Can I get by without a double buggy for a 4.5 year old and a newborn?

[Tinkjon]

My daughter is 4.5 and I'm due with No.2 is September. As my daughter will be in school once the baby arrives, I don't think it's necessary to buy a double buggy - do you think I'm being unrealistic?! She is capable of walking everywhere, I only put her in the buggy to stop her from running off and grabbing everything when I'm trying to shop! (she's a nightmare when she's on the loose!) But she will be in school during the week and at weekends if we all go out somewhere, then my DH will be there to help with keeping tabs on DS. I've heard that buggy boards make it too hard to steer/push, so wasn't planning on getting one of those... so do you think that just one buggy is practical? Thanks in advance!

I have just recently stopped using my double buggy. DS (2.1) can be a bit of a nightmare for running away though so I do put him on reins if I'm on my own with them. Bugger knows what I'm going to do once dd (14 months) decides she no longer wants to be in her buggy though.

Do toddlers ever get to an age when they listen to you when you tell them not to run away?

I told DS when he was 4 that we would get rid of the buggy board - up until then we used a buggy board (from 3 to 4 then). It took about a week for him to build up stamina to walk but since then he has walked everywhere. DS still runs off and grabs at stuff (he's 5) so I can understand your angst there - not all children are well-behaved in shops, you just end up not going with them, or using bribery - a promise of a treat if they don't run off and/or touch something.

what about one of these?

hi tinkjon, you definetly dont need a double. My Ds was 2,2yrs when DD1 was born and we had a double, 4mths later I was pg with DD2 so he walked everywhere from 2.6yrs. He is now 3.8yrs and walks all the time without a problem as both the girls are in the double. Even for short trips DD1 will walk and she is only 18mths.

Gosh goodness why oh why is your 4.5 yo in a buggy?????

Please let her walk everywhere or whatever will becoem of her?

No you do not need a double

FWIW all mine were out of the buggy at 2.5. DS2 is 4 and I haven't pushed him at all for about a year and a half.

If she runs off, you should try ways and means to get her back. Why is she running off anyway? she must learn to hold your hand and stay safe. A buggy is hardly the answer to that problem.

ds is 2.1 and will be 2.4 when dc2 arrives. He still uses the buggy, simple stroller type (me) or backpack (dh) as we live in Berlin and the traffic and dog poo is horrendous, but wheneverit's safe/reasonable we let him walk a lot and he's fab at it. Plan is to have dc2 exclusively in a sling/Ergo and gradually get ds walking more and more. We don't even own a newborn-type pushchair.

Dd1 was 2.10 when dd2 was born, we haven't got a double buggy just a buggy board and it's fine. Dd1 is now 3.2 and prefers to walk but I haul her onto the buggy board when we're in a rush.

I had to drag dd1's old 'suitable from birth' mini tank out of the garage to use with newborn dd2 and that turned out to be a smart move. Dd2 wasn't usurping dd1's (lightweight, suitable from 6 months stroller) pram iyswim.

Tinkjon - blimey this has created some opinions!!

My DS is 2.6 and will be 2.7 when LO arrives - no way a double buggy would go near this house! We will get a buggy board for longer walks just in case.

If I let DS loose in supermarkets etc it is a nightmare, and he only just fits in the trolley - but a double buggy and shopping is even harder!

Try Reins - you can put your DD on a longer "lead" if you want ( my mum suggests one of those retractabel dog leads!!!!!), or i tie the reins to the trolley if DS can't behave.

Or... get the things that involve shopping etc done while DD is at school!!

My DS is nearly 4 and walks mostly now.

I would have been housebound without the buggyboard for the past year as the park and shops is a 20min walk away.

If you get a scooter make sure you can keep up with her or be sure she has enough road sense not to go off the kerb.

a 4.5 yr old in a buggy?!

its not unusual. my cousins weren't made to ditch their buggies until their 5th birthday. the family did a lot of walking.

I have 18 months between DD1 and DD2 so needed a double buggy, now DD1 is 2.11yo she is walking everywhere with a wrist strap if she runs away. DD2 will be 2.2yo when DB3 is born, I'm getting a P&T once DB3 is 6 months it can go on the front and DD2 will have a little seat at the back if she gets tired. I know someone who has twins that have been walking everywhere since 2 (she had another baby as well) now thats mad!

oh no. Def don;t need a double buggy

you definitely don't need one, dd1 was 3.5 when dd2 was born and we had single maclarens and a buggy board for the first few months but by the time she turned 4 she was happy walking anyway. dd1 is 5 now and occassionaly wants to sit in the buggy but only when her sister has climbed out and runny amok in the store