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Original poster

Pregnant with number two - advice needed re Buggy's, boards, slings etc.....

16 replies

bafty · 15/06/2007 12:40

I'm due my second baby at the end of August my first DS will be 2.8. We dont have a car and I walk my DS to and from nursery (2miles approx) 3 times a week.

I am quite small at 5.3ft.

I've been looking at loads of threads am completely at a loss as to what option is best ie buggy boards, sling and pram, double buggy.

does anyone have any advice based on a similiar situation to me ie short arse with no car...

OP posts:

CarGirl · 15/06/2007 12:42

I suspect you could manage with a buggy board only. If you go for a 2nd hand pushchair I would recommend a phil & ted as I'm short and it was the easiest I found to use (though have not tried jane powertwin). Think the benefit of getting a pushchair is surviving the first winter!

liath · 15/06/2007 13:28

I'm a fellow short-arse . My dd is 2.3 and I'm too tight to fork out for a double buggy so have gone down the single buggy and sling route. Ds is 8 weeks and so far so good. I have an Ergo sling which is very comfortable and has good lumbar support. The one drawback is that I can't really go clothes shopping and there are times when I've wished ds was in a buggy, like when I'm at the playpark with dd but am still happy enough with it.

I reckon once ds is big enough to go in the buggy dd should be up to walking reasonable distances so I won't need the sling for every single outing by then.

saralou · 15/06/2007 13:41

my experience was that i ended up with double pushchair (although ds1 was younger!) they're now 2.5 and 6mnths.

had c-section, so couldn't really use sling, then when i could, he quickly got too heavy... ds1 wouldn't stay on the buggy board and it all got too stressfull, especially when shopping was involved..

i now have a new love in my life that is my phil&teds i kick myself every time i use it that i didn't get it sooner!

i suppose it all depends on how far your ds will happily walk, how much time you have, what kind of activities you do.. the decider for me was going on days out.

CarGirl · 15/06/2007 13:45

There is a big difference between using a buggy board with a child that's just 2 to one that is approaching 3. I would think at 2.8 he will be fine using a buggy board, and you could use a sling for a few months too. Phil & Teds are fab though.......

Original poster

Bafty · 15/06/2007 15:22

Hmmmm, it may be worth seeing how I go with a sling and buggy for the first month or two? Although my first baby was quite a big boy so very quickly was two big for me to carry in sling, (I also have back probs so that doesnt help) I have also been investigating the strolli rider which goes out to the side a bit, any views?

Its a good point you made about the oncoming winter. 2 miles in driving rain - it may be better to have them both under a rain cover.

God its all stupidly complicated unless you dont have to worry about the cost of forking out.

OP posts:

Birdly · 15/06/2007 16:05

I'd definitely get a double buggy with raincover if you have to walk everywhere - unless you can avoid going out on days when it's raining! We've got a Maclaren Twin Traveller, which is fairly basic and relatively lightweight but has done the job well.
I walk about a mile to DD's pre-school with DS in the buggy and DD on the buggy board. IMO, it's too far for a child to be pushed along in driving rain - and you'd have to take a change of clothes for when you get there.
Single buggy and board works fine on dry days though!

fannyannie · 15/06/2007 16:06

If you opt for the sling I'd go for the Tomy Freestyle one rather than Baby Bjorn - I'm another shorty (5ft) and had the Baby Bjorn for DS1 - didn't get on with it at all and found it very hard work very quickly - I've bought the Tomy one for DS3 and love it - got good back support too,

CarGirl · 15/06/2007 16:23

I had big babies and back probems and never got on with a sling either for those reasons. I think really you should invest in a double buggy. Buying a phil & ted 2nd hand and then selling it on again is probably the most cost effective (or powertwin) the E3 is probably going to go down in value very soon as the sport version becomes more available. Also look out on ebay for their original kiwi or ozzy explorer version or the E3 v1 all of which are cheaper but still very good.

Marne · 15/06/2007 16:27

We use a buggy board and dd1 loves it but i do find myself tripping over it so i only use it for short trips. We started off with a jane powertwin (2nd hand) which was great until dd1 decided she wanted to walk evrywhere

TheBlonde · 15/06/2007 17:51

Phil & Teds is lovely to push

amazonianwoman · 15/06/2007 22:34

I have same age gap and was adamant I wouldn't need a double so bought a buggy board - except DD won't go on it and now insists on going in a buggy again (she can walk long distances well when she's in the mood and doesn't run off) She had an absolute tantrum yesterday when I put her baby brother in HER pram!

So I caved in and bought a Phil & Teds Sport, and it's been a godsend, esp as I had a section, whopper 10lb9oz baby and chronic sciatica. The doubles seat doesn't cost any more than a buggy board and you can use it to put your shopping/bag in if older one decides to walk Older one can also shelter from sun/rain

They have great resale value and you aren't lumbered with a double you don't need in 6mths

Original poster

Bafty · 16/06/2007 21:09

hmmm, I'm leaning towards to the phil & teds idea. esp as it becomes a single buggy later. I have checked with the buggy board website (thank you amazonianwoman for that) and they say that the buggy board will fit Phil&Teds once the bottom baby seat is removed.

by the way, I cant remember at what age babies can start to sit up in a pram - can anyone refresh me?

OP posts:

TheBlonde · 16/06/2007 21:56

Depends on the pram - usually from 3-6mths they can be less flat

P&T's site says that you can't fit a buggy board so not convinced about that

Busybean · 16/06/2007 22:02

I did post on this thread about 10mins ago but the post has disappeared oh er!

look at this for an optionwww.specialtybaby.com/batrsi73gast.html

lizziemun · 16/06/2007 22:03

I am also having number 2 at the end of august, i will be getting a buggy board/kiddyseat if i can find out if either will fit my mama & Papas classic frame pram.

Because like you i don't have a car and walk everywhere but dd will be 3 1/2 so i don't want to get a double buggy as she will walk but as most places we go are over a mile.

If she was younger like yours i would invest in a double buggy as you will get more use from it.

kikidee · 16/06/2007 22:15

My DD was born in March and DS was almost 3. I got a Lascal buggy board for my Jane Powertrack and I also got a Wilkinet sling (after much Mumsnet research). I have a car but I had a CS and couldn't drive for six weeks.

The pram is quite awkward with the BB attached and I couldn't have pushed it like that in the first few weeks after the CS. DS also has a scooter and for short trips I use the pram without BB and he scoots. It all works well but if I didn't have a car, I think a double buggy could be a good option as it allows you to go further and is much easier to push than pram plus buggy board.

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