Cave and get a double or risk it...

[ejw2018]

So I'm due in January 2020, my little girl will be 2 in December.
I've been having a complete meltdown over whether or not we need a double pushchair or could we manage with our cam3 and sling/buggyboard.

We've trialed her with a board with my sisters baby and she'll sit on it for so long, then will walk, then want carrying.

Just no idea how I'll manage a potentially beastly toddler and a newborn strapped to me. I'm worried if lockdowns come and go that I don't want to be stuck in the house, afraid to venture outside if I'm going to have to be wrestling two kids.
Sorry for the long winded post.....

I think it depends on how much you rely on walking.

I had a similar gap with my children but had a car and had to drive most places as I live in a village. I found a cheap Second hand double Buggy online and that was useful for when I wanted to pop for a walk to the local shop, park or when we did days out like the zoo when the toddler would still get tired. I could have managed with a pram and a carrier though and wouldn’t have paid out for an expensive double.

However if you rely on walking (eg won’t have access to a car and so be walking everywhere with the kids) then Personally I would invest in a decent double as I’m sure you’ll make use of it. My friend had similar age children and needed a decent double as she’s walk to do the weekly shop and had no car in the week so walked everywhere.

I have the same age gap and recently bought an out n about nipper double and it's the best! We had a tandem travel system but tbh didn't really use the carrycot as my babies don't seem to like the lying flat bit. So I did use a sling for the first 5-6m then got this side by side double second hand. Since we potty trained the eldest it's difficult having the baby strapped to me if I need to deal with quick toilet situations and to be honest many other situations. I still baby wear and love it but equally sometimes you just need the baby to be safely strapped in so you can deal with the toddler. And the other thing that made me buy one is that with Covid and the potential for being in and out of lockdowns and not able to go to usual playgroups etc I thought if I can at least strap them both in safely I can get out and have a proper walk and fresh air! For me I'm glad I bought one but it was fine to wait until I needed one and picked it up then rather than having it sitting there.
Good luck- it's crazy but the best!

I wouldn't have been without a double with a 2 year age gap but I got a second hand one for around £100.

There was less than 19 months between mine so I bought a double. Baby hated buggy and wanted to be in the sling all the time so I wish I hadn't bothered. Get a comfy sling and see if you can at least get to the age they don't need to lie flat so you have more choice in double if you think you need one.

Honestly get a double. If you think it’d make life easier do it. Ours are a year apart so it’s an essential, ds2 is a bear of a baby at 6 months he’s wearing 12-18 carrying him in his carrier and trying to push a buggy with a wiggly toddler and him tipping it if he rests on the handles is more work than the double 😂.

We take a small single foldy buggy if dh is there to push ds1 and I can put ds2 down for a break when he’s out running around. But if I’m myself I couldn’t manage a tantrum/bags/fast moving toddler while ds2 is strapped to me.

You could pick up a double that has a seat on the bottom that can come off in future rather than a side by side. We’ve got a kids kargo one (bought secondhand for peanuts) that could have the carrycot on the bottom so you didn’t have to cram the taller child under like the Phil n ted type ones. I do prefer my side by side for shopping n longer walks, can pull them up at a bench n give them both a snack without faffing lol.

Get a double. I had the same age gap and it made a huge difference to how easy it was for me to get out and about

Get a double
Its important to be able to restrain a toddler sometimes ...