2 year old and newborn

[CruCru]

Hi all

In the autumn we will have a two year old and a newborn. Which buggy? The default seems to be a P+T (which one?) but some people I know don't like them much.

We would ideally want to take it over fields at least some of the time.

Thank!

[jkklpu]

My ds1 and ds2 are exactly 2 years apart and we never had a double pram. Depending on the trip, used sling for the baby or buggy board for the toddler, travelled by public transport all over London and the South-East. So don't assume you'll need to spend loads of money, is my advice, and see how it goes. You don't know how good a walker your elder might be by then and your baby can be in a sling to start with anyway. Really, just play it by ear.

[CruCru]

I was describing how hard it will be without a double buggy. We are definitely getting one, we'll start with the Out N About (as its not insanely expensive) but I may also want a Donkey. I can't face schlepping a newborn in a sling and trying to encourage DS to walk everywhere. It exhausts me to think of it.

[Ihateparties]

The right sling helps, it's definitely possible to carry a much older baby if you have a sling that works for you and them.. oh i'm waaaaay too lazy and selfish to do that everytime i leave the house though so it stays a part time option for me ... You can live without a double of course you can, only you will know whether you want to or not. I'm not the most relaxed person in the world so with a two year gap I have not regretted having a double at all. It doesn't get used on every outing, indeed i hope to eventually phase it out before dd1 is a teenager...

[lucywiltshire]

DD is 3yrs 4 months and still needs a pushchair occasionally so I think you DEF need a double. IMO DHs are good at saying something isn't necessary when they are at work most of the time so don't have the stress of dealing with a tired toddler/pre-schooler who does not want to walk!!! And yes slings are great for the newborn but not for too many months unless you have very strong shoulder/neck/back muscles!

[Blobby11]

CruCru

DS will be 23 months when DC2 arrives in July. There is no way I'd contemplate life without a double buggy. I've never got to grips with slings - I tried with DS but even at 3 months' old I found him too heavy - and since DS has only just started walking I don't think he'll be out of a buggy for some time yet.

I wish I could do without one - working out which one I want is driving me mad!

Thanks for the replies about the bus. Perhaps the Donkey is the one for me. Think I still need to do a bit more research

[CruCru]

Now DH thinks we don't need a double buggy at all. He is wrong, no?

[lucywiltshire]

We have a Phil and Teds Explorer and I HATE it!!!!!!! The cocoon is tiny for the newborn so outgrown quickly, very difficult getting child into back seat, difficult to fold (I find although DH disagrees) and I literally cannot get it into boot of car as so awkward. Currently 38 wks preggers with DC3 and I am fighting for an Out n About Nipper. Not winning yet but I shall!!! We also need a dog-walk-in-fields pushchair and although the P+T is fine for that I don't find it easy to push at all. Hate it hate it hate it and am pi**ed off that I didn't do more research when we bought it - I just bought it because everyone else I knew with two DCs had one so I assumed that meant it was good!!!! Waste of money.

[PearlyWhites]

We have a baby jogger city mini double, dd was 18 months when ds was born. It is perfect I love that one child is not "in the basket" It is also narrow enough to go through most doorways and you can fold it with one hand.

[milkymocha]

Yes i take it on a bus everyday, you have to go through the backdoors but, alot easier than first thought :)

[CruCru]

Ah, good point. Yes, does it work on a bus or go in a taxi?

[Blobby11]

Does anyone use a Donkey on the bus? I'm really tempted by one but I live in London and use public transport a lot. Will it fit?

[milkymocha]

The donkey is worth it imho

[Queenmarigold]

Baby jogger city select- brilliant. Easy, flexible, lightweight and steerable. I use it in towns and walking on school run etc, highly recommend.

[CruCru]

Thanks all, think I'm down to the two buggies I like best - the Donkey for round town (very expensive but looks like it's worth it) and the Out N About Nipper 360 for when we are out in the countryside (it will be left somewhere else).

Now I just need to convince DH.

[Ihateparties]

Tfk joggster twist with multi x carrycot/seat and buddy seat. The buddy seat is a true add on sibling seat to a single pushchair. Info and pics here

[CruCru]

What's a TFK?

[Ihateparties]

Have you looked into various different wedges to flatten out the Vista seat for a newborn? I know they do their own but it doesn't look that um... wedgy?? It looks more like a headhugger and not a lot else online but maybe irl it's different. Other wedges - Stokke, smartmuff, silver cross surf. Worth a look maybe for shorter journeys seeing as you already have all the other bits.

Talk to the tiggy about a hankering after a donkey... she had one ;-) found it a pita to convert but equally others have said it didn't bother them. I loooove the look as a double, not so much as a single

[CruCru]

You see, I have a hankering for the Donkey as we could make it smaller with the side basket when DS doesn't need it anymore. Very expensive though - and I'd have to pay for all the accessories.

[CruCru]

Well I do have the Uppababy Vista and have both the rumbleseat and the buggy board which will be great, except I can't put a newborn in the seat (the rumbleseat doesn't work with the carrycot). I also go away for the weekend quite a lot so may leave the new, double buggy at the other place so we don't have to schlep it around in the car.

[Ihateparties]

Yep, i'm a wuss!

[forevergreek]

We have 16 month gap. Only on the very rare occasion did I think it would be handy

( we have used a mima kobi and Phil and teds at parents - first ok in newborn and small toddler stage, bu would never fit an over 2 year old, and Phil and teds is like an uncontrolable tank)- both used by par eye with other grandchildren

We use the bugaboo cameleon with board . Works great, can push one handed. And if it's pouring with rain is easy to keep us all dry with youngest under cover , eldest on board and I can hold an umbrella over us both. Naps for both at home so wasn't needed for sleeping. Use public transport a lot and have a small lift and a flight of stairs to flat so double wouldnt fit anyway. We also used sling combo ( used to just sit eldest in carrycot part if really needed.)

Now at 20 months and 3 years, we only use the buggy or board for either 50 % of the time, they both walk the rest. We walk lots also with no car.

[Ihateparties]

That can work really well scarred by memory of trying to catch out of control toddler, keep hold put baby in sling then toddler in pushchair it depends on your lifestyle and day to day activities. Plus preference obviously. Those who have had sub two year age gaps and buggy board / sling combo, did you never have days when you quite fancied a double? I think i must be a wuss, i was on my knees when i did it full time

[forevergreek]

I would really wait until the summer. We had a lot smaller gap and sling/ buggy board worked well.

Youngest now 20 months and prefers the buggy board than the buggy ( so I end up pushing around an empty buggy with board half the time!)

If he's 2 when baby arrived could you use your baby jogger single with buggy board. If you don't add a carrycot and just pad out for baby with a sheepskin/ cosy toes on recline, then if eldest really gets tired if out then you can put baby in a sling and toddler in buggy.

[AnitaBlake]

I have a two yo and a thre mo. I'm currently slinging the baby and putting the toddler in the pushchair when needed. Would that be an option?

[Tiggywunkle]

If you are interested in the Mountain Buggy +One absolutely and completely go and read about it. You need to be aware of what it does, and how it does it, and what the limitations are especially when the baby is 6-12 months+ if your eldest is still riding on board. There is tons of information and photos http://www.bestbuggy.co.uk/category/tandem-pushchairs/mountain-buggy-plus-one/ here. A fabulous pushchair but you have to have the right age gap.