Bugaboo Donkey Twin straps too short for my 13 month olds. Advise needed

[Clov3r]

Fist of all I just wanted to say, I'm new to mumsnet so please excuse any newbie errors I might make...

I have a Bugaboo Donkey Twin and am finding my twins of 13 months are becoming too big for the harness straps when they have their winter coats on (which of course they need on at the moment). Its worth saying that their coats are not unusually bulky or big. The straps are extended to the max and my children weigh no more than 10kg each and are definitely not an odd shape or large for their age.

The Bugaboo site states that the buggy is suitable from birth to 17kg but I have no idea how a 17kg toddler would fit. Has anyone had a similar experience and solved it in any way?

I've looked into reins for the bugaboo as a fix but I can't seem to find any that are compatible, any ideas?

Alternatively does anyone know of any universal harnesses that would work?

I love everything else about this buggy so would like to find a solution and would welcome any helpful advice.

Bugaboo themselves have been no help on the issue - to them the straps are the straps and have been tested to a weight of 17kg and that's that. They offered no support or solutions to the problem.

[Stubbed]

Where did you buy it? My friend had the same issue with a different buggy, took it back to mothercare (after a year's use) and got a full credit note for it. Her argument was that it was bought for two children up to 2 or 3 years old and managed one for 1 year.

[Clov3r]

I bought it from Kiddisave - they said they hadn't heard of the problem before but to email them with the details and they'd contact Bugaboo, but I already know what Bugaboo have to say so it'd be going around in circles.

[BabsUnited]

i have the bugaboo bee, I don't know how similar the donkey is, but on most bugaboos you can lower the point at which the straps meet the back of the seat, meaning you get looser straps. Here's the official user guide, it might show you on there? not looked at it, sorry

[Clov3r]

Thanks for the link to the video - they don't really show this though. Its a bit different on the Bee I think, with the Donkey the straps are sewn into the seat and literally slide up or down but this doesn't seem to make a difference.

[Artandco]

Are they the same as the bugaboo cameleon? If so they go huge!

[Clov3r]

No they're different from the chameleon

[BabsUnited]

Sorry the vid wasn't much help. Have you tried calling the customer helpline? You'll need to google for a uk customer services number as they usually want you to contact them by email, but you can find a number online and they are quite helpful once you get to speak to someone.

[Clov3r]

Thanks BabsUnited. One of the first things I did was to call Bugaboo and they weren't very helpful at all unfortunately :-(

[Momzilla82]

This is a long shot and probably quite awful to try and explain but here goes. At the bottom of the straps behind the seat fabric is there a d loop and the webbing there is double thickness? On the bee you can extend the straps much further out if you extend this part than the bits at the top. It's quite fiddly as this loop is hidden behind the seat fabric. Have a dig around and look.

[Guia]

Hello, I have exactly the same problem. My girls can't seat properly because they fell tremendously tightened.
I hate this buggy, and I find the company very poor in giving answer or advise on what to do. I contacted them several times, they state that they suggest the maximum weight supported by the seat, by the fabric. Not the general dimensions of the kids. Ah ah ah. Ridiculous! So you pay almost 900£ for a buggy and then you find out that it last for only 1 year.
They state that they have to respect all the security rules in terms of length and bla bla vla of the harnesses. And in the same email, they say they have released on the market a new seat, with longer harnesses. Really? If this is true, it means that the previous one was too short. Way too short actually.
Happy that I'm not crazy. I'm not the only one complaining about this harnesses. And my girls are absolutely normal in terms of dimensions for their age.
Booooooo Bugabooooo : (
I'd like to know how did it go for you ..

[HoopsandEverything]

This may help:

[daisydaisychain]

Did anybody find a solution to this? I'm considering this buggy fit siblings but would need to fit a nearly two year old plus. Is it too small at that age?

[greenlizard]

I have one and a largeish toddler and the straps don't fit him with his winter coat on. I have to just attach round his waIstanbul not ideal at all 😵. For a large toddler the citi mini has large seats . X