Do I need double buggy? Toddler+newborn

[Writerz34]

Do I really need a double buggy? Just baby wear newborn until 2yo doesn't need buggy naps & get a buggy board?

It depends on a few things - mainly whether you need to do a “big walk” as the toddler probably will go at about 2 miles an hour for another year or so. I have an age gap of 2yrs and used a double buggy until eldest was about 3 and a bit - but that was because I had to walk the dog daily, and slow toddler plus sling plus roads was a bit of a dodgy combination…! If you were just walking around a shopping centre or doing short walks or a bus ride, a sling would be fine, I’d say. Anything over a mile or so regularly and you might want a double pushchair!

I'd say yes. Our daughter is 3.5 and still uses the buggy. We've got a second coming in March and I think we'll get away with just a buggy board, but 12 months ago we'd definitely have gone for a double. That said, we do a lot of walking so I suppose it depends on the distances you cover on foot as pp said.

Yes, I think so. My eldest was 2 when the little one was born. I also agonised over whether it was necessary. I bought a buggy board with a seat but it was pretty useless as it was hard to use the pram with it as it got in the way. I bought an icandy peach in very good nick on Marketplace and then the adaptor kit to turn it into a double. It turned out to be invaluable for trips to the playground or local shops. I didn't use it for that long but I don't know how I would have coped without it.

But I suppose also it depends on how much or how well your toddler walks. Mine was still fairly obstinate at that stage.

Yes. Meltdowns (any one of you), lack of sleep (as before), rain, cold weather, illness, faffing and being in a rush.
I borrowed a buggy board once, lasted literally 100 metres and came home for the double buggy. It stopped me walking upright and quickly.

Oh yes I should have also added that I'm glad I didn't just use the sling/carrier and the pram for the toddler as getting the toddler in and out of the pram and onto the swings etc with the baby in the carrier was not good. It seems like a better idea than it is in reality.

We agonised over the same thing. Just get the double buggy. We bought one of the cheapest ones and it was great. I also had a baby carrier and a single buggy, plus a little trike type thing. Just get one there will be plenty of times you're glad of it

Get one just incase. We are about to have a newborn and we have a 7 year old, 3 year old and 2 year old. Our 2 year old is happy to walk everywhere but I've bought a double pram just incase

Plus if I'm on my own with them it'll be safer to pop the 2 year old in the pram, and have the other two hold the handles :)

We tried with a buggy board as we had a 2 yr gap, really limited what was possible, worked better from 3ish. Ended up with the double buggy too.

I would get a double buggy with that age gap yes. We didn't have one but we had a 3 year gap.

I'd say it really does depend on your toddler.
My daughter never used a stroller after starting nursery at 2.5 but I know other children still do at 3 and 4 years old.

A double that converts to a single is good and has potential for a buggy board. I found it hard getting my two year old into swings or picking her up for any other reason with baby in the carrier. Although my youngest wouldn’t entertain a pram until six months so we did mainly struggle with the carrier.

Will totally depend on the toddler. My older kid was a big walker and loved his push bike/scooter. Never bothered with a buggy after 2 really. Prefered walk/scooter or occasionally dad’s shoulders

We had a 2.5yr gap. Single buggy with board and sling was great for a short while. We had a bugaboo bee that could easily adapt to either newborn or toddler depending on who needed to be in it, and the buggy board wasn't too much extra pushing hassle. We live in a city, no car, so it was also easiest on public transport.
Problem came when I pulled something in my back getting the buggy onto a bus with the toddler in it and baby in sling. End of the day I couldn't stand upright or walk. Recovered ok after a bit but decided then to get a double buggy as a little bit less strain on the back. Plus meant that on rare occasions when both were asleep at same time when out and about I had a chance to sit down and have a peaceful coffee.

This! I have the cybex gazelle S and it’s 10/10.

my toddler is 3.5 so doesn’t really use it except for during melt downs/late for school etc as above and it’s a life saver. Wearing baby is tiring when you need to pick a screaming toddler off the floor etc. I would avoid a buggy board as they get in the way when you walk too.

DD2 was 2y 9months when DD1 came along and we needed a double probably until she was about 3y and a bit. We had a single that converted into a double. We didn't want to spend £300 on the extra seat part so we used it as a double with the bassinet for baby + seat for eldest, then when baby moved into the seat, we bought a buggy board for eldest. We don't have a car and there's been a few long journeys when I wish I could have strapped her in, but mostly she does brilliantly on the board, despite being a very late walker and gross motor not being one of her strong skills. I always keep a carrier in the buggy basket so if things get desperate, I can pop DD2 into the carrier and DD1 into the seat (only really needed if she's ill or once on our way back from Ikea when frankly I also wanted to hop in with her 🙈)

The only thing to be aware of is that lots of the cheap doubles have a max weight limit per seat of 15kg (around 3yr). If you want a 22kg per seat double, they get more expensive quite quickly. If your eldest is higher centiles, you might find some of the smaller doubles to be too small so worth looking at good second hand options on marketplace as well.

I had a two year age gap and didn't have a double buggy. I used a wrap to carry the newborn when 2 year old needed the buggy and a buggy board. My 2 year old was a good walker though and very compliant so was very happy on the board and no risk of tantrums/ running off. Had it been her big brother I would have needed a double.

Depends on your toddler. Dd1 was a very capable walker when DS1 was born. But I had a pram which converted into a pushchair so had a pram seat which sat across the bassinet part when DS1 was first born in case DD1 got tired. I think we tried a buggy board but I found it got in the way too much.

When DTS came along when DS1 was 2, I used a double and had a baby carrier for one of the twins if DS1 was too cranky to walk. But mostly I used reins and expected them to walk, just factored in additional time to get anywhere.

I thought I would cope without but ended up buying a double

That was because not whether you can cope without it on a good day. It's whether you can cope without it on a bad day. Once the sleep deprivation kicked in and the baby got a bit heavier in the carrier and the toddler was ill and we had to get to the doctors on time... That double buggy was my best friend

Also when they both fall asleep in it and you get to have a coffee. Bliss

It wasn’t my choice, because buggies were really impractical for me. I walk everywhere or use public transport and they just can’t go most of the places I need to go, so they aren’t really an option. I made sure we had good carriers for toddler and baby and lots of options for different combinations then. Make sure your carriers fit you and you can use them for either child for maximum flexibility. And good shoes.

Double buggy useful as long as it’s not side by side - it’s easier getting through doors, narrow footpaths etc. Just get a cheap one as it will probably be wrecked by the end and not fit to pass on to anybody.
Usually the back lies flat for a newborn.

https://www.argos.co.uk/product/2201618?clickSR=slp:term:double%20buggy:19:1650:1

https://www.argos.co.uk/product/7227305?clickSR=slp:term:double%20buggy:24:1650:1

100% get one

2y 4m gap here and didn't need a double, managed fine with a buggy board for the toddler.

When my third arrives. I'll carry newborn. Daughter in pushchair and son on buggy board

I had a similar gap and found the (side by side) double buggy really useful for a holiday abroad -
both could come out for a late meal and sleep in it!