Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Shopping

From everyday essentials to big purchases, swap tips and recommendations. For the best deals without the hassle, sign up for Mumsnet Moneysaver emails.

Original poster

Should I buy a double buggy? Please just tell me. (dd will be 3)

75 replies

morningpaper · 27/06/2005 21:51

DD will be 3 when baby is born. DD doesn't really walk much. Most people have said that double buggies are such a PITA that it's better to try slings/buggy boards. I've got two nice 'carrycot' style prams under my bed. But I think a compact double one will be better. Please just tell me what to do, my pregnant brain is incapable of making any further decisions.

OP posts:
stitch · 27/06/2005 22:11

make her walk!
or get a buggy board.
the double will be a nightmare to push with the uneven weight distribution. and compact double buggies are the spawn of the devil. if you must get one, then get a big one that isnt a nightmare topush.

chicagomum · 27/06/2005 22:42

get a litaf seat to go - i have dd 3.5 and ds 6months and use it all the time she can stand on the top one to see over the bars or sit on it we don't have a car so i walk evey where (at least4 miles a day it comes with various attachments so will attach to pretty much any push chair, there was someone who was recently advertising one for sale

aloha · 27/06/2005 23:00

Ds who really doesn't walk much (dyspraxic) loves and adores his buggy board. I prefer it too. I think you are wise and right not to make her walk if you know it will end up upsetting you both. It's not worth it, especialy when you will be tired & stressed with a new baby anyway.

strugstu · 27/06/2005 23:55

i had a double buggy and couldnt of managed without it-
mind you they didnt have all these fancy prams and pushchairs in those days

hovely · 28/06/2005 22:25

Basic q is -does she sleep in the day? If so, I reckon you need a double buggy. Completely agree to get an easy-to-push one if you are walking 3 miles a day - get a 3 wheeler or an E3 (just typed E£ and probably should have left it like that ). They all have a good resale demand, in our local free paper the double buggies are gone within hours.

jennifersofia · 29/06/2005 00:07

We had a toddler seat, and found that quite useful for the occasional ride for the older one - esp. as you have the big pram already. However, we now use the b.board (generally with the hood off unless it is tipping down - my dd is short too and this means she can see if there is no hood) and have found it quite good too. The thing about the bboard is that it encourages ch. to walk whilst also giving option to 'rest' and ride too. Good too when you get fed up with the dawdling and want to get somewhere.

oliveoil · 29/06/2005 09:05

I didn't think I would need a double and I couldn't live without it now. Dd1 was 22 months when dd2 was born (I know, am glutton for punishment) and I don't drive so it was essential to get me out of the house.

It is V-E-R-Y heavy now however so I got a buggy board, spent 4 hours trying to fit it and sent it back in a huff.

So am now considering the make-her-walk trick but if a toddler doesn't want to walk.......I now take the double but she walks for as long as she sees fit and then bobs in when she is tired.

oliveoil · 29/06/2005 09:06

good god what a load of waffle, can you tell I have just had a coffee?

saadia · 29/06/2005 10:14

morningpaper, I got a double buggy when ds2 was born because at that time ds1 was only 2. If he had been three then I wouldn't have bothered as it became very difficult to manouevre - ds1 in front, ds2 at back - and we discovered when we went on hols that ds1 was able to walk a lot further than we originally thought, so now I expect him to walk everywhere.

I have to say that it was very useful for about a year, but now that the dss are heavier I just feel that I can't steer it safely.

popsycal · 29/06/2005 10:15

dont do it

sweetkitty · 29/06/2005 12:17

My DD will be less than 18 months when DB is born (I know!!) so I will definately need a double buggy but which one, tandems look like you are pushing a pram 2 metres in front of you, doubles look really big and bulky, DP would never let me have an E3 () after last time when I had a travel system used it for 2 months then bought a techno xt.

CarlyP · 29/06/2005 12:52

DS1 was 11mths when DS2 was born. i had 2 dbl buggies, ont mothercare phoenix (one in fornt of the other) which is grerat for getting in and out of shops etc and a kigswood side by side 2 wheeler. which was very stable (alot better that the other) and fab for walks etc. both suitable from birth.

CarlyP · 29/06/2005 12:53

ds1 is now 18mth and ive sold 1 buggy, bought a maclaren stroller with a buggy board. seems to work fine. have the other dbl as back up for long walks and trips etc

bambi06 · 29/06/2005 12:57

what about those buggy board types which also have the seat to sit on/ persoanlly dont do the double buggy thing as it means she wont learn to walk as much and build strength up plus you wont need it for much longer.both mine walked from early on (ds was 18 mths old when dd born and we used a double buggy rarely /only if going out for the day..used buggy bord everywhere. my dd walked everywhere by the time she was 2 1/2 but she is still very slow and gets tired but we get there but i guess its a personal choice..how about borrowing one from a friend to see how you get on or buy a cheap second hand one lik ei did as i didnt use it much so didnt waste the money

006 · 29/06/2005 13:09

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

arwen · 29/06/2005 14:02

have an E3 and reckon it's worth every penny. Ds who is 3 almost never gets in it but the seat is there if he needs it and I have been so grateful for it when he has just thrown up or similar!
dd 18 months sits in front and surveys all around and when they are both walking the second seat is the right height for them to push.
Would recommend encouraging the walking at 3 but do agree that life is hard enough in early days with 2 and you need back up.

Socci · 29/06/2005 14:06

Message withdrawn

oliveoil · 29/06/2005 14:19

What is an E3? Can someone do me a link or point me in the direction to look at one?

Ta.

x

spidermama · 29/06/2005 14:21

I have so many friends desperately trying to get rid of the double buggies they used three times. You should be able to pick one up for peanuts as most of these mums can't seem to give them away. They are bulky and their usage time inevitably short.

spidermama · 29/06/2005 14:22

Hello again Socci. I appear, by chance, to be disagreeing with you again on two threads in tandem now! Sorry. Nothing personal I assure you.

Socci · 29/06/2005 14:27

Message withdrawn

YeahBut · 29/06/2005 16:45

I got a Graco tandem double buggy and thought it was great. Dd1 sounds like yours - quite petite - so it never felt heavy to push. Easy to fold and put in the car. Also a lot easier to manouver than the side-by-side style. If you think you need it and think your dd won't just get used to walking / using a buggy board, save yourself the stress and get one. Sell one of the prams under the bed to pay for it! You can always sell the double buggy on and get an umbrella stroller when baby is older and your dd walks more.

robinia · 29/06/2005 20:20

Another vote here for getting the double buggy if you can afford it. If you need to go shopping with them both the last thing you want is a toddler on the loose or on go-slow. Also much better if they are tired (as most 3-year-olds are at some point in the day).

My ds3 will be just turned 4 when no.5 comes along in October, and I will be carrying the double buggy in the car for use as and when necessary. I'm lucky - I've already had 3 "sibling-pair's" use of it - this will be the fourth use and easily the biggest age gap but I still wouldn't be without it. (Ds3 regularly falls asleep on the afternoon school run and I wouldn't get half as much shopping done if he wasn't safely strapped in the buggy.)

Re. being awkward to push, I've got a standard Maclaren double buggy (twin traveller I think - not sure if they still make this). It's quite light and has 5 recline position so good for babies. I've never had much trouble pushing it even with a 4 year old and a 2 year old in it (except up hills), although it is a pain getting through some doors.

I did use a single buggy and baby sling until baby was about 3 months old though.

cardy · 29/06/2005 20:27

I held off buying one and waited until dd2 was born to see if I really needed one - I did. dd1 was 2.5 when dd2 was born and after a few outings without a double buggy I realsied it would make life easier if we got one, especially for shopping

dd1 is 4 in august and walks almost all the time now so I don't think it has made herlazy.

ellasmum · 29/06/2005 20:41

DD was 14 months (!) when DS born so I had no choice but to get a double buggy - went for the Maclaren one. Used it for quite a while but if was having another one now (DD now 3) wouldn't get one. Good thing about the Maclaren one is that it lies virtually flat for the newborn and is easy to fold etc..

I know this sounds wierd, but if DD is tired and I am using the single buggy, I put her in the back i.e. she stands on the frame and is inbetween the back and the hood IYSWIM

Swipe left for the next trending thread