Buns in the oven

[lorri_b]

I think for me, it's knowing I'll never have a daughter (if it's another boy), and feeling sad at the loss of that relationship. I don't know why I feel that now, when I didn't with any of the others. As you say though Beatrix, if it is a boy, I'll be delighted once he is here.

Leap I had that kinda thing so much both times. It's the reason we haven't told anyone I'm pregnant until we know the sex! Such great news though. I love how much time you get in a private scan to get a really good look.

[Kenickie]

That's such lovely news, Tits!

And what rubbish reactions, Leap. You think if you were dealing with that all day every day you'd just be openly pleased for everyone!

[Kenickie]

I've just started browsing double prams. They're not as nice looking as single ones! Any recommendations?

So I've had a few! I've never liked tandems as it seems that one child will be squashed/hard to see and reach/nearer car fumes but maybe it's different if you have an age gap.

The Mountain Buggy is brilliant for carrycots. It's ok off road but not amazing and is pretty heavy. Although definitely not the heaviest - I wouldn't go near a Phil and Ted's as the person I sold my MB to said she was getting rid of hers as it was heavy and commented on how might the MB was in comparison! You can also do a car seat onto the frame.

The Out n about is fantastic and a great all rounder plus it's amazing off road. It's also very compact -the double fitted in my Yaris. You can put carrycots in it too. The only downsides are it's not totally light (but not bad) and I found it annoying to get in and out of the boot so I've got a properly light one (Baby Jogger city tour II) for using in the car. I still absolutely love my out n about for trips from home though. It turns on a sixpence and is so brilliant to push, even one handed.

The baby jogger city tour II is fantastic, but it can't cope with muddy fields as the wheels get clogged. I think it can be flat from birth, not sure about carrycots though.

So I'd get an out n about, unless the car seat clip is really important to you in which case I'd get the mountain buggy, or if you're not going off road in the winter then I'd get the baby jogger.

I also had a cosatto which looked lovely but was a real pain to push up kerbs etc so I'd avoid. Plus I much prefer a bar rather than seperate handles for pushing one handed. I'm not a fan of any of the other doubles except the three above, basically!

[lorri_b]

Thanks Ken, that's so helpful. I'm mostly a town buggy pusher, so the off road bit is a nice to have but not essential. I like the look of the Out n About especially - I've never bothered with car seat attachments so that's not important. Have you ever tried a Bugaboo Donkey Duo? We'll buy secondhand and the price isn't too bad for used.

My sister has twins and also recommend the Mountain Buggy.

Edit- so after a big browse it looks like the Out n About is a wider than the Mountain Buggy . I also like the fact the MB folds flat with one hand. But both are quite similar in other respects.

[Kenickie]

My friend has the Donkey. They're nice but huge so are difficult in lots of shops/ buses etc (guess maybe not so vital now though!). She also has to partially dismantle it to fold it into the car - I'm not sure how it works but she said it was a real pain (ie it's not that her car is small, it's how it has to fold if that makes sense). I think one advantage for you might be that you can kind of collapse one half so you can have it as a slightly wider single if in time you want C on a buggy board or walking and just the new baby in the pushchair?

The ONA is wider but I've never not been able to get it through shops, pubs, on buses etc. I think it's massively better to push and manoeuvre (I think the bigger wheels and three whels helps as well as it beign lighter) so feels easier to navigate round narrower stuff. My MB didn't fold one handed so you might need to double check the version (mine was 2nd hand so probably not the latest one). On that note, a lot of people rate the V1-3 OnA (these ones have the shared hood) higher than the v4 for durability (apparently some v4s have had brake issues). But, especially for different ages you might find it better to be able to have hood down with the new baby sleeping and hood up for C looking around etc. If you do get an OnA, they also do servicing through their website (courier collection and return) which I've always been tempted by as you can get completely new fabrics put on - might be worth it if you find a cheap but battered one!

On all the twin groups everyone raves about the MB but I much prefer the OnA (I got sold my MB on).

Sorry for the essays! I feel like twin buggies could be my specialist subject now.

[Kenickie]

Hmmm, I've checked and the Donkey isn't actually that much wider than the OnA - my friend with it got an OnA and says she can go places now which she couldn't fit through before so not sure if maybe the shape of the OnA helps?

The basket for the OnA isn't nearly as good as the MB (it's two separate bits) - I have a buggy organiser now which attaches to the top (not the handle but behind the hood) which works really well but the MB was really handy for just having a big space where you could chuck anything into (I just had a big backpack for a changing bag and it went in easily, or you could do a big bag for food if you were having a picnic).

[lorri_b]

No it's really helpful as I really dislike pram shopping. So you've really helped me narrow it down. I might see if I can give them a push around anywhere and see what feels best.

My sister also mentioned the City Jogger GT Double. I know you mentioned you have the City Tour, but have you tried that one out? My sis said the wheels are bigger, so easier to maneuver and better on grass etc.

[Kenickie]

It'd be better than the Tour on grass because of the wheels but it's heavier than the OnA so I didn't consider it - I wanted a really lightweight one that was handy for getting in and out of the car etc and the Tour is less than 10kg and folds amazingly small. It's also got a great basket so it's ideal for picnics. The tour is great on grass, gravel etc and up and down kerbs and is as manoeuvrable as the MB - the only thing it doesn't do well is lots of mud as the mud gets between the wheel and the wheel guard and you have to poke it out with a stick. ;)

When I was getting a Tour I was looking at other lightweight ones like the MB nano but the Tour had the highest Which show as well and the nano did really badly for longevity.

[lorri_b]

Thanks again! I'll add the Tour to my list, as I'm mostly on paths anyway so not too muddy.

So we found out today the baby is a boy. Four boys! Feeling very emotional about it, but of course very happy he looks healthy.

[emma_p]

Congratulations lorri. A brood of four boys will be amazing. I can’t get over that you were pregnant with your eldest at the same time as me with George and you’re having your fourth baby! G would LOVE three little brothers.

[lorri_b]

I know, it is crazy! I think we have a similar 5 year age gap too between our second too?

[emma_p]

Yes, well remembered! 5 years between my two.

[rosy]

Congratulations, lorri!

Not my buns but have a scan pic at 21 weeks for my soon to be grandsons:

[Leap]

Congratulations! You certainly couldn’t have done that if you’d tried

There are a lot of really open chats on my babycentre birth group about sex preferences/“gender” disappointment, from the obsessive (the people who paid for multiple nub tech assessments at 12 weeks and then a billion threads asking if we thought it was right) to the “ah, it just would’ve been nice” school of thought, and I think there’s space for most of it. I know that first time around that if you’d given me a magic M or F button to push with no consequences, I’m about 90% sure I would’ve used it and I can’t really explain why. So if it’s making you feel emotional then don’t add guilt on top of that, it’s not like it’s something you choose to stop feeling. I know for me that finding out the sex was mainly important just to process what my family will “look” like* and help bring home the reality of a new baby joining our family, so it’s all part of that too.

Of course if I’ve got the wrong end of the stick and you made a wish with a witch 10 years ago to have 4 male children and you’re feeling weepy about your silver sixpence not going to waste, feel free to ignore this

*Obviously you all know I don’t mean PINK or BLUE coded children, drilled in either ballet or rugby

[Kenickie]

Congratulations! I also agree with Leap that you shouldn't feel guilty.

Have you told the other children now?

[lorri_b]

Of course if I’ve got the wrong end of the stick and you made a wish with a witch 10 years ago to have 4 male children and you’re feeling weepy about your silver sixpence not going to waste, feel free to ignore this

Thank you Leap, that made me laugh!

And thanks everyone for not thinking I'm just being a horrible ungrateful person. I know how lucky I am really. I've joined a sex disappointment ( ) group online.

We haven't told them yet Ken. They wanted to have a sister before, and I think I will cry at the moment if they are disappointed. Of course, they'll love their little brother as much as they do C once he arrives.

My partner's family are going to be very judgemental about us having another, and we also kinda felt telling them baby was female would soften the blow. But of course now, I need to gear myself up for the comments!

[Tits McGee]

Congratulations lorri! I hope the reaction from the boys and your partner’s parents is better than you think.

[Estrella]

Congratulations, Lorri! My friend has 4 boys (age 6-13) and I’m always slightly envious. We go away camping with them a lot and my kids always have the best time.

[lorri_b]

Sorry Rosy, I missed your post. That's wonderful! Congratulations to you all.

[Leap]

Congratulations, lorri!

Not my buns but have a scan pic at 21 weeks for my soon to be grandsons:

Oh rosy I’ve just looked back and I missed this! Huge congratulations!