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Parenting

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Original poster

2yo and newborn peeps - which pram/buggy board/etc

20 replies

FenellaFudge79 · 14/10/2013 20:52

did you pick?

Baby No 2 due in mid Feb, child No 1 will be 2 end of Jan. She's a bolter...runs off, walks well when she wants but otherwise goes floppy on reins, doesnt really sleep in the pram but likes to have the option of sitting down.

Currently have a Stokke but I dont think I can use a buggy board that doesnt strap her in.

So what did you do if you had a similar age gap?

I keep researching double prams but either the width or length really puts me off. I'm a bad steerer as it is lol and can see me bashing into people!
At weekends my husband will be available so we could end up having baby in Stokke and toddler in stroller but the issue is when I have both on my own.

Any suggestions?
Thanks all.

OP posts:

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grounddown · 14/10/2013 21:00

I have an Icandy pear, works well for us. Same width as a normal pushchair and by far easier to steer than a side by side one. You need a big boot though!
My DD was19 months when DS came along in January, he was all cosy in the back seat protected from the weather but not dragging on the floor like the phil and teds and DD was sitting up like a queen at the front (it's quite high for the older child)
I also love that you can have a maxi cosi car seat on the back for the baby so no disturbing them when transporting them.
I got it 2nd hand off EBay as its v expensive new, it's been a life saver.

Twoandtwohalves · 14/10/2013 21:10

We have a similar age gap and ds2 is now 4mo. We have a P&t Dot now and I'm just waiting for ds2 to be big enough/sit up to go in the bottom seat, the cocoon they say they're for up to 6months but that seems to be a lie (like Moses baskets).

It is long and heavy but surprisingly manouverable. But it is a pig to fold and takes up a lot of car boot. Ds1 likes sitting in it when he is in the mood. Tbh I'm walking a lot less than I did with just one of them. It's good I like it as a single -it is more manouverable than the McLaren Xt I'd been using but not as lovely as my old lamented second hand Bugaboo Bee.

When ds1 wants to walk I find it's normally easier to have ds2 in a sling (was never really slingy with ds1 but needs must) so I have both hands free and can chase. Look for something with single hand steering!

Twoandtwohalves · 14/10/2013 22:07

If have read this back and realised I sound a lot less happy with the Dot than I actually am. I initially got a v old second hand p&t sport which I hated - it was just a bit past it and slightly musty and the break was stiff. Tried a few in the shop and went for the dot as it is that bit smaller, it has a release clip for folding under the front foot (rather than a pair of catches on the side), the sun hoods actually seem to work and an easy-ish flippy break - it basically seems that p&t have sorted everything that was annoying about the v old model.

My conclusion was that all double pram combos are imperfect, so I got the least imperfect one. On this I pay for manouverabilyt with weight/bulk. Still suggest you buy/borrow a wrap sling for the early days and see if you can get away without extending pram-ness particularly as those I know with Stokkes really love them.

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roweeena · 14/10/2013 22:38

I've got a one week old and 25 month old and I plan to sling baby and then have pram and buggy board ( bugaboo bee and Lamaze maxi buggy board) for the first six months.

DH still on paternity leave at the mo so not sure how realistic it is at the mo but we would struggle to afford fouble buggy

kd73 · 14/10/2013 22:48

We are still using the p&t sport bought nearly 3 years ago, it was fab to use as a double with the eldest able to get in and out off the back section and I was happy knowing he was warm and safe during poor weather. We only use it as a single now though!

MiaowTheCat · 15/10/2013 07:43

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

theyoniwayisnorthwards · 15/10/2013 07:56

We bought an oyster max and I'm happy enough with it. I had a Stokke too and used it for the first few weeks with the carrycot whenever I went out with just DS2 to avoid spending extra on a separate carrycot. Then baby was mostly in carseat attached to the oyster max and toddler on the bottom as you can buy height adjusters that allow quite a bit of space for a toddler. Now they mostly take turns in the top seat or baby will go in the main seat and toddler stands on the bottom seat as a kind of DIY buggy board. He's held in by the handle so it feels quite secure.

SunshineandShandy · 15/10/2013 08:27

I bought a buggy board from Mothercare and also a 2nd hand P&T's. Both have been used, probably the pram more. Will sell on in next few weeks as she doesn't really need it now (and is 3). Once toddler gets a bit bigger and you can trust her to not bolt, a scooter will become your best friend .

ZuleikaD · 15/10/2013 09:47

You need a Joovy Caboose! We've had one since DD was 18m and DS1 was newborn and it's still perfect for our needs two and a half years later. We now have DS2 who's six months, DS1 is 2.11 and DD is 4, and occasionally all three of them get on it. It's a brilliant thing - it takes a carseat so you can use it from birth, it folds up easily, it only has the footprint of a single buggy (same width and length) and because the bigger child goes at the back it's much easier to steer than traditional buggies. I also like that when they're babies both the baby and the toddler are facing me for chats. The toddler can stand up or sit down just as they please. It's completely fantastic.

ReallyGoodDrawer · 15/10/2013 09:48

I used a sling for dd2 and had dd1 in buggy. Dd1 walked everywhere by the time she was just over two and a half which freed up the buggy (although I still used the sling 99% of the time).

WeeLors · 15/10/2013 09:58

We have a joovy caboose ultralight and love it. Its a single but has a small bench seat and a buggy board built in. The bench seat also has a harness so you'd be able to strap dd in if need be. The only downside is the buggy part doesn't lay flat for newborns but comes witha car seat adapter so you can attach your infant carrier to it if you're not doing really long trips (or you could sling newborn and put dd in the front for a few months). It lays fairly far back though so I put our ds2 in it from about 4mths. It has the footprint of a large single so not too bulky either. Will attach a link, you can get them from mothercare online but much cheaper getting one shipped over from amazon US.

joovy caboose ultralight

WeeLors · 15/10/2013 10:01

Cross post with zuleikaD :-)

pegster · 15/10/2013 10:05

We've gone for the oyster max. Using it as a single currently & very happy with it, DC2 arrives in 2w (when DS will be 25m) so will know whether it really works for us then....

Original poster

FenellaFudge79 · 16/10/2013 13:16

Thank you so much for all the replies.
Its been really helpful looking at all your suggestions.

I really like the idea of the Joovy but just wish it was a bit more suitable for newborns. The seat looks fairly upright and not suitable for a new baby.
I wasnt very successful with slinging first baby. I didnt enjoy it much and neither did No 1 but I am willing to give it another go.

Anyone used/seen this in the flesh www.hottots-uk.com/easy-x-rider/
I'd be interested in seeing it in the flesh. Would mean me buying a new pram though as wouldnt fit on the Stokke.

Gah - Ideally I'd like something like the Joovy but that reclines more.

OP posts:

roweeena · 16/10/2013 18:49

Hi Fenella, I hated slinging my first baby but I think it was the carrier I was using (baby bjorn). In the later stages of pregnancy I went to a sling library and it was really useful, very friendly and they gave me loads of advice. I was able to try loads of different carriers and practice using those scary looking cloth ones - they had fake weighed dolls to use. I would definitely recommend, I ended up buying a Hana stretch wrap and it has been invaluable so far. So much better as it means I can get on with playing with DC1

roweeena · 16/10/2013 18:50

Ps - and much much cheaper than a double buggy!

ZuleikaD · 16/10/2013 19:06

With the Joovy you don't put the newborn in the seat - you put the carseat into the buggy. It comes with the carseat attachment all included and even shipping from the US it's cheaper than most single buggies.

Oceansurf · 16/10/2013 19:08

We've got the i-candy peach.

NiceCupOfTeaAndASitDown · 16/10/2013 20:14

I can highly recommend the baby jogger city select double, had for about 6 months now with DS 32 months and DD nearly 12 months. it's a tandem and the seats can both face in, out, facing each other or facing away from each other or it can be used as a single. you can also get a carrycot for a newborn. the 'extra' seat sits at the bottom of the front of the frame rather than underneath the main seat which I really like. people stop me in the street to ask me about it and I'm forever singing it's praises, it's fab! I can fit easily on the bus, steer one handed (slightly tricky on sloped pavements if DS is walking but he has a skiphop backpack with reins that I wear looped over my wrist and he holds the pushchair if I need both hands) and if they're facing opposite ways both seats lie flat for naps. it wasn't cheap but I think it will last and last, plus they have a really good resale value. I have a bolter too..not much fun! best of luck whatever you decide

RoadToTuapeka · 17/10/2013 08:15

Hi OP, just saw that you mentioned you'd hardly used the sling with your first. Neither did I, but have used it loads with the second. Same age gap as you. I find it invaluable eg at a playground so I can (kind of) play with DS1 but keep the baby close, especially if he doesn't want to sleep in the buggy while I push the swing for hours! And at shops - can dash in with DS1 walking or in the trolley, with DS2 in the sling (when he was too small to go in the trolley).

Re buggy - I borrowed an ancient Phil & teds, loathed it. Only good thing was it enabled us to get out the house. Luggage bit dragged on the ground with shopping in it, toddler hated the rain cover on as dragged in his face, was a behemoth & far to heavy to fold up often. Maybe was just old, newer ones may be better. Also baby in cocoon is extremely snug, great for winter baby as mine was but wonder if summer babies would overheat! Also larger babies may grow out of cocoon before they can use the seat bit.

When DS2 3 months, we bought a baby jogger city select. Is great, big bassinet, huge luggage carrier, very light to carry & easy to fold & is no bigger when folded than bugaboo cameleon that we had for DS1 (and is lighter with more luggage space). not too wide either so can get in and around shops unlike (for example) side by side mountain buggy.

Downsides ... Weight distribution makes going up kerbs/bumps hard when you have two in it, I go up/down backwards! Also not really a good 'sleeping' buggy for two imo as recline is limited with two in it. Mine have both been asleep in it but heads forward kind of thing.

All doubles have good & bad points but I like the city select way more than I did the Phil & teds. My 2 yr 9 month boy still likes getting into the buggy and can climb in happily so that is good when I need him to be captive in it!

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