Can I get by without a double buggy for a 4.5 year old and a newborn?

[Tinkjon]

My daughter is 4.5 and I'm due with No.2 is September. As my daughter will be in school once the baby arrives, I don't think it's necessary to buy a double buggy - do you think I'm being unrealistic?! She is capable of walking everywhere, I only put her in the buggy to stop her from running off and grabbing everything when I'm trying to shop! (she's a nightmare when she's on the loose!) But she will be in school during the week and at weekends if we all go out somewhere, then my DH will be there to help with keeping tabs on DS. I've heard that buggy boards make it too hard to steer/push, so wasn't planning on getting one of those... so do you think that just one buggy is practical? Thanks in advance!

[oooggs]

my ds is 3.6 and I have 11 week old twins. I wouldn't have considered a double buggy for ds and a newborn. He can walk and he hasn't been in one since he was 2.8. If she runs off try a wrist strap

[PrettyCandles]

Goodness yes! Put the buggy away as soon as you can so that your dd gets used to not using or seeing it. She should definitely be able to walk everywhere, but, if she's not used to doing so, may need to work up to it. But IMO you ought to go cold-turkey on the buggy as you've only two months to get her used to walking - and you don't want her to think that the new baby has ousted her from the buggy.

[colditz]

She doesn't need a pushchair. Get her out of it NOW and get her used to walking everywhere or you are going to have major jealousy problems.

[Aimsmum]

Message withdrawn

[milkchocolateStarryStarryNight]

My 3 old went out of the buggy when his Ds2 arrived. No question about it, he was walking, and he enjoyed being such a big boy he could walk!
He was really proud walking next to "his baby" in the pram.

[tortoise]

You will not need a double buggy. Your DD does not need to be pushed around now.
Wrist strap if she is going to be trouble in the shops or tries to run off.

[castrolgtx]

I've never heard of a 4.5 years old in a buggy!!!

[scatterbrain]

This made me laugh ! My dd hasn't been in a pushcahire since she turned 3 ! Her friend from school - who is 6 next month - was being wheeled around the shoping centre last weekedn = in a NEW pink biuggy that she chose - because - she was TIRED !!!!

How we laughed !

walking is good for 4.5 yr olds - you really won't need a double !

[DeviousDaffodil]

$.5 in a buggy? Madness!!

[motherinferior]

Both of mine were out of the buggy at twoish. DD2 turns four next week and walks half a mile every morning. DD1 walked around a mile four days a week when she started school.

[elasticbandstand]

how far do you have to walk?
how about cycling

[wishingfourgotone]

yep you can trial an if needed get buggy board

[mustrunmore]

I got so much flak for having ds1 in a buggy till he was 2.5 (so there was a 3 month overlap when I needed a double), even given the fact that we have no car and walk everywhere. I think car drivers forget that their kids prob only walk half the distance we do each day, and that their cars are just like big buggies with engines Unchief, I'm not criticising you in any way I promise, but "occasionally gone in a double when i have been without transport and had to walk a mile to the nearest bus stop but other than that i make her walk " does imply that you are in the car alot, so of course you wouldnt need a buggy

I have to say, I know all kids are diffreernt, and Im probably a hypocrite because i;m now saying what I hated people saying to me.. but that is definitely too old to be in a buggy!

[Curmudgeonlett]

May I ask what the hell a 4.5 year old is doing STILL in a buggy?

Is there a valid reason

(trying hard to think of one unless motor difficulties)

make her walk and for long distances get her a scooter

[motherinferior]

But mustrunmore, some people just make their kids walk. I do.

[milkchocolateStarryStarryNight]

The scooter is actually a good idea, as it might actually slip into the shopping basket when folded, or just hang on the puschair when not in use.

Many of the other mums in my sons class walk 20-30 minutes to school, their youngest in pushchair, the oldest on scooters, or bikes (with support wheels, not tricycles)

I think this is a good idea, if as you say you walk long distances, to the bus or to shops.

[mustrunmore]

Er, so do I MI; not sure what you're getting at there. Maybe I didnt explain very well. I was trying to say that ds1 was in the buggy longer than I'd have liked, but only because he really really couldnt have traipsed round the high street getting groceries for a morning until about 2.5, and there was no way I could have carried him when he was tired if I had a load of carrier bags (and I was pg!) Car drivers dont make their kids walk in the sense of that other posting, because she was saying her dd walked to the bus stop when they had no car! i'm not suggesting they never walk, but not for daily tasks that they use the car for. Eg I had a friend who said his son walked everywhere from 14 months. What he meant was that they went in the car, they got out at their destination and had a wander round, eg the woods (or then walked to the trolley to sit in it at Tesco), then got back in the car to go home. Thats not having a child that walks everywhere, is it?

[prettymum]

my dd is 2.7 and she walks everywhere now. she was 21 months when ds was born and used a buggyboard for the first few months but she enjoys walking.

[WideWebWitch]

My dd, who is 3 and won't be 4 til Nov, will NOT go in a buggy and hasn't been willing to for some time. So yes, I'd say you can do it.

[Peachy]

curmudgeon motor AND / OR other difficulties please


ASD kids dont always have motor difficulties but can be Hell to get walking (although mine's not 4 year and just has reins), DS3 just lies down in puddles when he is fed up of moving. Or needs to be carried.

[frogs]

That's what I thought, MI, and that's what I did till I had dd2. But with her, if we actually want to go anywhere more than about 500yards away at any speed over snail's pace, we pretty much have to take the buggy, or spend the whole time frantically humouring her (think manic Miss Hoolie routine} and still endure a constant stream of whinging, requests for carries, sit down protests on the pavement, and moans of "My tummy hurts". In her defence she is very little for her age (3.5). But conversely, she can travel almost infinite distances on her bike.

But even I never had a double buggy, and I have 4 year and 4.5 year age gaps. So the OP should be fine.