2 under 2? Do I need double buggy ? Please share experiences

[Northtosouth]

I’ve just found out I’m pregnant (not planned but very happy). DS is 13 months so will be about 21 months when baby arrives.

I can’t stop thinking whether I’ll need a double pram, currently have Fox 3 and love it.
We do walk quite a lot so I’m thinking I do but it seems like quite a lot of money (a new Bugaboo donkey is £1500!!)
Anyone with 2 under 2 experience when did your oldest stop going in pram and want to walk? How long will I likely be using it for?
Could I muddle through for a few months and then get a buggy board?

Really depends on your usage and your children's abilities. My youngest two are 18 months apart and I found a buggy board with seat (had a bugaboo fox) perfect. The eldest one of those two wasn't very physically capable but it worked perfectly due to distances and transport options.
Eldest two were 23 months apart and I did the same with a different buggy and buggy board though this didn't have a seat - this worked well then too even though I didn't drive at that point. The eldest fell asleep waiting for trains with her legs in the basket, head resting on the changing bag. All good though.

It depends on how much walking you do. Mine are 16 months apart and we definitely needed a double buggy as we go lots of places on foot. We've recently started using the single buggy with a buggy board at 18 months and nearly 3.

Definitely get a double buggy.

I have had double dc 3 times. Sanity saved by long walks synchronising nap times!! Second hand is your best bet!!
Congratulations..

As you walk quite a bit I would definitely do a double. A buggy board as the only option for a not yet two year old sounds like a recipe for disaster.

I had 2 under 2 twice and the first was 17m gap and like @Julyshouldbesunny we synchronised naps which was so needed! The double was used daily for years.

dc4 and 5 have a 22m gap. We only used the double for a few months post birth, because DC4 was a good walker and because the little darling dropped his nap as soon as his sister arrived!

we had a baby jogger both times, I love them and they can be picked up quite reasonably.

I have used boards including a ride on one, and slings/single combo - total disaster with a tantrumming toddler so a double would be my choice.

Another option is to get a sling eg a standard Tula so either you can back carry the eldest or front carry the youngest so one can sit in the buggy. This also helps with joint sleeps. Double buggies are so cumbersome! Tbh I had this with the 18 month gap and switched it around depending on what was required in the circumstances.

2y 3m gap here and would've been lost without the double buggy. Eldest hopped in and out of it but it made outings so much more flexible and meant we could go further and she could flake on the way back.

The buggy board was fine but it took a while for her to be able to use it safely (she'd jump off while the buggy was moving, including once while crossing the road), and it was a complete pain to push.

If you like your single I wouldn't spend a fortune on the double, look at getting one second hand.

Double jogger definitely 😄

You will need a double buggy with that age gap

your eldest is going to be peak bolting age when baby is born and you will want them strapped in whilst you faff with the tiny one

buggy board isn’t comfortable and exposes them to the elements when they aren’t hugely confident walkers.

sling and buggy is faff. You need to have them both strapped and down

You don’t need to buy a £1500 new bugaboo donkey

Yes the both strapped down argument is important, as is the toddler meltdowns.

I had 3 under 3. I had a double inline buggy (WAAAAY better for shops/doorways etc).

You don't need to spend loads get a second hand one like the baby city jogger or jole...some are brilliant condition for as little as £50

We did a lot of walking but I managed without a double buggy. When I was on my own either baby was in carrier and toddler was in buggy or toddler walked and baby was in pram. If I was out with my husband we had the options of pram and travel buggy foe each child. Actually we also had a hiking carrier for my toddler so sometimes he was in that too.
Felt like we had plenty options thst suited us without expense of double buggy. We were also in a small house so storage would have been an issue too.

Yes. I’ve had 2 under 2 twice. I’ve had the same double buggy the whole time (almost 9 years) and it was 2nd hand when I got it. It’s still perfect! It’s an out n about nipper.

Same age gap I had and we used the double every day for over a year. We were out and about all day every day. Being able to put them both down to nap at the same time so I could have a coffee and read a bit was invaluable.

I had a Mountain Buggy Duet. Side by side but fitted through all doorways and on buses etc.

I didn’t bother and my first was 19 months when number 2 arrived. We just use a sling for the littlest and our regular stroller for the toddler. To be fair this only works because my toddler is a good (happy) walker and the baby likes the sling. I would see how you go initially - you could always buy one of those stroller board attachments as an interim solution?

Oh and congrats!

I did (same age gap). We walked a fair amount though (3-4 miles a day) and I found sling / pushchair or pram / buggy board combo quite awkward (had to walk with an unnatural gait to fit my arms around the baby / toddler between me and the pram handle).
Also DC2 was an autumn baby so we were out in not nice weather for most of their early months - it was much easier to have both children wrapped up warmly in the pram.
We used the double pram for a good year (obviously by that point DC1 was mainly walking on days out but hopped in for the ride home on longer walks).

I thought I wouldnt as we already had 2 yo-yos and slings.

I cracked before youngest was 4m and got a “city tour jogger baby” or whatever’s it’s called

I would get something like a mountain buggy which is hardly wider than single pushchair. Then they can both lie down and sleep when needed

Yes we had the Mountain Buggy duet. It's amazing and no wider than their single buggies.

Depends how much you walk. I don't drive and walk absolutely everywhere and use my donkey 5 every day. It doesn't fit on the bus but I make it a single when I get on the bus and use the buggy board

There's buy and sell bugaboo groups on FB where you can get one cheaper

Get a second hand double. I had a phil&teds because we use the bus a lot. Mountain buggy would have been my first choice though.

We had a Jane one which was great. It's Spanish so pronounced han- ney. Fits car seats and can be used as stroller. Got our one second hand. X

Forgot to add ours was a double as had twins.