Side-by-side or infront/behind double?

[Murtette]

DC2 is due in the spring and I'm beginning to think about the practicalities. DD will be 2.6 when DC2 arrives and, as its over a mile to nursery & pre-school, I think I need a double.
I have a BJCM single which I love and so was thinking of getting the BJCM double but, having followed a woman pushing one down the high st today, am beginning to question how practical is it. It seemed to take up a LOT of pavement and she really struggled getting into a shop.
So, I came home & started looking at P&T style pushchairs. I'd previously dismissed them as I've always felt sorry for the one behind, even though friends claim that their DC fight over the rear seat. I still don't like the idea of one DC being at the back but they are narrow. And, as it can be used as a single, I can just use the one pushchair whether I have one or both DC with me.
Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks!

[RandomMess]

By the time your youngest is old enough to fight over the rear seat you should be able to ditch it

[saoirse86]

Do you think you'd use a P&T as a single? I wouldn't because they're so big and heavy. Take that into consideration when you're buying. You could always sell it and buy a new single when you no lnger need a double.

I have a B-Dual which is really good and fairly cheap, but 69cm wide. Look at the iCandy Peach Blossom too. It's a good double or single, but it doesn't fold with the seat on in either mode. Or try the Kids Kargo Duelette or 2012 Hauck Duett.

[TwinkleWunkleChristmasStar]

It's personal choice. I am not a side by side fan but like them for walking. But for shopping, I always take a tandem. Think carefully though because you may well only need a double for six months but you will need one that will handle an older child well. Have a look at www.bestbuggy.co.uk because there's tons of photos on there of a 2.5 year old in various doubles. My recommendation would be to look at the iCandy Peach or Pear or Britax B-Dual - there is a fab deal on this at Bambino Direct which you could try to price match elsewhere.

[TwinkleWunkleChristmasStar]

The Duellette will only be suitable from birth with a car seat from January and the old Hauck Duett didn't work well for a newborn. The Mountain Buggy +One may well work well for you. Your age gap is probably about right for it. It can take a Freerider scooter once your DD is a bit older and offers good options for a family with an older (non napping) toddler and baby.

[Murtette]

Thanks for raising these points. That best buggy website is brilliant.

I'm increasingly thinking that I'll go for a front/rear set up as I'll hopefully only need it for 6 months or so so will be less bothered about DC2 being tucked in behind.

Twinkle (again) - do you know when the 2012 B Dual will be available and how different it will be? £299 for everything does seem a bargain but if there are going to be marked improvements in the new model, it may be worth waiting. Also, do you know if I can attach my existing maxi cosi cabrio fix to it or would I have to get a britax car seat if I wanted to be able to attach that?

Thanks everyone

[banana87]

Am I the only one who thought this was a sex thread

[RandomMess]

Unless money is no issue I'd buy something 2nd hand simply because you may end up hating what ever you get

Or end up with side by side such as nipper 360 and a phil and ted or similar for the shops!

[TwinkleWunkleChristmasStar]

I dont know all the improvements to the 2012 B-Dual but I know there will be rear rubber tyres which are foam filled (forever-air type tyres) and are two spoke. The colours are different. The harness has been changed so that the shoulder and waist straps can be adjusted independently. I think there are a few other minor changes.
Being honest, these improvements don't seem enough for me. The current B-Dual is a very bouncy pushchair suspension wise so I don't know how much extra the 'air' tyres will give to the B-Dual. Colours and spokes are neither here nor there! If I knew the seats themselves had been altered then I would be keen to find out more before buying, but to be honest the 2011 B-Dual is as good an all round pushchair as is on the market at present, and with the current prices, it's a bargain. i don't know when the 2012 will be out but the 2011 got released early this year ie pre mid March and lots of stores are dumping stock cheaply, so I would say soon. But I don't see the changes are worth the hefty difference in price tag. To be honest, if you buy a 2011, I bet you make most of your money back upon resale.
You can attach a Maxi Cosi seat using Oyster adaptors although this obviously isn't safety tested, but it apparently works.

[TwinkleWunkleChristmasStar]

Oh and the 2012 fabrics are more canvas like.

[saoirse86]

banana !

[aswellasyou]

Banana !

I agree that the changes won't be worth the extra money. The RRP is about £650 I think, but I wouldn't be surprised if it's released at a higher price initially. £300 for the whole 2011 system is a bargain when you consider thst most decent singles are at least that price.

[aswellasyou]

Oh gosh, you can tell we're twins saoirse.

[TwinkleWunkleChristmasStar]

Are you really twins ??????!!!!!!

[TwinkleWunkleChristmasStar]

OMG so you are! Now that explains an awful lot!!!!!!!!

[saoirse86]

I didn't know you didn't know that twinkle. Apparently we have to do everything the same no matter how hard we try not to. Hence both of us accidentally falling pg within a week of each other. We're proper weirdo twins. Except we don't dress the same!

[TwinkleWunkleChristmasStar]

I knew you were weirdo sisters [wunk] [joke] but now lots of things make sense!

[TwinkleWunkleChristmasStar]

What will you do if you both ave twins within a week of each other?? That would mean a monster ABC with a new car for mum!

[saoirse86]

I think we might have had a nervous breakdown if either of us were having twins. Now we're just keeping our legs crossed or we'd need to buy a minibus for all the kiddliwinks!

[aswellasyou]

Imagine four babies of the same age! But then you managed to look after quads on your own, didn't you Tiggy? At least your car would be big enough Saoirse.