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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Phil and Teds Double

105 replies

tryingtobemarrypoppins2 · 10/06/2010 22:08

Does anyone know any baby that has lasted till 6 months laying flat under their older brother/sister??

My 3 month old just doesn't fit in the lay flat anymore without his feet getting bashed by big brother on top.

This is what Phil and Teds think:

?Our buggies and doubles kits were both designed in conjunction with the body dimensions/weight averages specified in a well-known book 'The Measure of Man & Woman' - Revised Edition 2002. This book specifies (among other things) average weights and body part lengths of all ages from newborn, and was used in providing the measurements for the layflat 2 children mode"

AIBU??

OP posts:
dexifehatz · 10/06/2010 22:16

are you refering to those vile buggies that have one child sitting upright and viewing the world whilst the other poor sod views peoples feet,dogshit,fag ends,inhales car fumes and all manner of street detritus? if so burn the fucking thing and buy a sling.If you are not,my apologies.

Meglet · 10/06/2010 22:19

No. Everyone I know with one (about 5 people, plus me) ended up putting the baby in the reclined back seat at about 4/5 months.

They have based their dimensions on some rather short babies IMO.

mjinhiding · 10/06/2010 22:20

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

midnightexpress · 10/06/2010 22:22

No YANBU. DS2 lasted about 3 months and then wailed every time he was put in it. I spent a lot of time carrying him whilst pushing ds1. It was mostly the fact that he couldn't see out that pissed him off I think, rather than a space issue though.

However, I take issue with dexifehatz - they are great buggies. DS1 and ds2 used to bicker about who got to go in the back seat.

Pingpong · 10/06/2010 22:24

not sure of the relevance of your reply dexifehatz so you like slings, is that your point?
FWIW my baby doesn't look at dog shit or fag ends in her buggy as she is looking up the way and does using a sling exlude a baby from inhaing car fumes? I don't think so.
OP my large 3m old still fits in the bottom section but my 2yo doesn't like sitting in the 'top deck' she much prefers walking. I was looking for more info on when I can use the second seat in the lower position and the P&T website says from 5-6 months.

Original poster
tryingtobemarrypoppins2 · 10/06/2010 22:28

"It is not recommended by Phil & Teds to put a child in the Double Kit until it is able to support its own back, neck and head."

I guess that is really 6 months then?

OP posts:
DrivenToDistraction · 10/06/2010 22:34

I put DS in the front seat (the one meant for the toddler) at about 5 months I think. I was able to get away with reclining it quite a bit without cramping DD (then almost 2) who was underneath.

Are you still using the cocoon? I took DS out of his at about 3 months and still had him laying down for quite a while. The cacoon is tiny.

I know the baby is supposed to be in the doubles seat underneath but it works so much better the other way around. Baby can see properly and older DC love peering out from underneath and hoping in and out to walk. Obviously, having the baby at the front could cause tipping if the weight difference was too big. But, I'd have thought having the baby at the back would cause tipping if the toddler wanted to walk...

Meglet · 10/06/2010 22:37

DtoD I did tend to weigh mine down with a load of shopping in the bottom so it was more stable if my toddler hopped out.

Original poster
tryingtobemarrypoppins2 · 10/06/2010 22:40

DrivenToDistraction I tried that but I have the Vibe and I can't really recline it far at all without it being hard for DC1 to get in and out the bottom.

Has it ever tiped over using it that way?

OP posts:
thatsnotmymonster · 10/06/2010 22:41

my sister's baby was in the baby bit for at least 6mths.

I love mine. Why don't you put your 3mth old in the main pushchair bit semi reclined- you can always put in a cosytoes for extra support/comfort and your toddler can just get in and out of the seat underneath as he likes?

I know loads of people who do this, including me when dd's were younger. Now they all take turns in whatever seat they want.

DrivenToDistraction · 10/06/2010 22:43

Thanks Meglet

Duh. Only now I'm about to sell it on do I realise that if I'd put the wee one in the back temporarily I could have transported shopping. Gah. All that time spent pushing one handed whilst my other arm was stretched by many kilos of shopping.

What an idiot. To think people praise me for my lateral thinking. Can I blame sleep deprivation?

thatsnotmymonster · 10/06/2010 22:43

op- does the toddler seat recline too? mine does so I just recline them both and that makes a bit more room in the back.

DrivenToDistraction · 10/06/2010 22:45

tryingtobemarrypoppins - it only tipped once, that was when DD sneaked into the hall and climbed into it on her own, turned round and hung over the back of the doubles seat. alltheothertimesitwasfine.

Also a vibe here.

DrivenToDistraction · 10/06/2010 22:49

I'm sick to death of mine, It's a nightmare to push andyoucan'ttransportshopping. TBH I've never liked the concept and was actually shocked the first time I saw one. Still, it's the best of a very bad bunch IMHO.

I kept the bugaboo I had for DD and now use that with a buggyboard. DD's 2 1/2 and DS has just turned 1, it's sooooooo much better for all of us.

Original poster
tryingtobemarrypoppins2 · 10/06/2010 22:58

Funny as I have a bugaboo too and was thinking the same!! Did you get the bugaboo board? Is it ok walking behind it? What to they hold onto?

The front wheel on my Vibe is driving me mad too!

OP posts:
merrymonsters · 10/06/2010 23:02

I love my Phil & Ted, but babies don't fit in the baby section for 6 months. DS2 had to be moved at 4 months, but he's very tall.

I agree with whoever said that the older child should go in the back seat. The baby has more support in the front seat. It never tips over and most people do it that way round.

OnEdge · 10/06/2010 23:06

Mine is a life saver, best bit of kit I ever bought. 3yo goes underneath, and loves it, hops in and out, and 1yo goes on top, if he sleeps i recline it a little by unzipping it.

Dysgu · 10/06/2010 23:16

Love mine too - and another vote here for putting the baby in the top and letting the toddler jump in and out underneath as they please.

Mine are now 3 yo and 17 months and I put them in either seat - and fill the space with shopping when one or both are walking.

That said, my front wheel was awkward in the rain today - guess I need to pump it up!

thatsnotmymonster · 10/06/2010 23:22

my front wheel is awkward now. I have it fixed most of the time now because most of our walking is off-road.

That said it's still the best buggy I've ever had out of

Jane powertrack 360 single
Firstwheels citytwin
Mountain buggy all terrain double
Maxi cosi Mura single
Mclaren double

Phil and Ted's is absolutely the best.

Threelittlemoomins · 11/06/2010 07:14

Another vibe here and another one who grew out of the lie flat bit by about 4 months - not due to size but boredom! Had the bugaboo for dd1 and she was in the seat unit of that too from about 4.5 months.

I love my vibe and I'm looking forward to using it again with dd3. I tried the buggy board on the bugaboo but because I'm a shortarse a little vertically challenged I couldn't walk very comfortably. I did end up using the double seat at the bottom as a buggy board and my toddler stood in it - worked well and never tipped. Not telling others to do the same of course!

MrsJamin · 11/06/2010 07:35

Was just thinking about this yesterday! DS2 is nearly 4 months old but was a month early, and doesn't sleep in the back still, he's a bit of a swaddle and sling baby so it's a bit too open for him. I feel so sorry for him all awake there I've awkwardly put a toy hanging down for him. Makes me feel sad that he can't see me properly I might try the baby on top idea but I'm not sure DS1 will go for it as he's in major strop mode currently. Another gripe of mine is that you have to use both hands, and get on the floor, to put the brake on, it's ridiculously stiff. The p&t is far from perfect but I can't see any other buggy would do a better job.

DrivenToDistraction · 11/06/2010 08:52

tryingtobemarrypoppins - yeah, I have the bugaboo board, I got it secondhand and I think I'll probably sell it on and get a lascal one. They look a bit shorter than the bugaboo one, which I find I kick if I don't walk slightly to one side or the other. I'm 5' 2". Also the wheel sometime turns perpendicular to the buggy and needs to be kicked straight.

Mind you, even with that it's still 1000x better than the vibe, lighter to push, easier to steer, break doesn't suddenly spring into action, DS can face me rather than being isolated at thee front of the wagon etc. etc..

I extend the handle to the full length and DD holds onto it from the inside.

MrsJamin - I feel your pain, the P&T has always made me feel so sad for DS, he hated the layflat bit from about 4 months and I always felt he was so isolated in the front seat. Gah. On the plus side DD has always loved the P&T. It'd be worth trying DS2 in the front, it'd probably work. Would DS1 not be susceptible to the old 'you're such a good big boy that your going to be allowed to...' have a new seat in the buggy trick?

mamatomany · 11/06/2010 08:58

Bertini's and Emmaljunga's are not sexy but my goodness they are ten times better than the P&T's for a newborn/toddler combo. It seems so wrong that the littlest person gets the least comfort.
Having said that from 12 months I used the P&T

porcamiseria · 11/06/2010 08:59

they are utter shite, my SIL finally sold hers. I feel sorry for the yound un in the "bitch seat", agree, get a sling or a double buggy like maclarans

i have an aversion to people that use them, sorry!

CantSleepWontSleep · 11/06/2010 09:03

This thread is making me very glad that I've ordered a Baby Jogger City Select and not a P&T!