Double buggy??

[ppandj]

I am pregnant with DC2. DS is 16mo and has always been a good walker, I only really use the buggy when we need to be quick going somewhere as he likes to explore. He will be 22/23 months when the next baby is due. Is it likely I will need a double buggy? I know it's hard to predict but if we are likely to need one I'll start saving a bit extra.

At that age I would say so, unless you drive most places. You'll find yourself stuck in the rain with a toddler exploring while you're late for health visitor/gp or trying to get to playgroup and the baby's starting to grizzle for a feed. Plus your older child will probably be dropping to one nap and they get very tired then.

Depends I would say how much you walk and if DC1 still naps in the buggy. If you do most stuff walking and don't always have time to do it at toddler pace, double will probably be useful. If that's occasionally only, DC2 can go into sling instead. I have 24 months between mine and was planning to buy one - but in the end, didn't need one, as DC1 didn't want to use it any more.

Yes because they can develop bolting tendencies very quickly! You won't be as free to let him explore when you've got two of them to keep an eye on. Perhaps OK when the new one is very little but when one is 1 and one is 3 and they go off in different directions - it'll come in handy, even if it's just a backup.

He won't quite be 2 - I found a buggy useful/essential until 3.

I have 1 and 3 at the moment and not a chance DC1 would agree to stay in the buggy at this age.
As they're not cheap, I would do the research and choose the model you want, but buy it only once you see you need it.

I have similar gap and found double buggy really useful. Assuming u have a buggy suitable for a newborn from dc1 you could get cheaper double for when dc2 is bit older 3m+ I found a sling useful too and a buggy board.

The main reason that I was hoping to avoid it, if at all possible, is that we live in an old terraced house with a narrow hallway. Our pram fits in (just) and I would say it is slimmer than a lot of others. We swapped to an even slimmer pushchair a few months ago but the pushchair can't hold a buggy board. The pram/travel system can hold a buggy board. It's just keeping him on a buggy board- how?!

I'm pregnant with DD2, DD1 will be 20 months when she's born. We got a second hand double buggy from eBay as I'm not sure how much we'll use it. Would you consider second hand?

Yes I would definitely have second hand. I just don't really know what to look for I suppose.

Phil and Ted's is a fab brand! Older child in the front and newbie behind, so much slimmer than a traditional side by side?

We didn't and I was happy. We have a small gap of 15 months. But still didn't find a double essential.

i used a sling with second, so elder could use pram a little longer. Then used buggy board, and took sling incase eldest need to sleep or similar. Our sling was suitable for both newborn and toddler so could sling either.

Found it helpful elder walking as much as possible, as then could head home for lunch and both children could nap together as the walk had worn elder out.

We live in a flat, use London buses and tubes etc. A double would have just been a hinderence to us as in the way for the odd 1% time it may have been helpful

Neither children used pram or buggy board much after 2 years

I've used this www.mamasandpapas.com/en-gb/kato-twin-buggy-blackgrey/p/304292500/
For Dc2 & dc3 and then again for dc3 and dc4 it's still going strong had lots of use and been thrown around at airports! Easy to put up and fold - even with a baby in your arms and fits through most doorways not too but when folded. but dc3 is four now so don't need it anymore! But it is easier even though they can walk when they see you pushing a baby in a pram suddenly they will have trouble walking and need picking up, refuse to walk, throw themselves on the floor etc! Even though we are mostly in the car a double buggy was always useful to us for normal day to day - you can guarentee your toddler will be fast asleep just as you arrive at the shops! days out and esp on holidays when it's too hot to walk far for little ones or you want them to sleep in buggy when you go out in evening on hols.

*not too big when folded - stupid autocorrect

I have a DS who is 2 and due in a couple of weeks. I'm ny going to bother with a double buggy as DS isn't using his at the moment anyway, I've instead bought and ergo baby carrier for newborn and also a buggy board for ds which I'm sure he'll find a novelty! Nap times might be an issue but He naps at the same time each day so I'll aim to be home at that time...

A second hand Phil and Teds sounds like a good option, or an Oyster Max 2. The latter is quite cheap new so if you can find one second hand I imagine it would be good value. Otherwise a sling/carrier and a buggy board on whatever buggy you currently have that is compatible. Personay I would want a double buggy option as toddles can become particularly...willing, when a new baby comes along so I like being able to strap them into something if they're not listening!

Thanks all! I've noted down the brands and will do a bit of research. Certainly for the first month we can manage as we have a caboo carrier and can put a buggy board on the pram. Then we'll be able to get an idea of whether we need one or not. It'll likely be a case of selling one of the pushchairs we have to help fund a new one, which is a shame as I really rate the ones we have!

I just wanted to mention the pushchair I had for a while. It's called a Joovi Caboose (think I spelt that right!).
Good seating for youngest and a built in buggy board with a little seat if needed for elder child. Also has a little strap to keep him seated. Amazon seemed the best place when I got mine. I'm not sure if it's from birth though as I bought mine later on. Worth a look :-)

I have a 19 month age gap and have found my Phil and Teds absolutely invaluable. I don't drive and we walk a lot so the buggy gets used everyday. My toddler has always been a good walker but with the best will in the world he couldn't manage the 6+ miles we did at the weekend! I loved my Caboo and Connecta but on a hot/drizzly/grumpy days it is really nice to put them down! Now they're 2.8 years and 13 months and we still use it a lot. We paid £80 for it on e bay.