Do I need a double buggy?

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My older child will be 2 years, 9 months when my baby is born. Do I need to buy a double buggy? It feels like such a waste when it won't be used for very long and we have two perfectly good single buggies we could carry on using for the new baby. But will my (will be) almost 3 year old cope without a buggy to sit in?

DS aged 2 years 7 months is one of the most reluctant walkers amongst his similarly aged peers. He walked late and has to be really encouraged to walk if he knows the pushchair is an option but even I wouldn't be buying a double for a new baby if I were due imminently.

Get a sling for the baby to buy yourself some more time if needed and then a buggy board but I really don't think you would need a double.

This entirely depends on your toddler and on how much walking you need to do with the pushchair, and whether any of that involves tight time frames.
If you need to walk a mile long school run x4 daily (there and back twice) then yes, a double buggy is probably necessary. If you use the car for most journeys and just like a leisurely afternoon walk with the buggy + days out where multiple adults are present and you have two single buggies already, you probably don’t need a double.

If you have a willing walker then do buggy board. My nearly 4 year old still needs the buggy board for longer walks, especially after pre school all day as it's a bit of a trek back to our house. That way you can just pop it on and off when you want.

On the other hand if you older DC might nap in the pushchair currently then if recommend a double buggy as you'll end up quite restricted otherwise. There are loads available second hand.

Totally depends if he's a willing walker. I have 19m between mine. They're 16m and 2y11m now and my daughter will walk about 10 steps before complaining that her legs are sore and jumps back in the double buggy. I do wonder if having it there has made her happier to use it and if she'd have been a better walker without it. Who knows. If you plan on getting one I'd highly recommend an Out n About double nipper. Very slim and easy to push.

Sorry some typos in there!

I've got a 2yr 9 month old and I've just bought a second hand double after 4 months!! Not really for every day because he will happily walk or use the buggy board but more for days out. Just see how you get on initially then decide.

We found a buggy board worked great for our two (2 years and 5 month age gap). I didn't want the expense of buying a new buggy and was concerned about the size of them when getting around shops. We got one with a seat on and our oldest is happy to sit when he wants a rest from walking.

I was about to post this - I will have new baby when DC is 18 months - I’m expecting I will need to shell out for a double :/

I'd go for a buggy board and a scooter in few months.
If you do decide to go for a double buy a second hand one always so many for sale like new, think this gives clue that many are not used as often as expected.
Good luck

Pretty much the same gap and she hasn't been in a buggy since about a month before her brother was born. She's very active though and we use a combo of walking and scooting to get most places locally. I do have a car though and maybe if I had to walk then to playgroup in the pouring rain I'd be more inclined to have brought a double.

OP, I agree with what others are saying. Depends on your toddler and how much you’ll be walking. I have a 25 month age gap and I didn’t bother with one. When baby was tiny she went in the sling if my older one didn’t want to walk and then as she got bigger he’d go on the buggy board.
@Choppies With an 18 month gap I’d probably look at a double. Maybe see what’s on Facebook marketplace as you’ll likely not need one for too long.

Buggy board for DC1 and sling for DC2 should see you through. The only thing that might change that for me is if it meant DC1 being turfed out the pushchair at 2y 9m in winter - it's not the best time of year to be trying to get them to walk more.

2y8m age gap between my first two and never used a double buggy with them as I just used a buggy board and DD was happy with that. You can get ones with a seat on as well. DD was 4 when DC3 was born (18 month gap between 2 and 3). I have a double buggy for those two and DD1 uses it more than DD2. I think it’s only really needed over a buggy board (with a seat) if DC1 still naps.

@Choppies I would definitely get a double in that scenario. I have that age gap between DC2 and 3 and sometimes all that saves my sanity is timing their naps for the same time, sticking them in the buggy and going for a walk to get them to sleep. I listen to music or a podcast and feel a lot calmer after!

Too many variables in this. Do you go out a lot? Do you have access to a car or have to walk 2 miles to toddler groups? When is baby due? (It’s a lot nicer to be walking at toddler speed on a warm, sunny day than in the Freezing cold rain in January). What does your toddler think of walking? Some will happily keep up and trot by the side of the buggy, others need to examine every pebble they see along the way and will stop after 200 yards and refuse to go any further. Is older one likely to want to nap while you walk home?

I used a double for dc1 and 2, and mainly a sling and buggy board combination for dc2 and 3.
If you think you might need one, look online for a bargain. Even If you don’t use it, you can sell it on again when you are ready.

I had 2years 6 months between my youngest ones and I'd say 90% of the time I didn't need or use a double. We walk everywhere and the school run/ preschool is just under a mile away up a steep hill (and then we'd have to go back a second time to do school collection!). She'd happily scooter and I had a lead on her scooter to pull her along if she didn't want to put much effort in.

However I have pulled out my double (which was necessary for my older ones small gap) a few times. Times where she's been ill but I still had to go out or it was very hot (the rain didn't really bother us), or she just looked worn out.

I would pick up a cheap double on Facebook market or use a buggy board as you won't need it much but it would be extremely handy especially when the baby gets bigger and is heavy in a sling!

I've done the same!! I didn't think I'd need one for my just turned 2 year old, as he will walk to the school from the car and back nicely and he goes in the trolley in the shops. But we went to the zoo the other day and he kept trying to run off, and wouldn't hold hands and kicked off if I tried to stop him going where he wanted to go, which is not ideal when I have 2 other kids. He was tired and wanted to go in a pushchair or be picked up. So I've now got a double that can be used as a single when I don't need a double.

No personal experience but my childminder looked after two under 2s + DS. When she did the school run they went in the double buggy and DS, who was 2 and a half or so, used a buggy board. Is it worth trying one out? Definitely by age 3 we didn’t use a buggy for DS, seems like it could be a waste if you don’t need it.

I had the same gap and my toddler was quite wild. Not a good Walker at all, he could walk miles but only in the direction he chose. I bought a 2nd hand double but I honestly didn’t use it once. The sling and buggy board were enough. But I also didn’t have any major walks I needed to do. If I was doing a school run or reliant on buses then I think it would have been needed.

2 years between mine. We have a big dog! So we walk to the park, then a long the river with the dog, then to the cafe, then back home. It's too much for my now 2.5 year old a d my 6 month old was getting heavy for a sling

Some things I hadn't considered that made me get a double
-useful for strapping tantrumming toddler in when they are walking at 0.25 miles an hour and you're in a hurry
-toddler often got jealous of baby and wanted to copy what baby was doing. So wanted to get in the buggy cos baby is in the buggy!
-I found it really helped their relationship as toddler wanted to hold hands with baby and see what he was doing

If you do get one, I second PP and say out n about nipper double is simply amazing

Yes @YaaYaaYaa !! Mine is a terror for thinking he can do a runner, usually whilst feeding the baby. He can't do that strapped into a buggy! He's actually really pleased that he can sit next to his baby brother!

I wished I had (same gap). But- we don't have a car and walked miles, DC1 didn't walk until 2 and is autistic and hypermobile. I made life really difficult by saying she 'should' be walking (tried a buggy board, hated it, didn't crack scooting until 4).