Mumsnet Talk

I've been researching doubles for my youngest and baby which is due in April and came across this after being set on the Baby Jogger City Mini or the Elite double. I didnt know there was such a thing as a side by side with parent facing option plus as the different
combi's that go with it!
I realise it's expensive however don't mind investing if it's worth while and will last me a long time. From what I see the double can turn to a single very easily so could last until my youngest will be a toddler. I bought the iCandy peach thinking it would last me a lifetime but didn't really consider the fact I don't like the double option for it. Don't fancy making the same expensive mistakes again so please, share ur opinions if u have one or considered one! Thanks

I have the Bugaboo Donkey here at present, plus I also have the Peach Blossom (and a host of other doubles).

I have to say we are loving the Donkey. It is superbly made, beautifully finished, simple in an elegant way. It drives like a dream even with two children in. The single / Duo option is useful but in reality I would never have it as my only single simply because it does feel wide (even if the rear is the same width as the Cameleon) but mainly because its a big chunk to lift in and out of our boot. But to have a chassis and two seats with the option of one or both is a huge bonus. We have found the Mono to Duo conversion hit and miss. Some days we do it easily, others (and we wondered if the cold was affecting it) have taken a lot of tugging - at one stage two of us were tugging - it apart. The clips only drop into place when the chassis is fully extended. Its also a lot of bending over to do. I think if you can leave it up all the time and open as a double - or even stored flat in long two wheel mode in a gap, then its superb. It is fab to have the Mono to Duo option but to be honest converting it a few times a week would be all I personally would want to do ie its not a 4 times a day school run conversion. But storage for us is an issue. We have a TwinGo currently and that is much easier to store as its flat. The Donkey is a pyramid shape fold, plus seat units. I have also been disappointed by the storage basket. I struggled to get one medium sized handbag in there today with a bottle of milk and a book. We have been using it nearly ever day and its handed the snow great, it handed sand great. Would we have one? Yes definitely and we are seriously contemplating getting one. Why? Mainly because I have a 3.4 year old who whilst she walks a lot, at times its easier / safer / less problematic - like today when its very icy to strap her in and go. The Donkey seats are really tall and large - and I wish I had realised this sooner because I would have certainly bought one six months ago when I dismissed it because someone told me the seats were small! They aren't! She looks sooo comfortable in the seats and the pushchair pushes sooooo easily with 2 children.

On the other hand, I know you say you dont like the Peach Blossom, the new one is about to hit UK shores, and to be honest I love it. It just works simply and easily and so well. The seats are a good size, very tall, fab hoods, adjustable footrest etc. It too pushes incredibly easily with two older children on board. The basket is bigger than the Donkey one. But for ease of use I prefer the Peach. Its just simpler although getting the children in isn't quite as easy as the Donkey.

But there is a fundamental side by side v's tandem issue which is why the Peach always wins for me. Today for example we went to the dentist. Its a brand new building so had wheelchair width doors (supposedly), but we couldn't get the Donkey through the first doors without opening the other side and the door into the surgery was very tight - we brushed both sides. But not only that my DS had his fingers outside the seat unit and at one point DH was shouting at me because he had his leg stuck out too and I couldn't see as I had put him forward facing. With other side by sides eg the City Mini, there is more of a "wall" between the child and the side. Although we managed with the Donkey, the Peach would have been much easier to have taken today.

But I think these two pushchairs are really the top in their respective classes. I am loving the Donkey and for us it would suit really well. But think carefully about storage, how many times you will convert it per week, and boot space. But it is one very gorgeous pushchair and an absolute and utter pleasure to push.

I have a donkey and I love it. Would disagree with the previous poster insofar as mine goes in and out the car twice per day on the school run and it's fine. I've been using it for 5 weeks and it's getting much easier to collapse/ change buggy from mono to duo. I have the duo version (2 DC less than 18 months apart). I use it in mono mode frequently as I find it is much nicer to push than my cameleon. I also use the basket far more than I thought I would. I would definitely recommend it

Just looked at buying one today- DS will be 21 months when next baby arrives early August. Little concerned the seat part looked quite small to sit on- have you had any problems? Even though my DS is currently only 14 months he's quite a beast (DH is 6ft4......) Have your older children sat comfortably in it? Love the option to be able to click my maxi cosi infant seat into the chassis as well as the cot option. Also worried about getting through doors!! Has it been ok shopping?
It's such a lot of money to spend and my DS hated the travel system we originally bought and terrified to waste money again

No, there is no issue with size here. DD is 102cms tall at 3.4years and theres lots of room still for growth. She looks incredibly comfy in the seat.
The downside of the car seat is that it apparently adds 11cms to the width. I could just scrape the Donkey through a wheelchair friendly door yesterday (and as I said I had to watch for fingers and legs)

Thanks all! I went to see it today and I have to say I was very impressed! I will be using this with a newborn and DD who will be 15 months at the time but my almost 4yo sat in the chair today for sizing purposes and he had plenty of room at either side and still some room at the top!
I found taking the seats off and folding it down very easy and although it's a big pram when folded, that doesn't really effect me too much as I have a big boot and don't tend to bring any prams into the house.
Having a separate parent facing carry cot is such a selling point for me and you can still have the buggy seats parent facing or outward facing too.
Also being able to convert it to a single so easily really works for us too, otherwise I'd be pushing a double with no child in one side or would have to keep my single pram handy all the time and I just don't have the space for that.
The seats felt incredible comfortable and soft, and steering was just as my iCandy, a dream! You can get a buggy board for it too which I couldn't for the iCandy so that's a bonus for my 4yo's point of view...

I think we're going to go for it and sell my iCandy to make up some of the cost as it is expensive but I'm thinking it could be worth the investment. And like the iCandy, resale value would be decent at the end too!

Hi setfire We looked at one yesterday as well and the big selling point for me was being able to use my infant car seat- but at a cost of it adding over 10cm to the width. I spent literally hours last night looking at reviews on the Internet about it and a few people had commented that this extra width meant it was stopping them getting through doors. There seemed to be general issues getting them down shop aisles etc. would be really interested to hear how you get on with it- my second DC not due till start August so we have time yet to decide. It's such a lot of money and still smarting from our 1st mistake we made with DS travel system to the tune of over £800!
Some other viewers posted issues with the tyres constantly needing inflating after use- anyone had any issues!
Many thanks- I lay awake for ages worrying about a buggy! How sad is my life at the moment!! My DH thinks I'm nuts!