do I need a double buggy?

[CaroG]

I am expecting my second mid next year. I currently have a Mclaren XT which has been great. I did have the Stokke which I found too heavy and cumbersome, so switched at about 4/5 months to the Mclaren.

So 2 questions

1. do I need a double buggy / tandem for a newborn and a toddler (who'll be 2 yrs 4 month) and if so which one? (dont like the Phil and teds)
   
   
2. and if not and was getting a new buggy would you suggest the Bee, City Jogger Mini or another one?
   
   Suggestions welcome!

[mistressploppy]

I'm having No 2 in early Feb, when DS will be 2.3yo and I've just bought the new mountain buggy Duet (side by side). It came down to that one or the baby jogger city select (tandem) but the duet is actually narrower!

I don't like Phil and teds either as I'm tall and whenever I've pushed my mates' P + Ts I've banged my shins on the lower seat.

[aswellasyou]

Caro, I'd say you probably will need a double unless you're confident using a sling and pushchair. I wouldn't want to do that myself though. With a big age gap like that, I'd suggest a double that converts to a single. Which one will depend on your budget and what you want it for.
Some possibilities are;
Britax B-Dual
Hauck Duett
Baby Jogger City Select
Mima Kobi
iCandy Peach Blossom
iCandy Pear

Mistress, don't you find the handle on the Duet really low if you're tall?

[CaroG]

thanks as well and MistressP - I am unfortunately thinking that may well be the case I like the idea of one which converts from a double to a single (in the hope that one day I can return to pushing one buggy) My biggest thing about the P&T was it was heavy and I hated the idea of the LO staring at nothing (sa does DH). Looks as though this might be an issue with the Kobi and the Britax.

Have been looking at the Baby Jogger City Select (lookebd at the Icandys first time round but didnt love them). Will check out the Hauk!

thanks Ladies

[bunnymother]

I have the Baby Jogger City Select and it is amazing. Couldn't be happier with it. We have the 2 seats facing each other and either the babies (twins) or the toddler and a baby in it (so it works for different age groups) and they really like seeing each other.

[Tiggywunkle]

Honestly starting with an over 2 year old, your options will be limited. You will be fine to start with almost any tandem, but by the time your baby is 6 months old, the pushchair I suspect will be getting heavy unless of course your children are very light - sadly mine aren't!
First of all don't look at the Hauck - its not really suitable for a newborn and a toddler - definitely not an older toddler. I had the City Select and it only lasted us 10 months before it was too heavy to push (my eldest was 2 and a half by then). I loved it but after 6 months it slowly got heavier.
But do have a look here at the B-Dual, iCandy Peach Blossom, iCandy Pear, Mima Kobi, Joovy Ultralight, the new Phil & Teds Promenade, the Uppababy Vista with Rumble Seat or the new Micralite Twofold. Also, do have a look at the Bugaboo Donkey if money is no issue!

[aswellasyou]

The B-Dual and Kobi have a better view ouy for the bottom child than P&Ts do. I'd suggested the Select because I'd imagine you'd be starting to use it as a single around the time it got too heavy. But if you wait until next year to start looking, you can have look at the new ones Tiggy suggested too.

[HauntedPramsScreamsGalore]

as a user of p&t for many years, they really do come into their own when you have a 3 year old who wants to walk and also have the option of being able to sit down when they want, as they can hop in and out of the back seat, the back seat also comes in handy for shopping, my dc's argue over who is going in the back, so i do think it is just the parents point of view and not a childs regarding the view from back seat, they are also light and easy to push. the kobi seat on the bottom is also very angled, not that upright

[CaroG]

Thanks again ladies - will go and actually look at them - on spec the select looks like the one for me. The Donkey is definately not an option. Haunted thanks for the P&T advice - I did have look at it initially with no one but just didnt love it as a buggy. as well, yes was thinking we may well use it as a single when the oldest gets bigger.

[bunnymother]

I push a porky 10 month old and a avg sized 2.3 year old in the City Select w no problems (and I am a bit weedy). Admittedly hills are tough, but its the children and all the crap I cart around w them that causes the weight, not really the buggy.

2 advantages the City Select it has over the P&T (which we had and got rid of) is that 1) the seats all come off so you can carry it in and out of car / up and down stairs w frame and then seat/s. Also makes it easier to fit into a car boot; and 2) you can put a buggy board on the back of it.

Our toddler climbs into whichever seat she wants to be in (top or bottom - she clambers into either), and if the bottom one was facing out that would be even easy/quicker for her. The shopping basket is also v roomy.

Will get off the soap box now...!

[Tiggywunkle]

The City Select was absolutely fantastic and when people told me it was heavy I didn't believe them (apart from going up kerbs). Whether it ends up feeling heavy absolutely depends on your route. If it wasn't for one relatively short stretch of mildly sloping narrow pavement, I could probably still use a City Select. I did the same bit of pavement week in and week out, but suddenly out of the blue it became too heavy o push, started pulling too far to one side and it hurt my arms too much after a couple more trips. But it did us proud up to that point, and even after that we took it on shopping trips etc. It's the only tandem that could fit under the roof of my convertible car and if you travel lots or storage is an issue then the fold is lovely and flat. Also whilst a lot of people do buy one double and make do, if you buy wisely, look after your pushchair, then there's no reason why you couldn't sell it on and buy a new pushchair later if you ever felt the need. I see pushchairs as a rental ;)

[mamaesi]

ok tiggy. what did you switch to after the select became too heavy??

I understand you dont mind selling trading...but the idea of getting one duble only to have to then get another double is not so great for me.

what do you reckon is best double for heavy babies? I have a 20month gap but a very large toddler

[Tiggywunkle]

I am fortunate to be trying out the new ICandy Peach Blossom and to be honest it's amazing. I bought the current version but realised instantly it only had a useful life of about 10-12 months. So I bought a BJCS because the child weights, seats etc were large. But I never banked on the BJCS not lasting longer than ten months either! But the improved Peach Blossom is simply brilliant. Its still easy to push with my now 3 year old and 15 month old in. Other pushchairs we use / have used recently that worked well with my two, are the ABC Adventure buggy single with toddler seat, the B-Dual, the TwinGo, Mima Kobi, the Uppababy Vista with rumble seat (only really if your eldest doesn't nap), and most side by sides except the Duet which didn't work for us with having different aged heavy siblings. There were other good tandems but for one reason or another I think you can find better for a newborn.