Do I need a double buggy?

[Lambzig]

I am expecting DC2 in early November. DD will be 2 years and 8 months when the baby is born.

I was hoping to get by with a buggy board on my existing pushchair as she is a good walker, but people tell me they are a complete pain and I need a double pushchair. I am a bit reluctant as I imagine it would only get used for another six months or so?

I dont want to rely on sling for very long as with DD I only managed to carry her in the sling for 8 weeks before my dodgy shoulder couldnt take it even on a 5 minute walk. Tried two sorts of slings, a baby bjorn and a wrap around type and both hurt.

What have other people done with this age gap? Any advice appreciated.

Our gap is 2.4 and we never had a double and never missed it. We used a buggy board. I think with that sort of gap and a good walker (and obviously absent issues like special needs or mobility problems in your toddler) you only need one if:

• you do lots of off road walking (buggy board a bit bouncy for a dog walk through woods and over tree roots, etc);
• you have a 'bolter' who runs off a lot, so you need them strapped in;

-you have a child who naps a lot in their buggy still.

By 2 years 8 months to be honest, I dont think you will need a double pushchair if you think your daughter is a good walker and wont have a sit down protest etc! I am the first one to recommend a double pushchair because I really dont like buggy boards, but at the age of 3, my daughter suddenly grew up and although we do have a double pushchair, it is being used rarely now and we could have probably got rid of doubles when she turned 3 (but we live by a main road and I like her in a pushchair when I want to browse in shops - especially ones with breakables!).

Do you have a reason you think you may need a double? I would consider it if safety was an issue and / or your daughter may bolt or have a sit down protest. If she is happy walking then encourage it. I use a hand to wrist rein with a walking child attached to the pushchair or me.

If you do think you need a double, when are you likely to use it?

I wouldn't, I'd just get a buggy board. DS1 was 2.3 when DS2 was born and I managed fine with a buggy board.

I would think you'll manage with a board as long as your DD really is a good walker.

Good does not mean she walked early or that she can walk a long way when she feels like it.

Good means she's a good sport about walking in whatever conditions you would also walk in, like hurling down rain or freezing cold. That she won't likely need a nap or have the mother of all paddies when your far from home. That you won't mind making sure she always has the right shoes & a Mac. That she won't run off, that she will stand patiently on the board if she gets a bit tired. Also, I assume you don't have to get anywhere in a tight time schedule, so it won't matter if she does paddy, you don't need to be at school for 9am/3pm/etc.

I had a buggy board with DS who was 3+8months when DC4 was born. Thing is, DC4 used to scream his head off & I used to have to put him in a sling to calm him down, followed by hoiking large 3yo into the pram (because pushing pram with buggy board was physically impossible for me whilst wearing sling).

My DS was 2yrs 10mths when my DD was born. I bought a Phil & Teds second hand off Ebay and it has been an absolute lifesaver. My DS is a good walker and normally walks or scoots quite happily but the P&T's has been brilliant when he's been poorly/hungry/tired/wet himself/fallen over etc.

It has got a massive raincover so recently when it's been raining I can pop them both into it and take him to playgroup/library etc. It has a great big shopping basket and can easily carry a scooter over the handle bars. It's also really useful on days out as you have loads of room for bags/picnics/blankets/spare clothes etc.

I do a lot of walking and I figured whilst I might not use the double for very long, I would rather have the option than be stuck somewhere miles from home with a crying baby and a 3yr old refusing to walk. I don't understand why people would rather struggle than just use a double buggy for a little while. Plus something like a P&T's will hold it's value and sell again on ebay when I'm finished with it.

I went into Toy R Us and pushed one about with my DS in it to get a feel of size, weight etc before I ordered one.

Hope that helps! Forgot to mention, everyone told me not to bother with a double and that I wouldn't need one, I ignored them and was glad i did!)

I would buy a P&T if I had my time again; and when it's not a 2nd childseat the shopping basket area is massive. Bonus!

Hmm, very mixed response. I should mention that DC2 is not due until first week of Nov, so its hard to know if she will change.

I was thinking of a Phil and Teds (am asking early so that I can do an ebay trawl).

DD is a good walker in that she can walk for hours when she wants to (say around Kew Gardens), but does tend to bolt a bit in shops and I cant keep hold of her and doesn't like holding hands and I would worry that she would dart off when a bit fed up. For example DH and I went to lunch with her yesterday and parked about a 5 min walk from restaurant - we had to hold both hands and she wriggled like a fis. Obviously walking anywhere with her is much slower than normal which kind of annoys me as I hate walking slowly.

She is also a massive one for tantrums when a bit tired, but obviously I dont know how much she will change in the next 5 months.

What would I be using it for? 20 minute walks into the main shopping area near me, roads vary from very busy A-road (which is what worries me and I have to cross it or travel on it for 5-10 mins everywhere I go) to quieter residential, walking around shops, trips to and from nursery (20 min walk again) where she is usually tired on the way home. Occasional bus rides. Walks on the common. Walks on the seafront in Brighton where we usually visit friends once a month for the day. Trips to Kew gardens (we are members so go there a lot).

Ah, so she is a bolter & not that reliable.
Would you still walk if you knew the weather was bad?

If yes, then P+T with wrist-strap for when she's not in it & road is busy. Their characters dont' change that much ime.

I would say it depends on you, your lifestyle and your little one.
My daughter is 2 years 10 months and is a great walker ... when she wants to be!
I have a double as she was only 21 months when my son was born and several singles with buggy board. I am definitely not getting rid of my double yet, nor in the foreseeable future - but I don't need it all the time.
I suppose you could wait until nearer the time to see how your little one is then?and you could always buy a double if you feel you need it? If you do, something like the phil and teds or any other pushchair that can be used as a single or a double would probably be the best for you and pre loved would give better value for money (see if it works for you and if not sell it on and you won't have lost much perhaps).
My daughter walks, doddles, runs, hides, stands still and lies down refusing to move. This is fine if you are just going out and have time. If you are going out and have to get anything specific or be somewhere for a certain time then this is a nightmare - and my only working option is to strap her into the buggy and get on with things at my pace, of course she sometimes is fine with this and others she verbally objects but I much prefer to deal with a moaning toddler who is stuck in the one place than one who is loose and can do anything and she knows it while you have bags, your hands full, pushing, carrying, feeding other baby etc.
Of course this may just be my child, and my fault. I am extremely envious of those mummies I hear and see who have and angel child who stays next to buggy and walks along at a good pace with no objection.
The buggy board option has been good for us but isn't suitable for every occasion.
Why don't you start off with single and buggy board and see how you get on?
I have just seen how much I've written, oops I do apologise, I bet it's just made you even more confused :)
Good luck with whatever you decide.

Oops, forgot to say my daughter is now 2 years 10 months, my fingers are crossed that when she reaches 3 she will improve! :o

I would get yourself a double given what you have put. Buy well and treat the purchase like a rental and you should get a good chunk of money back upon resale (if not all of it). Just bear in mind that you need a double that will suit your age gap - that may sound obvious but a lot of doubles aren't suitable for a rising 3 year old. A side by side woud be easier to push but you would probably end up with an empty seat a lot of the time. If you choose a P&T think through where which child will be and when. Check your eldest has enough head height when the doubles kit is on top ie newborn mode and that the baby has a recline post 6 months old. The old Peach Blossom 2 could work well and would leave you with a lovely single, or a Britax B-Dual or Jane Twone. I also like the look of the TFK Joggster Twist with buddy seat. Have a look also at the Mountain Buggy +One but again think about where the children would be and when. As I said side by sides are easier - baby Jogger, Easywalker, Nipper, TFK, Air buggy are all worth a look for ease of pushing.

liswee I could have written your post. If it is your fault then it is mine also. Wonder what am doing wrong?! I'm sort of envious too of those people whose 20 month olds "walk everywhere and haven't needed a pushchair since"

I would get one. I had a 22mo age gap and used the P&T until DS was 4.6 and DD was 2.8. I tried a buggy board and nearly kicked it down the street in a huff, I could only take tiny steps with it.

Double make life easier IME. Bear in mind you will be walking in the winter, it will be cold, rainy, possibly snowy, she may be crabby and ill, tired, whingy and you will have to go at her speed if you don't have a double. You can do things at your speed with a double and use the spare seat for shopping when she is happy to walk.

She can still hop in and out of a double but it will give you some freedom.

no - sling + buggy board all the way

I had a 2yr 1 month gap, between my first 2, and there will be a 2yr 6 month gap between dc 2 and dc3 when baby arrives. I have never had a double.

Our daily walking is on busy roads / pavements - we walk a lot in woods etc at weekends but then dh is usually there to carry one child, or use a second single buggy. A buggy board has always worked well ofr us. Do thorough research about which one is the best to fit your pram, and I think buggy boards are worth buying new tbh as the wheels get knackered pretty quickly.

I put a lot of effort into 'training' dc1 to stand on his board, and making him ask before he got off (worried aboiut him jumping down in the middle of the road!). For a long time he knew he had to get on if we were in a shop / crossing the road (rule not necessary now he's older). I also had my bugaboo bee parent facing for ages which meant that if he got tired he could turn around on the board and sit down on the edge of the seat. This worked until the baby's legs got long enough to kick him in the back!

If you go for the board option, you need really good rainproofs and warm outdoor gear for him as they get cold standing on there.

I'm not sure we could survive without our second hand P&T (£10!) but the age gap is slightly less - 2 years, and DH does a lot of walking with them - up to 12 miles a day.

I'd still get one tbh. They retain their value, get the cheapest 2nd hand you can.

Incidentally I have found a double WAAAAY more of a necessity with 2 and 3 than I did with 1 and 2. Again this may be down to the poor "training" ..... and 3 in 4 yrs.

I lack good training in keeping them entertained while walking. DS is an almost mediocre mid-distance walker if I keep him entertained the whole time. Somehow I missed that education part in parenting classes. Especially how to keep several of different ages entertained at once on a long walk.

I am in a similar position to you, and have just bought a Mountain Buggy as DC3 is due end Oct, so will have all winter to consider. I like the idea of them both being wrapped up cosy in the wet and cold. I can get them both in and out in the house, rather than having to get a P&T down the steps, then taking the kiddies out, and the same in reverse coming home. That would be tricky in the summer, let alone with snow or rain.
DD2 will be 2.5 by then, so may only be used for 6months, but I figure it is money well spent for peace of mind. She is a bolter too, and prone to sit-down protests. I think if I did not have a double, I would just stay in or use the car. I want to be out as much as I usually work full time, so have to use the car for school and nursery runs. I am really looking forward to being a mum at the school gate.

I have a 2.8 year gap. Tried to do without a double. Ended up buying one after DC1 had a massive paddy resulting in me having to carry him home under one arm and trying to push DC2.

I only used my double for about 9 months but I sold it for just £90 less than I paid (I'd bought new) and for £10 per month, it was worth EVERY PENNY

I could have written this thread OP, as my DC#2 is due 19/11 (is that mid or late November? I can't decide...) and my DD will turn 2.7 two days after the due date!!

I haven't totally decided whether I'll get a double or not but I do know my current pushchair gets a fair amount of use and I'd struggle to get a buggy board to fit it & it be useful (a friend tried our model of buggy, Britax B-smart 3 with a buggy board & couldn't reach the handle to push it!) so potentially either option needs a purchase...

I had thought that it might be useful to get through the winter being able to bung both kids under the rain cover & just get out at my speed, rather than having to drag my cold and wet DD along.

She is a good walker but only when she wants to...

Will continue watching with interest.:)

Hi, sorry went on holiday for a couple of weeks and just got back. Thanks for all your responses, really helpful.

On holiday with DD, we carted the buggy all the way to Greece and she refused to get in it even once on holiday, insisting on walking all the time (it didnt seem worth the hassle of arguing if she wanted to walk and it was safe). We didnt bother taking it out with us after the first couple of days and she managed really well with only a couple of sessions where she wouldn't hold hands unless told off. Putting her back in it at Gatwick caused the most massive meltdown (insisted because it was busy and easiest to get her to the car) and I was the red faced parent walking from baggage collection to the car park with the red faced toddler screaming "Nooooo mummy" repeatedly for 15 minutes.

Based on that, I think I am going to wait and see how she is when the new one is born.

But will she want to walk in rain/snow?

My 2.5 year old is great walker but after baby was born, she wanted to go in the buggy more, think it was because she felt the baby was getting a treat/using her buggy, IYSWIM.
Had a couple of times where she would walk to park, happily run around for a couple of hours, but then be knackered and need buggy or carrying. I resisted for 6 weeks or so, then bought second-hand britax, and my life has been loads easier. Dd1 is more into going in buggy now with dd2, and even quite likes the bottom seat. Means I can walk to wherever we're going in half the time, and don't need to worry about her on roads etc.

One is easy...two is a different matter! My eldest is a fab walker now but she drives me nutty by trying to push, help, shop, fill the basket, walk in front of me etc. sometimes it's easier to have the pushchair battle and strap two children in! See how you get on when the baby comes :)