Small age gaps - anyone NOT get a double buggy?

**Danna** · 29-07-2008, 11:50am

I am going to have 15 months between my babies, and am wondering if I would really need to get a double buggy or if I could chance my arm and just keep my single.

I will be slinging the newborn for at least 3 months anyway - I did with Mae - and then Mae will be 18 months old and I will still probably be breastfeeding anyway if I have anything to do with things so will be with the newborn constantly so no need for a double buggy is there? Mae will be able to jump on a buggy board from 21 months or so I presume?

I could always buy one if need be when the baby is born, but wonder what the general consensus is?

**shauxy** · 29-07-2008, 11:57am

Will watch this thread with interest as I am also planning on not bothering with a double buggy. C will be 23 months old when bubs is born so a little older than your Mae. He is not a buggy fan anyway so I can't help but think it would be a waste of money. My thoughts are that I will have a sling and a buggy board ... so C and bubs can alternate between the buggy and those as need be.

**Peridot** · 29-07-2008, 12:28pm

Originally Posted by Danna

I could always buy one if need be when the baby is born, but wonder what the general consensus is?

Yep, it might be a good idea then you can just see how you get on.

Personally there is no way I could've relied on Thomas using a buggy board at 21 months, I'm not even sure I could now but then it depends what you use your buggy for I guess.
I do quite a lot of walking etc and at 30 months rarely go out without the pushchair for Thomas unless I know I'm not going to be long plus at least with the pushchair I can strap him in if he's being a little devil and running off everywhere.
This is my biggest concern as at the moment I can just abandon the buggy and run after him should I need to but I wouldn't be able to do that if I had another baby in the buggy (obviously

) and belive me he is FAST!

I think Marti may have got away without buying a double and there are about 2 years between her 2

hopefully there will be some more responses soon from people that have closer age gaps than what I will have.

**Princess Fiona** · 29-07-2008, 12:48pm

My friend had 15 months between her youngest 2 boys and didn't buy a double to start with. She lasted 2 months but at her own admission she was housebound and didn't go anywhere.

She bought a double and is still using it regulary now and her boys are now 3 yrs 2 months and around 20 months.

If i'd have had a baby when Lucy was 15 months there is no way on this earth i'd have coped without a double buggy now, for a start off at 15 months she was still napping twice a day.

She's 3 yrs and 7/8 months now and its still a PITA as she still naps in the day most days and i often have to wake her up and drag her round half asleep which is trying.

**Danna** · 29-07-2008, 12:52pm

Thanks girls.

Princess Fiona do you not think a sling will be a viable option then for the first 6 months or so? As I said if I get to having both of them for a while and then I realise its too hard I can buy a double.

**Princess Fiona** · 29-07-2008, 12:55pm

For you maybe, i don't really get on with slings/carriers etc but if you do then i'm sure you'll be fine.

**Bubble** · 29-07-2008, 12:58pm

There's 13 months between Sam and Chloe and I couldn't have managed without a double buggy. I used it constantly. Sam was an early walker at 11 months but by 13 months couldn't walk very far, plus his legs would still have gotten tired on a buggy board - in fact, that would have been true for ages as I didn't get a buggy board until he was about 2 (and even then his legs got tired on it if I was out for ages, so I gave up on that idea and carried on using the double). I used the double with Sam and Chloe until Sam was 2.5.

I am still using the double now with Chloe and Neve (am about to go out with it in a minute actually!). Chloe is fine walking but would not be relied on to stay on a buggy board as she is prone to getting board and legging it. Plus, even at nearly 3, she still naps in it if I'm out for a while.

I didn't sling any babies though so can't advise on that but my double buggy is still used now with a nearly 3 year old in it so I've definitely got my money's worth!

**Danna** · 29-07-2008, 01:01pm

Thanks PF and Bubble - its good to hear from mums who have "been there!"

**Booh** · 29-07-2008, 01:07pm

I didn't have a double buggy and there was 2 years between my two! I think the key thing for me was that I had a pram that both the toddler and baby could use. Toddler would use the buggy board for a bit, then when she got tired she would use the buggy and I would put DS in the sling!

DS is no 22months, and as I have been looking after a baby, he has been using the buggy board since he was 18months old and he is really great on it! I do however put reins on him as he does tend to run off

**Flicky** · 29-07-2008, 01:09pm

Sling & buggy is perfectly doable. It depends how confident you are with back carrying though - you may find there's a tricky stage where the baby is getting hard to work around on your front but you feel they are too little for a back carry (although it can be done). I would definitely use a mei tai or wrap so you can be completely hands free rather than a pouch or ring sling where you need one hand sometimes.

I do think 21m might be too little for a buggy board. My ds is nearly 2 and he'll go on but is stretching to hold on and won't stay still - will randomly hop off. He's also been known to want to touch the (spinning) wheels!

However, there's certainly no need to get a double to start with and if you wait 6m, or even just 3 and decide it's not working any more, that will give you a bigger choice of doubles suitable from those ages rather than having to get a newborn/lie flat type.