Pushchair for three

[sidonie1]

Hi there,

I have a 14-month-old baby and have just had a 12 week scan for my second pregnancy. It's twins! I am so delighted but also apprehensive. I'm really puzzling over how we're going to get all three babies around. My husband thinks that we should buy a double buggy and carry a twin in the sling for the first 4 months. After that, he thinks we should make my then two-year-old walk or ride on the back of the pushchair on a step. I think two is too young for this.

What do you think? Does anyone have any ideas for a solution? Triple buggies look a bit crazy but may be the only way forward.

Thank you!

[Mumof3xx]

I had a buggy board for dc1 when dc2 was born

He was terrified of it until 2.5 years old

So I wouldn't bank on being able to use one, I know some children who have refused full stop

I would get a cheap triple probably, I think obaby do one that is suitable from birth then when dc1 is bigger look at other options

[TravellingToad]

I have a buggy board for DS 20 m (baby due next week) so far he's been practicing on it and loves it. But he doesn't really run off so depends what your 14m will be like then. Some kids are bolters!

[SJBean]

Realistically you are going to need a triple. How long you use it for depends on how much you walk. I would be lost without my pram. Need it for sense of freedom! Strapping 3 children into a pram and off you go will be a lot easier than strapping three into and out of a car.

I think you'll end up with a triple and a double with buggy board for later on. My dd2 was born when dd1 was 2.7. I used the double solidly for six months then intermittently for another six months with the buggy board option. I'm now expecting again and dd2 will be 21 months when the next one arrives so fully expect to use double again for another year and a half.

I'm thinking abc triple as I think it has a removable top seat but not entirely sure. Why don't you post this in pushchairs under the products category where a pushchair whizz will come along and give you some advice? Good luck! How exciting!!

[sidonie1]

Thank you for your thought and experiences. I think a triple buggy is the only way I'm going to be able to get any distance walking from what you're saying, with a double and board for short distances. The abc looks good, I was wondering if you can get a detachable toddler seat for other models of double pushchair, which would be perfect.. Will investigate! Thanks everyone

[Ihateparties]

The other brand that does toddler seats is valco but they don't sell them in the uk, they aren't uk safety tested but people do bring them in. There are some on ebay that will post to the uk.

You may also manage with a seated buggyboard like the easy x rider, which would expand your pram choice quite a lot. I used one for 3 months with a 24m age gap and it was awesome for shorter distances. Plus if you have it on a side by side you don't have to walk directly behind it, which can be an issue as it sticks out quite a long way really.

[captaincake]

Buggy pod?

[BicycleGasoline]

Hi, and congratulations on your twins. I was in your position a year ago, have a 20 month gap between my dd and twins.

I got a valco zee two with removable toddler seat brought over from the USA, (one of the only positives to my DH having to do 2week stints there 3 times a year). It has honestly saved my life. There is no way on earth dd would have walked at just 20 months, she still likes to be in the buggy even now at nearly 2.5. It depends on your lifestyle. We live a 15 min walk (at my speed) into town. If I drove then dd would be perfectly capable of walking round town, but she couldn't walk there and back as well, and I prefer to get a bit of exercise when I can rather than driving everywhere.

I've not tried one, but if you look at www.lotsofbabies.com (I think) they sell the t3 jogger which has a removable toddler seat. They do come up on eBay fairly regularly. Had I not had the opportunity to get a valco brought over then I would have had one of these. My buggy is much lighter than this one, but of course is not tested to uk standards (but it's tested to US/Aussie ones so I'm confident it is safe)

My reasoning for a triple was that with the age gap I had, there's no way I would have done without a double if dc2 had had the decency to be a singleton. Her needs didn't change just because I had twins, therefore I went our the triple. The thing with the sling option is that it just isn't practical for a longer trip out. Plus think about how long it would last for. My twins were prem and teeny tiny, but by 4 months they had had the mother of all growth spurts and we're on he he 50th centile, and at 7 months dt2 is pushing the 91st. I couldn't have carried him for any significant length of time beyond about 3 months weight wise, (and not before that much as I had a c section). At that point you may not want dc1 on a buggy board (wouldn't really trust dd even now) so would need a triple anyway. In which case you might as well have one from the beginning and get most use out of it!!

Sorry for the great long essay, good luck with twins. It's been a very hard year, but I'm now seeing the benefits of having 3 so close together. Dd is starting to take more of an interest, and there's nothing better in the world then watching my boys giggle and grin at each other, trying to shuffle towards each other for a closer cuddle etc.

[misdee]

valco

abc (I would get s double with single reclining toddler seat)

mountain buggy triple (very wide but an absolute dream to push)

[SoonToBeSix]

A buggy board seat will be fine at two , my ds will be 19 months when my twins are due. We have bought an x rider from amazon it has a seat with harness.

[mezza123]

Or if you go for a double with a buggy board, you can just get a normal buggy board which they can sit on and hold on either side. My DS has travelled this way since 2yr 3 months when DD was born, I guess a younger child might find it harder to hold on if sitting but then I don't suppose you'll be pushing that fast what with 3 children on board! It would be lighter than a seated board as well.

[crashbangboom]

My friend got a ABC with toddler seat with similar gap.

Congratulations!

[WeOnlyPlannedTheFirst]

I have 17 months between ds1 and dd/ds2 "the twins". I bought a side by side triple when pregnant and twins are now 13 months and I havent used it once. I put the boys in a double buggy and carry dd in a sling. It works really well for me and you dont have the access issues of having a triple buggy. Today ds1 walked a bit, as he's 2.5 now so I pushed the twins then he hopped on board and dd went in the ring sling.
A stretchy wrap is fab for a baby. We moved on to buckle carriers, then mei tais then I got slightly obsessed and seem to have a variety of woven wraps and baby/toddler carriers. It definitely makes life easy and when ds1 is at nursery or wherever I push ds2 in a single and carry dd on my back.

[Artandco]

I would just get a double. We only have two single children but 15 month gap. Never needed a double. Just either on board or sling one. Youngest is now two and we don't have a pram anymore