Help! Do I REALLY need a Phil and Teds?

[itsazoohere]

My littlest dd is 14 months old and I'm due another in three weeks. I can't find a Phil and Teds cheap enough for our limited budget, and I'm getting REALLY stressed that I'll never leave the house again. I know I could cope with a sling and our old buggy, but what if it rains? My town has very narrow pavements (esp. the ones around my house) so tandem buggies just aren't safe, and the one in front of the other ones are just too long for my house, or many of the places I go to.
Does anyone know of a cheaper, similar alternative to a Phil and Teds?
If not, I swear by sheer will power I'll keep this baby in me forever!

I'm feeling guilt tripped into selling you my anciet phil & teds!!!

Have you looked on ebay for the P&T kiwi or ozzy explorer they do come up fairly often and are much cheaper but work on the same principle.

or an E3 V1??

what about the Hoxton from mothercare?

What is your maximum budget?

here's one

No raincover but I think a Sport or E3 double raincover would just about do TBH or a really large single for a fully lay back 3 wheeler.

I think you do need a double buggy with that age gap but you don't need a Phil and Teds. You can get a good Maclaren double for about £120 I think. You will still be able to get through a standard doorway with one. Look on ebay there are plenty of doubles going really cheap you can get a good bargain.

I would get a side by side double cheap on ebay and if you don't get on with it change to something else.

Oh another thought have you thought about a Marco Sky? Have a look on ebay as well?

I think the narrow pavements rule out any side by side by according to the OP but the hoxton/marco sky is def an option???

I reckon a large single raincover for a 3-wheeler would do the trick - I was having a look at my friend's buggy the other day and her raincover is about the same size as my P&T double one.

Hmmm.

My littlest is 17 months and I'm due in 8 weeks - and I've similarly been sniffing around the phil &teds.

I've decided I wont buy anything until post birth. With my other kids I bought the buggy after they were born - they are not the kind of thing that have long lead times, and tbh the babies hated them until about 6 weeks old anyway,

The age gap is slightly wider for me - and I've a little longer to go, I'm keeping my powder dry in case Ds turns into one of those kids who refuses to sit in his buggy other than for naps. I don;t think the phil & ted's is perfect by any chalk. Loads of expensive accessories; issues with going down steps/kerbs due to how low it is; barely any storage etc etc. Don't want to buy it too quick and then regret it - it wouldn't be my choice of single pushchair,

Dd and Ds had 2.5 years between them. I managed very successfully with a sling, buggy board and maclaren Techno Clasic (the model with extra padding and a little headhugger). The maclaren was suitable for both Dd and Ds with minimal adjustment. Ds was the main occupant, but I kept the sling in the basket. If Dd was tired or naughty, I'd put her in the buggy and Ds in the sling. The buggy board meant I wasn't restricted to walking at 'toddler pace'.

Max budget has to be £200, I know it's not much . Will look now at those, CarGirl, I'm sure that people coped before Phil and Teds, I'm just not sure how! I've seen some in my price range, but only ones that sold within minutes. Surely people trash buggies like I do on dog walks etc-they can't all be in pristene condition!

I reckon the P & T is brilliant, gave me a new lease of life. You can get few different ones which 'store' the dc lengthways so maybe look at those, my friend tried a different one before getting the p&T though. why don't you try freecycle for an old knackered one you could tidy up, might be worth a go, there muct be a huge buggy graveyard somewhere full of buggies difficult to sell but fine to use.

I had a 14 month age gap with my middle two and the elder one didn't learn to walk until after the baby was born! With a 14 month gap you really will get good use out of a double especially when they go through that running off phase or when they are ill. Are there any silver cross wayfarer tandems on ebay they are pretty the much the same as the singles with an extra seat up front.

I can see your point about the expensive P&T accessories kif, but they aren't essentials really.

There is no issue with pavements and steps IME, I use my P&T to go up and down the 7 large steps in front of my house without a problem, and can even do it with a nearly 3yo and an 8mo on board!

It is a fab buggy, don't know how I would have coped without mine TBH

www.cgi.ebay.co.uk/Silver-Cross-tandem-twin-double-pushchair-buggy_W0QQitemZ200215142603QQihZ010QQca tegoryZ66700QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

here is the silvercross tandem

also the kidz Kargo tandem not as good as the P&T much much cheaper

a few tamden buggies for you

I had the kidz kargo one when my girls were little, and I loved it. I had 15 months between them

can you get another £50 together? cgi.ebay.co.uk/Phil-Teds-E3-Buggy-No-reserve_W0QQitemZ260229478723QQihZ016QQcategoryZ121634QQssPageN ameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Love the way the title says 'no reserve'

then it says 'reserve not met'

lol didn't notice that.. i think i will email her

Thsnk you for all the advice! Am trying to look at the bugies mentioned, but computer keeps on crashing. I never knew there were such things as kiwi explorers and kids kargo buggies! You're all stars. I may not actually HAVE the miracle buggy (one that works AND that I can afford) but at least I can see light at the end of the (hormonal) tunnel.

itsazoohere i have been watching this one here because I could pick it up for you, and post it to you. Let me know if you want it (and win it) and i'll sort it out for you.

I practically have a phd in double buggies. For what it is worth here are my two pennies..

I live in london and use public transport a lot. I started out with P&T but sold it a few months down the line. My 20 month old at the time could undo the straps herself and a couple of times I found her hightailing down the road. The P &T not as light as you think and fairly bulky too. Having said that i do regret selling it a little bit as would be ideal now no 20 month a more compliant 3.4 month old and actually likes the buggy.
Then moved onto second hand hoxton.. was brilliant and really nice for a newborn (v snuggly and high up). Good umbrella fold. Downside a bit heavy when approaching 3. Also had a second hand mamas and papas which I am less enthusiastic about.

I have used my friends double maclaren from time to time and that's pretty good.

My conclusion is that there is no perfect double buggy so expect one that ticks all the boxes. Overall I thought hoxton best but P & T does have its merits. Have a look on gumtree as sometimes they sell cheaper than ebay.

Good luck!

misdee this one?