Do I need a double buggy?

[Wilfie2024]

Hello! Would love some advice. Our second baby is due in November, our son will be 23 months when she’s born. We live in London and walk a lot (don’t have a car), but also get a lot of buses and trains where a double buggy would obvs be a massive pain. Do you reckon a double buggy is a must? Or can we get away with baby in sling/toddler in buggy + baby in bassinet/toddler on buggy board?

Our son walked at 11 months and now runs around the playground for ages… but atm can’t be relied upon to get anywhere on foot safely/sensibly (maybe that will change?)

Reluctant to get a double as cumbersome and expensive but don’t want to make life unnecessarily difficult for myself! While on mat leave I’ll have them both for 2 days a week.

thank you xx

Joining in for advice op as I will have a newborn and a 13 mo in November! Scary isn't it

I have bought a double buggy as our little one will be 22 months when baby is born, and she only just took her first steps at 19 months! So definitely won’t be reliably walking by the time baby is here. Plus I figure on days out she’ll still want naps etc which may coincide with baby naps. We got a model of the Bugaboo Donkey Duo - £400 on Facebook Marketplace! So definitely check there before splurging on a new one!

I had two DC 15 months apart, and found the double buggy invaluable as both children could be strapped in. It was big but I went everywhere buses, tube etc but a sling just hurt my back

yes

I had a double with a 22 month age gap as my eldest napped in the pram. That said my youngest hated the pram for 6 months and only went in the carrier so carry cot part was used for bags.
To be honest things can be delivered so quickly nowadays just try without a double and if you feel the need for one order one or grab one from marketplace.

Get a second hand double buggy. If you look after it you will be able to sell it on in a year for exactly what you paid for it, so it is actually free. I agree they are more cumbersome, but I don't think they are harder to negotiate than a single buggy and a toddler holding your hand?

Our first was 22mo when baby born and we used the double buggy every single day for three years. Even when the biggest one could walk reliably it was still often easier to have them both contained, and it was invaluable on longer walks. Both kids loved walking but not more than about 3 miles so they would get in and out if it was longer than this.

There are some smaller double buggies which don't do two toddlers, but can cope with a toddler and a baby (the baby seat is small and clips in underneath the main seat). This would work if you don't do longer walks and you only want something to tide you over for maybe a year.

My daughter was 24 months when my son was born. She was hardly out of the buggy while I was pregnant. She literally never went back in it, from the day my son was born! She took to the buggy board like a dream for a few months and then just walked everywhere. Everyone told me I’d need a double buggy, never have!

Yes you need a double buggy. You’ll have a 2 year old who may decide at any moment not to cooperate, make your life easier and have the option to put down and strap in both children.

Same age gap. I did get a double buggy but it was extremely unusual for both DCs to be in it at the same time. It was a waste of money. I also travel by bus or walk. It’s much easier to use a single buggy and baby carrier/sling thing.

What is useful is a set of reins for the toddler. I used to tie DC1 to my seat when feeding baby DC2.

I used baby sling when using public transport.
Then when kids were older a wrist strap for older and buggy for younger

25 month gap. Will admit wasn't used as much as I'd have liked, but would have struggled without the times we did. I had a buggy board for it too which eldest outright refused to use until he was so old he barely needed. If anyone is after a single figure use cybex kid board 🤣

Our buggy board wasn't really used and was kind of a waste. I wouldn't have been without the double buggy, it was so much more peaceful when heading out to strap them both in.

We had similar gap and I got a second hand double buggy but it was one of the ones that actually fits through a standard door frame so was really handy. Can’t remember the brand- it was snug for the 2 year old but we got a good long while out of it to be fair.
Always bring a sling as well though as you never know who’ll decide they hate the buggy that day and want to be carried!!

We had same age gap and I went for buggy board because at that age my eldest didn’t really like the pram. We got a great buggy board (the oyster 3 one that went with our pram) and it just kicks up if not using or flip it down if you need it. We went everywhere with it that year. Felt so free 😍 wished I had it sooner as my 2year old had always refused pram so we had been so limited. I used to take a carrier out with us in case eldest needed a pram for any reason then baby could go in the carrier.
Then when I had a 3 and a 1 year old we got a Joie double pram and that’s been an absolute godsend too. Still using it couple years later for holidays etc. So basically I think you need a variety of options, one of which will be a double pram

I have a 21 month gap and definitely needed a double for the first 6 months or so. Especially over winter because it was easier to keep the toddler warm. Now we only use the buggy board.

I didn’t right away and regretted it! Eventually bought one. You can get a big selection now of double buggies - some will go on a bus, though you run the risk of having to fold it especially in rush hour. Even though I didn’t always need it, overall I found it SO useful.

We got a double pram but mainly for both kids to nap during the day if we were out and about. We ditched it completely at around 6m and only used the old pram with the buggy board or a sling. Or with a balance bike for the toddler - a bit more fun and independent than the buggy board.

I somewhat regretted buying the double pram (I hate prams and the space the take), I think with a bit of planning we could have easily survived those 6 months without it.

I had three within that age gap, and had a double buggy anyway, but I always had the baby in the sling/ one toddling/ one perched on the handle bars. Now that they have “small” doubles, where the baby can be “under” the toddler, I’d probably go with that, tbh. They’re not much bigger than a single, and the baby can go in the top, whenever the older one isn’t using it.

I did a combo of baby carrier and pushchair and then also double buggy for longer trips. You can also do double baby wearing with toddler on your back and baby on your front. Personal best recommendation for double buggy is the Mountain Buggy as its slim enough to go through a standard door frame.

I'd say it depends how sensible eldest is and if he naps out and about when baby comes. I had a 19 month age gap and used our double loads. Those moments when both are asleep are very valuable.
Having said that I would avoid usually the double went staying in London with family. We'd do carrier and pushchair, 2 pushchairs or bugaboo bee and buggy board with saddle. My daughter did once fall asleep one the buggy board standing 🤣

I always regretted not getting a double buggy and mine was older! We coped with a buggy board but I hated it, it hurt my back as you sort of had to lean over. I also hated baby carrying for long periods of time for this reason!

19 month age gap here and we definitely needed a double buggy. I made sure I got one that wasn’t too wide as felt worried about getting in shops and stuff but in hindsight, any one would have been fine. We tried a tandem one but they didn’t like it and we also tried a buggy board but eldest would always end up in the buggy or being carried even age 2/3.

Essential for me - newborn and 2.5 year old. He will only walk so far and on busy roads I like him to be strapped in. I feel they are safest when both in the buggy. Depends on your lifestyle/ toddlers temperament I think.

We rarely use the double but have bought a hoppie which attaches to most strollers and that’s been great for the odd time that my son gets tired legs x

We have a bang on 2 year age gap & really loved my double mountain buggy duet. I got it on fb market place, then machine washed the covers, cleaned it etc. it folds flat so can be stored in a hallway & the seats fully recline, this was great as our eldest still loved a buggy nap.
i preferred having the kids side by side, I think if you’ve got them on your own it’s helpful to strap both in as at 2 my eldest couldn’t be trusted to stay on the buggy board & would still get tired. Also live in a city & was fine on buses. So I would recommend, you’ll probably only need it for a year then can resell it! Goodluck x