BTDT Moms with kids 2.5 years-ish apart

Hi there. I just recently found out that I am pregnant. DD will be 28 months old when the new baby comes.

A few questions for Moms with a similar age gap between children:

• Do I need a double stroller? I would say we are a low-use stroller family. I have occasionally taken DD to the mall and for walks at the park in her stroller now but it's not part of our regular weekly routine.

• DD is still in her crib. Would you try to transition her to a big girl bed or just buy another crib? I think I'm leaning towards transition to bed.

• What else am I not thinking of????

TIA!

Re: BTDT Moms with kids 2.5 years-ish apart

My girls are 26 months apart. I transitioned my older DD to a bed about 3-4 months before her sister was born. We have the Joovy Too Caboose stroller. It's a sit and stand with a removable 2nd seat. It was not very expensive and for the # of times we use it, it's perfect. Most times my older DD would prefer to walk.

Re: BTDT Moms with kids 2.5 years-ish apart

My last 2 kids are 26 months apart - yes we used double stroller but I already had and we like to go for walks.

Both kids are still in their cribs - I don't like to rock the boat when sleeping is going well.

We did not get 2 high chairs

BTDT Moms with kids 2.5 years-ish apart

my oldest boys are 29 months apart. i bought a double stroller but literally used it less than 10 times. i would say wait and see if it's something you need. the sit n stand is a good option. my oldest was still in the crib and very happy there so i left him. bought a second crib. both cribs convert to toddler beds.

BTDT Moms with kids 2.5 years-ish apart

My girls are exactly 24 months apart. We have two double strollers. A side by side joovy x2 we use for the zoo, amuesemebt parks, etc. we also have a sit and stand that dd2 can sit in the front and dd1 can stand or sit in the back.

We had two cribs. Both girls cribs convert to a full size bed so their crib was their crib. It matches their bedroom sets. Dd1 was in her crib until 3 1/2. If it ain't broke....

We only had one highchair. The graco blossom which an infant and a toddler can use at the same time.

BTDT Moms with kids 2.5 years-ish apart

I love our citi mini double and my older daughter loves sitting next to her little sister. It is smoother then most single strollers (imo) and we love to go on walks together.

We moved older DD into a toddler bed so we could use the crib for DD#2.

We only have one high chair/booster seat. If for some reason my older DD wants to sit in it I feed the baby in the sit me up seat.

BTDT Moms with kids 2.5 years-ish apart

My girls are 2.5 years apart. We moved dd1 to a toddler bed a little before the baby came.

We have a b agile double. I'm not a big stroller person at all but I love this stroller. We only used it occasionally for amusement parks, the zoo, etc until this year when I started walking dd1 to school with it. They're 2 ands 4.5 and we use it all the time for that and will still use it next summer for long day trips.

BTDT Moms with kids 2.5 years-ish apart

These answers are exactly what I'm looking for!!! Thanks!!

Re: BTDT Moms with kids 2.5 years-ish apart

My kids are 28 months apart (currently 4yo and 1.5yo).

Yes, we had a double stroller and still do. I used it a lot when DD was first born. I'd put the back down (City Mini Double) with an infant head rest for the baby. DS would love sitting next to his sister to take walks. It's how I spent a lot of my maternity leave. It was also good for bigger trips, like the zoo or Sesame Place. Now that they're older I definitely use it less, though it's nice to have the option for both of them to ride if we have a big outing. And that being said, we don't use the single, either, all that much. Both of my kids prefer to walk now.

I'd get a second crib. DS stayed in his crib until he was almost 3 and then we converted it into a toddler bed.

Re: BTDT Moms with kids 2.5 years-ish apart

My kids are exactly 3 years a part and we didn't get a double stroller right away but its been amazing and i would recommend getting the city mini double. easy to use, smooth and they like sitting next to each other.

DD was already out of the crib so that wasn't an issue.

we only had one high chair and DS used it once he was old enough to sit in it.

BTDT Moms with kids 2.5 years-ish apart

My kids are extactly two years apart- born the same week. We used the double for a while. Im selling one if interested:) We also put my son in a full bed and gave the crib to my daughter. We use two high chairs as well.

Message edited 1/23/2017 4:45:49 PM.

BTDT Moms with kids 2.5 years-ish apart

My twins were 20 months when DS was born so a little younger. BUT I want to add that they were in their cribs until they were 3.5. They slept so well in their cribs and did not start climbing out until that point. When DS was born we bought him a crib online from Walmart. It was like $150 and pretty good quality.

My twins just turned 6 and my youngest is 4.5 and we just got rid of our double stroller over the summer right after DS turned 4. We used it a lot up until the twins were about 5 years 3 months. They would take turns sitting in it with my youngest. We sold it right after our Disney trip this past summer. We took it with us and they all took turns sitting in it a lot. So if you plan on big trips like that oR frequently visit places like the zoo or the aquarium a double stroller is good. Maybe start with a sit and stand and see if you may want the double stroller down the line.

Re: BTDT Moms with kids 2.5 years-ish apart

My kids are 2 yrs apart and we were a high stroller use family. My kids used the stroller until they were 5 and 7 years old! Granted towards the end it was only for Disney.

We went on double stroller walks daily when DS2 was a baby/toddler.

We did not get a second crib. We got a queen bed for DS1.

Re: BTDT Moms with kids 2.5 years-ish apart

Mine are less than 1.5 years apart.

I'm not too fond of strollers. We ended up getting one so that I could do zoo and mall trips solo. We used it for maybe half a year. You have some time to figure it out. Early on, you can do a baby carrier and a single stroller and see how it goes.

We did have cribs for a long time. They stayed in their cribs and we still get use out of them (converted) at 5&6. I'd say to buy a cheap crib to have the option.

Re: BTDT Moms with kids 2.5 years-ish apart

Mine are 26 months apart and I absolutely used the double stroller, if only to keep my older one from running away.

And, I transitioned my older DC out of the crib and into a bed two months before my younger one was due.

I did not get two high chairs, but I did get this little booster seat thing that strapped onto the chair, and I had the high chair.

Message edited 1/23/2017 9:08:20 PM.

BTDT Moms with kids 2.5 years-ish apart

My boys are 20 months apart. We had the Baby in a consleeper style bassinet in our room (or the rock n play in our room) for about 5 months. When the baby was about 2 months old we got a big boy bed and began the transition. It was still another 3 months before we moved the baby into the crib. This way he didn't feel as if it was us kicking him out.

We did get s double stroller. We use it a lot. We are happy with the purchase. Test them out if you can. We bought the Graco sit to stand double (front to back) and I hated it. We ended up selling it on a Facebook group and got the Bob double (I liked the Citi mini double too).

We did keep our single as well. That is the one we have in the car now that DS1 is 4. The double is for walks at home and trips/days out.

Re: BTDT Moms with kids 2.5 years-ish apart

Congratulations!

Mine are 36 months apart. We did not get a double stroller. We find two singles are easier to maneuver, or we will take out 1 stroller with a baby carrier so that should dd1 want to go In the stroller rather than walk, I can wear dd2. I also use the carrier if it's just me with the 2 of them. Id probably do this arrangement even if they were closer in age.

We have forever cribs so we would have bought a new crib regardless for dd2, but we kept dd1 in a crib til she was 3.5.

Baby carrier is the biggest lifesaver! Even doing activities that a 3 year old wants to do like strawberry picking or going to the children's museum is so much more doable with the baby being carried rather than stroller in non-stroller-friendly places!!! And it's the only way to go grocery shopping/target with a newborn and toddler!

Re: BTDT Moms with kids 2.5 years-ish apart

I love this and didn't even think of it, thanks! We have a carrier that I used a few times when my daughter was young but I was never able to get it on without my husbands help.

Any rec's for one that is easy to put on? I think we have the baby bjorn and it needs to be clipped in two spots in the back, which I hated.

Thanks everyone for these replies! I might just wait it out and if I feel like we need a double stroller at any point then YAYYYY Amazon Prime lol.

BTDT Moms with kids 2.5 years-ish apart

My boys are 27 months apart and I got a lot of use out of my City Mini double. We used it for walks and for places where they had to walk a lot. They are now 7 and almost 5 and I still use it for Disney (but, my 7 year old is on the smaller side).

I left my older son in the crib for a couple of months after DS 2 was born. He was there until he started to climb out when DS 2 was 6 weeks old. DS 2 was in the Rock and Play in the beginning and moved into the crib about a month after we moved DS 1 out.

BTDT Moms with kids 2.5 years-ish apart

Mine are 22 months apart. Though we didn't use the stroller every day, I cannot imagine not having it. DS would run wild if we were out and about and he wasn’t strapped in.

Our newborn slept in the R&P until she was 5 months old and we left DS in his crib. Once she outgrew the R&P we bought DD her crib and DS is still sleeping in his crib.

Re: BTDT Moms with kids 2.5 years-ish apart

Yesssssssssss to double stroller.

We transitioned my DD about 3 months before the baby came, she'd probably still be in the crib, she loved it. I just thought it would be easier. It worked out great, but it's personal preference. Based on our experience I recommend it.

Is she potty trained yet? If so, be prepared for a regression once you start changing diapers again.

BTDT Moms with kids 2.5 years-ish apart

My kids are 20 months apart and the double stroller came in handy. We didn't spend too much money on double stroller though. My daughter doesn't like to walk and prefers to be pushed around.

Re: BTDT Moms with kids 2.5 years-ish apart

Mine are 27 mo apart, and the only thing I got new really was a double stroller, which I use more than I thought I would. Dd wasn't using the stroller until ds was born, and it works out bc it keeps her more contained-i just leave her unbuckled so she can get in and out when she wants.

Other than that, she's been out of a high chair since like 13 months, and in a regular bed since 17 months

Re: BTDT Moms with kids 2.5 years-ish apart

We have a connecta carrier which I love! I actually have two!

Re: BTDT Moms with kids 2.5 years-ish apart

I have 3 boys, ages 8 1/2, 4 and almost 2 1/2.

I've never had a double stroller. I do have the Sit N Stand stroller though.

I think it depends on the kids.
#1 gladly sat in strollers
#2 did not

For me, I always chose less bulky. I used the Snap n Go for a while when they were babies. Then the oldest one always walked.