Twin Buggy

[AngeLamb]

Has anyone used the Red Castle Shop n Jogg or the Sports Double Jogger?
I'm looking for a decent buggy for my twins and the mountain buggy is out of my price range.

[MarsLady]

I have a Red Castle Shop n Jog. It's a lovely buggy. Lovely lined seats and an integral sunscreen. Moves beautifully, turns easily. Also folds down easily.

I confess I never jogged with it but did hike up some hefty hills

It was great for the DTs to sleep in. They used it for a decent length of time and it still looks lovely.

[AngeLamb]

Hi thanks for feedback on the Shop n Jog, have you had any problems with it? I haven't managed to find many reviews on it, but with some of the double buggies similar to this one (ones that all look a bit similar to the mountain buggy), I've read complaints about the seat positions that are permenantly slightly reclined causing problems for older ones wanting to see out. Is this a problem with this model?

[lindseyfox]

my sister lives in east sussex and is selling her urban detourer 3 wheeler puschair is still on mothercare website. will ask if you like or you can contact me. if she needs to will ask her to put on the sale bit on this website.

[accessorizequeen]

The out and about nipper 360 is a LOT cheaper than the mountain buggy and recommended by as many mums on here. If you go for a 3 wheeler, the seats are generally a bit more reclined I've found having owned two and seen several more. You can sometimes buy a bumper bar which lets them hang on and sit up a bit. It doesn't affect what they can see afaik.

[ColdSpaghetti]

I agree, the Nipper is great, my dcs are 17 months apart and I have tried a few double and tandem buggies but this is the best I've found. The slight recline of the seats seems to stop them lurching out and they can still see fine as long as the hood is retracted.

FWIW I wouldn't buy new again. Until you use the buggy with your own dcs, on your normal routes and in and out of your particular car, you can't really know what will suit. There are some good bargains to be had out there, you can always scrub them up and with a used one you won't be furious at every nick and scratch!

[MarsLady]

Mine never had a problem seeing out. I suppose the biggest down side is its width. Still that was good for my purse because the tiny shops had the loveliest, most expensive things lol!

If you're in London and want a look at it you're more than welcome. Eventually I'll sort myself out and sell it on.

[AngeLamb]

Thanks Lindseyfox, but I'm in Norfolk, so that's too far away. I've already learnt my lesson on buying buggies off ebay without actually seeing them, thanks for the offer though.

Thanks also MarsLady, London's also a bit too far for viewing - I'm hoping to find somewhere locally that sells them so I can try one out for size. Do you know if they're suitable for attaching buggy boards to? I have a two year old who probably won't want to be walking all the time.

Thanks for advice all.

[mel2005]

angelamb, i am in norfolk as well, i am near norwich, i am expecting twins this winter and got a bargain mountain buggy off e-bay. i have a 3.5y old and a 2y old so i will be using a buggy board with mine. i currently have the single urban mountain buggy that is fantastic. not alot can go wrong with them and spare parts can be bought easily. i usually look on newly listed buyitnows on e-bay. i have also seen them in the past in the adtrader cheap. the phil and teds twin is another alternative, i had one before. its not as good quality as the mountain buggy but has the extra wheel at the front that makes it alot more stable. (if you go on the beach the extra wheel does make a difference) i saw a phil and teds twin on e-bay for £85 not long ago.

[AngeLamb]

I already bought a mountain buggy off ebay, but it was pretty shabby, I sold it on again, giving a better description of it than the person I bought it off. Ideally I would like the mountain buggy so I could get the twin carry cot, but haven't decided what to do yet. I'm not going to buy something that I haven't had a look at though.

Did you manage to get one that was in reasonable condition?

[mel2005]

i have had quite a few from e-bay over the years, mainly singles and a couple of doubles. i have had some that have been immaculate and some that have been well used.
i am awaiting my one to be delivered. it is the newer adjustable handle version.
i know it has been well used but it was very very cheap they said there is noting wrong with the frame (just a few scratches) but the fabrics are in need of tlc. i will order some new fabrics if needed which will still make it alot cheaper than some of the secondhand ones on there (i quite fancy ordering some chocolate or plumb ones). to be honest the fabrics wash really well but some people dont realise they can take them off and wash them. sometimes there is some sun fading but i dont mind that and i always use a lambskin liner/footmuff.

i have the newest version twin carrycot arriving this week from a lovely lady on e-bay. i cant wait. i have had loads of doubles and the mountain buggy was by far the best and the most robust. it will be getting alot of abuse on the beach, in the woods and down muddy farm tracks so i didnt want an immaculate one.

[mel2005]

when are you due angelamb? are you going to any of the twins clubs in norfolk?

[AngeLamb]

I'm due 29th November, but they little lovelies will probably make their appearance a week or two earlier.
And yours?
I've been thinking about going to the Wymondham twins club, I'm in Diss, I don't think there are any groups that are closer. Where outside of Norwich are you?
How come you've had so many buggys, how many children do you have already?

[AngeLamb]

mel2005, also meant to ask how much does it cost to get new fabrics for double mb? And do you know are the different models of carry cots compatible with the different models of frames?

[mel2005]

i was going to try the one on coleman road as i am just north of norwich.
i have a 3.5yr old and a 2yr old and i have been searching for the perfect buggy for us. i have had loads of singles and doubles and the mountain buggies have been the best.

i havent called them about the double ones yet but the singles were about £85. i had spare ones for my single so i could wash and dry them but still have a buggy to use. its also nice to have a change.
with the carrycots, the newer versions have clips on the sides, the older ones need a frame attched to the buggy.
this is the newest version
cgi.ebay.co.uk/Mountain-buggy-single-carrycot-for-double-buggy_W0QQitemZ230268787129QQihZ013QQcatego ryZ66700QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
it has a lip to the apron and poppers around the apron and clips on the sides.
this is the other new version (older than the one above)
cgi.ebay.co.uk/Mountain-Buggy-Double-Carrycot-with-Storm-Cover_W0QQitemZ320271190015QQihZ011QQcatego ryZ53681QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
it doesnt have the lip to the apron and it zips on. it has clips to the sides.
the above two fit the newer adjustable handle versions of the buggy.
this one has the clips and i dont think it fits the post 2005 adjustable handle versions.
cgi.ebay.co.uk/Mountain-Buggy-Single-Carry-cot-Carrycot_W0QQitemZ140246230831QQihZ004QQcategoryZ6670 0QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
i am not sure if the carrycots with clips fit onto the older versions of buggy.

newest version of the buggy has the black strips on the footrest.
cgi.ebay.co.uk/Double-Twin-Black-Urban-Mountain-Buggy-Pram_W0QQitemZ260257729076QQihZ016QQcategoryZ6 6700QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
they have different popers for the fabrics.
this is the adjustable handle version pre 2008.
cgi.ebay.co.uk/MOUNTAIN-BUGGY-Urban-Double-Stroller-Pram-Pushchair_W0QQitemZ180258986558QQihZ008QQca tegoryZ66700QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
and this is the non adjustable pre-2005 version.
cgi.ebay.co.uk/MOUNTAIN-BUGGY-URBAN-DOUBLE_W0QQitemZ310062156328QQihZ021QQcategoryZ66700QQssPageName ZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
i hope this helps

[mel2005]

oh and my due date is 10th jan (40 weeks) but i am going to elect for a c-section hopefully so it may be around 37 weeks which will be 20th dec. the books say over 50% are born before 37 weeks so they might be here earlier than that.

[AngeLamb]

Thanks Mel2005, that's a fairly comprehensive list of what's what with the mountain buggy and carry cots, I'm glad I asked, if I do go for MB I'm bound to have picked up a carry cot that wasn't compatable. What's made you elect for c-section? (if that's not too nosier question)
I'm banking on going 40wks, my aim is to have all preparations in place by the end of October, and hope that I don't get caught out.
I had my scan yesterday, it's possibly 2 little girls, but not definitely. The consultant said twins often come around 36wks, I'd always thought it was more around 38wks, so we'll see!

[mel2005]

well i have been reading alot on the web about the risks of birting naturally with twins. on the tamba website there are some stories of brain damaged twins becuse of problems. i have previously been lucky and had a wonderful, quick and easy homebirth with my second but i had pre-eclampsia and a long terrible labour with my first in hospital. i have read the statistics and out of personal choice i believe it is safer for me to elect to have a c-section than risk a natural birth. its just my personal opinion and i have bought two books on c-sections to read up on it. i know i am at greater risk but my babies will be safer. having said that if by the end they look in great positions and they look like they will stay in there longer. i might change my mind. we are talking about possibly over christmas and new year though and booking a c-section might be harder. but i am not sure what it will be like in the labour ward and i will be angry if i am sent to kings lynn or peterborough because they are short staffed or full. especially if i end up with babies in SCBU where the N&N has one of the best.

[mel2005]

oh and with the mountain buggy, aim to buy one with an adjustable handle then you know to buy a carrycot with the clips on the sides (both the versions of carrycots with the clips should fit).

the mountain buggies with the fixed handles take up more room in the boot of the car and have two small shopping baskets with no pockets. and they will be pre-2005.

[AngeLamb]

Mel2005 - It's a difficult decision to make regarding how to birth twins, I'm planning to go for the natural as is safely possibly option. I've also decided to stop reading up on it online, I'm sure that there are a lot of mum's for whom it all goes very smoothly, who don't need medical intervention, however these are not the stories that end up on line.

I'm not criticising mum's who through no fault of their own do encounter difficulties, I really feel for them, it must be very traumatic. It's just that these are the stories that get retold on websites like this because those mum's might need to share their stories to help them in some small way come to terms with what has happened. But reading too much about what can go wrong whilst you're pregnant I've found makes me very anxious which I don't think will help me in preparing for the birth of my twins.

Maybe twin mum's who've had uncomplicated births refrain from writing about them so as not to insensitive to less fortunate mum's - maybe not but just a thought.

To some extent I've made myself aware of the risks, and of course will accept medical intervention if their is any risk to the safety of my twins, but I've decided to stop focusing on the risks and assume that having had a previous successful vaginal delivery and being fit and healthy will mean that my chances of all going well are high.