My feed
Premium

Please
or
to access all these features

When do you start showing with twins? What is life with twins like? Join the conversation on our Multiple Births forum.

Multiple births

Side by side twin buggies

28 replies

LensPens · 16/05/2011 15:41

hi

an old topic but I haven't seen any recent comparisons so thought it was worth a go.

We're expecting twins in the Summer.

I have narrowed the buggy choice down to the Baby Jogger City Mini Double and the Mountain Buggy Duo. Keep thinking I've decided on the Jogger as it's nice and light, and then I hear comments that it's not as comfortable to walk around with - for the babies or me - because of the smaller wheels and lighter frame, and the babies may well outgrow it as the footrest may not be substantial enough.

We live in London. I won't know my pattern exactly until, all being well, they come along but I guess that I'll mostly be going for walks from and to my house during the day, sometimes long ones and possibly braving public transport. I will be going in and out of the car as well but probably not that much by myself.

I know none are perfect but any thoughts?!

thanks
Lens Pens

------------------

Hello!

We've noticed this thread is quite old and some of the product recommendations are a little out of date. We've spent weeks speaking to parents and testing out double buggies. Read our double buggy reviews for a list of the best products on the market - as recommended by you.

Hope this helps! Flowers
MNHQ

OP posts:
Report
pramsgalore4 · 16/05/2011 16:02

Hi, i dont have twins but i do own a mountain buggy duo, i would not want to lift in and out of a car every day or go on public transport ( but then i would not go on public transport with a side by side ) but for walking and shopping i can not fault it, it is a dream to push even with my almost 5 year old and his sister 3 in it, you can fit lots of shopping in it and they hold their value second hand, have to say if i was having twins this would be my first choice i have had alot of doubles over the years and my top two would be phil and teds and mountain buggy phil and teds not suitable for twin babies but for older twins would be great, ooo what about the new bugaboo donkey it looks lovely

Report
KnitterInTheNW · 16/05/2011 16:13

I have a BJCM double and use it for my 3 year old and the little girl I look after - they're both roughly the same height and weight so kind of like having twins. They're both super comfy in it and I find it comfy to push. I've never taken it off road though. I haven't taken it on public transport, but it does fit on the monorail at Chester zoo without folding it up!

Report
thisisyesterday · 16/05/2011 16:16

i think if you are using public transport a lot then the baby jogger may be better simply because it is smaller (i think) and lighter

that said, i had a mountain buggy double terrain and it's one of the best buggies i've ever used, i'd not hesitate to recommend it for a second

you could always get the mountain buggy for walking and then use a sling and a small buggy for when you'll be using trains and such?

Report
accessorizequeen · 17/05/2011 22:38

I've got both (twins and both of those buggies!). Just sold the baby jogger now dts are 2.7 and just using the MB. Not because they've outgrown it (and they're good sized twins) but I just didn't need two anymore.

The comments about the BJ I would agree with, it isn't as good as the MB but then it weighs considerably less (and costs considerably less!). You'd have no chance taking the MB on a bus and lifting it in and out of cars is urgghh! For long walks, the MB is lovely to push, babies/toddlers comfortable. But the BJ is just fine as long as you're not on bumpy paths or off-road, round london i would think it's great. I found it more difficult to manoevre as they got older, but not impossible by any means. A lot of TAMBA mums have baby joggers and no-one has a bad word to say about them. The sunshades alone are fantastic! A lot of twin mums also have a car buggy and a walking buggy just to make life easier esp in the first year.I had BJ for car, it sat in there all the time and Mountain Buggy for the rest of the time with double carrycot for 1st 6 months which I loved. Out of interest, did you rule out the nipper 360 as that may be a great compromise, it's light but a 3 wheeler. It's what I wanted to buy and I would have stuck with one then, but it wouldn't fit through my front door!

Report
Egg · 19/05/2011 14:21

Nipper double 360 is fabulous. Although mine didn't use it from birth (used Powertwin) but I know Nipper can be used from birth with the newborn inserts etc. It is v v easy to push (can still push my three year old twins in it, with my five year old son sitting on the front, although I hasten to add that I very rarely do!). Can be pushed one handed even with bigger twins in.

Have not owned the two doubles you do mention though.

Report
Bellbell · 21/05/2011 00:11

Nipper Double brilliantly easy to push, much cheaper than Mountain Duo, and I used it from birth... but as with all side by sides there are times when it just doesn't fit - on bus, in boot, in cafe etc... In the end I got a 2nd hand Phil and Ted's on ebay (there are loads and they last well) and that was the best solution for me - though I massively prefer the Nipper to push, it is a great relief to have the slimline one when it makes life easier!

Report
LensPens · 23/05/2011 12:19

thanks all

I had looked at the nipper double but had heard that it was a bit tippy and that there had been lots of puncture complaints - I guess can't be so bad if a few of you recommend it! The other problem we have with it is that the handle bar isn't adjustable and is relatively low ... not great as I'm quite tall and DH is 6 ft 5.

Seems crazy to have both Mountain Duo and BJCM but I can see why one might!!

Any thoughts on whether the carry cot insert for the MD is worth the extra money, especially if twins come early so small? Seems unnecessary if both buggies are suitable from birth.

OP posts:
Report
accessorizequeen · 23/05/2011 13:31

Adjustable handle would work pretty well for you, I find I change it around a lot too (it's useful when the dc want to push the buggy too!). I have used a carrycot on a MB single, and had both 2 carrycots and the double carrycot on my double. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend them esp the double carrycot for twins if you decide to go for a MB.

It was just fantastic to be able to put them both in, throw a blanket over and be done, made life so much easier then having to buckle both of them in. Also easy to get them out and have a cuddle/feed, then lay them down again. They had all their daytime naps in there for 6 months, and I just loved being able to look at them when I was walking. No, you don't need it and I had 2 other dc who were only 2 and 5 when the dts were born, so I needed things to be as easy as poss really! I quite liked being able to protect who looked at the dts as well when they were in the carrycot, the number of people who gaped at them drove me mad after a week. And I have b/g twins, not ID! You see the carrycots (and MBs!) on TAMBA a lot, god forbid paying full price for the lot which would be £800 or something mad. I sold my double carrycot for £60 which is what I paid for it.

Have you tried the BJCM in person as I'm not sure the handle would suit very tall people, it's not adjustable either. Or have you considered the next one up from the city mini which has air tyres but the same fold?

Report
PrincessScrumpy · 25/05/2011 09:47

Have you seen the new MB Duet? It's due out in July and is only 63cm wide with 2 full sized seats and fits maxicosi car seats.

The Nipper is my second choice and I was going to put a buggy weight on the front wheel to avoid tipping.

Report
LensPens · 26/05/2011 13:01

timing of Duet is apparently a bit unclear which is no good for us. Also, have heard that a thing to watch out for with it is the width as twins grow bigger

OP posts:
Report
PrincessScrumpy · 26/05/2011 20:13

The width of the seats is the same as most doubles. My local store called MB for me to check and they said MB were adamant it will be available from mid July.

Report
spikegifted · 07/06/2011 13:53

I have the BabyJogger City Metro. Our boys are 14 months old and they are happy with it. We were sold on the 'quick fold' technology. Folding up the buggy will never be the same again.

Report
PrincessScrumpy · 07/06/2011 20:17

Just re-read thread and I'm baffled by the comment "twins grow bigger" bigger than what? Single babies? My sister and I were always on the small size as babies - then standard size toddler.

Report
LensPens · 08/06/2011 13:08

sorry - wasn't clear.

I mean that as the twins grow, they may find sitting side by side in the duet uncomfortable, because it's narrower than other side by sides - that width has to come off somewhere. Not sure in practice if that's a real concern or not...

OP posts:
Report
LensPens · 08/06/2011 13:36

sorry - posted too early.

PrincessScrumpy - Meant to add that what I said isn't fact - it's what someone suggested might be a problem (probably not having seen the duet!) and so is what I'm weighing up. I know the official line is that the seats are as wide as other side by sides, including the duo, but are they as deep? As I said, presumably the extra width has to come off somewhere or is this really the miracle we've been waiting for?! Think I need to do more research.

Unfortunately the timing factor may be the key one for us as twins may have come by mid July!

OP posts:
Report
LensPens · 08/06/2011 15:14

me again

have now spoken to Out and About, the UK distributor. Apparently Duet seats are 26cm wide rather than 29cm for the duo - so that is a factor. Also, the wheels are 10 inches rather than 12.

Will get to work now...

OP posts:
Report
PrincessScrumpy · 08/06/2011 16:09

I'm going to the babyshop this weekend so I'm going to take my tape measure. I want to play with the Nipper as that was my first choice. The duet's wheels don't stick out which makes a difference but I still need to see it before we make a decision.

Good luck x

Report
JuliaGulia · 12/06/2011 22:10

Hi,
We have a Baby Jogger City Classic (since replaced by a newer model). LOVE IT!

Positives
Adjustable handle bar - great for when hubby and I share pushing duties, Quick fold technology - ideal in theory buy all buggies are loaded up with bags etc, it'll always take you longer than you think to put everything away.
Plastic foot rest - thinking muddy shoes and a wipe clean surface.
Suitable from birth - the twins are 15mo, their first trip was at 11 days old and I can see us using it til we no longer need a buggy at all.
Inflatable wheels give a comfy ride. We use a gel that hardens in the tyre to prevent punctures. wheels also come off to make the buggy fold down smaller.
Full sun and indivdual canopy's. We'll never have to use a parasol and each one moves independantly.
Easily adjustable straps.
A dream to stear and push. I can push it one handed or with with my hip when I'm scoffing a sandwich. Easy to turn it round on the spot.
Fits through my front door and vitually every door I try and get through. I'd rather it was a few cms narrower than I had trouble getting through standard doors. The twins seem to have plenty of space - even when the footmuff are on.

Negatives
We had to replace the brakes after a year. This was mainly my fault as I kept pushing the buggy forward with the brake on (mummy brain). The UK distributor (kooltrade) wasn't very helpful but a pleading email to baby jogger HQ in the US got us a replacement set for free.
It's heavy. It's a downside of many double buggies.

Happy shopping!

Report
MrWalker · 20/06/2013 13:37

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by Mumsnet for breaking our Talk Guidelines. Replies may also be deleted.

MultipleMama · 20/06/2013 13:54

I think you'd have more look on the Pushchair thread, most are geniuses on there and would have a much better idea on comparisons etc.

I have the Bugaboo Donkey and I love it x

Report
DragonTwins · 20/06/2013 15:36

MrWalker, I own one of those - BJCMD GT. It is simply brilliant! Easy to push, still haven't found a door that it didn't fit through. Loads of room for children, as GT version is higher.

For me, height was the winner. I was looking at Nipper as well. Compared to BJ, it is tiny. I am 6'', so I nearly had to lean down to reach handlebar, not even talking of getting to a child. Individual sun canopies add a lot of points.

Downside - although folds easily, it takes up a lot of space in boot.

Report
Satnightdropout · 20/06/2013 15:43

I've bought a Baby Jogger City Mini Double for my two year old and newborn due next month. Haven't used it yet, obviously, but can't wait as I've heard nothing but good reviews. The times I have tried it out with son it's been extremely easy to turn on the spot and smooth going. It also fits in my S reg Clio boot whilst still leaving the majority of the back window obstruction free :)

I was considering the out n about but the wheels were very big do would've had to pop them off every time I pop in the boot. Think it's one you could consider though as the new narrow is only 72cm wide, excellent reviews and brilliant on rough terrain.

I would've loved the mountain buggy, it's so slim, but was a very bulky fold down, and very expensive :(

Report

Don’t want to miss threads like this?

Weekly

Sign up to our weekly round up and get all the best threads sent straight to your inbox!

Log in to update your newsletter preferences.

You've subscribed!

Twicethehugs · 24/06/2013 16:15

After much research I got a Nipper V2, have used since birth and it's been great. My husband is a foot taller than me but fine for both of us as the handle is adjustable. It fits in the back of my Toyota Yaris and also fits through the front door and in the house ( with a bit of chipped paint no surprise!). I was quite tempted with the Baby jogger too but wanted to have something we can take for walks in the countryside.

Report
sundanceclaire · 26/06/2013 17:26

Baby Jogger City Mini Double every time, it's fantastic and pushes like a dream.

Report
thegirlinthesassyspace · 05/07/2013 11:39

The donkey looks really good! But we got out n about nipper as ee live in the country and do lots of country walks. The local bike shop pumps the wheels with some kind of foam/ gel so we don't have probs with punctures. I've got version 1 but I've seen loads of people in our area with version 2 of the double nipper, and with 3 or 4 years sitting in it. It also appears to have an adjustable bar. It probably wouldn't be good on buses ( tho what side by side is?) but we have used on trains in London no probs as long as it wasn't rush hour.

Report
Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.