DH and I disagree on needing a double buggy

[MsFrog]

Our DS1 will be 2yrs 8mths when DS2 is born. We've got a pram with a buggy board. I'm going to give a sling a go as well, when the baby is small. But I really think we need a double buggy. I can't imagine how I would manage out the house with two of them by myself. I don't think DS1 will be old enough to go any length of time out without a pram without getting tiree, and also I think will just run off and it'll be a nightmare. DH thinks it's a lot of money to spend on something we'll barely use, and we should just 'cope' for a few months and DS1 will be old enough to walk everywhere by then...

Anyone got any experience and input on how they coped with a similar age gap? Is a single pram feasible? Any recommendations for a good double buggy?

whose doing the majority of caring, especially outside? They should be the one making the decision.

Who will be doing the majority of the childcare? If it's your DH and he thinks you don't need a double, then let him get on with it. If it's you (and i agree, a double is a good idea) then get ye to Gumtree and pick up a cheap second hand one. You'll only need it for a few months, then sell on.

You need a double buggy.

Given that you probably won't need one for very long I'd look for a second hand one. I agree that you need one!

You could always get a second hand one and then pass it on ifs it's only a short time

Have a look on eBay or Facebook selling pages. I got a lovely Phil and ted double for £30. I only used it on holiday then sold again.
You really don’t need to spend lots on it.

I have a slightly smaller age gap and didn't have a double buggy. Do you mostly walk everywhere or drive? I think that depends on whether you need one.

I have 2.5 and 3 months currently. I would wait until you have the baby and try the sling/board options first and see how it goes, then decide if you need the double. It’s good for long walks..a bit of a faff sometimes and takes up a lot of car space.

You will need one!
Either get a double second hand or buy new but something with a high resale value.

I had a mclaren side by side which was narrow enough to fit through a standard door - but different because I had twins but it was invaluable until they were about 4 when we switched to single buggy with buggy board. If you are doing any real amount of walking with a still napping age child they need a buggy option imo - just stressful otherwise.

Yes I would, unless you are only using buggy for short distances only. 2y 8m will still nap occasionally in the day and double buggy gives you option to go out and stay out rather than dashing back.

They are always great for loading up with all the extra kit that two kids brings. Nothing worse having piles of shopping on buggy and then have to keep leaving it go to wrestle a toddler and risk it up turning.

It’s just like having extra pair of hands if you are out and are breast feed or change the baby you will want the toddler to stay put not run off or getting into trouble or start playing with the toilet in the changing room. Money well spent!

Mine are 2y7m apart and we didn’t get a double. Surely it depends on the child, where you live etc? A secondhand double would be a good compromise.

Three year gap between mine. We started off with a buggy board but it slowed us down massively (I walk a lot) so I got a second hand double buggy. Which was incredibly good for getting the kids places which made me feel much free-er and so much happier. I really struggle with the feeling of not being able to get places by walking. I hate having to drive.

When my children were your eldest child's age they still napped almost daily and they definitely couldn't walk long distances or reliably when in a difficult mood. We only ditched the buggy once they were 4. If I had driven everywhere in the car like many friends then I probably would have ditched it earlier, but we walked a lot and it saved my sanity

In my opinion you definately need a double and can get a good one very cheaply second hand

I didn't get a double buggy. 2yr age gap. However, DD1 was a good walker by age 2 and DD2 was tiny so easy to carry in a sling until she was around 1.

I found it easier to get around with a small fold up pushchair (we did lots of countryside walks etc) than trying to wrangle a large double. As DD2 got older, she went in the pushchair and eldest went on buggy board (with a seat).

If you don't want the expense I would buy second hand or try it for a couple of weeks then buy one if you feel you need it?

We have exactly this age gap and ended up just doing sling plus buggy - DS2 is now just over a year and we do a mix still of sling plus buggy and buggy with DS1 walking. We don't have a car so walk a lot.

I like using a sling and DS1 has been at nursery for 3 days a week through my mat leave so it worked for me - but if we had had the space to store a double buggy, I might have bought a second hand one for occasional use

“Just cope for a few months”.

He’s not given birth before has he

How tall are you?

I’m not tall and have short arms and buggy and buggy board kills my back.

My eldest was the same age. We didn’t need one. We used a combination of sling / buggy board.

I’m in same boat and having similar debate, my husband thinks we need a stroller for my toddler as well as pram for newborn. I think double or manage without but stroller means I will always need another pair of hands.

I’m waiting and seeing, newborn is due in October and with covid etc I’m not planning big days out for a while, then it will be winter and I’m expecting that my toddler will be more reliable by spring next year and I won’t need it all.
I do have a pram with buggy board and a sling (I carried my son a lot up until I became pregnant - so happy to carry a big baby and push a napping toddler)

My DC are just over 3 and 6m and I still use the double all the time, especially now baby is getting heavy in the sling. Older D.C. often too tired to stand on buggy board, and needs to be contained in busy places especially in covid era.

Depends on the child really. I have 2 year 3 months between mine and used a double til eldest was 3 but had a nursery walk on main roads she wouldn't manage.

My youngest is now 2 years 8 months and hasn't sat in a buggy since about January. They are all different.

Oh and DH originally thought we shouldn't get one. He now admits it's essential...

I had just over 2year gap and had a single buggy with buggy board which was fine. Occasionally put the baby in a sling and used the buggy (rather than carry cot) for the toddler but generally she just had to walk and was fine with it. We don’t walk miles and miles each day though. All local amenities/ park etc are probably half a mile away (so easily walkable at 2) and everything further is too far to walk so we’d drive. It also probably helped that the toddler had dropped her naps so we didn’t need the buggy for sleeps on days out. If regularly walking several miles I would’ve definitely got a double.

I think you know the answer, carrying one child in a sling and pushing the other or baby in the sling and expecting the other child to walk can be hit and miss. And like a PP said it’s so helpful for taking stuff out. I could never be doing with slings, I liked both children strapped in so I could A get on with what I needed to do and B mentally switch off from having to watch a 2 year old. I also didn’t drive so it was unreasonable to get places without one.