Question for Phil & Ted owners

[Anjelika]

Hello

I have got the (probably wrong) impression that the cocoon is only suitable for babies under 4-5 months but the seat can't be used until the baby is 6 months. Surely this can't be right as there would be 1-2 month gap when the pushchair can't be used?

I'm pg with twins and am considering buying a P&T with doubles kit (as I can't get a side by side through my front door) and using a car seat in place of the toddler seat for the first 6 months but am panicking about the baby that goes in the underneath seat.

Thanks for any advice.

Anjelika

[IckleJess]

Tbh, I'd be more concerened about the baby in a car seat for 6 months. I don't mean to be harsh but it is not recommended that babies are in car seats due to causing problems with their backs and restricting their breathing, they should be laid flat whenever possible.

Have you tried a Double Nipper? They are not much wider than a single pushchair? Or a double M&P Aria also very narrow and I think the Mountain Buggy doubles are reasonably narrow too. What about an iCandy Pear? These look fab and I would definitley consider one for twins, they're not that suitable for a toddler/newborn combination though.

The doubles seat on the P&T does recline so it might be suitable to use earlier but never used one in doubles mode so can't help I'm afraid.

[denialandpanic]

I have a P&T and can't see how it would work for two newborns sorry

[moodlumthehoodlum]

It can't work for twins, I don't think. I saw what I thought was one of those icandy ones with the babies behind one another, yesterday - that looked ok.

[bethoo]

only works for one newborn lying flat and the older child on the double chair. the best for twins would be something like the jane pro if you cant do side by side.
hth

[Disenchanted3]

It won't work.

Could you get a cheap jane powertwin off ebay and then a P&T at 6 moths if thats the one you really want?

Or buy a P&T, have 1 baby lay flat in cocoon and carry the other in a sling ntil they are old enough to use the 2nd seat?

[girlsyearapart]

Yep sorry have a p and t and it won't work for twins.

[jaffacakeaddict]

There was a similar thread in the "multiple births" section not that long ago that you may find useful. I think that some people have used the P&T as you suggested for twins. I have used a P&T for my two boys (not twins) and found that the younger one did get bored in the bottom section when he was 5 months old. He would just scream the whole time he was in the buggy. I put on the second seat and made sure it was fully reclined and he was absolutely fine and very happy. I don't think it was a problem with the P&T design, I just think he was bored with being flat and wanted to see out of the buggy.

[Anjelika]

Thanks for all the responses. I will look at some of those slimmer double pushchairs you have mentioned.

Don't shoot me down in flames but I still can't quite see what would be wrong with having 1 twin in the lower seat/cocoon and the other in a car seat (rather than the actual P&T seat). I have a toddler who will have to walk (he will be 3.2yrs when the twins come) so I really won't be going long distances with the pushchair. I can easily alternate which twin goes into which seat and if they both protest at the lying down thing around 5 months, I can just use a sling for a month. I remember that well with my 1st - I have a bugaboo and had to cease using the carrycot bit and use the car seat betwen 5 & 6 months as he hated lying down. I'm sure he was in the car seat for far longer periods than is recommended but he's as right as rain.

Anjelika

[denialandpanic]

I agree that e.g a five month old would be fine in a car seat for longer periods but you are talking about newborns and newborns that may be a little smaller than normal. DD was four pound 7 at birth and i hated having her in the car seat at all as she looked so uncomfortable and all scrunched up. Its just worth considering I think. We had maxi cosi stage 0 car seat which i think is one of the ones that fits on p&t?

[TheBlairSnitchProject]

It's not recommended to put tiny babies in carseats for extended periods of time as it is not only bad for thier back but is also thought to be a SIDS/Cot death risk.

P&T's just aren't made for twins

There are lots of double buggies that aren't side-by-side though. Mothercare have a whole twin buggy section on thier website here - might give you a few ideas?

[MumNWLondon]

it wouldn't work. nothing to do with baby in car seat comments that other have made. it just doesn't physically work:

if you use it with a car seat you have a toddler underneath in the doubles seat (only suitable from 6 months) and the baby on top in the car seat.

if you use it with the cocoon you have baby underneath in cocoon (or just loose on seat if they have grown out of cocoon) and toddler on top with doubles seat (only suitable from 6 months).

you can't use cocoon and car seat at the same time. its not made for that.

[JuliaGulia]

We are expecting twins and have done alot of research about tandem buggies. We've found that there is a limited range for 2 x newborn, particularly if you want both babies to lie flat and have a reasonable amount of space once they're older. We discounted Phil & Teds because we felt the baby underneath was also at risk of being kicked as well as not having much of a view. As others have said, it's not advisable to have newborns in car seats for more than 2 hours so that was another reason we discounted the P&T.
We've decided to get a Bebecar which allows both twins to lie flat in their pushchair seats (with covers so it is almost a cot)and also allows car seats to be slotted on for short journeys. Another factor was that both chairs can face either direction so the twin at the rear isn't just facing the back of the seat in front all the time.
It's not cheap but we feel it's the best versatile twin carrier available.

[midnightexpress]

Even if it worked, there is no way (IME) a 4 or 5-6 month old would be happy about being in the back pocket bit (not doubles kit). ds2 loathed it from about 3 months and I spent a LOT of time carrying him around until he was big enough to go in the proper back seat. If you were happy carrying one in a backpack/sling for a few months, a P&T is great, once they are older.

[laurawantsababy]

Have you thought about using the P and T's as a single with one a front carrier and swapping them round every now and then?

Once they are both 6mo you could use it with the doubles kit.

[jacyjwc]

Would also suggest using as a single with other twin in sling until 6 months (and your toddler could then sit on top seat if tired until ready to put both twins in).

I use a p+t (not twins just close in age) and my youngest was happy lying in the flat part for over 6 months. After growing out of cocoon (at about 4 months) I just put some blankets in there and made it all cosy. Baby was at the 6/7 month stage last winter though so it was nice to have a warm little nest for them - may not be so good if they are at that age during the summer, though at least it keeps them out of the sun. It is a bit of a faff getting them in but do-able.

[dairymoo]

We have a very narrow front door and managed to get a double nipper through it if I took one of the wheels off...this sounds like a total PITA but it really wasn't as the buggy is so light (particularly with newborn DTs)and I could do it one-handed.

That said, when my LOs got to about 8mo I got a little tired of it (and the fact that Nipper seats are quite reclined even in their upright position) and we did get a P&T which I have used since. Neither of mine minded being in the front or back and even now (2.2mo) rarely fight over it.

So to answer your question, I would say that a P&T is def NOT suitable for newborn DTs but fine from probably about 6-7 months.

[WaitingForVino]

Have you actually tried putting a car seat up top? I thought it would work too, till I got to a shop and tried it myself...

Agree with idea of getting cheapo side-by-side off of Ebay (or Gumtree) and when they are 4-5 mo get yourself the P&T doubles. Maybe Maclaren does a side by side with seats that lay right back? Needn't be perfect 180 degrees flat but nearly flat is ok (much better than putting wee newborn into car seat for their backs any rate).

I have 2 DCs, only 14 mo apart. My little one was in cocoon for 2-3mo then she was happier sitting in the bottom seat (put a blanket in to line it a bit). Get the latest model P&T as it allows the back/lower seat to recline a bit. Get it 2nd hand tho!

HTH