Double for newborn & 23mo

[blushingmare]

Sorry this is probably a common question on here, but can people please give me some pointers on what to look at for a double. DD will be 23mo when DC2 is born.

DD now faces forwards but I had her parent facing for up to a year, which would be great for DC2, but not sure if it's feasible. Is there a buggy that does this? Was looking at the BJ city select, but would like to have the carrycot nearest me with the toddler seat at the front facing out and it doesn't seem able to do this? Mountain Buggy +1 seems to do this, but can't then have DC2 parent facing once in a seat?

Is there anything else I should look at?

It will be mainly used around town and will be getting it in and out of the car - we have a Ford Focus so needs to fit in that boot.

I want something that's nice to push - had an iCandy Strawberry with DD and loved how comfy it was to push.

I also have in the back of my mind that DD hated the carry cot and I had her almost exclusively in a sling til about 5mo when we went to the seat. So maybe I shouldn't get anything til the new baby arrives, but it makes me a bit nervous to think about having nothing at all as don't have our iCandy anymore - just a Maclaren that I wouldn't want a newborn in, so then wouldn't have anything for the baby at all!

Thanks in advance!

[Mrsantithetic]

Exactly same boat. So shall jump on too if that's ok

I've been looking at a mini foible bsby jogger thing

[Misty9]

I'll have a 2.7yo and newborn and have gone for the oyster max with carrycot. Lots of different configurations and it's so pretty :)

[Twinsplusonesurprise]

Bugaboo donkey all the way.
Will do exactly what you need now and if you want it as a single when your 23mo decides to walk you can just shunt it to one seat. It's a fabulous pram I love mine, used it for twins now for single DS.

[TheFantasticFixit]

Yup - another donkey fan here too. dC2 is on her way so am just about yo order the extension kit for mine, love that DD1 will be side boy side her new sister. My sister had a Phil and ted for her row girls and lost count of the furious arguments about who got yo ride 'up top' as they grew up a bit!

[blushingmare]

Thanks. The Donkey does look great, but wow - it's expensive! Even second hand I'm not sure I can stretch to it.

[Ihateparties]

Stroll air my duo is supposed to be great and quite a lot more affordable (if I'm remembering the price correctly).

[Naturally2806]

I have 19months between mine and I got an icandy Pear. The seats seemed much bigger than the peach bloosm which if memory serves correct is also a double? Kids love it. Had added benefit my maxi cosi car seat also slotted into the frame. DS1 loves the front seat as it is high up and he gets a great view. Ironically will also fight with DD2 for the bottom seat. Have never felt she is cramped or restricted massively and she's in a proper seat not just a sling type thing. When fully loaded it is fairly heavy!

[blushingmare]

Ihateparties - thanks for that - looks like a good option.

I had previously been considering inline buggies as thought they'd be more maneoverable an a smaller fold for the car. But lots of people seem to suggest a side by side one. What is people's experiences of these - are they a nightmare to take around the shops and have in the car?

[schmalex]

I had a Donkey as a solo buggy with my first and I'm planning to get it out again when DC2 arrives in a couple of months. It fitted into a Ford Focus boot if I took one wheel off (which is straightforward). Not sure if it would still fit in the double configuration, but I think you'd have a similar problem with an inline one tbh.

It's fine in most normal shops, but would be difficult in somewhere like a tiny corner shop with aisles very close together.

If there's a John Lewis near you, they'll let you try out buggies in your car boot to check they fit!

[Chocchip88]

21 months between mine. I really wanted the baby to be parent facing too but we ended up compromising on that and went for the Baby Jogger City Mini GT double. With the baby lying flat and the viewing window we could see each other perfectly. I highly recommend it.

[Tiggywunkle]

There are tandems which will do what you want, but there are reasons why I wouldnt recommend most of them - Kolcraft Contours, Bebecar One&Two, O'Baby Zoom. The City Select allows you to have the baby at the front parent facing and the toddler on top. However the pushchair does become heavy quickly.
The Donkey is fab unless you need to convert it. I loved my TwinGo - like a Stroll Air - it was simpler than the Donkey and I probably preferred it.
I have tried most doubles and TBH you need to look beyond what you would really like, to practicalities like ease of push, do you need storage space, how big is your door, car boot and where do you go. Your baby will sleep much of the first 6 months and your toddler will manage wherever they sit. Identify what you really need.
If DD was in a sling, you may wish to consider something which goes from a single to a double. I struggled with having a sling and pushing a pushchair at the same time.

[TarkaTheOtter]

I have a Phil and teds sand even as a double it fits in focus boot with room to spare - no need to remove wheels etc.

[Puffykins]

DS was 23 months when DD was born and actually I got away without having a double buggy at all. DS walked or went in the buggy, and DD went in the papoose or in the buggy.... We then got a buggy board for when DD was a bit older and became less comfortable to carry around, which DS stands on. Congratulations and good luck!

[petalsandstars]

I have a graco double, the seats are one behind the other with the lie flat one at the rear. It doesn't parent face but can be pushed with one hand and is easy to push with baby and 2yo. Also fits into a focus boot. Dead simple to fold too with a roomy basket. I also used my single with the toddler on reins and now I've started bw I would consider just having the single if I were in the same position again at least for the first few months.

[happyfrogger]

Hi OP. We have uppababy vista and 17 month gap. Used sling and maclaren for 3 months until putting back out wrestling toddler into it wearing the sling. Uppababy is good for both facing parent (toddler underneath can look out the sides) but the set up means v v heavy on front wheels. it's hard work maneuvering and getting up and down curbs. I use it daily for walking a few miles and fits in ford focus easily. I guess all doubles are heavy but with the toddlers weight on the FRONT wheels (furthest from you) do bear in mind they are harder than other doubles to push. Would opt for Phil and teds if I did it again because you can also take out the sleeping baby in the duffle bag thing without waking them to carry them up and down stairs in friends houses / when out. And easy to peer into. Good luck!