Am I Being Unrealistic?

[gizmosmama]

Just found out we're pregant again (whoop!) and DS is currently 10 months so will be 18 months when DC2 arrives. I'd really like to avoid a double buggy if possible and have come up with a plan but I'd love the insight of someone who's been there to tell me if I'm crazy!
So I'm thinking, swap current travel system for one which has a buggy board and a from birth seat so either DC can go in it. That way DC1 can walk and DC2 lay down or DC1 can sit and DC2 sling or DC1 can stand and DC2 lay down.

Also, any recommendations of a travel system that fits this description gratefully received!

Not unrealistic no, as long as you're aware it might be hard work and require lots of extra patience. With that sort of thing in mind there's no reason why not imo. A lot can ride on the approach of your elder dc, however much prep and walking practise you do they still ultimately have a pretty solid vote in how well it works.

You could use a bugaboo bee, easywalker mosey, babystyle oyster 2, joie chrome, mutsy evo, m&p armadillo flip, anything sturdy enough to take a board with a lie flat seat really. There's also stuff like the easy x rider buggyboard or the lascal maxi with a buggypod perle, a sort of middle ground between pushchair seat and buggyboard.

Also fwiw I would have been an awful lot more positive about this system when dc1 was 10 months old than I am now....

A little warning - lots of my friends said 'we won't need a double' when number 2 comes along. They all ended up with one.

The problem is that 18 months is still quite little and they do get tired standing particularly if it is cold/poor weather.

How well you'll manage with a single probably depends on how much walking you do. If you are only using it for short trips between car journeys you might be fine. If you walk miles every day I'd keep an eye on gumtree for a second hand double.

Thank you both, good to hear an experienced perspective!

Having had a 2 yr old at birth of dd2 I would only ask how long out would you be? What will you do if elder wants a nap and its occupied by sleeping baby? At 2 we tried a p&t but it fell over too much for my liking. Therefore we used the car mainly and our old singular pram. But if you intend on lots of lovely walks to the park, shops etc. you really might find its not practical with one. 18mths is still little. They will get tired.

It really depends on if you plan to do a lot of walking.

You can use a sling if you like them, I hated them for the baby to keep DC1 in the pushchair a bit longer. You can train DC1 to do a lot of walking and use a board.

I would buy a second hand double if you plan to do much walking. They tend to be in better condition than second hand singles because they are used for shorter periods of time. I have bought phil&ted doubles twice off eBay, both under £100. First lasted about 2 years with a lot of hard usage full day, many days a week, on/off buses, up/down stairs, several airplanes. I've had the second now about 1 year, in reasonable condition, again with a lot of hard usage. I plan to use it at least another year because I don't drive at all.

My eldest didn't walk until 20 months so i'd bear in mind that just in case

I'm going to also say- you might be better getting a cheap double- what if it's raining, you need both to nap, you have to hurry? I will have a two year old and newborn soon and thought I might get away with being ok with a single, but DD just isn't walking that quickly yet and often needs the buggy. So now looking at buggies with a feeling of urgency!

I have four children within six years. I had a double for numbers one and two and soon abandoned it and resorted to singles and slings. I love a good sling, dc4 never went in a pushchair (except one attempt and when he was ill when he was four)

I disagree about the loads of walking thing. A double is a bind and I would hate to push one on a decent length walk. I didn't drive until dc4 was school age though so just getting on with it when walking was second nature

I have a 19mo and she is a confident walker - started walking at 10mo - but she can't/won't walk more than about 500m at a time. And in a shop, untethered, she is a nightmare! So totally depends on what you're planning to do. Just from carpark to baby group will be fine but any more than that could be hard work.

My little boy only started walking at 17 months honesty with that age gap I wouldn't dream of not having a double

DS turned 2 the week after DD was born and we've managed with a single, I did intensive walking practice while I was pregnant!

We're carless during the week (DH has it for work) and we average about 3-4 miles a day. I relied on a pram + buggy board or pushchair + sling combo and it worked really well. We soon ditched the pushchair after a month or 2 and the buggy board went at the end of the summer a few months before DS turned 3.

A double was my idea of hell BUT I always thought that if I decided I needed one I could always just buy one after DD was here.

My advice would be to get a good sling and give it a go

Perhaps worth having a look at some pushchairs which are easily adapted from a single to a double?

My friend has the baby jogger city select which can be a single or double (seats in-line rather than side by side). It can take a car seat / carrycot / normal seat / buggy board or any combination of the above and still good to use as a single.

Then you can adapt your seating arrangements to your plans for the day.

Seriously, unrealistic. I know several children who didn't walk until 20 months

Am in a similar position expecting dc 2- gap will be 21 months. I'm planning on doing same as you but resorting to ebay if if doesn't work out! However, my ds already walks well at 16 months and we have two buggies for him(one very lightweight) so if we do go a mission or on holiday sometime I will have dh with me and I expect we will be pushing one buggy each!

Definitely get a double. I had 16 months between mine and the older one really wasnt up to walking long distances until about two. Also, there will be times when you need to just get going (eg leaving a playground when older DC doesn't want to!) and being able to just strap them in and move is invaluable.

16 month gap here and used single with board and sling combo. Worked great. In general we tried to be home for nap time after lunch as easier to feed both at home, both nap and I could nap also. If needed to be out ds1 napped in pram and ds2 in sling.

By 2 years neither used pram though