How to get around with nb and toddler?

[Peppa33]

Dc1 is 2.5 and tall/chunky, about the size of a three year old. But still needs a sleep in the day, usually in the buggy (we have an umbrella fold maclaren which has been brill).

Dc2 is 3 weeks.

I got a buggy board to use with our m&p sola, but dc1 is too scared to even try it!
I have an ergo sling which i love and so far have used with the maclaren to get around. But it is tiring for me as dc2 is on 90thcentile and growing fast.

When i tried having newborn in the sola and getting dc1 to walk, she sat down half way home and i ended up carrying her...while baby screamed for milk! Hideous.

I love going to the park and shops with the children but this involves 2-4 mile trips. I dont drive.

Can anyone recommend a solution? Have been looking at doubles on ebay and cant work out what would be ok for us. Or if i should stick with single maclaren and sling as best of poor options?

Thanks for help.

phil and teds are easy to steer but i hate the fact that babies have to go underneath - I'd never use one for that reason alone although they are incredibly easy to push even with a 5 year old on board (my friends daughter is very lazy :-)

I've pushed as double maclaren (bit of a workout but you can get on buses and through shop doorways which is a big plus and I wouldn't let the weight put you off)

However, if you can get one cheap from gumtree or ebay, I'd plump for an out and about nipper double, still slimline and much easier to push than the maclaren.

My childminder picked up one on gumtree for 50 quid with both footmuffs and it was in practically new condition (person who had it mainly used the car so sold it), definitely worth scouting round for bargains. Even if it looks a bit tatty, you can always get a new cosy toes to cover it up and make sure your babs are nice and warm.

I had Phil and Teds. Didn't mind the baby lying in the back. As soon as she was old enough she actually sat in the front with DS in the back and he loved it. The rules are that the bigger one always sits in the front but DD hated the back.
I used it on the bus and walked a lot with it. DS couldn't walk when DD was born so had to have some kind of pushchair. I also had a cheapy single and a ring sling or baby bjorn sling. Both not good for long outings, but I don't think I had the best choice of slings.

I got the 360 nipper double and it was a dream with heavy 18 mth old (98th centile) and newborn. It's relatively small for a side by side (fitted in all our 'independent' little shops on the high st), wasn't imbalanced and could turn on a sixpence (handy when need to push one handed when holding toddler hand)

3 children and 12 pushchairs later and it's still been out best buy! I don't need it but miss it still, it enabled me to get out and about whenever I wanted (fitted in my boot too, but depends on your car, you'd need to check).

Can't recommend it enough (can you tell?!)

My dc1 is very tall so I bought a city mini double. It is fab, but this is because it fits the purpose I need. I know which shops it fits in and it folds very very easily for the car.

I bought a Phil and teds and found it far heavier and really unmanageable. Not sure if that's because of the model (second hand).

If I need to go somewhere busier/ bus I use the maclaren and ergo. I then switch the little ones into buggy as needed. My toddler would happily walk for miles though.

Oh, would recommend a sling meet. I only stopped using ergo with dc1 when my bump got too big with dc2. It maybe isn't the right carrier for you. I do think the ergo fits better if you are taller/long bodied.

Thanks all for your thoughts...

Re. Ergo, I love it but it makes my feet sore! Had arch probs in pregnancy and this is putting the weight back...

However I think I am hearing from you all that there is no magic solution, and all options involve carrying or pushing heavyish loads and less ability to carry shopping or whizz around shops...

I think for now I will stick with ergo and single maclaren, and may accost strangers in the street to try their doubles, or have a trip to mothercare or JLP. Having been out twice with baby in the pram this week only for a screamfest to occur, while ergo trips have been blissfully sleepy, it is too early for a decision anyway...
At the same time I still prefer the look of dcs side by side than one on top of the other...butvthis may be my fantasy future in which they are cute together rather than fighting ;)

Ps. If anyone has thoughts on cosatto vs maclaren doubles....Which? Seems to prefer cosatto but I am not sure they have the right criteria. They seem obsessed with brakes...