Pram and cot for 2ish year old

Hi all,

I just have a bit of a question based on a situation I may be in in a year or so's time (hopefully). We plan on TTC for #2 in the next few months, meaning that there is a good chance that #2 will be born when DD is 2-2.5 years old (if we get UTD quickly again). I'm trying to work out what I would need to buy.

My questions:
1. From your experience, does your 2-2.5 year old want to be in their pram a lot? If so, when did they stop being in it so much? I'm trying to decide whether I will need to get a double pram or not? When DH and I are out together we could use our current pram and a stroller, but when I am alone I don't know if DD will want to toddle along with us or not. I do have a sling I can use for #2 for a few months, but I found that this time my back started to get sore with it around 3 months old.

2. When did you move your toddler into a 'big person' bed? I"m assuming that with bassinet time for the new bub we wont need another cot, but I also don't want DD to feel like she is being turfed out of it so the new baby can have it before she is ready and create resentment towards the new baby IYKWIM?

Thanks in advance!

Both my girls walked pretty early and so were very capable of being out of the pram by 2.5. I had a double pram from DD2's birth though and TBH kept them in it a lot of the time because it was easier knowing they were both safe, and knowing where they were!

DD1 went into a big girl bed with a rail when she was just under 2. DD2 hated being left behind and so she was in a big girl bed with rails at 15 months.

Both my dd's went into a toddler bed on or just before their 2nd birthdays. Pram wise, they mainly walked from around 3 yo so it is do-able to have a pram and a sling/wrap for the baby for the first 6 months or so.

Hi Chody,

We will have a 21ish month gap between DD and Pud (due August). We bought a Phil&Ted's Dash with double kit as it was a ludicrously good price when we first started TTC #2. That was so we can use the single pram for DD while I have Pud in the ergo, have them both in the pram if need be, and then when DD decides she wants to walk everywhere we still have a usable single pram. We haven't actually got the pram out of the box yet, so I'm not specifically recommending that model or anything, but perhaps a single pram with a double kit is the way to go, or even a skateboard if your DD likes to ride standing up by then?

We're using a basinette with Pud when s/he arrives as well, and if DD isn't ready for a big girl bed by the time Pud needs a cot, then we will bite the bullet and buy a second cot. It's not such a splurge as we got everything for DD secondhand and free from my sister. They were renovating their house leading up to DD's birth, so their 19 month old got her new room and new bed at that young age - she was ready for it, though, and they used a bed rail to stop her from falling out. It will very much depend on what DD is ready for and like you say, we don't want her to feel like she's being chucked out of her cot for the baby.

Hope that helps.

DD1 went into a toddler bed when she was just under 15 months and we brought her a big bed for her second birthday. She was really excited about the big bed and then we told her that she is giving her cot to DD2 as a present, we put a bow on it and let her show it to DD1 who was 6 months old but still in the bassinet in my room.

We just had a single pram and when DD2 was really little we would lay her in the pram and DD2 would sit right at the front. They still like to share the seat now, I just have to have the back all the way down. DD1 does like to walk everywhere but if she is getting tired or I need to walk somewhere fast then she will also sit on the top of the pram. I did have a carrier and sling that I used sometimes too. We got by very easily.

Lulu - That's a good point about having them both in the pram to keep track of them!

Thank you all for your advice so far. It is very helpful. I know I"m going to just need to see what DD is like when(if) the time comes, but it's nice to hear other's experiences. It's amazing to think that DD could be ready for a 'big girl' bed later this year!!!

EDIT: Kazzo - we posted at the same time. Thanks for the info. I would like it if we could get away with the one pram (esp when it is just me). It's nice to hear from a few of you that it could be doable.

I only have one child but we took the side of his cot at around 2yrs.
At the shops he walks most of the time. But if I had a second child with me I would put him in the pram, he's still too unpredictable.

I only have one child but we took the side of his cot at around 2yrs.
At the shops he walks most of the time. But if I had a second child with me I would put him in the pram, he's still too unpredictable.

I have a phil and teds too, i bought it 2nd hand when preg with dd2, i used it with thedoubleskit when needed. Now i just use kt as a singlefor DD2 who is 2.5, she likes to walk but could notmanage 1.5ks there andbackfor the schoolrun ect. When bellybabe comes along the double kit cancome out again.

I had 4 in 4 years and never needed a double pram so I say invest in a good carrier instead :)

As for beds, my ds was in a toddler bed at 22 months, dd1 was in one at 14 months, dd2 at 10 months and dd3 has slept with us mostly. She is nearly 11 months and starts the night in a toddler bed then comes into our bed.

My 1st has just turned 2.5 and my 2nd is 11 weeks old. The toddler loves the pram and is happy to sit back with a car and a snack lol. We got a Baby Jogger which can be used as either a single or double, plus I have a carrier so it's use chops and changes :D Mostly I have bubs in the carrier and the toddler in the pram, I also have a baby capsule that snaps into the pram as needed. But we do a lot of walking and he just couldn't walk that far.

As for the bed, we only turned his cot into a toddler bed a few weeks ago. Bubs will still be in the cradle for a few months yet, but I was finding that they would both wake up at the same time in the morning...it's much easier for me that one can get out without my help!

DD went into a big bed 6 weeks ago (so 26mths) but that was only that was because we were planning in starting to move the twins into her old room and she took to it quite well (we also have a bed rail for safety). We made it a special event for her as she was not just changing beds but getting moved out of her old room as well. We told her that she was now going into a "big girl bed in a big girl room".

As for the double pram etc. With having twins I obviously have a double pram for them (and a double stroller as well for the quick trips), we got a toddler seat for DD to go on the pram and she probably used it 3 or 4 times max. I now have a 'skateboard' attachment which works on the pram and stroller which she loves to ride on, although sometimes she likes to walk and either holds onto the pram/stroller or walks nearby so I can grab her if need be and then hops on the skateboard when we have to walk anywhere that there are cars. I also have a baby carrier in the car as well so on those days she doesn't want to walk or ride I will pop her into the pram/stroller with one of the twins and then use the carrier for the other twin. If there are days when we go out as a family and are doing a lot a walking then we will take DD's single stoller and DH will push her and I'll deal with the twins.

I suppose what I'm saying is that you probably don't need to invest in a double pram when there are other options out there, but if you feel you need one then I would probably look at getting a double stroller instead so you have it just in case, plus it is cheaper to purchase but maybe having the skateboard as an option might work for you.

i am only recent to having 2. my dd was 21 months when ds was born. dd would love to walk...run...whenever we are out but it is not safe for her and is more difficult for me with ds as well.

even when i have ds in the carrier, and hold dd's hand it is much harder for me to keep control of her (maybe i'm just unco, or my kid is more out of control than some of the others above).

i bought a pram with a toddler seat- and also keep the carrier with me cos ds prefers it atm.

having ability to keep dd strapped in comes in handy especially if i stop to feed ds and am not in a contained space. i have a snack or toy or something for dd.

we moved dd to a bed at 18 months , but would have done that anyway.

It depends upon your children too. I thought we would just get by with a sling and single pram. But then my eldest son developed autism and it became impossible to leave the house so I got a P&T. Perhaps wait and see if you're unsure about a double pram? I love having one though!

We took the side of my son's cot about 2 months before came, so when he was 2.5. He was fine with that and he slept in it till baby was about 3 months old then we moved him to a big bed and baby started using the cot.

You probably wont need to get another cot as your dd could move into a big bed and she will probably love it more than have resentment over the new baby about it :)

With the pram i would wait and see what your needs are when the new baby comes.

It's been a while since we had little ones but our kids were out of the cot by 18months and had a side rail. I had climbers.
I only had one little one at a time and a school aged child so we didn't have the pram issue but if your trying to avoid the purchase of a new pram have you concidered a harness? There are new funky animal back packs available. Yes I know they look like a dog lead but if it stops a little one from getting lost or hit by a car.....money well spent I think.
We bought one and let dd choose the design it was good in a crowded area as I knew dd was by my side and could only go so far even though she was holding my hand there were the occational break aways.
The skate along boards are terrific as well.

As for the bed/cot and jelliousy issue I'd make a real big deal of the new bed and how big kids sleep in beds and since your a big kid now, kind of thing let them choose the doona cover etc make it exciting and a big adventure.

Dd2 is 2 and in the pram as often as possible. It is mostly when I have her on my own ad I find it easier to control her & Dd3 like that. I have a Phil & Teds Vibe which is awesome because I can put the toddler seat on the front whilst DD2 walks around and when she gets tired, I move the toddler seat to the back so DD2 can the sit up front.
As for toddler beds etc, DD2 went into a toddler bed at 20 months and I personally think she was too young. She would get up through the night and wander around the house rather than sleeping and she was too little to understand why she couldn't wander around. The cot was definitely best for her. Now, she sleeps I'm the cot that has the side removed and is against our bed. We co sleep with her & Dd3. Crazy stuff. We're going to try putting her back in her bed this weekend, so fingers crossed she loves it this time around.

The age gap between DD1 and DS is 2 years 4 months. I bought a toddler seat for the pram but DD wasn't a big fan, she would only sit in it if I gave her food - we left a lot of sultana trails around shopping centres. :redface: DD would go in the pram to sleep and I would carry DS in a sling. If she wasn't tired she preferred to walk so I attached a spare strap to the pram and told DD she needed to hold the strap 'to help mummy push the pram'. Worked a treat! I did have a double pram for walking outside but I found it too heavy to take in and out of the car and to big to drive around the shops.

DD1 is 9 now... she pushes DD2's pram for me or carries her around!

ETA Both of my older kids got a 'Big Kids Bed' for their second birthday and went straight from the cot to the bed. Although, DD1 was co-sleeping with us most nights!

1. DS was 2years 2 months when DD was born. He was still using the pram then as he was a runner. We made do with the pram we had by using it for DS with DD in the sling mostly. By the time DD was bored with the sling (about 6 months), he didn't run off as much & he would walk with us. I tried to avoid having both of them out at the same time as much as possible in the early months. What sort of sling do you have? I found the ergo to be much better than the baby bjorn for my back. I could hardly feel DD in the ergo & she was a little porker lol!

2. DS moved into his big bed just after he turned 2, only a few weeks before DD came along. He loved his big bed so much. He was well & truly ready for it by then but we had some issues with our order being delayed.

Just researching this again.

I went into a baby shop today to investigate skateboards but have decided I think DD will be a bit young for it when DD2 is born. The people in the shop were pointing towards double prams but I really don't know if it'll be a wise investment or a waste of money. It's nice re reading what you have all said.

Does anyone else have experiences to share regarding the pram question?

I don't have that sort of age gap, but my son did still like to ride when DD came along. I suggest investing in a good sling that will be comfortable for at least 12 months - if only so you have that option (there will always be times when baby needs to be held and you've got the other as well).

My eldest still rode in a Phil and Teds double until she was over 4. The only reason I got rid of it was she was too tall, and her feet would press down on the front wheel, making it impossible to steer properly!! I wish I still had it for walks and jogging though!

I second MadB's suggestion - invest in a very good baby carrier - a Caboo for when you have the newborn, and a wrap or Mei Tei later on. You will have the best of both worlds, and still get by with a single pram. Plus it means you can wear bubs at the supermarket and have the elder in a real trolley ;) Trust me, not having to stack your shopping all over a pram is fabulous! LOL

There is 2 years 3.5 mths between my two and this is what worked for us:

- I upgraded my pram to the Baby Jogger City Select. DD1 could most certainly walk fine at the shops but could she be trusted not to bolt? No way!!! She still sits happily (most of the time) in the pram and she's just turned 3. I get things done a lot faster with both girls contained :lol: I like that my pram easily converts to a single when I've only got one of the girls too and I could use the capsule (my saviour!) or the bassinet and a toddler seat at the same time.

- DD1 managed to climb out of her cot at 20 months so we converted it to a toddler bed that day. We were moving in the November when DD1 was 26 months so we decided to get her a big girl bed (a king single) for the new house. We had both rooms set up and let her decide where she wanted to sleep. Within a couple of weeks she was full time in her big bed. We had a bassinet for DD2 as well so there was some leeway if we needed it as well but we didn't.