do I need a double buggy?

[dancerandprancer]

Expecting DC2 in august. My DD1 will be just over two and a half. Do we need to get a double buggy of some sort? Anyone had any experience of this age gap and weather it is unreasonable to think DD1 will be happy walking. Was planning on carrying DC2 in a sling for a bit.

From 2 and 3 mths my DS1 was perfectly happy on the seat 2 go buggy board from litaf. Only prob was he could not sleep on it!

Actually, if you use the sling for a few months, you may be able to go straight to a buggy board for dd. I wouldn't fret about it now - you won't really know what feels right until you are in the thick of the situation. My advice though would be, if when the time comes you do decide to go for the double buggy, buy it secondhand (unlike us) because although it will be indispensable, it may not be in use for more than a few months.

It depends how much she is able/wants to walk by then. It can change a lot in a few months. Saying that, although I have several friends whose DCs walked willingly at that age (or not so willingly!) I would be tempted to get a double because if you are in a hurry or need to get home etc, you do not want a trailing two year old lagging behine. You will sometimes just want to bung them both in and go!
I'd get a P&T if I had two that close in age. It fits through doors and carries both children. She can always get out and walk if she wants to though you'd have to watch the weight distribution I think.

Dd was 2.1 when ds was born and we've managed with a single buggy. I got a good sling with lumbar support and it's been fine. Unfortunately I have a quinny zapp so can't fit a buggy board which would have made life easier as if dd gets tired walking I have to swap ds into the sling then get her into the buggy which is a PITA compared to her hopping on to a board.

Mornin Liath!

ds1 was a week under 20m when ds2 was born, didn't need a double buggy. Had ds2 in the sling for first few months, by that time ds1 could use a buggy board (if we had one, that is...anyone offloading finished with buggy board?! )

Ds1 is 2.5 and ds2 is 3 weeks. I got a sling because i figured a double buggy would only get used for a few weeks. Also couldn't be bothered maneouvering a double tank through doorways, down narrow pavements etc etc. Also finding the sling very helpful in the house. It allows me to have my hand free to do stuff and play with ds1 when ds2 won't settle anywhere else.

Morning 2happy!!

Depends on how much you walk vs take car or bus. Mine are 2.3 and 4.3 now and I thought I could do without a double buggy, but tbh, If I still had one, I'd still be using it now, but just from time to time. for example, if they've not slept well or are a bit under the weather there are times when I know a bit of a walk in the double and they would fall asleep and/or I could get somewhere faster. (but then mine rarely nap at home and I dont have a car).

Both kids love the buggyboard. sometimes I put the 4yr old in the pram for her to have a rest while the 2yr old is on the board.

In the beginning though, you can do without one if you get a good sling or wrap, so no need to rush into a decision.

And agree with Franke - buy second hand you wont be using it forever.

Also reading flora - I found the phil & teds impractical because of the problems with weight distribution and one child wanting to walk from time to time. If I had it all to do over again I'd have gone for the Jane double inline 3 wheeler (the double twin??) - not much longer than the p&t and its a full double where you can put one or both kids in either seat.

Thanks Lalisa, I wasn't sure how it worked with one child in and out - that explains it! I think you shouldn't have a child in the 'back' seat when there's no one in the top one, iyswim?
The Jane is brilliant by all accounts, I forgot about that one when I was writing the reply.

hi flora
i found the jane powertwin fabulous as i had the same gap as you the last time round
now i'm a childminder and use it everyday for 2 two year olds
the best thing about it is the fact that the eldest child can sit in either the front or back (once the younger one can sit up)giving him/her a unrestricted view and really light to push and maneouver.
as a mum of 5 i can't see how you would manage without a double of some kind

I have a double and a single, I decide which one to use depending on the amount of walking to be done.

Was chatting with another mum in playground yesterday about this and she said she loves her pushchasir (those ones where older child sits in a seat pratically in the shopping basket). She says its no bigger than a single but has the extra seat when she needs it. Thinking of buying one myself.

We don't have a double. I use a sling/pushchair combo. If DS (who was 2 when DD was born) really really needs the pushchair, I can sling DD. He absolutely loathed the buggyboard and I didn't have the enrgy to persevere with it. In fact, when DD was tiny, I didn't use the pushchair at all for shortish trips - the sling and some reins for DS worked much better. Now that we can dispense with the reins, I can use the pushchair with DD.

My two are exactly the same gap as yours will be. I definitely needed a double buggy as my DD was a bolter. She also would refuse to walk or alternatively would walk but in the opposite direction to the one we were going in. She also refused to use the buggy board. We rarely used the car and often needed to walk 20 to 30 mins to get to groups etc. Also DS threw up constantly so needed to carry around wardrobes of changes of clothes for everyone.

We have the jane powertwin. It's great. Expensive but keeps it's value well on ebay.

no double needed with that gap, no way.

Double buggies spawn of devil - hard to push, hard to manoeuvre and expensive (P&T).
Only get one if essential IMHO (eg twins, gap < 18 mo etc).

I have 2yr and 22 mo gap and was fine and dandy with sling and then buggy board. None of mine needed buggy after 2 and a bit, not even DS2 who in theory could have stayed in it until oooh, 5 or so he was no 3 and final y'see.

at 4.3 yo in pram...

no double needed with that gap, no way.

Double buggies spawn of devil - hard to push, hard to manoeuvre and expensive (P&T).
Only get one if essential IMHO (eg twins, gap < 18 mo etc).

I have 2yr and 22 mo gap and was fine and dandy with sling and then buggy board. None of mine needed buggy after 2 and a bit, not even DS2 who in theory could have stayed in it until oooh, 5 or so he was no 3 and final y'see.

at 4.3 yo (NT I presume before I get jumped on) in pram...

oh sorry didn't mean to post twice

I had the same gap myself and didn't bother, I had one of those board things which drove me mad and I ended up sticking it in the bin whilst shouting at it in town it was a very hormonal day
DD never complained and I almost never felt bad that she had to walk every where. Luckily she's a poppet (unlike the mini one) but if you have a runner then I would, is your DD a good walker?

rosebea you should have sold it on e-bay they go like hot cakes lol

the board not the baby of course

I know but in my defence it was a buggy born which was forged by the devil himself......not sure whether that would have worked as a selling point

at rosebea

This was mentioned on another recent thread. It saves buying a double buggy. Take a look
here

I have the same age gap EVERYONE told me that Harry would be walking when baby is born, he wont want to go in a pram etc'

Hes a very lazy boy and LOVES being pushed so I KNEW he wouldnt suddenly change and walk everywhere.

I was right and as I had had to have n EC section I was stuck without a car so I got a second hand P&T as it was a double & Single. The best thing I ever bought, I loved that pram and it meant I retained some independence when I couldn't drive.

It also sold for as much as I paid for it, so I felt like it was merely loaned!

Go for it!

Mine are 2years 9months apart. Didn't want a double buggy and held out for about 6 months before buying one. Wish I'd done it sooner. DS1 can walk a good distance but it meant i could go for walks for some exercise not at toddler pace, and you get a break as the kids watch the world go by and maybe fall asleep.
I got a good one that i know i can sell on when i'm done with it, so can get some of the money back eventually.