To insist on a parent facing pram with carrycots.

[user1487755366]

I am prepared for you all to tell me that I'm being unreasonable. Currently pregnant with twins - a few weeks ago DP started looking at pram options and measured up the boots of our cars. I have a Nissan Micra (new style) he has a Mini Cooper (ridiculously small boot size).
He found a pram he thinks will fit. Today I said I've been thinking and like a different brand because I want them to be parent facing and also in carrycots when they're tiny. He asked 'can you have it without carry cots' and I said no because they're part of the model and I'd want the other model with optional carrycots he said it categorically won't fit in his car and we'd just have to accept that we couldn't drive the babies anywhere....

I'm really upset about this. Does anyone have either of these cars and have a double buggy with carrycots? How important is parent facing - it's something I really want when they're tiny.

What about a single pram that's parent facing and a sling? Would that fit?

What about putting some of the pram in the back seat footwell? Or the front passenger seat? How often will you need the whole shebang in the car? I mainly used the carrycot attachment for going for walks from home, I rarely took it all if I went somewhere in the car as I'd be going to a friend or relative's house where I'd take a blanket and lay dd on the floor inside or grass outside! I'm so glad I had the carrycot, dd would sleep in it for walks and I enjoyed being able to keep an eye on her/talk to her.

DS had reflux and couldn’t lie comfortably lying flat in the carry cot. We used it about 4 times.

DS1 stayed parent facing until he was over 2, he was just much happier that way!

Can you go for lie flat seats instead? How long realistically until you can change one of the cars? I do think realistically with twins you are going to struggle with double prams, they are not small!

I have twins and I choose my pram on how easy it was to fold. I can’t remember the brand but I could fold it with two actions. It is a real pain getting two children in and out of cars so go with something that fits easily and is easy to use. Also don’t go for something wide or unwieldy as it is difficult to manoeuvre around shops. Cannot stress this enough it’s hard enough having twins get something practical.

It was forward facing but I found they tended to go to sleep really quickly when out on a walk so it didn’t matter. The carry cot element you will only use when they are really young so get something that works for them right the way through.

Have you looked at an uppababy vista? I don’t know the ins and outs but it can be converted to a double, and it’s quite flexible in terms of being able able to take the wheels off the base etc. But the carry cot I have with mine was huge so I’m not confident you’d fit two in either car. Just might be one to look into.

My DS mostly usually fell asleep in the pram - so he didn’t get much out of facing me tbh. We’ve been chatting a lot more since he’s been awake facing forward. Facing you is nice - but it definitely doesn’t trump going somehow in the car where you will need the pram. And I think you really underestimate how often that is, especially with twins. You can’t simultaneously carry both in a sling.

So I've got a uppababy vista and a Ford Fiesta. I really agonized over the buggy and brought it based, as you say, 2 children and parent facing. Planned to use it for years.
I do use it everyday and like how big it is, lots of storage, good suspension.

But getting it in and out the car is a fucking ball ache now. I didn't mind at first but I've been going it a year and totally sick of it. For visiting family or holidays it's been a real struggle to pack the car and fit all the other baby stuff I need plus luggage. I always have to sacrifice mine and DH clothes allowance. And the back seat is stuffed.
I wish I had brought a baby jogger instead. I only used the carry cot for 5 months and that was pushing it by then. I wanted it for the 'look' but financially and practically it's not great.

How about the out n about with carrycots I the footwell?

Have a bigger pram for the house and a smaller folding one for the car?

Also have you seen the mountain buggy nano?

We have twins and a babyjogger city mini double. It folds flat and the seats lie flat so can use it from birth with no carrycots needed (we've never used carrycots). It has windows in the hoods so you can see inside or just open the hood and you can see them as you would in a carrycot. Once they were big enough to sit up they wanted to see out anyway so parent facing not required.

Last thought! Coastto to and fro?

It’s going to be a bit of a nightmare finding a double that will fit well in either car. Id consider changing one - his could be sold and then another family car bought with the proceeds. Yours, you might be able to change up sooner than you think. Worth a chat. Carrycots are huge, and not necessary. World vs parent facing: whilst obviously there are benefits but I don’t consider this essential. One thing to consider with small cars is a single plus a sling. You could swap the babies over. You basically just need to find something that is practical and works for you. Try not to get hung up on it being perfect. As long as it’s easy for you to use!

There are carrycots that double as car seats. Not sure if they come as double prams but might be a solution.

You need a new car. You can't have twins with a Nissan micra or a mini Cooper! I just about coped for six months with two kids and a VW Polo.

I agree with you on parent facing, not on carry cots. They are a waste of time, money and space. My DC hated theirs and both grew grew out of it by eight weeks. They will also not fit in the boot of your cars. I couldn't get one carry cot in my polo boot.

Get a frame that can take two car seats for when you're out in the car and then has a parent facing pushchair attachment.

I insisted on parent facing and did have a flat carry-cot for those first few months. I could have lived without the carry-cot part, but would not give up parent facing. I never carried dd in the cot, they are just too bulky to feel safe. I did love it on the base because it was flat and because I could bundle her up nicely in cold weather.

If I had my time again I would sling until old enough for a smaller pushchair. I found the big prams such a pain. In the end DS was in his carrier all the time until about six months old. Also has the added benefit of helping to avoid flattening of the head :)

I think you have to decide whether you want pram or car. You have less options anyhow because it's twins (otherwise I would suggest getting a cheap second hand bee for example to use from the car and whatever you want to use from the house. I managed three children in a mini no problem by the way. But two carrycots is a big ask.

Considering twins are likely to be premature and/or small I would not be recommending them being in car seats!!!!

I would have one in a sling and one in a bugaboo bee with the soft carrycot. It is more like a thick sleeping bag but its really easy to store and my dc slept really well in it.

Could you put a roof rack on either car for the pram and other baby stuff. I wouldn't bother with carrycots, they're out of them in a few months max. A pram seat that is suitable from birth onwards would be far more useful.
You are going to need to seriously consider getting a bigger car with twins.

I never did parent facing, most the walks we did in the buggy were to get him to sleep so I never felt like he missed out on face to face time with me because of it. The practicality of how easy it is to get your buggy in and out of the car will make the biggest difference to how easy it is to go out etc. I would just go for something all in one that folds down quickly and you can shove in and go

I think you need to consider what you're going to be using the pram and car with the pram for. If you're going to do a lot of walking from home then might two prams with a smaller, lightweight cheaper one for the car be an option? If you're having autumn/winter babies then I think the carrycots look a lot cosier and protected from the elements, especially as twins are more likely to be premier or tiny. The mountain buggies are amazing but I don't think you'd get one in either car - my friend had to take the wheels off and do a careful manoeuvre to get the urban double in a vw golf.
I would make a short list of prams and car seats and once they reopen see if you can find a good stockist that will let you try them in your cars. The car seats in the mini might be a deal breaker if either of you are tall.

Mum of 3 including twins here. Honestly I wouldn't worry about carrycots. I had one with my first which he outgrew by 4 months and half the time I just used the car seat anyway. For the twins I've been using the Mountain Buggy Duet from birth - lie-flat seats and forward-facing but with little windows in the hoods to check on them. Like a PP said, mostly they're asleep when little. And if one twin has reflux, then the carrycot will be useless. I never even had my second son lying completely flat in the buggy! Car seats that lie flat and clip on the buggy are a good compromise - but check carefully because a lot of twin prams can only fit one car seat on the frame (unhelpfully). The Mountain Buggy Duet can, and I've got the adapters, but taking all the seat covers off seems too much faff. It's a dream to push but it's heavy and BIG. Barely fits in our 7 seater. I'd go with something light and able to be used from newborn personally.