Phil and Ted buggies- your comments?

[lou19]

We have been offered a second-hand Phil and Ted buggy and been told it's a very good brand, has anyone out there had one and what were your experiences? can I put a tiny baby in it? Thanks!

We have one for about 2 years now and we love it, we used the cocoon when DD2 was tiny and the moved to the double buggy type, very easy to put together and take apart. Only thing is with 2 there's nowhere to hang a change bag so I bought I backpack and used that. We wouldn't change ours for anything!

They're pretty big, so check it'll fit in your car if you have one.

Personally I'm not keen on the joggers with lie-back seats for newborns as there's often little protection from the elements/Mum's knees in that mode, and often not much structure in the lie-flat mode either so I'm dubious as to how practical it actually is for exercise or off-road.

I'd check the actual model online at least before you get it - and check the Mumsnet reviews too.

Thanks for your feedback, I shall do that :)

love mine - but it's the vibe and it's quite beavy. i think the sport is better and a bit narrower. The cocoon's are lovely and very practical for all sorts of sleeping in and out of the house.

I think they are good. Have other doubles I have used that I prefer to push, but p&t extreemly practical in terms of shop doorways etc

I've had one for 2 years and it's not the easiest to push but it fits in all the shops / doctors surgery / train etc. All in all it was a good buy and we'd be stuffed without it.

DS is almost 4 and DD is 2 and we still use it everyday as DS can hop in and out of the back seat if we're in a busy shop or he's getting fed up walking to town.

I've used mine for 15months and I love it! It's easier to push than other doubles I've used, easy to get into shops, great for walking esp in woods etc. You have a carrycot cocoon that is lovely and safe/snug for the 1st 6months, it lies underneath and toddler sits in the doubles kit, attached ontop. Then when baby approx 6m the doubles kit goes underneath. The raincover is quite bulky but if you squish it you can fit change mat/snacks/spare clothes etc underneath. The only drawbacks I've had is nowhere to hang shopping bags, but we manage (I just spend less!) and it's not great positioning in the doubles kit for naps, although mine have always napped in it, doesn't look hugely comfortable.

Love mine, I bought it as a double for dc1 and dc2 ( now 5 and 4 years). I'll be using it for dc3 a soon as I can find the raincover. It DOES fold down very small (you have to take the wheels off to fit it in a citroen saxo, but most pushchairs don't fit in at all ). The main drawbacks are the raincover is bulky when not in use and the high price. They are even pricey 2nd hand which is good if you are selling.

I've got the P&T sport and it's been really good- the cocoon is good for newborns- the benefit is if they're asleep you can lift them out and put the cocoon down in the house when you get home without disturbing them. Also good for 'swinging' them to sleep in the early days. We're now going to buy the double attachment for when no.2 arrives early next year. We do have another lightweight pushchair that i prefer using in town as the P&T is heavy to lift in and out of the car.

Best thing I ever bought.

PS I am tiny (5 foot, 7 stone), and had no problems getting P&Ts into and out of the car.

I love my knackered old Phil and Teds, which we have used for dd1 and 2 (4 and 3) and now for ds (8weeks). IMO it is great as a single and a double.

The carry bag thing that goes in the back is fantastic as a carrycot (ds is in his next to me on the sofa atm), and can be easily transferred from buggy to soaf/tabletop/cot.

The only thing I would criticise is the tyres which are frankly a bit crap. I have replaced all of mine with bigger tougher tyres, but we do lots of walking over quite rough ground.

If you need to replace any individual parts, or buy add ons then Out n About are very helpful.

Oh yes the raincover is a pita, it is handy to keep it in one of the panniers, because if you put it in the shopping basket there is no room.

A friend of mine offered me hers and I grabbed it, I had poo pooed it originally when I looked into buggies with dc1. However I took hers as it was a freebie and she was kind enough to offer it. Since then I bought a second hand cocoon from ebay for £11 (am not precious with no 2!), and some extra bits and pieces that had got lost/been damaged whilst it had been in her garage!

So far it has been great - it is an old E3 and if and when we decide we no longer need it I will sell it/pass it on and split the proceeds with her.

I have a side by side double out and about that my sister gave me but it is huge and doesn't really fith through doorways or in the boot of the car.

Ours is great - we use it as a single for DS1 and a double now DS2 has arrived. I'm the only one of my friends who hasn't had to buy a second pram at any point, as it adapts so well to changing needs. Get a cocoon to use when baby is tiny - this is fab as you can transfer from pram to house etc without waking the baby. Some models also take a new sturdy bean baby bed that faces the parent - take a look at the P+T website.

Then a bigger but young baby can lie on the flat / slightly reclined surface on a blanket, then it turns into a push chair that fits kids up to a large age.

Interesting to read the comments about size. It goes in the boot of my teeny tiny Corsa without probs, even with the doubles kit attached, whereas I've had real problems getting friends' prams and pushchairs in. You can also pop the wheels off in no time, making it even smaller. Heavy to lift though (at least my Sport model is).

Great for off-roading, which gives you a lot of freedom - yesterday I pushed the two boys over a massive Newcastle beach and it tackled even the soft sand with no probs.

Be prepared for punctures though! We've had two in two years, the second required a wheel replacement.

Yes wheels are a bit of a pain, but we have given up on the phil and teds ones as you can go to a bike shop and get replacements far more cheaply and easily!

Had my P&T sport for 3 years and have 3 dc and has been used in every combination (inc all three in/on it, but not designed for that). there are a couple of things i can fault but undoubtedly the most useful item i own for dc's. oh and had lots of other single prams/pushchair and other double, this is best,most robust, versatile, easy to push, fold, pop wheels off if necessary, i could go on....

Re: the wheels - get kevlar tyre liners put in, I used to have tons of punctures, but haven't had a single one since having these.

Also I found that the bearings have needed replacing after a while (especially if we have been to the beach - sand in the bearings), the pushchair becomes really hard to push. But you can buy replacements really easily for a couple of quid, and they are very easy to put in yourself.

I loved mine for all the reasons mentioned above. it was easy to push, slim and easy to get in and out of shops etc, comfortable for the dc's, great for going on big long walks, glides easily over most terrain.
The only thing i did not like about was newborns are very low down, so i ended up having him in a sling and dd in the pushchair until he was older. Great for two older children though.

I didn't have any problems with my e3 tyres, beyond one memorable puncture. And I gave it a complete hammering, with daily walks across all kinds of terrain. However, it did have to have a new wheel bearing after three years of very heavy use. I passed it on to a friend, and it's still going strong now, six years on...