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?

My youngest two are 2.11 years apart. We just used a buggy board.

If your child has a tendency to run off, get some reins.

There will be 2 years 5 months between mine and I’m not getting a double. I used a sling exclusively with DS until he was 6 months, and a lot of the time until he was 1, so will just keep buggy for DS and put the baby in the sling. You could wait until the baby is here and then if you need it get a second hand one?

You definitely need one. It will save your sanity. But only a cheap one. Buy second hand.

If you walk a lot I'd get a secondhand one.

My friend has the same age gap but she drives everywhere so doesn't need a double as the toddler walks short distances.

I walk 5 miles a day normally and my toddler wouldn't cope with that.

Going against the tide, you don't necessarily need it, unless as pp says you walk everywhere. If you tend to drive more it's not essential - and may be tricky to get it in your car. There's less than 22 months between mine - for the first 6 months DD2 was in a sling, with DD1 in the stroller. After that, DD1 walked and DD2 in the stroller. Has worked for us.

I have a similar age gap and no car, and tended to have one in the pushchair and one walking/scooting/in a sling. But my eldest was pretty docile and not prone to running off. With a child with a different personality I would probably have considered a double buggy.

@Ifailed

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

This.

I needed one, friends didn’t. Main reason I needed one was that we only have one car so I walk most places during the week. A not yet three year old can’t be expected to walk 2-3 miles a day which is fairly typical for us to get to baby/toddler groups, shops and back home. Whereas friends all drive to wherever they are going and the little ones don’t need to walk anyway for function, only fun. Basically it served the same purpose as a car for me. They would pop in the car to a playpark and I would go with kids in the buggy.

I had a 2 years 9 month gap and didnt getaway double buggy. We used sling and buggy. My oldest always wanted to walk everywhere from 2 though and only tolerated the buggy when ready for a nap. I also drove so didnt do long long distances walking, just pottering around town or going for a walk for fun. One of my friends used her double buggy until the eldest was 4 as he hated walking and would just sit down on the ground. Think it depends on your child's attitude to walking and how heavily reliant you are on walking to get to places. Wouldnt buy a new one as it wont be used for long.

Nothing like it when they both fall asleep in the double buggy 😄

Smaller age gap with mine but we bought a double buggy second hand all for less than £150 with carrycot: BJCM, and then later a small Maclaren side by side double second hand too.

I don’t think you will regret it.

I have that very age gap and never had a double buggy. I had a buggy board and that was fine for DD but she was quite cheery about walking and was never a massive buggy fan. I think if you do are doing most of the childcare and you think you're going to need one, then get one.

It does depend & I don’t think you necessarily do need one, but if DH means you should cope for a few months while he’s off at work, he can get lost & you can decide because it’s you who has the day to day work of ‘coping’.

I started off without one. I soon changed my mind. I did walk a lot though and I wanted to sit with both of them contained. I bought a Phil and Ted which I sold on for quite a lot of money.

We?
How often will he be "we"?

You may very well need one. Why not wait and see and buy a cheap one if it's needed? They don't need to cost the earth. You can get one for £70 from Argos and half of that second hand off eBay

As a PP said I think it depends on how much you walk! I like to walk everywhere so that could be a good few miles a day and I wouldn’t expect my nearly 2.8 year olds to walk that. If you drive anywhere over half a mile than you might get away without one.

Although I think it will be stressful if toddler decides they don’t want to walk etc so just get a second hand one. We got a great one off Facebook marketplace for £90. And will be able to sell it on for similar when no longer needed.

I don't use a buggy for my 2 year oldz she either walks or goes in the carrier on my back.

I wouldn't get a double buggy, just normal and buggy board, and with sling for one of them when you need it.

Both mine didnt want to be in buggy from early doors so I wouldn't have bothered.
Do you get on w slings?
But you know your child best, if you think he'll want/need buggy and you want both of them in it then get one!
As others say you can always sell on so not a big deal really.

Same gap and I wish we had just got a cheap second hand double. We managed with the buggy board, but I ended up taking the car a lot more tbh.

Oldest was a good walker when she wanted, but prone to tantrums and it wouldve been a lot easier!

I probably wouldn't bother as your eldest most likely as a year maximum left using Prams and then you'll be left lugging a double around with only one seat occupied

My DD was 2 and 6 weeks when DS was born. I bought a second hand double buggy for them from a friend that hardly used it. I never used it. To be fair DD pretty much walked everywhere from being 1.5. She's always walked holding the buggy (well I made a Velcro handle until she was big enough to reach). I would just say that if you want one get a second hand one ... I've got one for £50, hardly used lol

I had the same gap and didn’t bother with a double buggy. We used sling and then buggy board. We also primarily walked everywhere

I’m going to have a 2 and a half year gap when dc 2 arrives in November, I wasn’t planning a double buggy. Dd is increasingly happy to walk but I think it all depends on the individual child and situation.

2y 4m age gap and we bought a Phil & Teds with 2nd seat. Eldest was really too heavy for the Mama's and Papa's we had by age 2 so the P&T's was a great replacement with the optional second seat. It was also still basically a single pushchair rather than a double.

Yes you need a double buggy. Let me guess, you will be recovering from birth, looking after a baby and toddler on your own, but your DH thinks he has te last word in the need for a double buggy.

The age gap between my DC2 and 3 is 2.5 years. DD did not cope very well with having a new baby brother and found it almost as exhausting as I did. Having not wanted to get in the buggy before, she really needed to.

Get a double buggy even if it is a really ugly cheap one. I think side by side ones are more comfortable, but it depends how many narrow doorways you need to go through. (get the tape measure out).