Which double buggy do I want?

[Mybobowler]

Finally resigned myself to double buggy life - eldest is almost three but possibly hypermobile (so tires easily) and prone to tantrums on walks. Baby is due in a few weeks.

Criteria:

• easily found second hand - hoping we won't need it for long, and we have a very tight budget anyway. Ideally wouldn't spend more than £200ish

• we have a very narrow hallway (made narrower by a radiator) and limited storage space. Enormous old estate car, so boot space not an issue.

• Must have a carrycot or cocoon for the baby, rather than an outward-facing, lie-flat seat.

• Live in a market town, and unlikely to take the pram off-road (never did with first baby - mostly carried in a sling or carrier). No particularly high kerbs to navigate on our usual walks.

I've been recommended the Mountain Buggy Duet - they look perfect but they're £££ with the carrycots, even secondhand. Also looking at iCandy Peach, of which there seem to be loads for sale on Facebook and ebay.

Any suggestions or recommendations?

Nipper 360 double

If your hallways narrow, you'll probably have to get a MB duet. It was the only one that would fit through my front door without folding and I loved it.

I have an icandy orange but you wont get one for £200 i dont think

Also the seats arent very big, i think the peach is similar size wise too

One thing you need to look at is the weight limit for each seat, a lot of doubles are 15kg

Baby jogger city mini with carrycot for baby

No practical advice as DC2 isn't here yet but I will have 2 under 2 and also have a narrow entryway to my house. I've been thinking about a tandem rather than a twin.

Like I say I haven't used one yet, but I'm thinking Cybex Gazelle looks like a good option for us because of the seating configurations. I agree I want a proper carrycot for DC2 but there's no way DC1 will be out of the pram when they arrive... Not sure how easy they are to find second hand and at what price point but it's a 1 to 2 buggy so I'm telling myself that it'll work once DC1 is walking as I can use it as a single for DC2.

Bugaboo donkey

Came on to say the city mini too! Specifically the city mini GT version. I had it and loved it so much i bought the single pram as well.

COSATTO xl wow. We have a narrow door and hallway (old Victorian terrace) and it’s one of the only ones that would fit. You can configure the seats in lots of different set ups too which is what made it so good for us

I got a nipper 360 for my two. I tried the mountain buggy duet but found it was v narrow for my then 2 year old. He’s now nearly 5 and still fits in it. It’s still quite narrow I think - it doesn’t feel much bigger than my uppababy vista, I can get it on the bus quite easily for example.

Have you considered a single buggy and a piggyback, OP? Would this be an option for your older DC? Narrow hallway here too and that's what I'm hoping to do if another DC comes along.

Second the Out 'n About double. Mumsnet even liked it:
outnabout.com/mumsnet-best-double-buggy

Beware earlier models which were too wide to go through std doors!

Ooh thanks everyone! I'll definitely have a look at the Nipper and the Babyjogger - I discounted both out of hand because I just assumed they'd be too wide. I have a single Babyjogger now and I absolutely love it.

Hadn't occurred to me about weight limits, so thanks to whoever mentioned that! DD is long and skinny, about 15kg I think but I'll make sure I check she won't tip it over.

@PurplePansy05 the buggy board was my preferred option but I can well see DD refusing it, especially in bad winter weather.

The only thing that puts me off side-by-side is that I'd probably end up switching between the single and the double, depending on whether I have one or both children with me. Presumably, with something like an iCandy, the second seat/carrycot can just be taken off and you can use it as a single?

... naively thought that with a three year gap, I wouldn't have to worry about this!

If you don't want a side by side then you could try a second hand Uppababy Vista but not sure you'd get it at this price, maybe the V1 model. But like pps said, you need to check how your DD would fit in the stroller seat and the seat and overall weight limit.

Out n about nipper is brilliant, I can push it one handed with both mine in. I have an almost 3 gap and my eldest still gets in the buggy (now 5) if we are out all day.

I've always been able to fit mine through a standard doorway.

Joie twin aire

@PurplePansy05

If you don't want a side by side then you could try a second hand Uppababy Vista but not sure you'd get it at this price, maybe the V1 model. But like pps said, you need to check how your DD would fit in the stroller seat and the seat and overall weight limit.

I have a vista. I love it and am using it as a double for my newborn and almost 3 yr old but it is v heavy to push with both of them. I used it with my middle child and my oldest until they were 2.5 and 6 months (with the carrycot and seat) then got a nipper which I’ll be getting out again in a few months time

With the requirement to use as a single and the narrow hallway I’d definitely only go for a tandem. There’s a BabyJogger model or the icandy;both seem fairly popular around our way.

I'd not get an icandy for a 3 year old my young 2 year old is struggling for space

@THOSEcobwebsareDECOR (love your username) that's handy to know, thanks. It seems that the weight/size issue is going to be a problem with all the tandem doubles, so I've narrowed it down to a Nipper or the MB Duet.

Husband and I have actually just agreed that we're going to wait until the baby is here and see what we need. We'll start off with a buggy board, and then make a decision. Just feel a bit queasy spending £££ on a secondhand (non-returnable) pram that might not be right for us.

Ive started looking at side by sides for when my baby outgrows the carrycot on the orange. I will keep the orange though as i like it as a single and it has a built in buggy board

Side by side ive been looking at a little nipper