Children 26 months apart - P&T double buggy or single buggy and board?

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Sorry if this has been done before but have spent weeks pondering what to do about the pram situation and am running out of time.

Second baby due in 3.5 weeks, DD is 25 months - we don't currently have a pushchair suitable for a newborn, just a quite battered maclaran triumph. (We borrowed one last time and have had to give it back.)

So, have to buy either a single plus board or a double. If we get a double it's likely to be a phil & teds sport but I just wonder if it'll be a bit heavy and cumbersome and potentially unnecessary given that there will probably only be a few months when we'll need a double after which DD will I guess now want to go in the pram very much at all.

Also love the look of the bugaboo bee just because it's so small and neat but they're so expensive (especially once you ad the buggy board) in fact I think it'll cost than a double, which seems crazy.

So what are the pros and cons of each option? What have your experiences been? Anyone done one bought a double and regretted it or wish they had bought one? Anyone with a similar age gap?

Any thoughts much appreciated.

Thanks

Thanks v much, both - all thoughts much appreciated. Have been sidling up to lots of young families with similar aged kids today and quizzing them about their prams. Will post once I've made a decision one way or another. Have been ill with stomach bug today and briefly wondered if I was going into labour - kept thinking 'I can't have the baby yet, I haven't bought breastfeeding bras or decided on a pram'

I'm in the same situation - DS will be 25 months. We've not had a new pram in 5 years since dd was born.

I;ve got the obaby tandem £250 from kiddicare and am using it as a single for now until baby arrives. Then will use as double, then single again when DS is more sensible

I had this issue too a few years ago. I didn't drive at the time so I needed to do quite a lot of walking. Therefore, I got a Phil & Teds which was great. I probably used it as a double until my eldest was 4 even though he walked most of the time. I thought about the sling and buggy board idea but it doesn't really work in really bad rain when you have to go out. Also, whenever I have tried a sling it gave me backache. My toddler at the time was a little terror and it was much easier knowing he was stapped down safely when walking by busy roads.

I thought the Phil and Teds was good and very light to push. It is no where near as bulky as some other single buggies either. I wasn't sure about the baby underneath bit but actually it was fine and he feel asleep very easily in it due to the slight rocking motion. It is also great for getting through doorways! I wouldn't have managed without it!

you could get a second hand PT and then in 6 months time if toddler is not really using it, sell it on (shouldn't make too much of a loss) and get the parent facing/buggy board combo

I have 2 1/2 years between DD2 and 3 and bought a P&T and used it for about 6 months. It was great in that time as it meant DD2 was covered in the winter months and also if we were out for the day she could walk a bit and have a rest for a bit. Also good for containment if you need to go somewhere fast like a quick dash round the shops having a slow walking, touching everything toddler is a nightmare. I sold the P&T and almost got my money back for it.

This time I will have 22 months between DD3 and DS and am getting another double probably P&T

Hadn't thought about the rain situation. Likely to be quite an issue with a baby born in Feb! For those who bought 2nd hand PTs, where did you get them from? I'll do a google search and look on ebay but if anyone knows of a good site for 2nd hand prams would be v grateful

DS was just 3 when DD arrived and I could not have managed without my P&T - we still use it as a double 8n months later if we're out for a long day, or if I need to get somewhere quick.

It's good as a single too (although I miss DD being able to face me)....

Thanks, sparky have actually just bid on a PT on ebay - seemed like too good an offer to miss so if I win it I guess that makes the decision for me - if not will keep quizzing you all! Hoping to win it though, if only so that my waking hours are no longer dominated by thoughts of prams

OP I was thinking of selling my P&T (am in Enfield) if you miss out on eBay... I know selling isn't allowed on this topic so will start a thread in For Sale if you are interested...

This is something I am interested in too. DS wil be 22 months when DD2 arrives and he has only just started letting go of furniture so I doubt very much that he will be able to use a buggy board.

We tend to use the bus a lot and I am concerned about having a huge double to wheel around and attempt to fit on buses. Plus there is the storage issue. I'm not a fan of slings, but am seriously considering it this time round. Just don't know what to do about it so am watching this with interest!

This is hugely helpful for me. if all goes well, i'll have DC2 in early Sept when DS will be 29mo. I had been leaning towards sling for baby to give DS a few more months in buggy, and then just buggy board. But sweetkitty makes a great point about the bad weather in winter (exactly how I could have forgotten that given recent snow, I don't know!) so maybe we will look at a double, even if just second hand to tide us over for a while.

I have one of these...mine were 22 months apart. It is brilliant as the toddler seat is removeable so you can use as a normal pram if you just have the baby with you.

It is also beautifully easy to push...i could do it one handed no proble. DS2 is now nearly 2.5 so i dont use the toddler seat anymore but still use the pram bit as i love it being rear facing.

Personally i think it is better than the P&T as the baby is not tucked away down below and you have rear facing option. DS1 also loved the high seat position in it....he was like a little king up high and could chat away to people in shops.

As ds1 got older i switched to a buggy board with it and this was good as he stodd inside the handle IYSWIM so didnt affect how i walked as bugggy boards can do otherwise...also liked the two of them facing each other as above poster says.

Only downside is that the toddler seat doesnt recline although this never stopped ds1 having a doze.

If you dont manage to get one off ebay i would consider selling mine as i was holding onto it for baby no. 3 but doesnt look like tat is going to happen.

hairybabysmum - which buggy is it? i like the sound of rearfacing

Sadly didn't win the ebay auction so back to turning it all over in my mind!

Yes, hairybabysmum for some reason the link didn't work would be v interested to see pram, also like the idea of rearfacing.

But would also be interested in your PT Megbusset so will have a look in the For Sale section, thanks. Haven't been there before...

There are some really good deals out there on new P&Ts, try kiddicare or one of the ebay shops.

I like the idea of the iCandy Peach Blosson but 1) it's £700 and DP would have a fit and 2) I think it would be fab for a baby/toddler but not too sure about two toddlers once the baby is out the car seat IYSWIM

I had a 19mth gap and double buggy was essential. I had dd1 (a great walker) out of her buggy completely by 2.6 months and she is totally on buggy board / walking now but, given half a chance, she would jump into a buggy! I had a twin Maclaren, second hand from ebay (and a proper pram from 1st time round admittedly) but Maclaren was great - so light and fold up really small.

Doh...sorry everyone...link didn't work because i failed to add it in!!

It is a Bertini pram with toddler seat. Mine looks like this
here

One on ebay currently here

I think Emmaljunga (sp?) also do, or used to do a pram/seat combo they also come up on ebay sometimes.