HELP PLEASE! twin buggies

[tryingtosleep]

Please help! Am expecting twins in June and have a pretty narrow doorway therefore need a tandem buggy.

Don't really want to have one twin on the street while I go back in the flat to fetch the other!

Any suggestions on a tandem that fits babies from birth?

[NicMac]

Congratulations on your impending arrivals. I don't know if you can get it is the UK but I had a brilliant system by Bebe Confort (who do the famous Loola) called 'Twin Club'. It was not cheap but evolved as my boys grew and got through narrow doorways. Best wishes

[NicMac]

There is one on eBay to give you an idea cgi.ebay.co.uk/Bebe-Confort-Twin-Club-Pushchair-Toddler-Seats_W0QQitemZ300199732374QQihZ020QQcategor yZ53681QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[Neenzandhertwinbeans]

I think the Jane Powertwin is the fave tandem among twin mums. It is a travel system too so it would tick all your boxes!

I am expecting twins too and have gone with the mountain buggy cos luckily I can get in my house through my garage so no need to worry about the width of the door (though the MB is only 75cm so is only just too big for my front door).

Congrats on the twins! I am due May 29 - come and see us at Due In June antenatal thread (I am on it cos my due date was June 1 to begin with)

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/2290/485081

and also on this thread for multiple mums to be (there are only two of us so far!)

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/2290/453417

[Neenzandhertwinbeans]

The Powertwin
www.babies247.com/ProductDetails/mcs/referrer/Froogle/productID/349/groupID/1/categoryID/103

[tryingtosleep]

Thanks for your help.
Am actually due in July - but have been told that I'll have them maybe 4-6 weeks early - as they're sharing a placenta.

I saw the Jane Powertwin on the John Lewis website - but it says the front seat is only from 6 months.

www.johnlewis.com/230443396/Product.aspx

They've also got the Jane Twin 2 - as well - does anyone know if this is any good???

[millie1]

Hi Tryingtosleep and Congratulations on your impending arrivals. My twins, like Neenzandhertwinbenas, are also due in June but I've been told to expect a c/s at 37/38w so May for me. We're also debating the twin buggies but are going for a side-by-side. However, I did look at the Twin 2 a few weeks ago. My honest opinion is that it is heavy and cumbersome - and that was with two empty seats. I can see that it would be difficult to manoeuvre up kerbs etc. What about the Phil & Teds Twin buggy? I know it's not a tandem but it's only 62cm wide according to the website www.philandteds.com/nz/twin_07_1.htm

Neenz... lucky you having made a decision. We're torn between Mt Buggy, Out n About Nipper & Easywalker Duowalker. Duowalker is most like Mt Buggy (which is my first choice but i worry about fitting it in back of a Galaxy (something else to buy!!)) but folds smaller. What's throwing us is that Duowalker says seats only suitable from 6 mths (carrycot til then) but Out N About & Mt Buggy have very similar seats but say suitable from birth with a liner. Wish we could just get decision made and darn pram and car ordered!!

[Neenzandhertwinbeans]

Get one with a carrycot - it is well cute. We got our Mt buggy yesterday and fitted the carrycot on. I love it! It won't fit through the door though... about 1cm too wide! We'll be bringing it in through the garage though so not really a problem.

Tryingtosleep - Jane Powertwin definitely do a tandem for two babies from birth.

I agree it was cumbersome when we went to look at them which is why we went with MB.

The duowalker looks just like the mountain buggy - I think it may be a touch wider (maybe just 1cm but as explained above, 1cm can make all the difference!) but not as long when folded. We got our carrycot second hand off ebay which saved us £130, and there are always one or two on sale there. Don't know about duowalker. Mabe think about re-sale value too.

Millie are yours identical? Is that why the c-section?

[millie1]

Hi Neenz ... thanks for that. Trying to avoid buying carrycot as we have one single carrycot of our own and access to another so don't reallysee the need for it. They are fabulous though - my SIL had the MB with double carrycot for her twins and there was tonnes of room in it. No, they're not identical but I've had two previous c-sections as both babies were breech so there's no choice this time ... I've never been in labour so don't think now is the time to try. Hate the thought of another section . How about you? Will you get to try a natural delivery? My SIL and friend delivered naturally with no problems.

[tryingtosleep]

Hi Millie and Neenz - its the sport thats 62cm - the e3 is 73cm unfortunately. Nevermind.

Seems like the Jane is the only one - but have been hearing lots of disaster stories about that brand!!!
(One of my friends had to even take them to court as they wouldn't pay up when the metal bar broke?!!)

I'm expecting identicals so have been told I'm having c-section - are you?

[millie1]

Oh sorry Tryingtosleep ... just looked at the measurement at the top of the screen and didn't realise there were more below. Here's a link to a thread from the products board where TeaandCake gives her opinion on doubles www.mumsnet.com/Talk?topicid=1012&threadid=460364#9308332

Wow - identicals! Are they your first? And why the c-section? Imagine it's maybe to do with shared placenta but haven't a clue . Are you excited?

[oliviaelanasmum]

Hi did any of you see that Mamas & Papas are bringing the duette back out in the uk?
Here

[Neenzandhertwinbeans]

Wow Millie, twins with your third pregnancy! At least you have an idea what to expect. My DTs are my first babies so I am being thrown right in the deep end (but at least I don't have other children to care for too).

Are these your first Tryingtosleep? I am hoping for natural delivery and as long as the first baby stays head down (he is at the mo but second is breech) they say I can go for it if I want. Hopefully the other baby (don't know the sex of that one yet) will turn but if not I am happy to go for it.

Natural birth is much safer for non-ids, for identicals there are more risks with natural birth cos of shared placenta and risk of twin-to-twin transfusion so usually they just whip you in for a section at 36/37 weeks. My best friend had identicals and had to have a section cos of t2t transfusion at 36 weeks. But she was really happy with her section even though it was not what she wanted, and had another section with her third baby. I think you just want them to arrive safe don't you. I'd go for a section with identicals I think.

[Hoonette]

I too am looking for a tandem buggy where both seats lie flat (for two children close in age) and have only managed to find the Jane Twin Two, and the huge Peg Perego Duette.

If there are other options I'd be very interested to hear about them.

[tryingtosleep]

that's ok millie - thanks anyway

yes first - feeling excited/terrified!
think the c/s is because of ttts but not sure really

oh well am being scanned every 2 weeks to keep an eye of them and all ok so far!

[Neenzandhertwinbeans]

The two-week scans are to check for t2tt so they are keeping a good eye on you. My twins are my first too! I went through the terrified stage a few weeks ago when I realised it was three months to go not four , but now I am just excited and can't wait for them to arrive!

[millie1]

In many ways you pair are lucky that they're your first babies ... you'll have lots of time to focus on them without having to worry/stress about older children feeling left out (yes, you can tell that's a worry for me!). Two week scans are great - it's the reassurance factor, isn't it.

I'm on a real countdown now too ... had a/n apt today and my bump measures the equivalent of 32w of singleton pregnancy (I'm 26+2) so no wonder I feel so big. Babies look fine - next check in 3 weeks. Started thinking about all the things we need to get ... got rid of things like bouncy seat & highchair after DS2 was born cos they were just so grubby. It'll be fun to go shopping !!

[moodywren]

I have the Jane Twin Two and I love it. Both seats recline and are suitable from birth and I have a matrix car seat with it that also reclines to lay flat like a carrycot.
The system wasn't cheap but I love using it and I am pregnant again so I am going to get plenty of use out of it.

[PazzaPlusTwo]

Hello

I'm also expecting twins as my first - due 21st May. Lovely to meet you all!!

Tomorrow is buggy-D-day. I've spent ages researching and still can't work out what's best, but we gotta get something!

From the reviews I've read, Mountain Buggy Urban Double (side by side) or Jane Powertwin Pro (tandem) are the ones that will do twins from birth and that people seem to rate highly. (The Jane has 2xcarseats that lie flat - is this OK for long periods of time I don't know).

And you can find them second hand on ebay - unlike the utterly-gorgeous-and-looks-just-right-being-a-tandem-but-shorter-than-the-Powertwin-and-takes-carryc ots iCandy Pear. Which no-one seems to stock, curses!

For me the MB is too wide for the door so will probably get a Powertwin from ebay and new car seats. Or try to stuff them into a single pram for a few months and/or single pram and sling/BabyBjorn until they can sit up and the pushchair options get better.

[PazzaPlusTwo]

OK having said that, I just called Kiddiecare in Peterborough who have a massive showroom and they said the Jane Powertwin Pro isn't OK cos the carseats DON'T lie flat.

The Jane Twin Two with 2xMatrix carseats is fine ... except she pointed out that very few cars can fit two Matrix carseats in the back!!! Oh and it's £760 all-in - eek!

[millie1]

Hi PazzaPlusTwo ... Congratulations! I'ts a minefield, isn't it? The Mountain Buggy is lovely ... it would definitely be my first choice but DH is having trouble justifying the cost. Haven't seen the PowerTwin Pro in real life but as far as I understand (it's the 3 wheeler - yes?) the front seat isn't suitable until baby is 6 months old. If they weren't going to be in it for long periods I guess you could use it as a travel system with the Rebel Pro car seats - but a max of 2 hrs per day in car seat for babies so it might be a bit limiting. The iCandy Pear I have seen and read reviews off ... people have commented that there isn't much height for when your baby grows into toddlerdom and, having seen it, I'd have to agree. The hood is really low. Decisions, decisions!

I didn't realise Kiddicare had a store ... far too far from me but I might call them re advice on carseats. We went looking at Ford Galaxy's today and then to look at carseats ... like the Maxi-Cosi CabrioFix and the man in the shop says it'll be fine to fit in middle seat of middle row of Galaxy but would like someone else to confirm that! Buggies ... still tossing up between the 3 side-by-sides mentioned above but would like to see some reviews of the Easywalker Duowalker as I think it might be first choice.

[Neenzandhertwinbeans]

Millie, have you checked maxi cosi's website to see if the Galaxy takes the car seat in the middle? if it has the ISOFIX points in the middle and the Maxi cosi fits in the other ISOFIX points then it should be fine. BTW I have a Honda accord and the maxi cosi website wouldn't confirm they fit but they do so the website isn't up to date and might say it can't confirm.

Moutain Buggy - i bought mine for £555 delivered, brand new off ebay - i think that is a good deal. Just search for Mountain Buggy on the ebay site cos it is a shop that sells them all the time. I bought the carrycot second hand, so got the lot for £610. i think a good pram is a decent investment so it's worth shelling out a bit.

We have an antenatal thread for multiple mums-to-be so come and join us!!
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/2290/453417?stamp=080302143001

[millie1]

Thanks Neenz. Re Maxi-Cosi ... yep, looked on their website. Trouble is they're only testing their carseats wtih Isofix fittings, not with seatbelts so if you look anything up using a non-isofix setting, it says 'not known'. I did phone Kiddicare and spoke to a very helpful lady who confirme what i've just typed above but said that she has seen plenty of seats fitted to the middle seat of an MPV using a 3 point lap & diagonal belt coming from the roof - Britax test them and say they're fine. Think it ought to be okay.

Wow - you got a good deal on the Mt buggy! Well done. What colour did you go for? I've found it on-line for around the same and a bit more but have joined TAMBA and through the Glasgow Pram Centre & Twinsclub.co.uk you get a 10% discount which is pretty good. Makes a big difference to the car seats - £89 on-line with 10% off and £105 each with our local retailer. Around £50 saved but need to take shipping costs into account.

Inbetween brief periods of sleep last night I found myself waking from dreams of cars, car seats and buggies. I must be going mad

I've looked at your other thread and will come over and join - thanks for the link!

[millie1]

Oh and don't want to buy isofix cos we'll also use the seats in a car without isofix.

[millie1]

Oops - not twinsclub but twins-store.co.uk. Took me ages to find it again - they say they're a TAMBA discount partner.

[PazzaPlusTwo]

Hi everyone

Well I went to my local Potty People (terrible name, but nice shop!) on Sunday to see the iCandy Pear and the Jane Twin Two.

The iCandy Pear looks fabulous and folds quite compact, although I agree there is not much room between the seats when they grow. But that's the downside of 'compact & bijou' I guess! I think by then we could be onto a cheap-n-cheerful side-by-side lightweight thingy.

The Jane Twin Two - I thought it was the answer - but OMG it felt like a train. It's about a mile long so it might fit through a door but you'd be stuffed turning a corner. No way will it fit in our boot even though our Vectra has quite a roomy boot. ANd forget about getting on a bus. It takes the Matrix car seats that can open out flat (hence fine for newborns) but they are immense, weigh a ton and cost £200 each.

BUT::: I have found several people on various chatroom threads who think the exact opposite, loving the Jane and finding the iCandy unsteerable! Definitely go and try them out yourself.

I have also found this:
www.groovystyle.co.uk/productpages/little-shield/meribe-twin-new.htm
Could be a cheap-and-cheerful solution at £99 ... if it really does do a newborn-recline (i've emailed them to ask - will let you know what they say).

Isn't it annoying how you get conflicting info? Like, manufacturer says suitable from birth but stockist recommends from 6 months - d'uh?

Good luck buggy-hunting, laydeez...