[JBaby]

Hi, we will have a 2y3m gap between our two and I’m so torn between getting a double or not. If it was another 4 months on, I’d be confident to wing it but I’m not sure with this awkward gap.

So I’m wondering, did anyone with a similar gap buy a double pram and end up barely ever using it?

Or did anyone think they could manage without one, but then realised they needed one afterall?

[tenar]

I have exactly that gap and we are out and about almost every day, walking around our local area.

I didn't buy a double. We stuck with our old trusty bugaboo cameleon. I don't like prams that don't allow the newborn to rear-face (especially when you are chatting to the toddler). Which rules out many of the double arrangements. I also would guess that a side-by-side arrangement would be fine for twins, but not so easy to push if the kids in it are very different weights. Not that I've tried it, though.

I did get a kid-sit buggy board for it, which allowed DD1 to sit down while being pushed along. This has a comfy seat with a strap to hold onto. She loved it. With it we could be out all morning but not all day, because she couldn't lie back in it and doze. I also used a carrier for DD2 (ergo), but not so often because I got too hot and she was a big bub (4.5kg at birth).

It was fine, actually. The upshot was that DD1 is now a great walker. I sold on the kid-sit when she was about 3 and haven't missed it.

[tibs]

I have a similar gap between my first and second and second and third. Before my 2nd was born I bought a strider plus mainly for the travel system aspect but I got the toddler seat and was sooooooo glad I did - my oldest insisted on being in the pram, didn't want to walk etc until well past 3. This time around I still have the pram but haven't used the toddler seat even once - my middle child won't use a pram and only wants to walk. All I can put it down to is my first is a boy, second a girl. In my mothers group 6 of us ended up with that age gap and the 3 of us with boys first ended up with double prams and the 3 with girls first didn't. Coincidence or inherent gender difference I wonder?

[Bunsen]

2yrs 4m between my two and could not have coped without the double - getting around with a newborn and a toddler means lots of stops for feeds, nappies etc so outings take much longer, DS1 would not have coped without a seat! That said he was always happy to go in the pram and I don't drive. I used the double daily for at least a year but also had a Maclaren Quest with a buggy board for shorter trips where the double was too cumbersome.

[Anlawich]

My DD is turning 4 in April and i'll still use the double pram to walk to playgroup/kindy. It's a 3km round trip so can take quite a while to get there if she's walking!

2y3m is also quite young to not have them strapped in and kept contained when you need to. I wouldn't have a 2 year old 'loose' in shopping centres/malls with another baby to be tending to.

Most 2 year olds are still napping as well, so having that extra seat for naps is very helpful.

I had an 18 month gap between #1 and #2 and used a double. A 2y11m gap between #2 and #3 and used a double. And a 2y4m gap between #3 and #4 and used a double.

[TwoHeadedGirl]

We have a smaller age gap, but we have recently just sold our double and we probably could have done without it.

We had a BJCS and it was really only getting used as a single so we decided to downgrade to an umbrella stroller for DS when needed. DD has always been a good walker though and has never wanted to stay strapped up in the pram and she can go for hours. I know that's not always the case though.

[BabeBlossom]

We will have a 2yr 4 month gap. DD doesn't nap, especially not in prams and she refuses to use one at all for the most part. Even the ladies at Baby Bunting told me not to bother when I went in to buy a Strider Compact to use as a double.
I am sticking with my BJCM and getting a buggyboard. I'm also getting a good carrier so if DD does insist on using the pram on the odd occasion new baby can go into that.
DD has barely used the pram for the past couple of months, I've focused on road safety, hand holding etc so I can be a bit more confident going out with 2 of them on my own.

[KnightsofNi]

I had 2 under 2 and didn't get a double. Never needed one.

[Jo-Anna]

I will (hopefully) have that gap between DS and the twins. After long deliberation we have gone for a double instead of a triple. We got the MB duet with buggy board. Since we made the decision we have stopped using the pram for DS ans he has learnt to walk everywhere holding hands. I think it really depends on the temperament of you elder child (ie if they are a runner) and what you are likely to be using the pram for (i.e. trip to the zoo and full days out or just for the shops/around town.)

That being said, you can pick up bargains on ebay that have rarely been used. If you were to get one I would get one where the toddler seat detaches, not a side by side. I have a phil and teds sport I was intending to use until we found out about the twins and think that would be great for you age gap.

Good luck
ETA I plan on having a baby carrier (I have an ergo) under the pram so I can out one of the babies in that if DS desperately wants to hop in the pram.

This post has been edited by Jo-Anna: 08/02/2013, 12:38 PM

[Lokum]

DS1 was a bolter. Seriously, when I was 8 months PG he was running everywhere, and I had to strap him in because I couldn't chase him down and wrestle him into submission.

He was 2y5m when DS2 was born. We have a Duet which has been used a handful of times. We're mostly using the MB Urban with DS2 in the carrycot and DS1 on the buggyboard. He has stopped bolting!!! He does flit around sometimes in a shop and has to be told to get back on his board, but I am somehow more 'no-nonsense' than I was before and he's more responsible.

Otherwise we are using a stroller and putting DS2 in a sling.

DS2 is about to outgrow the carrycot, so I guess the Duet might get more use. Also, I haven't been doing long walks outside and hope to get back into those where the Duet will be handy.

At this point, I think the Duet was unnecessary, but will use it to get some value before I resell.