Double pushchair or buggy board?

[mumbot]

Hi everyone, DS will be 2.5 when my baby is born in March. He walks v slowly and sometimes dashes off!! I'm worried about using a buggy board in case he jumps off it and tries to make a run for it.

However, if I get a double pushchair will I end up using it for a few months only?

Help!

Options on table are:

Phil & Teds Vibe
Baby Jogger City Mini & Buggy Board

Thanks xxxx

i also found that the sling was good for not impinging too greatly on the elder child's life for those vital first few months. so we still jumped on buses, dd still walked along walls, we still sheltered under our umbrellas etc, all the grown up things she'd been used to prior to dd2 turning up. putting her in the buggy would have been a retrograde step in her eyes.

sling and single buggy is great right up until the time that DC2 can walk or sling incompatible, and then one relies on DC1 to walk and it goes haywire.

Numerous times I have taken single buggy, on the assumption that DC1 will walk, and while walking is fine for outward journey, on the way back, it's too tiring, so she wants to jump into buggy, throws tantrum when occupied by DC2. Grrrrrrrr.

Ilovemydog, what age was DC2 sling incompatible? we had DD in the Ergo daily until she was over 1, and never had any problem with it (and believe me, I am a wimp when it comes to carting a heavy load - Ergo is brilliant). So my plan is by the time DC2 is 1, DD will be 3 and walking very well, and can jump on buggy board when necessary! We'll see how it goes.

I would imagine a good sling is essential for this business!

I HATED using a double buggy, 21 months between dc1 and dc2, then 2.4ys between dc2 and dc3. I sold the double buggy after about 6 months and had only used it about 4 times. I used a combination of sling, single buggy and buggy board. Also used a wrist strap. I don't drive and use the bus/ walk a lot and this worked well for me.

However, my friend who had a 2.1 age gap between her two used a double buggy every day because dc1 would have a good sleep in it.

If you are going to get a double try to get one that has a good resale value, so if you don't use it much you don't lose out on too much money.

Good luck, it's wonderful having children close in age.

21 mths between my two ds - I used maclaren techno, with buggy board, and I also had sling for baby, so I alternated between ds1 in buggy/ds2 in sling, or ds2 in buggy/ds1 on board.

I stopped using the buggy in late pregnancy to really get ds1 used to walking everywhere. Worked very well - I had spd, we managed to move at the same pace as eachother!

I also used to sometimes carry ds1 on shoulders while pushing ds2 in buggy.

Combination of all of the above worked great for us, although I did get the occasional envious pang at the odd Phil and Teds... Our house is only little though, and we would have struggled to store a big buggy, not to mention fitting one through the narrow front door.

we had same age gap and got given a double maclaren and although its a bit heavy we only used it for 6 months as by the time DD was 3 she was happy on buggy board - advantage of not having to pay for it... i also used single buggy and sling, and at weekends when DH was around 2 buggies.

watch out with P&T vibe - the doubles seat is very small might not be suitable for 2.5 year old.

i guess it depends on whether you are planning to do lot of walking.

this time DS will be 4, and although he still sits in buggy now i know he's excited about being big brother on buggy board.

Hi Mumbot!! [Waves from March 2010 thread!!]

My DD1 will be 2.3 when DD2 arrives, and after thinking about it for a while, I'm going with the P&T option (Not the vibe though - the sport, I think - a friend ahs the vibe and has had nothing but problems with it, whereas friends with the sport give it rave reviews).

Reasons being:

1. DD1 is a wanderer/bolter, and will jump off a buggy board at a moments notice... I simply can't face the prospect of running after her pushing DD2 in a buggy.

2. DD1 still has an hours sleep most days, and I want to have the option of her having that when we're out and about.

3. My Pliko Pramette from DD1 is kind of knackered (not because it's crap, actually the opposite - DD1 is so happy in it it's had daily use on a variety of terrains) so would need something else anyway. We've only had crap umbrella-fold buggies because they got trashed on our nursery run anyway, so I don't have a lovely Maclaren (but imagine I will at some point). And the P&T is a really nice single buggy anyway.

4. We'll have quite a long walk to and from DDs new nursery - she wouldn't manage to walk it - especially on the home run when she'll be tired and just want a nice sit down with a banana... And generally I'm quite an out and about mum, and I find after a long day DD is not so keen on walking as she is in the morning...

5. I never really got on with slings - mostly because I'm really quite tiny and DD was a truly huge and heavy baby ? and this one looks to be going the same way...

6. P&T have quite good re-sale value on Ebay, so I'm not too worried about losing too much money on it ? or I may get mine from there in the first place.

So there's my reasoning in a nutshell...

HTH

db
xx

Hi db, I really liked the other P&T models but there seems to be a metal bar at the top of the upper seat that gets in the way of DS1's head. Tried him on the Vibe and they seemed to have fixed it with a bit more padding.

Great suggestions about ebay, what would we do without that these days?

xxx

I have been thinking about exactly this dilemma (and have posted about it previously). DD1 will be about 2.7yrs when DD2 is born in March. We have a Quinny Buzz with carry cot, etc., which I will use just when DD2 and I are out by ourselves. Otherwise, I will be using a sling for DD2 and DD1 will be in her McLaren buggy for normal shopping trips, etc. Hopefully by the time DD2 is ready to progress from the Quinny to a bog standard buggy DD1 will be ok walking or have a buggy board (she nearly is now).

Think I have sussed it out without having to spend £000s. Not keen on the Buzz really, but it cost a fortune and at least this way we will get another 9 months or so wear out of it before flogging it on eBay! Then I can get DD2 a really lovely new buggy, all of her own

Ah. I see Mumbot - with that in mind, then, I'd maybe suggest you get the vibe (if you decide to go that route) from somewhere where you can easily get replacement parts or send it for servicing as my friend has had quite a few ishoos with hers...

I'll maybe have to check that out on the sport, then... DD is quite tall, (unlike me!)

db
xx

I too have been thinking about this.
DD will be 22mths when this one is due in May.

We are hoping to do without getting a double buggy.
DD has been walking since 11mths so pretty good and walks along nicely holding your hand.
We only use the buggy now for trips into town or long walks anyway so planning to get a buggy board and use a sling if needed.

We plan to reassess the situation a few months before but think thats what we still plan to do.

Also must add that we tested the OBaby XI tandem this weekend and it was very wobbly with DS1 on top, you could quite easily wipe out if you went round a corner at anything more than a medium speed.

Hi MumNW what good fortune that you were given a double, great to read your experiences, especially with your age gap being same as my two

Good point about parts db but still haven't made my mind up yet - need ability to see in to future

Hi pigley you are so lucky that DD is a good walker, sounds like sling / board option is best for you

Hi rindercella have you spotted any good slings yet?

I guess from this thread and from reading elsewhere a wrap sling, or one that doesn't put pressure on babies spine is the best option?

Hi mumbot
I'm just putting my bit in DD1 was a little bit older when DD2 was born 2.7 and we went for the Baby Jogger City Mini & Buggy Board option. The buggy is big enough for DD1 and ver comfy for the baby. (you will need to buy a snuggle for it) We delayed buying the board as DD1 is a good walker but now I wish I hadn't.
The board fits well and DD1 loves to ride. She calls it her skateboard.

Thanks peachy that's really helpful, can I ask which buggy board you went for?

Th laascal maxi. I went to the buggy board website to their fit finder. It is a 'compromised fit' 6 out of 10 but it is absolutely fine. here

It does take a bit of practice for the little ones to get used to it. You have to warn them if you are moving off suddenly as they can fall off.

We also have a couple of big kerbs near us and I get DD to hop off for those.

I have also told DD1 repeatedly that she can't just hop off, as this also gets us in a bit of a pickle,

My dd was 2.2 when ds arrived in June and we've managed without a double buggy, though I do think it depends on where you live ie city/country and your lifestyle. I live in London and prefer to use public transport than driving where possible, so the sling/buggy/buggy board combo worked for us. There were times in the first few months when I wished I had a double buggy, but there isn't one that would tick all the boxes as they say for us. It gets easier when both kiddos can go in the same buggy and same sling so you can swop them around as necessary. As someone else mentions, the Ergo can be used from newborn to 40lb so very flexible and works for us. Alternatively, you could get a double buggy secondhand and/or sell it when you're through.

I have an old Phil and Ted's (not sure what model but it's about 5 years old). DS1 (3.3)has never been a good walker (he's too interested in dawdling and walking up people's drives) and I am guilty of putting him in the pushchair more than I should, just to get places on time. It has been brilliant.

DS2 is 1.3 and DC3 is due at the end of January. Am thinking about the sling to start with, but also wish there was a buggy board option for the P&T without removing the brake (does anyone know if there is anything available?)DS1 climbs onto the footrest at the front if I stop him from getting into the pushchair (cue kicking from DS2).

Here's my twopenceworth, I had 18 months between DD1 and 2 nad had a side by side M&P twin Aria and hated it then a Graco tandem not much better, DD2 was 2.6yo when DD3 came along and I had a P&T Sport, fab double buggy, DD2 was an excellent walker but if you are out for a day trip or for a few hours I liked to have the option of the doubles seat, also on my own with 4yo DD1 and 2 1/2 yo DD2 plus a baby was hard work, containment was the best answer all round. It got to the stage where DD1 and 2 would swap round on the pram when they got tired.

I sold the P&T to a lovely MNer earlier this year, it was 7 months old and immaculate, bought it for £320 and sold it for £290 so even though I had it for 7 months never regretted it.

Oh I have had about 4 slings as well and always felt really umcomfortable pushing a buggy with a baby in the sling don't know why maybe just me.

So this time DD3 will be 22 months when DB4 is born and I am getting another P&T for sure. I don't think you can ask a 22mo to walk for more than 15-20mins before they tire plus you are walking at toddler speed and sometimes you just need to shove them in a buggy and get somewhere fast oh and the rain, I feel better having the toddler all enclosed in a raincover than walking or on a buggy board, if you are doing nursery runs for eg in the driving rain and wind would be worth getting a double IMHO.

Hi sweetkitty did you ever experience the issue with the metal bar at the top of the upper seat on the P&T? When I sat DS1 on it, it was right against the back of his head.

I think the answer to all of this is a lottery win so I can buy both a P&T and a single plus buggy board!!

Mumbot - oh yes my friend and I both had this problem, we were measuring our DDs and in mothercare putting them into the pram. My DD2 was 90cms tall just before DD3 was born (I remember it well) basically she could just about fit under the second seat when it was above the baby seat IYSWIM, the main seat reclines flat for the baby in the cocoon and the toddler seat sits on top hence you get problems with tall toddlers not being able to get their head under the hood once it is up. It's only a problem when the hood is up so when you need the raincover, DD2 had about 2-3cms to spare.

Once the baby is about 4-5 months they will be out the cocoon bit and in the second seat proper at the back so it's not a problem after that.

I decided still to go for a P&T as she cold get her head under and there was only about one occasion where it was raining and we needed the hood up anyway. My friend went against the P&T as her DD was taller.

Would be worth measuring your DS or better still actually getting a real life Vibe and sticking him in it. I won't have that problem this time as DD3 will be 22 months and she is dainty.

Another thing you could do is get a cheap double off ebay or something and still get the BJCM and buggy board and use them for short journeys but have a double for long?

another one thinking about this. i'm thinking along the lines of P&T, despite already having a sling and buggy board that i used for DD & DS. There was a 2.5 gap between them. DD was very good and did what she was told.

This time there will be a 2 yr gap, and DS is good at walking...but not the same way i need to go

In hindsight i should have got a P&T 5 yrs ago! I figured that i'll get at least 2-3 years use out of this as a double first then just as a single when DS is older and hopefully more inclined to do as he is told

I asked the same question as DD was born when DS was just 3 (and he was an early/strong walker) - although most people said I'd only need a buggy board, we got a P&T Vibe and am so pleased that we did!

The seat was plenty big enough (and DS isn't small) - particularly as you can have the seat higher or lower as you need to...

We still use it now and DS is 3.7 - DD is happy underneath and he just jumps in/out the top - but then we don't drive very often (live in London) and walk everywhere - if your circumstances are different, you might be ok with a buggy board

roary part of the problem for me is that I have to take the dog(s) out for a walk. Without being too graphic, it involves doing a ballet style bend to pick up poo, which is fine if a small one whose arms don't reach out and, um, grab!

But we walk a lot and there are times when DD (3) is happy enough to walk on the outward trip, but on the way back is too tired, so a double buggy works for us.

If I didn't have dogs though, would have definitely go with sling option as long as possible with buggy board.

Ilovemydog - I guess that explains your name!! I can imagine that such manouevres would be difficult...

Mumbot, in answer to your question about slings, some people think the Bjorn, because of crotch dangling position, is not as good as other slings for a baby's back. But my pediatrician friend used hers for all her kids with no worries. Hard-core sling people might have a different view. I just found the Bjorn uselessly uncomfortable and also not nearly as good as the other options! Particularly because they are not really hands free, more on which below.

A wrap sling (moby, Kari Me) is brilliant for newborn days as they are very closely tucked in to your chest and you are completely hands free. I did laundry and unloading the dishwasher with DD in mine. We thought it was invaluable for the first few months. You do have to practice with the wrap a bit but it is not that difficult. We started using the Ergo at about 4.5 months and it really as a brilliant sling, we even had 21 month old DD in it last weekend and she still loved it. You can get an infant insert for it so you can use it from birth if you only want one sling. It is also completely hands free - I wonder if that's the issue that some people have had about pushing the buggy with the sling? I used to take DD out for long days and start in the pushchair and finish with the sling if she got fussy, and it was no problem pushing (but it was empty!!)

Anyway, my view is that with a smaller age gap a double might be necessary, but by the time the sling has outlived its usefulness the first one could be trusted on the buggy board.

Although I'm not a P and T user I have to say I think that DD would put up with being on the bottom for approximately 30 seconds, and would have not had much more tolerance when tiny (we had to take her out of the bassinet of her bugaboo early because she hated not being able to see!).

How about Icandy peach, my friends showing hers off, the pram converts from a single to a double and back so when the older child grows out of it she'll change it back to the single again, cunning cow - think its big ?- not likely as she's tiny, it folds down to nothing (well almost nothing) and looks just gorgeous too. John Lewis stock them so no worries about after sales.