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Paid childcare

Discuss everything related to paid childcare here, including childminders, nannies, nurseries and au pairs.

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Original poster

Best double buggy you have used when minding ?

47 replies

chankins · 29/01/2008 20:40

Hi everyone,
I am thinking of buying a new double buggy from ebay, but wanted a few opinions first. Checked the mumsnet reviews, but there are none for the buggy I am interested in, which is the cossato tandem, where it looks almost like a single buggy, as back seat is raised slightly. I use a bog standard side-by-side umbrella fold buggy at mo, which I liked to start with as it was much narrower than any I had had before. However ds(8 mo) and mindee (2yr) look completely stuffed in and uncomfortable in it. In fact ds hates it, comapared to his usual single buggy I use when not minding. I don't drive so a double is a must, and our town is very small, old fashioned, touristy, so narrow streets etc, little shop doorways.
I just want the two of them to look as comfy as possible, and wondered what other minders have found best to suit two children of these ages ? I worry cos I walk everywhere, they are in there a lot and need to be comfy and happy.
Thanks in advance, I don't want to bid on anything in case I make a mistake !

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Kassy172 · 08/08/2008 22:27

I had the cosatto duet lite and guess what!
It snapped in two with the kids in it. HA! HA! HA! ]
I was soooooo angry.
To make matters worst I was warned by a lady who saw me with it when I had just got it. She told me her sisters snapped with her 8 month olds in it on the road. Lucky for me I have a 2 and half year old (but dosen't like walking for too long) and a 1 and a half year old. But I called the company and explained what happened and they offered to fix it. But I sold it. The wheels started to go stiff and thw weight of the kids made it a little hard to push. Otherwise a lovely chair.

MrsFluffleHasAWuffle · 08/08/2008 22:51

Out n about nipper side by side. I'd choose a side by side every time over a bloody tandem!

navyeyelasH · 09/08/2008 16:24

IME Phil & Ted is best tandem and Maclaren Twin Triumph is best side by side. But side by sides by their very nature will be less roomy than tandems - unles you go for a wider one but then you have the hassle of pavements and doors etc.

Sidge · 09/08/2008 16:34

I had a Cosatto Duet Lite which was ok at first but as my girls got bigger and heavier it got harder to push and steer. I ended up with my wrists in splints due to the strain!

Now have an Out N About Nipper Double which is just fab, even with a 4.5 year old and a nearly 2 year old in. I can even steer it one handed.

croydonmummy · 01/01/2009 16:30

I have a phil and Teds Sport, and as many here I thought it was going to be amazing. It was great at first when baby was little and with a toddler, but now I'm so sick of it! It's so heavy can't get up the smallest stairs, it's sooo long with both of them in (I measured the phil and teds against a marco sky and the P+T is 60 cm longer!) you can't have it on a bus with one other buggy as it blocks the aisle and everyone gets annoyed with you! Plus the baby is now 8 months and can't see anything! He's getting sick of it and it's a hassle getting him in and out! Having said that, it's fantastic for rough terrain and it it's easy to push. But for me the cons outweigh the pros now a few months on. I want to get a Marco Sky Longhorn, the new improved Marco Sky with adjustable foam handles, but can't find them anywhere!

nbee84 · 01/01/2009 16:43

Never had one but I've often thought that the P+T must only be suitable if the bottom bit is only used for a baby under 6m. Once they are able to sit up properly babies want to watch and see what is going on. Must be so boring only having the back of a seat to look at, especially if it is a 20-30 min walk to the school/park/toddler group and back again. I watched a lady in front of me once with a 2 year old in the bottom craning his head out of the side so that he could see and I was so worried that his head was going to get walloped by a lampost/passerby.

nannynick · 01/01/2009 17:06

I like heavy duty buggies, those built like a Volvo! Had an old one from Mothercare in my last nanny job. Think closest match now would be the Mothercare Phoenix Tandem.
The cossato tandem looks more practical (looks like it may fit in a car boot, whereas the buggy I had, didn't - unless you had a Volvo Estate!)
I hate those buggies where one child is very close to the ground... just seem dangerous to me.

nannynick · 01/01/2009 17:14

Have you considered hiring a buggy? Not that cheap (expect £20-£30 a week) but would enable you to test out a few brands. Just a thought.
Little People in Bournemouth hire out equipment (though no price list on their website).

mumsanutter · 01/01/2009 18:12

I have the mothercare phoenix tandem and it is great. Quite heavy to push, but can actually get my 3 year to ride on it (when he is tired) as well at the 16mth old and 2 1/2 year old. It is quite big, but fits in my car easily.

I have had a chelsea buggy very like the mothercare hoxton, which I believe is like the buggy you first described and have sold it as I fold it heavier to push than the phoenix, the 16 mth old hated getting in it (even as a baby he would scream when I put him in it!) and at times it didn't feel stable!

I have also had a graco duo sport, which was lovely to push, but was unbearable when my then 2 year kept grabbing the baby!!

chloemegjess · 01/01/2009 19:04

I have the mothercare Phoenix tandem and love it. I even use it with just my DD in as I can then walk into town and have enough space to put all my shopping in. Will soon have DD2 so will try it out for newborns then.

Does anybody know if you can get a buggyboard for it though?

DJGemini · 02/01/2009 09:41

I have only ever used a Maclaren double. had to buy a double second hand in a hurry - hence I didnt research, however because I was more than happy with the Maclaren single I hoped it would be a good choice.
It is comfy enough, kids seem snug, each side reclines individually, Only thing I don't like much is it is very heavy to lift. In and out of car, putting away in outhouse to store etc.
I hoped that if I changed to a latest model, it might be lighter, as mine is fairly old design - but good as new condition, but the new ones are just as heavy - builds my muscles up! Luckily I haven't needed to use it every day, Just once a week
My sister has one where the seats are one in front of other, Graco I think, but the frame bent really easily, through general wear and tear.
Have heard only good things about Phil & Ted, out of my budget though! Good Luck

OneDS · 02/01/2009 09:49

I have tried lotsof double buggies for minding,

my favourite is definately the marco sky I love it, bought one second hand and wished I'd bought a new one as I was so pleased with it.

I have also tried a graco stadium duo, nice for k to sit in but very heavy and very bulky and cumbersome even when folded, and a bruin side by side stroller which was really nice, a greatside by side but I prefer tandems as I have narrow doors to go through.

thebumcleaner · 03/01/2009 16:35

I have an Urban Detour and they are not as wide as you think! I can also stick 3 on it if needed as you can stick one in the middle behind the bar (I usually do this with my own son before any comments). I have also had my 4 year old sat on the frint wheel cover and it coped as well when he was ill last term.

underpaidandoverworked · 03/01/2009 17:52

I bought Marco Sky L and it was easy to push but I struggled to get it up and down kerbs, also the handle height made me feel about 3 ft tall!! I also found that the child in the back could pull the other's hair far too easily if they were in one of those moods - or would put feet over the front and kick them to bits. Use the graco stadium duo now - much easier to use (and kids find it harder to torment each other!). Mine was off ebay and I only paid £40 for it.

southernbelle77 · 03/01/2009 18:28

I had a cossatto duet lite and really hated it! I couldn't get it up and down the curb well at all, especially with the 2 year olds in it. I have also had a mama and papas Beat twin which is good but again very hard with the heavier 2 year olds. So, I have just bougth a Instep double 360 which I am getting tomorrow and I can't wait! I needed something easier to push and that takes more weight! Can't wait to get it!

wellbalanced · 03/01/2009 19:17

My cm friend had the Cosatto duet lite and hated it, said was really difficult to push so gave up on it after a couple of wk. Im not a cm but have the p&t and love it, used the out and about nipper its ok v comfy for kiddies but bulky, heavy and hard to steer (i used one with front fixed wheel)

littlestarschildminding · 04/01/2009 09:30

I currently have:

A P&T sport which I LOVE LOVE LOVE...worth every penny! Works ok with a buggyboard on too.
Does it really fit in the back of a zafira with the seats up???? It is in the back of mine at the mo with one of the seats down..Im going to ty out that theory later and will let you know...I really can't imagine even with the wheels off that it will squeeze in!

I also have a marco which I have just sold on ebay...ok for walking...far too long for the back of a zafira even with one of the seats down. Makes me feel TOO short. Does work very well with a buggyboard.

I also have this
www.jusonne.co.uk/t3-triple-pushchair--buggy-with-toddler-seat-861-p.asp As I have 3 non walkers for most of the time at the moment. It is FAB... Is the same width as a twin aria...fits through the front door with ease (where as a maclaren gets stuck) is really light to push even fully loaded. Only downside is that it attracts every old lady you meet...they all have to stop and talk to you!!

I have had:
A maclaren twin
A mothercare twin
A woolies twin
A toys r us twin
A mothercare tandem
A combi caterpillar
A twin aria
A duosport
A combi WE2 twin
A graco tandem
A graco du0 lxi
A cossatio twin like the marco
A sit n stand stroller
An emmaljunga with toddler seat
A bertini with toddler seat

the P&T is by far the best...

mummymabs · 30/01/2009 16:48

I have a quinny 4xl tandem plus as ther was only 14 months between my boys. Tried a nipper side by side and a graco stadium duo. By far the quinny is the bst and the most robust/ comfortable. It also converts to a single. They are hard to get hold of though as they stopped making them some time ago.

GiveMeChocolateNOW · 30/01/2009 18:25

Jane Powertwin + buggyboard works for me, it's quite heavy to push when fully loaded, but ok once I've built up momentum!

Out and about nipper 360 = fab when I tried it out in the shop but sadly didn't fit through the front door so I had to take it back. Well worth considering if you have a wideish doorway.

Didn't think you can get a buggyboard on a P+T ... isn't it a bit awkward what with bending over the bottom seat?

GiveMeChocolateNOW · 30/01/2009 19:28

Nappy Addict, ABC Design Zoom looks good, add it to my buggy fantasy wish list!

GiveMeChocolateNOW · 30/01/2009 19:36

Mmmmmm

Just realised this thread started in Jan08 ...Hope you have found your double by now!!!

Chatkins · 30/01/2009 20:03

yes thanks ! I went with the cossato off ebay, it was £70 including p&p, and a year on, and many different sized mindees on, its still going very very strong.

I quite often have a 3 yr old in the front and my 20 mo old ds in back, but they can fit comfortably either way, and more often than not dd2 hops on, she stands on the back basket, or sits on the massive strong hood. Its not even that heavy to push like this.

So I would after starting ths thread a year ago, totally reccomend the cossato! Loads of storage space too.

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