Tandem for newborn and 21 month old - confused

[leeds84]

I'm due in 6 weeks and need to get a move on with deciding on a pram (probably second hand) and was just after some advice.

Ds will be 21 months, walks ok but needs to be in a pram for shopping trips, days out etc. We don't have to consider use on public transport too much. He's not a massive fan of the pram generally at the moment. I was wondering if it'd be possible to get away with just a sling and the stroller ( we don't have a carrycot pushchair from when ds was newborn because we borrowed that one from by brother) but think it'd be really good to have a carrycot just for newborn naps etc.

So I'm keen to have carrycot and forward facing seat option. We went to john Lewis to get advice and they recommended Uppababy vista (quite liked this because of space between the 2 seats), oyster max, joolz geo double ( crazy expensive) and Phil and teds voyager.

Any advice on the above or other suggestions? Thanks so much.

[AliBingo]

We had the same gap but I went for a bugaboo donkey, still in use now with dc2 and 3 and I love it. But I didn't fancy a tandem.

[almostthirty]

I loved my britax side by side double. Can't remember what it's called. It fit through all doorways as it wasn't much wider than my normal buggy, I could attach the carry cot and it had 1 hand steering.

[leeds84]

THanks so much for your replies. Can I ask why you preferred a double / weren't keen on a tandem?

[almostthirty]

I looked at loads of different options as I had a 22 month old who wasn't walking when ds2 was born.
I don't like the buggys where one child is under another for lots of reasons- I have seen children get wet from puddles and one poor child had a cigarette end flicked/dropped in the direction of the buggy which landed on his cost toes (luckily no injury caused).

I didn't like the long ones with one on front of the other because I didn't find the practical to get up and down a step in a shop. Also negotiating space didn't seem that easy.
My Britax fit through all doors, huge hoods, loads of storage , was light for a double and was the best I could find at the time. It was also on sale, but when I resold it 3 years later, got a really good price for it.

[almostthirty]

The car seat sits on tip to face you the 2 hoods (1 from car seat and 1from buggy) join in the middle which make a great cocoon to keep the weather out.

[maamalady]

I have the same gap, DD2 is now five weeks old and so far we are managing just fine with sling and single buggy. We are going to avoid getting a double if we can avoid it because they're expensive and massive. So far so good... Maybe try the same method - don't get a double until you're sure it's necessary?

[mrssiriusblack]

With ds1 and ds2 18 months apart I had the out n about 360 side by side and I loved it! The only issue I had was it couldn't be parent facing and ds2 was a screamer.
I'm expecting dc3 and there will be 20 months between dc2 and 3 and we have sold our double and just going to use a single. Dc2 hates being the pushchair so he mostly walks everywhere on reins! There might be times I regret not having a double but I'm hoping a combination of sling, buggy board and reins and we'll be fine!!

[MelT1980]

I have iCandy Peach which is perfect for me, although is on the expensive side it's worth it, just feels so secure and sturdy.

[AnnaT45]

Glad I found this. I'm due in July and will have a 18/19 month gap. The Britax looks great. Was going to go for a baby city jogger agar but may try that one out too thanks!

[Trinpy]

I've got a 23 month age gap and after much research went for the oyster max. Dc2 is 6 weeks old and I'm so glad I got this one. It's very easy to steer one handed when the toddler wants to walk and I like that I can use the carrycot for the baby to nap in during the day. I got it second hand on eBay - Base, 2 seat units, carrycot, buggy board and accessories - for just over £200 and it's in great condition. The only downside is that basket space gets taken up by the carrycot or the older child's legs, but I've not found this to be too much of an issue so far.

I didnt want a side by side because I wanted the options of having a proper carrycot for the newborn, being able to have the baby facing me and toddler facing out, and hopefully can use it with the buggy board when dc1 gets a bit bigger. Also with this age gap I was aware that one side would be a lot heavier than the other!

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[Laquila]

I have an old Phil and Teds Explorer for my 12wk old and 2.7yr old, and it's been brilliant so far, considering it cost £80 second-hand! I bought a cocoon for it off eBay but my newborn is giant, so I've just this week put him in the main seat with my toddler underneath. It's interesting that a pp mentioned lot liking to see kids in these kind of buggies, and I used to sort of feel the same, but my toddler had sooo much fun in the bottom seat today - he thought he had his own little den! Also he was much closer to me so could chat easily and had a lovely time telling me about all the things he could see on the ground/cats going past etc!

We do use a sling too but I find the double invaluable on a hot day, or if im going to be picking up shopping too. P&Ts hold their value so I'm hoping to get at least £60 when I sell it on, and I love the fact I can use it as a single too.

[Tonis2297]

I have an oyster max and a city mini jogger , my oldest is 3 1/2 and youngest is 10 months , oldest still needs pushchair as SN , the oyster is fab but does get heavy we've stopped using it due to ds being 16.5kg and it's far too heavy , the city mini is great and not much bigger than a single tbh it goes everywhere and has massive seats! You can have carrycot for the city mini too , I didn't bother with Carrycot for the oyster as the new seats late completely flat x

[Laquila]

If I was having a side-by-side I'd deffo get a BJCM double!