double buggy recommendations?

[saintava]

Hi, I hope this is in the right place!

I'm currenty 21 weeks pregnant with number 2 and DD will be 17 months old when baby born. She is walking all around the house now and can walk to the car, but I'm thinking of getting a double buggy as I will be out walking lots and I don't think that at 17 months she'll be ready yet.

The only issue is we have a small car - a VW Fox and I'm just wondering if anyone has any recommendations for double buggies (preferably side by side ones) that fold down small.

Or would anyone recommend a sling for baby, and if so, which one, and moving to a buggy board for DD when is about 2 or so?

Sorry for all the questions, just want to get an idea of which way to go!

I think you will need a double buggy if you are doing a lot of walking. I found it hard to manage a sling and a buggy for long (though other people seem to manage okay). Your DD is still very little.

FWIW, I had a Phil and Ted's, which worked very well for me (narrow hallway so a side-by-side was no good) and is easier to get on buses and into shops etc.

Good luck!

Do you really want a side by side? You'll struggle getting in and out of doorways, along a lot of pavements and around shops.

Now, I tried a couple of double pushchairs, a Marco Sky and a Kidz Kargo, because I hated the Phil and Ted.

I now (4 children later) have a P&T Sport and think it is brilliant. My whole issue with no view out of the back is a non-issue, for the first 4-5 months the baby is flat in the back and then it can go in the front while the toddler hops in and out of the back.

A ring sling (unpadded) www.sasaslings.co.uk/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=47_49 that is fully adjustable can be used for newborn to toddler in various positions. So you could use that and swap between buggy and sling for whichever child is awake/asleep ... but for me that doesn't pass the coffee shop test (what do you do with two sleeping children in a coffee shop: park up the double buggy and eat cake) )

OutnAbout Nippers

Best by far

I have a 19 month gap and love the Out and About Nipper Double 360. Light as a feather to push (weighs less than my single pram), spins on the spot so incredibly easy to make your way round shops, folds flatish so I'd try it in your boot standing up perhaps? We take one wheel off to lay it in our boot but it clicks off and on v.quickly so no hassle. Great for offroad. Lays flat for newborns. It has got through nearly every doorway including our small 1951 old front door (According to my measurements it shouldn't, but I tried it on a whim and it JUST does!)

My 2 year old is happy to get in, it's useful when I want to contain both of them, or get somewhere fast. When she wants to walk I can easily push it one handed and hold her hand, the handlebar is comfy to grip and on flat ground I can push it with one finger!

My DD is slight and slim, but DS turned out to be a heavy baby very quickly so I would have not have coped with just a sling and my dodgy back. You might be different and it obviously depends on where you live/walk etc. I have watched a couple of friends with similar age gaps leg it down busy roads after their 2 year olds who have hopped off the buggy boards so I'm happy I went with the double option. If we out for the day it gives DD somewhere to nap if she needs it.

We've just bought baby jogger city select as I want both of the DC (22 mos, due in 2 weeks) to be able to face me. Wheels come off and it folds down quite small. Can also be used as a single buggy, it isn't a side by side though.

Another vote for Out and About Nipper 360.

I got a pristine one on ebay, although have since noticed a couple half the price on my local Netmums.

I love it, really light to push and easy to manoeuvre with one or both DC in (10 weeks and 2.7yrs).
Seat goes flat for newborn and easy to clip seats up and down as needed.

Haven't had any trouble with shop doorways, although I think we may struggle with narrower ones, but haven't found any yet.

Fits fine through our front and back doors at home which is great.

Highly recommend the Nipper, my favourite pram by far and have had Bugaboo Frog, Jane Slalom and Maclaren ?XT (all singles) for comparison

Phil and teds sport and Kari me sling, did the job for me (age gap 2.1 years). Still putting both in buggy at times even though ds1 is just over 3, eg going on the bus.

P&T Sport for me. Girls are now 3.5 and 2 and we still use it, the one in the back can see just fine. I'd agree with a PP about not having a side by side as my two would just pull at each other and fight all the time. The P&T is no harder to push than a heavy single buggy.

Also neither of my girls liked being in a sling but I didn't really stick with it as I found them really uncomfortable too (had a baby bjorn airtex one and a closer(?) one).

I think there's no ideal solution though and whatever you choose you'll find good and bad things about it. DD1 is still rubbish at walking so we still need to strap them both down!

i had your same gap and used p&t, i know you said side by side but p&t is good and even that only just fits through some gaps so i think side by side may be tricky but probably depends where you live. now having 20 months gap and gonna reuse p&t, tbh most people i know with doubles just get p&t

I also have the Phil & Teds Sport and just bought the Baby Jogger City Select (just had twins and P&T doesn't work for them). Have only used the BJCS once and I think it is fantastic, a really terrific pram, better than P&T (although much more exxy and poss not as much of a work horse - frame seems like it would scratch easily).

I abolutely loathe the P&T, biggest waste of money ever in my life, ever. Wanted a zoom as it was the only double buggy that allowed rear facing, front facing or a mix, full recline for both, etc. But we test drove one and it was a bit of a monster - not wide but long. After a few months of the P&T - which both children hated - we bought a city elite double and LOVE it. It gets through doorways (think it's 75cm), and has the most extraordinary amount of storage so you don't have to take a changing bag with you. It makes me happy.

PS I bought it because I was looking for a mountain buggy. I found a supplier and called for advice. They said mountain buggy was bought by P&T and the build quality has crashed so they will no longer stock them. FYI.

I am due DC2 in couple of weeks and DD is 2.2years. Had same dilemma as you and did loads of research, decided in the end to get a second hand P & T which I reckon if it will fit in your car (it dosen't seem that big folded up) could be way to go unless you def want side by side. DD never liked being in her buggy when she was tiny so we used a sling loads. Close to me carrier when she was tiny, then baby boryn which I didn't like at all as found it very uncomfortable. Then at around 5 months I invested in an ergo carrier, it was totally fabulous and I carried her in until just over a year when she wanted to walk everywhere, it can be used for much longer though. I have now got the baby insert for it, again secondhand and plan to use it from birth. We also have a single buggy and depending on how it goes may also get buggy board for it as it can be used from birth also. DP thinks I am crackers but it seems to me it will be best to have different options for different situations. I would absolutely recommend the ergo carrier though if you do think of getting some kind of sling, so much easier on your back and cosy for the little one. They are pricey but I expect you could pick one up on ebay or similiar for half the price. Hope that helps!

I have a nipper 360 and love it! I do have to remove 1 wheel for narrower doorways but its easy to do...fits fine through standard doorways tough.

LeBruss Zoom is fantastic-can take seats, car seats or carrycots facing in any direction with either child at the front or back, and always with eye contact with both children if wanted. Still use it for long trips, my two now face each other and giggle.

It's long, but very easy to steer (much easier than our Maclaren stroller), and a bit of a head turner!

A picture!

Jane powertwin pro did it for me. Aweseome buggy.