Do I need a double pram?

[rainbows20]

Hi,

I have a 1 year old and baby number two due in 5 months.

I'm guessing with the age gap I will need a double pram?

If so would love to hear your recommendations or advice on getting around with two under two!

What age would I need proper pram until I can move onto a stroller?

Any help is appreciated

I can't completly answer as number 2 isn't here but Ive bought a double pram off market place and looking for a buggy board to give all options.

My 2 year old still needs to have a sit and couldn't handle big walks/days out!

Following as I will also have two under two come summer!

Two under two? Yes you will. Never get why people don’t want to get one mine was a
Life saver! Buy it second hand if cost is the issue

I had 2 under 2, 3 under 3 then 4 under 4 and I had an out ‘n’ about Nipper double. I loved it but I live rurally and walked daily with dogs in woods, trails etc. I also had a single Nipper and a caboo and Tula carrier when babies were smaller. It fits through single doors, easy to manoeuvre one handed, Carry’s a lot of stuff, does well on sand, mud etc. travelled well . downside it is chunky looking and big when folded down. ( I never bothered but if you had to could be a pain).

I genuinely don't know how I would have coped without a double pushchair. There is 15 months between my girls and it has been so useful. They are now 1 and 2 and I still use it all the time.
There is a Facebook group called 2 under 2 which has lots of posts every day. If you search double pushchair you will find lots of posts with suggestions :)

Thank you! Yes I was thinking definitely second hand.

That's what I'm thinking it will be a life saver as ds1 isn't even walking yet so I know will still need it for rests

It’s not just about walking, napping etc as well mine were still napping way beyond one, even if they are out walking and being slow/having a tantrum and you’re in a rush it comes in handy. I wouldn’t have been without one, slings are ok for short journeys but wouldn’t have wanted to wear on all.

@EcoCustard

I had 2 under 2, 3 under 3 then 4 under 4 and I had an out ‘n’ about Nipper double. I loved it but I live rurally and walked daily with dogs in woods, trails etc. I also had a single Nipper and a caboo and Tula carrier when babies were smaller. It fits through single doors, easy to manoeuvre one handed, Carry’s a lot of stuff, does well on sand, mud etc. travelled well . downside it is chunky looking and big when folded down. ( I never bothered but if you had to could be a pain).

Wow! You really had your hands full.

Thank you that's so useful to know. So did you ever struggle in shops etc with the width of the pram with it being side by side?

We had the mountain buggy duet for our twins and loved it! Never found a door it couldn’t go through

I had my second child when the first was 16 months, OP. And no, I didn’t bother getting a double buggy. I put my toddler on reins, and she walked beside the pram.
I live in a Scottish village, and tbh even a single pram was a bit of a nuisance. I liked walks up rough hill tracks and across fields, and the pram just got stuck and v muddy.
I firmly believe children should be active, and building up their leg strength and lung power, rather than being carted about everywhere in a pram or buggy.
Mine happily toddled up the local 600ft hill from the age of two.

@Babdoc

I had my second child when the first was 16 months, OP. And no, I didn’t bother getting a double buggy. I put my toddler on reins, and she walked beside the pram. I live in a Scottish village, and tbh even a single pram was a bit of a nuisance. I liked walks up rough hill tracks and across fields, and the pram just got stuck and v muddy. I firmly believe children should be active, and building up their leg strength and lung power, rather than being carted about everywhere in a pram or buggy. Mine happily toddled up the local 600ft hill from the age of two.

Do you feel the same about children being driven around in cars or is it just prams you judge?

@rainbows20 no never struggled. It would go through single doors (the double Nipper), turned well in shops, could push one handed, I used to carry a huge amount of stuff in the pockets, basket and hood. It lay flat, I had the newborn insert and fleece cosy toe. It doesn’t parent face and I never had the bassinet but that does parent face. It always looked a bit clunky compared to friends pretty looking uppababy and bugaboo but long outlived them and worked for us. I loved it as Dc1 was very mobile when Dc2 was born (12 month gap) and he could climb in and out on long walks, have a walk and climb back in easy. It went on a good few flights pre Covid and always arrived intact and worked well abroad too. ( I used to cable tie the frame at the gate and staff cut the ties on arrival). I walked miles daily with it and still miss it I could walk my two spaniels on lead and push the double with one hand. It washed well too.

I had 2 under 2 and I got an out n about double nipper second hand. It was the best buggy I ever had. Loved it. So light and easy to manoeuvre, sold it 3 years later for almost the same price. Now trying to get a single one for third DD. Couldn't recommend it highly enough. I love to get out with the kids whether it's parks or beaches or mountains and that was so handy as not heavy and could just throw baby bag in if dd1 wanted to walk for a bit.

Good luck with the new baby x

17 months between my first two and I never had a double.

I don't drive and DH didn't either at the time so I was walking or using the bus everywhere. I had a buggy for oldest and used a carrier for youngest. I also got a buggy board from when DS was around 2ish. Sometimes I would put youngest in the buggy and use the carrier for oldest.

We did get a cheap second single buggy so if we went anywhere together, we could take them in a buggy each.

It will make life much easier, I had a very similar gap between my two DS, I bought a twin mountain buggy, it was fantastic, very stable. Didn’t move when toddler suddenly got out. That is a point to consider when you have two children of different weights. Good luck OP.

18 months between mine and i loved my side by side double buggy, couldn't have coped without it. Carriers have a time and a place but running after a toddler/changing nappies with a tiny baby on your front is not exactly easy imo. When they both got older they would hold hands in the buggy, mega cute.

15 months between mine and couldn't survive without a double. DS is a good walker but if we need to 'get' somewhere on time we need the pram. He'll also nap in there on longer days out.

I have the MB Duet which is fab. Fits through every doorway, on buses, v easy to push and big basket. On the other hand it is a bit heavy to lift and not the smallest folded.

We got ours new but would check out the FB pages once you know what one you want - I am definitely planning to sell mine on at some stage.

Also have a buggy board to attach to our old single pram but not actually used it yet, DS is 20 months and not totally convinced he would stay on it safely yet.

Just to add an alternative, I never used a double buggy and didn't personally ever wish I had one. My oldest was not quite 2 when I had my youngest so he stayed in the pushchair and the new baby went in a baby carrier. I had a stretchy one called a k'tan when she was newborn, and then when she got too big for it I put her in a connecta. By the time she got too heavy for the carrier my oldest was ready to stop using the pushchair so she went in that and he walked/went on his scooter. It worked for us and I know other people who have done the same so a double buggy isn't the only option for 2 under 2.

Children 12 months apart - the out and about nipper was amazing and I cannot recommend it enough

Yea you will need a double, they will both need to nap? And you can stop for a cup of tea! We had a city mini double which I liked but I also liked the mountain buggy

You could try a convertible, rather than a side-by-side too. I'm pregnant with my first but hoping to add a second relatively soon after due to my old age so I've looked at the Uppababy Vista V2. They're v. expensive new but if you could get one second hand they seem like a good option. With some adapters you can stack a carrycot and pushchair seat (and then a couple of pushchair seats), and it takes a buggy board. I live in London though which will be a bit tricky on busy pavements and public transport with a wider buggy. I like the flexibility of being able to use a convertible for one if I fancy using a sling now and then with the newborn at the beginning, or for two. It folds pretty easily and I think the carrycot is also suitable for overnight sleeps and can act as your moses basket/travel cot if you allow for airflow underneath it.

@Babdoc

I had my second child when the first was 16 months, OP. And no, I didn’t bother getting a double buggy. I put my toddler on reins, and she walked beside the pram. I live in a Scottish village, and tbh even a single pram was a bit of a nuisance. I liked walks up rough hill tracks and across fields, and the pram just got stuck and v muddy. I firmly believe children should be active, and building up their leg strength and lung power, rather than being carted about everywhere in a pram or buggy. Mine happily toddled up the local 600ft hill from the age of two.

This is classic mumsnet.

I have a 12 month gap. Didn’t need a double for the first 6 months as single plus sling was easier, so don’t think you have to decide now. Then we got a RedKite Twinni. It was fine, bit knackered when we finished using it so probably not much resale value if that’s a consideration (and if you buy one second hand, check it carefully). Was great for the price new though.

I would unless you are planning to drive absolutely everywhere. I had an 18 month gap and while Ds1 would physically have been capable of walking most distances he was not good for running off and I needed him strapped in!

I first got an oyster max (one on top of the other) and hated it so swapped to a joie air (side by side). Look into the width of ones you like but surprisingly a lot of side by sides are no wider than a standard wheelchair so do fit in most shops.

Yes. I had a 19 month gap and bought a second hand Mountain Buggy Duet. I loved it. It saved my sanity when I needed to go out walking with screaming children and needed to get them to sleep.