Toddler and newborn. Will I need a double pushchair?

[crazymaisie]

My Dd will be 20 months when my baby is born. She is still in her pushchair if we are out and about for long periods. Has anyone else done this without a double? I am a bit reluctant to buy one due to the expense and the fact she probably won't want to be in one for long. Any advice would be appreciated

If I were you I would get a stretchy wrap/sling and a buggy board (you can get buggy boards with little seats). So you have the option to put newborn in wrap/sling and toddler in pushchair, or newborn in pushchair and toddler on buggy board.

I would not have been without mine, my eldest was 2 when my youngest was born and I used it a lot. However I don't drive so we walked everywhere, quite long distances sometimes so my elder one would get tired. I still use it occasionally for long walks now they are 4 and 2! Also handy for carrying the huge amounts of stuff I seem to need to take two children out! Plus extra shopping...

Absolutely yes it means they can both be contained and dry in wet horrid winter weather.

Toddlers often regress or hit tantrumming 2s when a newborn arrives on the scene.

My DD was 2.5 when DS was born and I absolutely used it and still use it now for long walks (DD is 3.3)

It being a double 🙄🤦🏼‍♀️

My DS is 2.5 and I use a double for long days out. I got a second hand Out and About Nipper so it didn’t break the bank.

I had a two year age gap. I got a second hand double buggy. It was an Out and about nipper and really good. Think we paid about £150 for it. I purposely got that one because it could be used from birth until 4YO. So youngest could be laid flat in it and eldest was still able to fit in it (he was a big boy!).

DS1 could walk short distances on his own. I wanted one so I could strap eldest down if I needed to and I also had a c-section so wanted to be able to get out with them on foot.

We kept it for about four months. By then eldest was getting better at walking. He would also complain about going in it and kick his legs, disturbing his younger brother etc. Youngest also got fed up of being in it and always cried in it (probably because of his annoying brother!). By that point I was driving so just encouraged eldest to walk on his own! We sold it in again for about £60.

I'd definitely recommend getting one second hand even if it's only for a few months.

Mine was a bit older, but I used a combo of baby carriers and buggy with board - with big one in a backpack carrier/baby in pram, or big one on buggy board, or tiny one in front carrier big one in buggy, or a few times big one sat perched on end of pram. Worked for me, but I liked carrying them to be honest as I was convinced it would counteract all the extra snacks I was munching due to crap nights sleep 😁(and we walked a lot).

In your shoes I would wait and see - you could have one on next day delivery if you realise you cant live without it on day 3 of being home!

Definitely get one, I waited 6 months (age gap of 26 months) as I thought we’d be fine without but toddler hated the buggyboard. Got the same one mentioned above, an out n about double, second hand for £150 and I reckon I’ll sell it on for similar. Wish I’d had it from day 1, as soon as I got it my mood lifted with the sense of freedom of being able to do proper walks And get fresh air even in the winter etc.

I have the exact same age gap, a double buggy was invaluable. Still use it 11 months on. By one secondhand 👍🏻

I have exactly the same age gap, and our double buggy is invaluable! DS is now 6 months old (DD is 26 months) and we use our Mountain Buggy Duet every day. I bought the carrycot+ too, which converts from a carrycot to a parent-facing seat, which he's currently in. I love babywearing so use the sling lots too, but the pram is great when whizzing around town and needing to be hands-free. I also bought the Joey basket so it can be used as a single pram too. I genuinely wouldn't be without it, but I walk everywhere so it's a godsend.

21mo gap here - we converted our single to a tandem and it was well worth it. My DD wasn't confident on the buggy board until much closer to 3, and they're only any good if you're on fairly smooth ground so it does depend where you use your pushchair. I did use the sling with DD in the single but sometimes, when you're on your own, you just need to be able to strap them both in!

Sling and buggyboard?

I find it useful for the oldest to sleep in while out/walking. I thought she’d be reluctant, but actually she quite liked sitting next to the baby. So worth it for us, and oldest was 26 months older.

We faced the same dilemma recently and bought a second hand mountain buggy duet. So glad that we did. As PPs have said, it does give you a lot more freedom just to pop them both in and go.

As DC 1 gets older and potentially more tantrummy, she might not want to go on buggy board, you might want her to have a nap, you might just need to contain her, etc.

22 months gap here - definitely get one! If only to 'trap' them both when you need to get something done, nothing worse than toddler running off whilst trying to manage a pram as well!

14 month age gap with my two. Used the double buggy for years. Just got a second hand double buggy for my grandkids who are very close in age if I didn’t have it I would not be able to go out when I have them both. Check the width of any you like. Some say they can go through a single door.

I have an 18 month gap and definitely needed one. Toddler runs off a lot so I need him strapped in! I don’t drive so walk a lot with them and even if he didn’t run off I can’t see ds1 being able to walk as far as I’d want him to. You can pick doubles up pretty cheaply on fb marketplace (and can probably sell it at a similar price when you are done) so it’s a worthwhile purchase I think. I have a joie aire twin and that was only £120 brand new and I am really happy with it.

I had a silver cross tandem double buggy for a around 12 months so I could get through narrow doorways without a fuss. I found it gave me my independence as I walked everywhere & didn't have to rely on anyone. Little legs tire easily & it is really helpful to have or it will take you forever to get from place to place. Older child can walk along with you for a bit if you/they want to and then when they get tired, just get into the buggy & rest and you can get along without any fuss or tantrums. It makes life so much easier than trying to get a tired child to hurry up because you were going to be late etc . We kept our single one and then sold the double once our eldest was around 3 . It was in great condition & there weren't very many of this kind around at the the time where we lived so I got a really good price for it.

We chose not to. We got a buggy board instead. My son was 26 months when his sister was born. The buggy board got broken about 18 months later. We didn’t replace it and never looked back. I think you adapt to whatever situation you’re in - if you have something you wonder how you would ever manage without. If you don’t, you work around it somehow.

The 6 months between 20 months and 26 months is huge developmentally though and it is dependent on the DC personality- how compliant they are, whether they are a "bolter" or not 🤷🏽‍♀️

Some DC really "Rebel" when a sibling turns up and others don't. Mine were very well behaved and naturally compliant but I am well aware that was luck! Eldest was 5.5 when her sibling was born and hated walking, the others were all great walkers but the youngest was only super compliant with the threat of the pushchair if she didn't do as she was told but walked everywhere from her 2nd birthday I think to be like her big sisters.

I used a sling for DS2. When we all went for longer works we had a backpack for DS1

or even walks

I'm debating whether or not to get a double buggy as my son will be nearly 2 and a half when our LO arrives in October. I feel like I won't use a double buggy for long enough, or will? Thanks x

19 Month difference between my two and a double was an absolute must for me - we did a lot of walking about and carrying shopping etc. I got a second hand one off e-bay. If you can afford it I would go for it and then just resell it on when you don't need it. We got a bugaboo donkey that converts from a single to double so when the older one could go on a buggy board we turned it back to a single.

Congratulations!