Double buggy or not

[Gabby1234]

Hi! When baby number 2 arrives my first will be (pretty much exactly) 2 yo. My DH is dead set against the extra cost of a double buggy (though money isn't really an issue, more about not wasting it I think) and wants just one of those board things to go on our existing buggy (uppababy Cruz). I'm kicking myself that I didn't get a Vista cos that one adapts to be a double buggy. My point is that DH will rarely be going out with the both of them on his own, and he drives and I don't, so I'd like a double and think it will be worth it. I'd try and sell our old buggy, it's in pretty good condition.

Does anyone have an wisdom or experience on this? At the moment my son is happy walking but to get anywhere you definitely need to put him in the buggy or I end up carrying him around. I know a lot will change with him in 6 months though.

Can you not buy a second hand one? We bought a bugaboo donkey in immaculate condition for half the price of new with literally every extra you can get.

I had the same age gap
I got a double buggy and used it loads then again when the third came along almost two years later
Depends on how much you walk and how far I suppose and what kinds of days out etc you are likely to have

Also boot space in a car?
But yes I did extensively use and was very glad to have my mountain buggy duet. It served us well

Same age gap, we got a double second hand used it loads then a buggy board once eldest at school

We had 16.5mth between number 2 and 3 so had a tandem pram. Once number 2 was 2yr he would walk the 2 mile round trip to school but we didn't do that on a daily basis. If we were walking daily I would have stuck with pram in case he got tired or was having an off day.
I really liked the double we had for our twins, zeta voom. We're getting the single version of that pram for this baby.

I also thought about a double buggy (toddler 17m and I’m expecting in a week) but I feel like I just got my pram and don’t want to spend double on a new double pram. I bought a buggy board to try once baby gets here and a sling (never used a sling before just a carrier maybe once or twice) so I’m going to see how that goes., maybe once the new baby is a bit bigger I may consider getting a double buggy. Or maybe even sooner but it’s so expensive 😭

We didn't bother - they are too unwieldy.
I either had DD1 in the backpack and #2 in the pram, or DD2 in the pushchair and #1 in a sling - it was mostly me as by the time I'd finished mat leave DD2 walked everywhere.

I had a double buggy, we went for the Mountain Buggy, not cheap but worth every penny. It got so much use, my DS was 21mths when DS2 arrived. I would definitely get a double buggy OP, it will make life much easier if you are on your own with the boys, shopping etc.

I'd recommend getting one, especially if you don't drive. The buggy boards are good if your DC actually stays on it. But IME, there are times when you need to strap the older one done for safety and sit down if they are tired.

I had a two year age gap. I bought a second hand Out and About Nipper for about £150. We used it for about four months until the baby decided they hated being laid flat in it. We then sold it on again for about £50. So it cost us about £25 per month of use. We'll worth it in my opinion. I couldn't drive after having a csection and like I said it was much easier having somewhere for them both to sit down after a long walk.

You can either get a second hand Vista with the rumble seat, for less than £100 if you scour, or buy a buggy board with a seat. If your little one is only just 2 I think you do need the extra seat. I had a newborn and 12 month old at one point, and I did use a buggy and buggy board when the youngest was 2 but mostly for quick trips (I left this in the car for nipping around shops) We had the Vista with the rumble seat for most use and it was great.

I also kept my original pram/pushchair and used it after we got rid of the double.

Thanks so much for the advice! Yes I'd definitely try to find a second hand one. Any tips on brands for those who got one? Has anyone tried the uppababy vista? I've been very pleased with the Cruz.

We are often out for at least half the day, in London so public transport is great and very accessible with a buggy. Good point about the boot space - we are upgrading our car so will have to make sure there's enough room!

Apologies OP, no idea why I assumed you had boys [embarassed]

Haha @Roselilly36 I do have one and have a strong sense this one will be too, so maybe it's a premonition!!

I got an out and about double buggy off eBay for about £70 I think it was. I would definitely recommend one. Really light to push and go through a single door.

Would definitely get a double. Your DC1 might nap until they are three, they might be too tired to be on the buggy board for long journeys, if they are having a tantrum or threaten to bolt you have somewhere to contain them, it’s a good place for them to have a rest and a small snack while you are on the move so you can get jobs done, it’s a safe place for them to sit if you need to change or feed your newborn. Also, buggy boards can be awkward getting on to buses or going onto kerbs crossing the road and two year olds are very little still (even though they seem giant when your newborn comes along. I think a double buggy will make your life much easier. They usually resell really well too.

We looked at loads the reason why we choose the mountain buggy was that you need to consider the different weights, if the toddler suddenly got out the pram was still stable and did not move, also it was a delight to push with its big wheels etc, went through shop doors easily, PIL also took it on the bus. If you have a specialist twin pram centre near you, go and have a look and see what you like with a view to buying secondhand. Good luck.

Lol I could have written this post a few years ago. I had the cruz and then had a second baby 18 months later! I got the vista and the double buggy stuff and now use it with the buggy board I would do it again in a heart beat. The two year old is too young for the board. Fact. They will jump off, feel tired etc etc

I had a 17m gap and my 2nd and 3rd. My 2nd was walking from 10m and was a great walker by the time her sister arrived. She didn't always want to go where I needed to though and I found a double essential for crowd control. We had a baby jogger city mini double. It was in use until they were 3 and 4 not every day but on days out etc.

I'm expecting DC5 in June. And this time will have a 22m gap, so have ordered another baby jogger double. I find its often the DHs (certainly among my friends and family, who can't see the benefit of the double) DC4 again is a great walker, but if I want to go one way and he another I'm stuck.

I have and will use a sling, but with 2 under 2 I've always valued being able to put them in a buggy and have my hands free, with 2&3 I would sometimes get the magical double nap in the buggy! I also dog walk my 3 dogs and a buggy is easier for that alone.

I had a kid sit board when they were older, but that is only good for short journeys.

We used our buggy until our DD was 3 so I think a double is exactly what you need 😊

I had exactly 2 year age gap with an early walker and didnt drive. I used my double for about 18 mos then sold it.

I try to think the fact you don’t drive and you live in a city is very important here. You’ll use the double buggy every single day for every single trip to the shops or the park until your oldest is reliably walking/scooting pretty large distances and following your instructions about road safety, waiting for you at a reasonable distance.

Also you’re going to want to avoid carrying your toddler very far as you get into your 2nd and 3rd trimestres so you’re likely to be using the buggy for him right up until this baby is born it’ll potentially be a nightmare trying to get your toddler to adapt overnight to using a buggy board and being turfed out of the buggy so his baby sibling can use it.

I bought a second hand donkey when pregnant with #2 so my eldest got use out of it in single form and then for probably a year we used it as a double. It gave me confidence if I was out alone with them that I didn’t have to push the pram and hold hands with a walking child. Now we are expecting #3 and I’ll use it again in single form and then sell. Or double if it’s twins 😂😂

Thanks so much for all the advice guys! Overwhelmingly in favour of a double buggy so I'll get researching and shopping around for a good deal.

A lot of my friends have out n about nippers for a double as they aren't super wide.
I would say that even if your 2 year old wants to scoot or bike... invariably you end up carrying so much stuff for them, that it's great to have an extra seat... if the toddler wants to run, their bike can hook in the spare seat!!
A friend of mine doesn't have a double, but her eldest sits on the footplate ALL the time as he wants a ride! When I met my friend with the double, she had a 2 year old and a 6 month old, my 3 year old and her 3 year old still wanted a ride on the footplate on the walk back to the cars!