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Parenting

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Original poster

Please tell me I won't need a double buggy for a 3 year old and a newborn!!

32 replies

mrsbabookaloo · 09/02/2009 16:41

One of the many reasons I planned for a 3 year age gap between dcs was so that I wouldn't need to buy or deal with a double buggy.

I have mentioned this to a couple of friends who have looked sceptical and said..are you sure you will manage without one?

Dd will be just 3 when new dc arrives in June. I know that the whole sling and buggy combo can be awkward to manage, and was planning more on going back to my M&P pramette for baby and having dd on a buggy board. She's not a great walker so I'm not under any illusions that she'll just walk for any distance.

She's not a run-away sort of child, so I'm not too worried about losing control of her etc. We don't have a car, so we do a lot of walking/public transport.

What do you think? Are there certain situations where you still really need a buggy for a 3 year old?

I really don't want a double buggy. Can't afford a good one, don't have anywhere to put it.

TIA

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LadyPinkofPinkerton · 09/02/2009 16:44

Does your DD walk much at the moment. 3 year olds can be very different. DS1 gave up his buggy at 2.6, but many children give them up later. I certainly think it would be doable, but it depends on the length of journeys you are doing and whether your DD wants to walk or not. How about a buggy board, so she can rest if needed.

sarah293 · 09/02/2009 16:45

This reply has been deleted

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Original poster

mrsbabookaloo · 09/02/2009 16:46

Yes, definitely planning on getting a buggy board. Some seem to think this won't be enough.

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boogeek · 09/02/2009 16:46

It'll be fine. She might just have to walk! Mine did (at 2 1/2 - I did buy a double but hated it so much I used it 3 times only.)

traceybath · 09/02/2009 16:47

Well i had 3 years and 3 months between mine and never had or needed a double buggy but then i drive to school as live in the middle of nowhere.

Am about to have a 19 month gap now between dc2 and dc3 and am planning on doing that without a double buggy as i hate them with a vengeance. Will see how it goes and will buy one if absolutely necessary.

So if i were you i'd see how it goes - you can always get one if you find its not working for you without one.

Twims · 09/02/2009 16:48

I got rid of the buggy at 2(day of birthday) and we walked a mile round trip to school, had to do public transport etc. It's do able at 2 so easier at 3. Just make sure she holds on to the push chair etc and maybe get a wrist strap etc.

DanJARMouse · 09/02/2009 16:48

You will not need a buggy.

Get a M&P Pliko P3 or whatever the newer version is - it has a built in "step" for toddlers to use as a buggy board.

MY DD2 is 3.4 and has been out of the buggy since she turned 3.

compo · 09/02/2009 16:49

I wouldn't bother
a buggy board will be fine
I found pushing a 3 . 5 yr old and a 6 month old baby in a double pushchair very hard work and got rid of it asap

Original poster

mrsbabookaloo · 09/02/2009 16:50

Thanks for all your reassurances!

OP posts:

MinkyBorage · 09/02/2009 16:50

You'll be fine, just get dd used to buggy board first, you've got plenty of time. Imo the only reason you'd really NEED a double buggy is ifthe older dc still has sleeps.

I have a p&t atm and am expecting dc3 in March. DD1 3.4 still likes a buggy ride back from nursery 3 afternoons per week, because she's exhausted, but apart from that is quite happy on the buggy board, infact her and dd2 fight over who gets the buggy board.

lol at you planning your family atround a double buggy!

Original poster

mrsbabookaloo · 09/02/2009 16:51

...well, there were other considerations!!

OP posts:

firststeps · 09/02/2009 16:53

I have exactly 2 years between my 2 and didn't bother with a double buggy. Think you will be fine with a buggy board

Amey · 09/02/2009 16:55

Ds was 2.7 when dd came along. I managed o.k with sling and buggy for first 3 months. Then moved to Maclaren and buggy board. But ds was (and still is) a good walker.

Dd was pretty much out of the buggy before 3 too! I only kept it till then as somewhere to put the shopping and school bags .

soon2befamilyof4 · 09/02/2009 16:55

I would definatly get a sling if you are worried your DD won't always walk. Then the buggy can be mainly for the baby but if you have a sling, you can always put baby in that and use buggy for your DD. Yes the sling buggy combo isn't easy for all the time, but a life saver if you get stuck!

I wouldn't think you need a double buggy though. You seem set against it so wouldn't get on with one and wouldn't use it if you had one.

OR you could get a double from freecycle and just use it for daytrips etc?

rookiemater · 09/02/2009 16:56

Unless you do lots of marathon treks you will be absolutely fine.DS is 2.11 and we would only use the buggy if its a very long walk or would still take it on holiday with us because DS still likes a nap in the afternoon, but even then I think we would be able to work round it.

She will love a buggy board.

longhardlookinthemirror · 09/02/2009 17:09

I agree...you don't need one. You will soon realise that once your nb arrives.

2pt4kids · 09/02/2009 17:12

I had a double as Ds1 was 2.4 yrs when Ds2 was born.
By the time he just turned 3 we were using the single pram and buggy board pretty much all the time AND DS1 is a runner offer and not a good walker, so if he can do it by 3, I'm sure your DD can

Karamazov · 09/02/2009 17:13

Like others. My DD was 3yrs and 2 wks when DD2 was born. Didn't bother with a double buggy, or buggy board - just made her walk. I had a Pliko P3, and she sometimes hitched a ride on the front bar thingy of the pushchair, or she went in the pushchair and I used a sling for when she was really tired, but we managed rotating between the three!
HTH

averyboringname · 09/02/2009 17:14

We walk a lot and we haven't had a buggy since he was 20 months. I'm not sure you'll even need a buggy board unless you are walking very, very long distances as long as you get her used to it.

I know I'll get flamed but unless a child has SN or is ill with flu or something or you walk more than a few miles a day, imho kids shouldn't need buggies after 2. It's a free country though and personal choice but that's my view.

So to answer your question, you'll be fine and definitely can do without a double - save your money.

Good luck for the arrival of dc2!

purepurple · 09/02/2009 18:01

children can and should be able to walk, so don't waste your money on a double buggy

happypiglet · 09/02/2009 18:06

Had double when DS2 was born as DS1 was 18m BUT I hated it. So when DD was born and DS1 was 3.5 and DS2 23m never bothered. Did use a sling in early days if going a long way in case DS2 didn't manage but generally DS2 walked. He has never been one to give up!! Double buggies are awful - luckily I bought w=mine 2nd hand and sold it on so not too much out of pocket

motherinferior · 09/02/2009 18:13

I chucked DD1 out of the buggy when she was about two, specifically because her sister was due a few months later.

I don't think three year olds should be in buggies, not unless you're regularly asking them to do about five miles or something.

slushymummy · 09/02/2009 19:04

DD1 is 2.6mths and DD2 is 5mths, we have a double buggy (thanks Knickersonmyhead !) so that if when I go on mammoth shopping trips they can both have a sleep. DD1 is very capable of walking distances, but does get rather nowty and uncontrollable when tired. It is used infrequently, but is invaluable for me.

MrsMattie · 09/02/2009 19:07

I ditched the buggy for my 3 yr old towards the ends of my pregnancy. At first it was tricky and limited where we could go on foot, as he wasn't used to walking much and was also very distractable and badly behaved . He got used to it, though. It took a few trips out and about before I got used to having the pram to push and a little boy to watch, but he has been surprisingly biddable, actually (most unlike him!) and will walk sensibly alongside me most of the time.

I hate double buggies with a passion.

PlumBumMum · 09/02/2009 19:11

I got one down to pressure from everyone else my dd was 2.6 when ds was born, and my mil insisted on buying it

waste of money tbh

And when we had to go on holidays we found it easier to have to seperate buggies

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