed to be able to run after him, and pick him up, not easy with a sling.
My double had plenty of space for stuff and was a comfy dry space for sleeping or sitting down for a drink and a snack.
I wouldn't get a P&T they are so heavy and don't provide much space for either child. Out n about nipper are fab and can be pushed one handed.

21mo gap here - I need my double (we'll tandem). We're in the car a lot but still go out side at least once a day, not always with both seats on though. But when I need it, I really need it IYSWIM and I wouldn't be without it.

Similar gap. I had a sling. I had a velcro baby, so that worked well. It was the slimmest and fittest I've been post dc (lots of hills round here).

Get a second hand (or new) mountain buggy. Great design, fits through a normal doorway, can be pushed with one hand, not heavy, very smooth due to air filled tyres. Get a few extra inner tubes from amazon, as you'll get punctures. I didn't think I'd need one until I discovered just how difficult it is to strap a tantrumming 2 year old into a buggy with a baby in a sling on your chest.

I still use mine (they are 4 and 2) on days like today when the 4yo isn't too well and I need to do a 3 mile round trip to collect something. Normally they'd walk it, today they need a rest.

I walk a lot, anyone who relies mainly on the car with only short distances on foot would be fine without.

My eldest was 22 months & I didn't drive so I needed double buggy

If you're planning on going out for walks, you'll need one. Eldest will still nap too

I had maclaren as both reclined which was a godsend

20month gap here, I bought one second hand. £250 for a city mini, didn't use it that often but it was a godsend when I did. I would get second hand, and then it doesn't matter if you don't really use it. My ds1 scoots everywhere now, and dd rides in the pram.