Should I start saving for a double?

[ImpyCelyn]

Just found out I'm expecting DC2. DS is almost 10m. I'm not sure whether with an 18m age gap I'll need a double, or whether a sling and the single will do it. I walk everywhere during the day, only have the car available at the weekends, but I do have a Maclaren as well as my MBU, so if we went out with DH we could take two pushchairs.

I know I have ages before I need a double (or not), but if people think they're a must-have I can start putting some money aside now (as well as for everything else).

[FriggFRIGG]

YES!!!

i have a 22 month age gap,i dont drive at all.
my life would be HELL without the use of a double buggy.
you NEED one.
my DD was a frigging angel at 10 months,by 18mths
-2yrs she was a tantruming screaming mess she's 3 now,and DS is 10 months.i still use the double nearly every day!


(btw,i sling too,and used one for DD all the time,rarely used our single buggy,but two DC is a different kettel of fish,i tried to use the ergo/sling but after DD kicked DS during a tantrum,i stopped using it so much.)

[Tiggywunkle]

Yes, yes, yes!! 18 month olds are easier to handle than two year olds with their own minds. Believe me, you will be glad of a double every single time you leave the house until your eldest nears three! I tried a sling plus pushchair and after ten minutes of trying to support a new baby with one hand because leaning over to push the pushchair made the babys head floppier than usual made my back hurt too much. It was a nice idea but the double was just simpler and easier!! Never mind trying to carry the kit needed for two babies in nappies!

[5inthebed]

Definitely yes. At 18 months your DS will still eb sleeping when out and about.

And congratulations.

[ImpyCelyn]

Ok, well that's pretty decisive :o

Pennies going in a pram kitty then - especially as in that case I'd love another mountain buggy - eyes on ebay I think.

[Trebuchet]

I am selling red Phil and Teds, with doubles kit included in really good nick if thats any use! Been a god send!

[PeterSpanswick]

Damn it, I'm in the same position as you guys and was wondering if I could get away with keeping the old buggy and getting some of the dreaded reins for 22mo ds. Sounds like I'd just be making life hard for myself!

Celyn - to the shops!

[ImpyCelyn]

Trebuchet - I'd consider it, but as we don't need it til April I think DH would have a thing or two to say :o Sorry about that.

Peter - sounds like it. I had a look this afternoon at the breathtaking range of double pushchairs, I think it's going to be worse than choosing a single!

[5inthebed]

Britax Dual prams are meant to be great, better than a P&T apparently.

[MrsJamin]

Couldn't have survived having DS2 without a P&T. I had DS2 in a sling a lot in the early days but even now DS1 is 3 he can jump in the back if he gets tired walking.

[Tiggywunkle]

Try www.bestbuggy.co.uk to start your hunt off :)

[Tiggywunkle]

I always forget to link lol //www.bestbuggy.co.uk

[ImpyCelyn]

Thanks Tiggywunkle, that site looks amazing!

Ideally if I'm getting something I'd like it to be Maxi Cosi compatible, seeing as I already have one of those. So I'm not sure I want to branch out into Britax.

[ImpyCelyn]

I think I want a MB Duet

[ImpyCelyn]

Or maybe a Peach Blossom

[Tiggywunkle]

You can get Oyster Maxi Cosi adaptors to go on the B-Dual. The Duet, and new Peach Blossom (not the current one) are the two that I would put at the top of my list but the B-Dual is very good and others :) When choosing be very very honest re your lifestyle and what you need a pushchair for. If you use a car or public transport? Do you need shopping / storage space. Is size / width an issue? Look critically...what could niggle you? What would you compromise on. But I think your choices are good :)

[ImpyCelyn]

Although I just read the comparison with the BJCS and that looks very good too.

I either walk or use the car - occasionally I use the train or tube, but on those rare occasions I could do a sling and the Maclaren, so it doesn't need to be public transport friendly.

Shopping and storage space - yes, I would like a decent amount.

We live in a flat, so size will be a consideration, but I can get the MB urban in, so anything around that size will be ok.

I would like it to look nice if possible and I love the Peach Blossom for that, but that's less of a consideration than functionality.

I walk up a lot of hills, so easy to push would be good.

Also it'll be taken to visit my parents in rural Normandy, and DH's parents in the Alps, so vaguely capable of dealing with snow, grass, sand etc would be great - although I don't plan to actually go hiking with it.

I think that last point may have ruled out the two tandems.

I think little wheels would annoy me. I also have a Zapp Xtra and it only gets used in shops/shopping centres because the tiny wheels and wheel noise annoy me too much on the pavement.

So I suppose I would compromise on looks (as much as I'd love a pretty, pretty one). I'd compromise on rear facing, as much as I'd love to have it as an option.

I think it'll be a MB then.

Thanks so much for your help and advice :)

[Tiggywunkle]

Lol that was the easier decision ever! Go and try them all...honestly! Both the BJCS and Peach are pretty good on grass and gravel (not mountaineering though and probably not snow). They certainly arent noisy though. The Peach wheels are possibly the worst because they crumble when you drive forwards off a step. For serious off road the Duo is probably better than the Duet. The new Nipper and Twinner Twist Duo is worth a quick squizz too.

[ImpyCelyn]

Will do, I'm certainly not going to pass up the opportunity to play with them all.

Good to hear they're not noisy and are decent off of the pavement.

I had thought I'd get the Duo to start with, but the size of the Duet really plays in its favour.

I'll check out the others too. Thank you again :)