Will I need a double buggy??

[Hay]

I was wondering if anybody has experience of walking long(ish) distances with a 2 year 4 month old and a newborn without a double buggy?

I always assumed that I'd be fine with just a buggy board for my toddler and our Quinny moodd for the babe but I am beginning to have second thoughts!

My toddler loves walking and can currently manage one lap of the park (stopping to pick up/look at/climb on everything in sight), but I have a dog who needs at least 4 laps of the park each day. I also cannot imagine it being easy walking down the street to the park with a pushchair, large dog and untethered toddler. He's usually very good (although very slow), but you never know when he might decided to make a break for it??? Not sure if toddlers do this or if I'm just imagining the worst?

I don't mind using a sling for short distances but I think I would struggle on a long walk.

My OH, of course, thinks I will be fine without a double buggy, but he will not be the one struggling!

Anyone been there? What would you recommend?

Thank you!

 

[Gc85]

I would think you will need one? My LO is 29 months and we still use ours regularly, although she's a good walker she still gets tired. Also if we go out for a whole day she will nap in the buggy around her usual time.

Maybe something with the ability to convert into a single at a later date when your toddler to longer needs a seat? Of the top of my head something like the icandy peach, oyster max, baby jogger city select, britax b-dual, bugaboo donkey can be used as both a single and a double

 

[jd83]

We still needed a double at that age, DS1 was 2 when DS1 was born, and still got wore out quickly on longer trips and wanted to sit. Around age 3, we converted it to the sit and stand (We have a Graco ready2grow that covnerts from double stroller to a sit and stand, its great!).

 

[fieryphoenix]

I'd have the toddler in a stroller and baby in a carrier. I like my boba 3g, my lo is 26 pounds and in a back carry I can't even tell he's there, its very comfortable

 

[aimee-lou]

It's a toughie as a double is such a big investment. However, if you know you're going to be walking a long distance virtually everyday I would swallow the cost and go for it. I have school runs from September and i'm keeping my double for them alone until DS2 is probably much closer to 3 (he's 25m now). He can manage on the buggy board/walking the distance to the school but I think with all the people around, the pace I would need to keep to be on time, the distance twice a day and the added complication of things like bags, weather and the traffic around the school, the double will be used until we're sure he's happy and safe. That's not to say I keep him in it the whole time. We went out in the single today - he walked a good couple of miles plus visited the park, but we were not on a schedule, the weather was nice and he was not tired, hungry or poorly......until he's older there's always a lot of unknown factors lol.

Could you look into getting a 2nd hand one or maybe even borrow one if you know a local childminder who could lend you one to see if you do need one? There's a lot of choice too and you don't necessarily have to spend a lot of money especially if it's just for a few months. I think for the sake of it you're probably better of having it and then selling it on when it's no longer useful than struggling on.

 

[Cheska]

Why don't you try without first. You know you can get one within a week or so if you change your mind/ find it difficult without once baby is here. Or do as op suggest and look for a second hand one on eBay perhaps?

Ds1 is 21 month and a handful. He's like a naughty puppy when I try and get him to walk trying to climb people's garden walls, darting in the wrong direction. So I deffo needed one so can't give advise from experience x

 

[liz1985]

We needed one. Ds was 2 when dd was born. He could walk for quite a while but eventually will ask to be carried or will just refuse to move any further. He's 32 months now and he does still go in the pram but not as often usually if were out for the day doing a lot if walking.

 

[BigAl]

I have the same age gap, and currently planning on trying to do without a double. I have a toddler carrier I'm hoping my lo will still go in, and a baby carrier too, kind of mix and match.

However I think if I was in your position, having to take the dog out so much, I would buy a double. My lo can easily walk for 2hrs most days, but some days he just isn't in the mood and a buggy would definitely be a necessity to get anywhere.

 

[Hay]

Thanks all for your replies.

Seems like it would be a good idea to get a double. I think I'd rather have the option to put my son in rather than try to carry him home if he gets tired/stroppy!

So, my next question to those of you who have double buggies- what is the best type to go for?

Ideally i'd like something reasonably priced as not sure i'd be using it for that long. Are the side by side versions any good?

I really appreciate all of your help.

 

[WANBMUM]

Hi hay. On a diff note, which buggy board suits the moodd?

Ps congrats on no. 2.

 

[minties]

I needed one until Thomas was 3y 3m.

I had a steelcraft strider plus which I think is pretty much the NZ version of the britax b-dual. I bought it when Thomas was about 15 months and used it as a single until Sophie was born when he was 23 months. My brother bought me the second seat.

Even now that he will be 4 in December Thomas sometimes needs to be carried or go in a small umbrella stroller. He walks way too slowly for my liking.

 

[Hay]

Hi wanbmum,

So far I have seen the Lascal Maxi buggy board to fit the Moodd but must say I've not done too much research although that one has good reviews.

 

[Hay]

I needed one until Thomas was 3y 3m.



Even now that he will be 4 in December Thomas sometimes needs to be carried or go in a small umbrella stroller. He walks way too slowly for my liking.

Hehe... Yes I think speed will be an issue for me too!

 

[Hay]

I like the look of the ready2grow. Thanks!

Do you know whether it is suitable for a newborn?

Thanks

Hay

 

[aimee-lou]

The ready2grow has a couple of UK versions (Joovy do an excellent one - the caboose) which you can fix a car-seat to for newborns. I'm not a fan of this myself (mainly because I'm too weak to take the car seat in and out of the car lol).

I went for a tandem (1 in front of the other) when DS3 was born and it was brill. I had a Cosatto Duet lite - side note is my universal buggy board fitted it lol. It has a fully reclining newborn 'nest' at the back and a toddler seat at the front. It served me well for 8months when my 2 boys combined outgrew the weight limits! I loved it and didn't think I'd find a suitable replacement - until I found my outnabout nipper 360! My life I love this pushchair. I wish we'd got it to begin with. It's a lot of money I know, but it's awesome and I recommend it to everyone.

My advice would be to get yourself to your local mothercare/kiddicare/toysrus and try some out. You can't tell how things will be unless you try them.

 

[george83]

My ds1 was 2 and 1/2 when we had our second and I brought the graco stadium tandem. I brought it when it was on offer so paid about £150 for the pushchair, cosy toes and rain cover. I decided at that price I'd only need to use it a few times to get my money worth. My oldest is a good walker but I liked being able to walk into town rather than drive etc and it's easier to give him the option rather than expect him to walk all the time. As it turns out we've used it loads so I say definitely worth it

 

[lilmissdanni]

Kiddicare have a tandem for £69.99.Ours arrived tthis morning and whilst we haven't road tested it yet, it seems ok.

 

[aimee-lou]

Kiddicare have a tandem for £69.99.Ours arrived tthis morning and whilst we haven't road tested it yet, it seems ok.

Just looked this up - it looks similar to my Cosatto. I loved it! Couple of things to be aware of - the clip probably wont hold it together when folded. Also ours wouldn't stand on end as the brakes didn't work when folded. However that's a small thing as it spent most of it's time either up or in the car boot.

Invest in a good footmuff for toddler at the front too as they are a little exposed out there. Poor Edward used to get rather cold until I put him into the old Silver Cross footmuff and then he was toastie warm lol.

 

[george83]

Just follow pp as well it might be worth trying your oldest in the front seat before buying, i had my heart set on one but ds1 was too big for the front seat

 

[ClairAye]

At first I carried DD and had DS in the pram, now she is in the pram and he mainly sits on the edge of the seat (my double broke) I desperately want another double!