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Find out all about large family cars, holidays and more right here.

Find out all about large family cars, holidays and more right here.

Larger families

double/tandem buggy - with buggy board?

17 replies

2ndontheway · 09/11/2009 19:06

hello all,

am regular(ish) but have recently namechanged. have posted this in a couple of forums and i thought that you guys in larger families might have an expert view...

basically my second dc is due in 5 weeks, when ds will be 2 years and 4 months. currently he has his short daily nap in his maclaren (and won't nap anywhere else, other than the car!). realize he is probably nearing the point of dropping the nap, but as we do use the buggy a fair amount- I think it might be best to have a tandem or double that can accommodate both ds (who is big and tall btw) and the new one if needed.

i'd like what we go for to be able to take a buggy board - i know ds would really enjoy it - but i'm reluctant to rely 'just' on the buggy board for him, given both the nap thing and the fact we live in a city and he can be quite wayward...so it would be good to have the option to strap him in if it seemed safest (or if he was tired).

any ideas on what might work best? thanks sooo much in advance xxx

OP posts:

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juuule · 09/11/2009 20:57

I would just go for the double buggy. I tried a buggy board and hated it.
Your 2yo could walk and get into the buggy if he got tired. That's what we did.

2ndontheway · 09/11/2009 21:32

Thanks for that. Would really like a buggy board because it will be useful if we're going anywhere in a hurry but he doesn't want to get into the buggy...this is often the case with walking and it can be a bit of a battle! I know he'd love zooming along on a board though - plus when he gets bigger and doesn't need to nap/rest in buggy at all a board would be perfect. anyone else got any ideas?

OP posts:

helpneededplease · 15/12/2009 21:39

I had a 2 year old when dd2 was born and tried a buggy board. Wouldn't recommend it. We got a phil and teds and it was the best thing we ever got!

butterscotch · 15/12/2009 21:55

My DD will be nearly 3 when my next DC arrives, I intend to use pushchair as normal and use a sling for baby when DD gets tired...

neenz · 15/12/2009 22:03

I have 19mo twins and another DC on the way.

I have a Mountain Buggy Urban double and plan to get a buggy board. these fit the Mountain Buggy double.

You can get used MB doubles for about £100 on ebay.

Washersaurus · 15/12/2009 22:08

The buggy board is fine for short distances, if you don't mind the bruises to your shins, and is great fun (so I am told); but the novelty quickly wears off and you will soon discover it is completely unnecessary.

Get a Mini Micro Scooter instead. They encourage exercise and hang nicely off the handlebar of the P&T when DS' get tired! My boys both have them and use them everyday almost (DS1 had his at 3yo and DS2 is 2yo)

sweetkitty · 15/12/2009 22:18

Neenz - sorry for blantant hijack but OMG your pregnant again, congratulations when are you due? and the twins are 19 months but then again DD3 is 17!

Oh on the buggy thing DD2 was 2y 6m when DD3 came along and I had a P&T Sport had it for 6 months then she refused to get in it but it was great a lifesaver, DD1 was 4 and they used to swap about on days out.

DD3 will be 22m when DB4 is born and am getting another P&T

verybusyspider · 15/12/2009 22:56

I've got 18 months between each of my 3 ds's (mow 3.5yrs, 2yrs - tomorrow!, and 6months) we have a phil and teds which is brilliant, but when ds1 is at preschool and we're out and about I just use buggy and buggy board, ds2 has been fine on that for past few months and loves it for shorter trips around.

For getting to preschool it is good to be able to strap him down in phil and teds imo, times he's been on buggy board had to drag him out of school, easier to strap him in and leave him and ds3 outside door whilst I sort out ds1.

I think it depends on your rountine, ds1 would only nap in buggy when I had ds2, I would load them both up after lunch and walk round block, get home and transfer them both into cots. I broke ds1 of the habit at 2.5yrs and got him to nap in cot as I really couldn't face having to load them both in just for nap time as I had to do it regardless of the weather (ps ds1 didn't give up his daily nap till 3yrs 2 months and will still some days sleep so don't assume the nap thing will stop) ds2 now naps in cot so I know that I will pretty much always be at home at 1pm to put littler 2 to bed so ds2 can cope with buggy board for short trips out in morning...

Maybe try buggy board - could you borrow one from friend to see how ds likes it? - then you always can use baby sling at nap time to give free seat to ds, if that doesn't work then look at double buggy, might save you having to fork out for double if you don't need it

I hope that makes sense!

neenz · 16/12/2009 13:35

Sweetkitty, yeah, didn't you see my not-so-subtle status update on FB last week about having a secret I can't tell .

I am only 5+3 so not getting too excited just yet but feeling positive about it. Due mid-August.

Will a buggy board work for us? DTs will be 2.3 when baby's due and I was thinking I could use a sling sometimes or if I wanted to put baby in pram one of the DTs could walk or use buggy board. The furthest we walk is to village and back which is 20-25 mins each way.

sweetkitty · 16/12/2009 15:51

neenz - no I must have missed that lol will keep everything crossed for you

I have a friend who had another DC when her twins were 17mo so she needed a triple eek! I have seen doubles with an additional toddler seat on the top. I think containment is the key especially when out on your own, thats why I had the P&T DD2 could walk but I was happier when she was in the P&T just one free range to contend with.

Double with buggy board might work and if they get really unruly you could tuck a sling underneath for the baby.

neenz · 17/12/2009 11:41

Well I was thinking of a triple but I walked to playgroup on Monday and there were at least three places where I had to walk through bollards etc which are wide enough for the double but not for a triple . So I would have to walk the long way round lots!

I have seen the doubles with a toddler seat on and they are great but very expensive and I don't really want to buy another pram if possible.

It is annoying though cos I have an umbrella fold buggy in my car which is so convenient, but will have to try to adapt that too (not to mention buy a new car). Oh the joys!

sweetkitty · 17/12/2009 15:45

What is your umbrella fold as a Maclaren twin will fit a buggy board and you can pick them up cheap on ebay.

We are having to get a new car as well a 7 seater! Oh and a new buggy as I sold my P&T them decided that we would ttc~4 2 months later!

neenz · 17/12/2009 21:03

Well that was bound to happen with the P&T

It is a chicco buggy but it is my sister's and she is having DC2 in january so she'll be having that back and I'll get another. Hoping to pick one up cheap on ebay. Will get a buggy board as well then!

Which car you thinking of? I quite fancy a Toyota Previa cos we've had a few Toyotas and they are so reliable. They don't make them new anymore but you can pick them up second hand, a bit more pricey than similar-condition Zafiras or Galaxys though. My sister has a a Kia Sedona and she is really chuffed with it, says it is a bit clunky on the gears though. They are pretty cheap!

norfolkBRONZEturkey · 19/12/2009 15:36

I would go for a double with a sling for a baby when eldest needs a ride

sweetkitty · 19/12/2009 20:07

We are thinking of a Sharan or a Galaxy, went right off a Zafira as apparently it is near impossible to get 3 across the middle so would need two in back which would mean no room for pram and then saw footage of one being rear ended and it wasn't nice, there is no space between the kids in the back and the rear windscreen.

I think you could get a cheap Maclaren double on ebay and use a buggy board with that, the double Nipper gets a good review too I prefer air tyres on a double easier for the kerbs, agree a sling in the back would be good too.

I am looking at a P&T Vibe if I can convince DP.

neenz · 20/12/2009 15:03

Yeah I saw that vid of the Zafira too And they are too small when you have four or even three kids like you say. I like the Sharan too - they are pretty good on fuel efficiency too I've heard. I have an aversion to Fords (plus French and Italian cars ) but I might cave into a Galaxy at the right price lol.

I prefer the air tires too but I don't think the nipper folds umbrella fold...? I have a mountain buggy which is great but is an arse to get in and out of the car. The chicco is a bit flimsy but it does fold down small! Bloody prams, drive me mad!

sweetkitty · 20/12/2009 22:15

I have a Focus CMAX just now and it isn't big enough and seems basic inside and very underpowered, oh and not that good on petrol so in short I don't like it.

Quite fancy a Volkwagen for a change never had one before. Looked at the Seat Alhambra but it has a 2-2-3 configuration which I didn't really like (good be wrong though). So in short nothing with fold down boot seats really, how am I going to drive and park the thing who knows.

Getting back to prams, don't think the Nipper is umbrella fold, think you would be better with a cheap Mac or Chicco, if you are tall have you considered a tandem like the Marco Sky?

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