Would you think I'd be better off with a tandem?

[HurtyTeeth]

I'll have an 18 month old when my baby is born. I drive, everything is local but I don't do much walking and when I'm out, its never for long. I want a pushchair like the Raspberry for its specifications and I'll add a buggy board to the back. Because I'm thinking, why have a cluncky tandem when my little one can sit herself on a buggy seat for the short periods of time we're out?

I think if your lo is happy sitting/ standing on the buggy board without running away than you are better off with single stroller and the buggy board. However, I would go with double buggy because you can strap 18 months old in so he/she won't run away and endanger themselves. Another option, baby in the carrier and 18 months old in the pram.

I don't manage with carriers so that isn't an option.
I put my girl in reins when we're out anyway and she'll be in them when she's in the buggy seat so she's extra secure with the strap looped round my wrist.
I know some tandems are compact and downsize to a single but even with those features, a tandem will always be so much heavier and chunkier than a pirpose built single. It seems a little unnecessary to buy one in for the sake of 6 months or so.

Has anyone here managed with similar with young children of close age?

I have a tandem with a 22mo age gap - wouldn't be without it! But I already had my Uppababy as a single for DD so just had to buy the adapters and second seat for DS' arrival.

I'd consider a buggy board now for DD for some journeys but there are lots of occasions where they both need to be in their seats.

Wry chuckle You'll need a double buggy whatever you think now.
You'll need to be able to strap one or both of your DC in to have your hands free to deal with all manner of things.
Toddlers get tired and if toddler is grizzly and tired and you've got a crying baby you'll need somewhere to
put them. You'll also be doing a lot more walking as a toddler won't want to be in the car or house all the time. They need to get out and about, and so do you.

Sorry - I agree with Llangennith! 15 month gap here. I used the double until DD was over 2 - close to 2.5.

It's not that she couldn't stand on the buggyboard, but liked to throw herself off - even on reins. Then she'd lie on the ground to have a tantrum. Having the ability to strap her into a double was a godsend.

Good luck whatever you decide!

Definitely get a double pushchair!! Pissing with rain, toddler tantrums, loads of shopping to cart around...

Phil and ted 2nd hand can't go wrong!

Oh. Ok then. I actually thought I was being clever.

I'm feeling a bit sulky, now!

Agree sorry! Just because your toddler can sit on a buggyboard doesn't mean she will choose to stay there... reins will stop her running into the road but will not stop her getting down onto the pavement and staging a sit down protest. But maybe yours will be an angelic toddler who wouldn't dream of it!

Actually it would be really useful if they'd invent a buggyboard with a seat you could strap them securely to.

Oh and fwiw I'd get a (second hand) nipper side by side rather than a phil and teds. Much much easier to push, works much better for naps (your 18 month old may want to nap in the buggy sometimes?) and barely any wider.

actually sorry no, just saw you are in the car a lot, nipper is a pain to fold. (Mind you so is the phil and teds)

Heh! She is angelic actually and very easy, so I still can't help entertain the idea that I can get away with the buggy seat.
The only double to fold down in one is the britax b ready. That's with both seats, nothing to dismantle or have to stack, so that seems alright on that aspect.
Too many narrow aisles and similar because we're inner city urban means it'll have to be tandem.
Bugger it.

I have 17months between my youngest and we had a baby jogger city mini. It was a doddle to put up and down and narrow enough to go through our front door/small shops etc. It was ideal for the wonderful few months when they napped at the same time.

Ha, my DD2 was angelic till about 22 months - now she likes nothing more than running away! (And various other forms of 2yo defiance)

I like the city mini's look. But DH is adamant I'd be mad to get a side by side. We shop locally - think independent afro/asian/greengrocer/polish type mini markets with narrow aisles. I must admit, I agree.

Lol, she's morphed into Road Runner, minipie!

The poster who said about the rain has also made me take note. Rain cover for pushchair but its unfair to expose DD1 to the elements even when wrapped up.