2 year age gap - double pram?

Vikipollard

There are 14 months between mine and I had a second hand double buggy (the tandem type), where the toddler was at the front and baby at the back as he was more likely to be sleeping.

I am quite tall though, so could reach door handles for shops despite the length of the buggy!

I probably only had a years' use out of it, but it was a God send at the time.

mrsHall2b

i had a 20 month gap with the first 2, and my youngest will be 31 months when I have the 3rd, I have never used a double and dont plan to this time.

we walk a lot as we dont have a car and both girls have been fine with this, Ive already done away with the 2 year olds pushchair. I kept baby 1s push chair untill she was just gone 2, as I kept baby in a baby carrier when we where out and about as its so much easier getting in and out of places without a pushchair. and this time I will have number 2 on her reins (she completely ignores me when we are out so I need extra control over her!) and baby 3 in a carrier, Number 1 walks independantly and knows her way around and will be 4 by time 3 arrives anyways!
pushchairs are such a strain, I couldnt even imagine trying to push number 2 & 3 in a pushchair.

Sunshine62

I had 15 months between mine, so it was a complete must. Personally I would go for the double buggy especially if you do a lot of walking, like I did.....I think you will find it a lot less stressful. How about picking up a good second hand one ? I had a side by side buggy, the smallest I could find that also went through my front door, it was a Mamas and Papas which folded down quite small.....carried a lot of shopping on it too ! I really wanted one of those Graco ones but they were wide and too heavy and cumbersome to get into the boot!

Lunar_Eclipse

ciderwithrosie wrote: »

There's 17 months between my eldest two, I didn't have a double buggy because I found them a bit too wide and awkward and people would tut at you in shops etc. When the toddler was tired of walking or we were in a hurry I did the following combinations:

Baby lying flat in the pram, toddler sat in the end
Baby in a front sling, toddler in the fold up buggy
Toddler in the backpack, baby in the pram pushchair

Same.

I know most people still use buggies at that age, but assuming you wouldn't have WW3 on your hands, I'd avoid one and let the toddler walk.

DD1 walked at 10 months and was rarely in a pram by 15, mainly since she always hated them! But I realised I quite liked it and when DD2 was just over 2 we moved house with a 2 year old and a 3.5 year old & didn't take any prams.

Wearing children out naturally (ie walking) is healthy. Sometimes it's a pain and yes, you need to walk a little slower, though not a lot I found, and honestly it's much better than most expect. And the more you walk, the more they sleep!

gayleygoo

For all the time it would be used, I personally wouldn't go for the expense. Unless you think there is a chance of a third baby in the next couple of years, so would get more use

My local charity shops often have double buggies, and they're cheap. Not usually pretty, but would do for a while and you can give it back to the charity shop after!

I think that by age 3 a child will be walking most places, although it's hard sometimes when you're out for the day and small feet get tired. I had a sling with me most places so that I could have one child in the pram and the other on me/hubby, and not have to drag an unhappy child or juggle them with the pram!

bylromarha

22 month age gap between mine.

I decided to not get a double buggy. Budget didn't want to stretch that far, but could at a push.

Plan A: try with the pram I already had, plus a buggy board.
Plan B: Whilst pregnant with 2nd, I researched which double buggy I would buy, from Kiddicare with next day delivery, if I found the existing pram and buggy board too flipping hard!

Plan A worked well, probably better than a double buggy on occasion as youngest was happier in the sling than the pram in the early days when I took her on solo trips. When taking both out, eldest stayed in pram for 6ish months whilst youngest in the front sling. Youngest went in pram when eldest was 28ish months old, eldest went on buggy board.

Saved a fortune - budget was happy!

SmlSave

Pepperoni wrote: »

Hi. All being well we will have a 2 year age gap between our children 😁 Just looking for advice as to whether a double buggy is necessary? We do go on a lot of walks so I'm inclined to think it would be? Considering bugaboo donkey duo given it reverts to a single too.

I've got a joovy ultralight which I'd highly recommend. It's a sit and stand pram so the oldest can stand on the in built step (like a buggy board but you don't have to bend double to push the pram) or sit when tired or you need to shop.

And at £200 compared to the good double buggies!

I still push my lazy 4 year old and almost 2 year old in it!

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

ciderwithrosie wrote: »

There's 17 months between my eldest two, I didn't have a double buggy because I found them a bit too wide and awkward and people would tut at you in shops etc. When the toddler was tired of walking or we were in a hurry I did the following combinations:

Baby lying flat in the pram, toddler sat in the end
Baby in a front sling, toddler in the fold up buggy
Toddler in the backpack, baby in the pram pushchair

You forgot the usual state of affairs;

Baby anywhere you put it, toddler stomping about, dawdling and wailing, then screeching their head off at the mere suggestion of going in the buggy.
Baby anywhere you put it, toddler screeching that they want to get in.
Baby taken out and placed in sling, toddler screeching that they want to get out.
You at the end of your tether.

ciderwithrosie_2

Jojo_the_Tightfisted wrote: »

You forgot the usual state of affairs;

Baby anywhere you put it, toddler stomping about, dawdling and wailing, then screeching their head off at the mere suggestion of going in the buggy.
Baby anywhere you put it, toddler screeching that they want to get in.
Baby taken out and placed in sling, toddler screeching that they want to get out.
You at the end of your tether.

:rotfl:Yep, I'm sure we had many days like that, especially when the 3rd one joined the family! It's a while ago now, so I'm probably having rose-tinted memories.

DigForVictory

I had a tandem buggy & ye gods my stomach muscles improved to lever the sleeping baby up kerbs. And it was complex to get into the car.
If you can get the real vintage perambulator, then baby sleeps in absolute comfort, sibling perches on seat/board above (splendid views!) and parent resigned that public transport & cars are just not part of the deal. Plus going out in the wet is much more complicated.

Keep it as simple as possible, experiment wildly & try not to buy anything new until you've trained the offspring on second hand tech.(Which they'll then outgrow in weeks, or decide they hate, or the dog will gnaw a hole in, or your beloved will take an absolute scunner to it.)

Without wanting to assure you that you can't win, with growing young folk? You're outnumbered, outmanouevered & the assumption is that as the adult you're in charge.
It's all very unfair. All the very best!