Double or Single Pram?

[PregnantSea]

I'm pregnant with my first and currently choosing a pram (my mind is blown at the choices - how did you all navigate it??)

DH and I are hoping that this baby is going to be the first of many. we want as big a family as we can manage on our budget, which is probably five DCs as long as we're sensible with money. We had no problems conceiving this one - we got lucky and it happened the first time we tried. I've just turned 28 so hopefully we've got a good few fertile years left to make more babies.

My question is this - do I buy a double pram in preparation for our large family, or do I just buy a single one for now? I am quite frugal and hate wasting money, so to me it seems sensible to get a double pram with a detachable seat so that I can use it as a single pram for the first baby and then expand it as required. But then part of me wonders if this is just tempting fate/ counting our chickens before they've been conceived? Also I've heard some people say that the double prams that sit next to each other are much easier to use, and I wouldn't feel comfortable pushing one baby around in a two-seater, something about that just seems off (and also it's taking up unnecessary space). So if I was to choose one of these I'd probably just buy a single pram to use for now.

Having a bit of a pram melt down to be honest. Any advice would be much appreciated!

I went through the same process and ended up just getting a single. I think a good compromise would be an iCandy or similar that can be turned from single to double. Though actually DD is now 17 months, we’re still not ttc for a second (yet), she spent the first 7 months or so in a sling anyway... I think if we were to have a second now I’d bank on having DC2 in the sling and DC1 in her pram until she was happy walking. I’d also say that I use a double sometimes (with a friend’s DC) and they are really heavy and very slow-going as you navigate all sorts of obstacles. So I’d be keen to avoid if I could.

Thanks for the advice EssentialHummus - I do plan to buy a baby carrier but strangely I hadn't factored this in to my decision making! It sounds much easier to carry the little one and push the bigger one.

You've probably just saved me a few bob on a double pram :)

Just to save you a few more bob - go to a sling library if you can, and try before you buy (can do while pregnant, they’ll have weighted dummies in place of babies). We bought a really pricey one that everyone else loves, but we don’t get on with at all. That was £130 down! DD ended up in a basic one that we bought off Facebook for a tenner.

I have four children, I’ve had many prams!

I would look at getting a double to single, of good quality, if you are looking at reusing for more future babies.

A bugaboo donkey, or icandy peach are good choices. Both good quality.

I loved the Donkey, as I could have it as a double and a buggy board attached to it too. Made life easier!

Look at the uppababy vista. It's a great single and converts easily to a double. Second the sling library though, my older child hated the buggy so it was very lightly used until DS came along.