New Childminder: what buggy/stroller to buy??? ADVICE PLEASE!

[RoRoMummy]

Hello there! I am currently training to be a Childminder and now considering what buggy/stroller to buy. I have one 2.5 year old of my own who is just about ready for a buggy board. I need to buy a twin/tandem, so I can have 2 others with me (ie: 3 in total probably aged from 6 months to 3 years). BUT: I use public transport, so it has to fit on a bus easily. I also have a small hallway (not much turning space). And I have limited funds too, can't afford more than about £150-£180. I thought a second hand E3 Phil & Teds might work, but have just found out you can't use it with a buggy board - poo! Can you get a twin Maclaren (or similar from Mothercare etc) onto a bus? I know a buggy board would fit on one. I'm really confused and want to avoid making an expensive mistake. PLEASE HELP! Thank you.

So it is a double stroller you need? that ideally you can have a buggy board on, and get onto bus with?

Just checking I am right.

There is a thread on here with us all discussing the doubles we have tried and tested whilst minding, I will find it for you.

(personally I would recommend a MarcoSky)

Yes: correct
Double: twin or tanden
Buggy board must fit
Must be able to get on a bus
Not too expensive

If you search the archives, there are lots of double buggy threads in the childminder topic, all giving childminders honest opinions.

I would go with tandem if you have a narrow hallway (I am the same and it is a real pain if you arrive home with mindees asleep in a side by side buggy), also better for the bus.

A marco sky takes up the same space on a bus as a single so less tutting and the like from drivers and passengers. (It is same width as a single, and I think, the length and a half of a standard umbrella stroller).

Don't buy new... look around carboot sales, ebay and the such. You got a travel system buggy for £10 - sure it's old, but it's a workhorse (it's only a single buggy though).
You can also hire buggies in some areas.
I'd say avoid the newer brands, stick to traditional manufacturers who have been supplying the market for years - Maclaren, Mothercare, Britax etc. I hate the new buggies (particularly the ones that sling a baby underneath them!).

The tandem buggies I find easier to push, but they are big so won't be good on a bus. I expect you will need something that folds easily. Suspect something like the Maclaren Twin Traveller would be suitable.

Keep in mind that children aged 2+ will be walking and a baby could be in a sling. It is good for children to walk, not be put in buggies... so walking from your home to the bus stop, then from the bus stop to whereever you are going (where do you plan on going? - Will you be using bus for a school run?) - you may find that for bus journeys, a single buggy is sufficient, or no buggy at all.

Marco Sky looks good, never used one - currently from £1.20 on Ebay!

Marco Kinderlarkitel website - where you can find technical specs. Marco Sky L is 103cm in length, 56cm wide.

SammyK: Sounds good but can you put a buggy board on a Marco Sky?

Nannynick: I can do the school/nursery run without the bus, but it's a 20 min walk each way. I find my 2.5 year old is OK going, but flops around and won't make the return journey, so that's why I need the buggy board/stroller combo. In any case, I live in a village with hardly any shops, so need to get on a bus to go out for the day and do shopping etc. I don't drive, so it's my only option.

Yes you can, I haven't done (have had a buggypod on it though!), but shoshe who comes on here uses hers with a buggyboard on.

I bought my marco sky second hand and wished I had bought it new, though I always buy 2nd hand for the reasons NN says.

If you have the budget to buy new though I would as you will get your wear out of it, and can put it on your expenses.

Marco Sky L - Mumsnet Reviews (currently 32 reviews) - No idea about a buggy board.

20 minute walk at adult speed is around 1 to 1.5 miles. Toddler speed drops that to 0.5-1 mile. Rough rule of thumb, a child aged 2+ can walk their age in miles... particularly if there is a break mid-way.

Given your village location... is there much demand for childminders? Will parents want a childminder who doesn't drive? Sorry but these are questions you need to ask yourself as you are just starting out. I know only one childminder in my area who doesn't drive... but she is within walking distance of shops, four schools and two playparks - plus on bus route to major town.

Childminders in my area often swap buggies around between minders, so you may find that you can borrow a buggy from another minder initially.

If I needed a twin buggy, I'd certainly look at the Marco Sky L, it does seem quite practical.

I love my maclaren twin as it folds down smaller than my single and its not too wide for all front doors and shops etc. HOWEVER I don't think you can put a buggy board on it so I am considering a triple tbh as I find buggy boards a real PITA to push (I seem to always trip over them!)

Why don't you get one to walk one way to school then swap them around so that the other one walks back? That way you can get a nice neat fodlign one like the maclaren and save money not bothering with the buggy board?

folding I meant obviously......

I would avoid a Marc o Sky like the plague but only because a friend of mine had continuous trouble with hers, nuts/bolts kept falling out and really hard to steer. She had to get it repaired 3 times in 1 year. They also have crap customer service (after sales) Maybe she was just unlucky?

She used to put a strolli bike on hers which worked well but not sure how easy it it to get it on and off bus with the bike.

i have a Marco sky, and its brilliant, also have a a 3 wheeler urban double.

use the Marco for town use, the urban for going of road.

I have a p+t, you can put a buggy board on it, not ideal but does fit

Nannynick: "Given your village location... is there much demand for childminders? Will parents want a childminder who doesn't drive? Sorry but these are questions you need to ask yourself as you are just starting out. I know only one childminder in my area who doesn't drive... but she is within walking distance of shops, four schools and two playparks - plus on bus route to major town."
I live in a BIG village and there is currently a shortage of Childminders, Mums at school and Nursery are always moaning about the lack of , often see requests/wanted signs on the noticeboard in village, I have several people showing interest already, our local authority does a marketing report for you before you register and it also shows a local need. I am within walking distance of a parade of shops, a huge village green, swimming pool and three play parks. I have a bus every half hour to the nearest town (3 miles). Don't worry, I'm pretty confident all will be OK from that point of view, it's just the buggy that's buggin' me!

I have spent ages looking into buggies the last few days.
Marco Sky gets quite a few bad reviews and I'm really bothered by the fact that it isn't recommended to put a buggy board on a P&T.
What do you think to:
Jane Powertwin 3 wheeler, has manufacturer made buggy board
Cosatto Duet Lite, buggy board will fit
Both are tandems and will easily fit in my hallway.
Anyone had experience of either?

i just sold my cosatto duet light, and the buggy board fits on it no problem.its also an unbrella fold buggy so i great for car.when up its not that much longer than a standard buggy so goes on buses really well too.

Thanks drlove8: That's all very helpful info. I've read good stuff about the Cosatto Duet Lite and it's quite a bit cheaper than the Jane Powertwin, but can you answer the following:
Were you able to get up kerbs OK with two in the buggy and one on a buggyboard?
Was it robust enough, yet light to push? Did you find it OK to change direction/do corners? (I like 3 wheelers for the ability to steer without thinking).
And: Was it easy to get a toddler in and out of the back seat while one is in the front?
Note: I'm not really bothered about weight from an 'in and out of the car' point of view, as this will hardly ever happen... Thank you.

I'm selling my everest twin/triple. its another option for you! just to confuse you more as to which to buy!

email me on [email protected] and i'll send pics if your interested!

the cossato is quite easy to push and no problem with kerbs and the buggy board.(i had bubby board maxi) it is ok with corners if the wheels are free/not locked. not as easy as a 3 wheeler to TBH. and the toddler always goes in the front with a tandem, something to do with tipping is too much weight at back(never had it happen but my too are little tiddlers!).can you go try one out at a pram shop before you decide?

ABC look like they do great doubles only just found out about them though and haven't seen one in the flesh. But look at this video www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qNwKvBD-ks

I'd imagine it's still quite long though, but does fold small. I really want to get hold of one just to see if they are any good. I like phil and ted tandem for ease of use but they are the best of a bad bunch and not ideal in my opinion. The ones in the video look pretty spot on I think!