Wearing baby and Toddler - is this a stupid idea....

[catfart]

Is this a daft idea...

I had a Stokke Explory for my DS1, he's now a 20 months old and I've not used it for 8 months as we've moved to a very rural location and if he's not walking he's in the Ergo backpack but I loved it when we were in Bristol. Its made me wonder whether I need a pram at all, I always use the sling now.

I'm now 3 months pregnant and looking at prams for when the baby comes along, going to get rid of the Stokke and get some much needed cash, but knowing what to get now is doing my head in totally, I plan on wearing the baby more (I used the pram a lot early days last time then but I think it was because the ergo carrier we got wasn't as great for a newborn) but also don't want DS1 to be jealous, I'm thinking of ways of wearing them both.....I was thinking of getting a single stroller with a stomp pad as back up in case I'm knackered as I'm sure it would come in useful.

Is this a daft idea, do you think I should get a double buggy....just don't want to waste my money on something DS1 may not go in as he'll hate it...

I have 16 months between my elder two (now 3 and 4). I bought a £50 ebay double but it was really only used by the grandparents. I used sling + single buggy the vast majority of the time. I did sometimes wear big kid on my back and small kid on the front, but that tended to be mainly in the house when they were tired and grumpy rather than out. 2 kids + bag of clothes, nappies etc is a lot to carry all the time, especially as the younger one piles on the pounds.

The jealousy issue was best sorted by swapping around who sat where - sometimes slung little one, sometimes big one.

I found the Ergo uncomfy by about 12 weeks pregnant but discovered woven wraps and wore DD1 on my back in a wrap until the day I went into labour with DS.

I have a bigger gap (2 years 9 months) between number 2 and number 3 and don't have a double buggy at all now. DS mainly walks or scoots but I do sometimes take a single buggy and the sling. Buggy is one that is suitable for both newborn and bigger kid so I can swap them around.

Thanks Pootlebug. I conveniently forgot about the epic bag of nappies, snacks, drinks, wallet....weighs as much as a 3rd child!!

What sling do you use, and which buggy? I've been looking at the woven wraps, they seem better than the stretchy ones to me and I'm going to give one a go.

I have (ahem) a few woven wraps. I like Didymos and Oscha but Girasol, Natibaby, Ellevill and many others also worth looking at. I'd avoid gauze, or anything very thin like Ellaroo, as they won't be as supportive with bigger ones.

I have a bugaboo and a Out n about nipper single - both from ebay. Like the rear facing on bugaboo for more interaction but the out n about is easier to push and much better for swapping who sits where in the early days. I'm not really a pushchair geek though - I just wanted something heavy enough that it feels sturdy (I live in London so take them on escalators etc) but light enough to be easy to push.

I've just ordered 2 Beco Gemini and plan to occasionally carry both my DTs in them, there is a YouTube video showing how to wear both at once (they're only 6 mo and combined weight of 30 lb though)

Google the north east sling lubrary and there's some photos on there of the lovely lady who runs it doing some natty double carrying!

thenortheastslinglibrary.weebly.com/

Thank you all so much! I'm going to get a Didymos I think......looking forward to figuring out how to tie it lol! Will see if can work with the ergo if I try a tandem carry otherwise I may try two weave slings....like the shopping trolley idea. Will still get a small buggy I think on ebay.......

You can find lots of choice on 2nd hand wraps including Didymos on the for sale forum at www.naturalmamas.co.uk

Are you near a sling meet or sling library? You should be able to get some help learning how to tie it there. You can of course learn from youtube videos etc though (I did!). Most people start with Front Wrap Cross Carry or FWCC - a video here

If you're a UK size 10 or smaller I'd get a size 5 wrap (around 4.2m), if you're 12-16ish I'd get a 6 (~4.7m) and if larger a size 7 (~5.2m)