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Original poster

Double buggy help!

30 replies

Summer2008 · 11/07/2012 14:30

Hi,

Hope this is the right place. I have a 2 year old and baby due in Oct. why doubles would you recommend? It needs to be smallish fold and not heavy and ideal for all types of walking, my max budget is £400 as I need a single too as my son walks most places, this is for longer trips and holidays etc. Thanks

I have entered a bump competition on facebook for a mountain buggy duet which looks really good but very expensive! So if you get a moment can you leave a comment under my bump pic and you never know I might not need to buy one lol xxx (it's so much more expensive when you have 2!)

mountainbuggy.com/duet-champions-challenge?a=entry&entry=Baby-love........../50

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suedpantsoffem · 11/07/2012 14:34

I didn't bother with a double buggy. I alternated between baby in pram and 2 year old either walking (for short distances) or in back pack, or 2 year old in buggy and baby in sling on tummy. It worked great!

Double buggies look so awkward - I found it hard enough getting through shop doors with a single pram and buggy.

Original poster
Summer2008 · 11/07/2012 14:35

Yeah that does make sense. I have never tried a sling before. Did you find it comfy and ok on your back? Also if so which type of sling would you recommend? Thanks xx

OP posts:
mistressploppy · 11/07/2012 14:38

I have the Duet and it is FABULOUS (I have a 2.8yo and a 5mo, so a 2.3yr gap).

It is still quite big when folded though, and quite heavy.

But still great Smile

suedpantsoffem · 11/07/2012 14:40

It was fine. The back pack was comfy - and so was the sling. I'm sorry I can't remember what make I used - it was a few years ago, and I don't have them any more. I would try some out - with a baby in if you can, or if not, you could try a doll, and see which one suits you best.

The sling had two shoulder straps, a place to put the baby, then straps which fastned round your back at waist level. I've seen much nicer ones on the market now though - much more funky looking!

The back pack is better if you're planning on using your hands :), but I also used to carry the baby round the house in the sling when I was doing stuff (hoovering etc), when she wouldn't settle.

Original poster
Summer2008 · 11/07/2012 14:45

Thanks so much for the sling advice I think I am going to look in to that because I am worried about the expense of a double. Unless I win the competition then that's my situation solved :)

The duet does look fab! Do either I you know if there is somewhere on here where you can post links for competitions at all I think I am around 3rd place at the moment. Xx

OP posts:
BoysWillGrow · 11/07/2012 14:46

Try the baby weaver range on kiddicare.com, cute designs and good prices from £180 I think

Original poster
Summer2008 · 11/07/2012 14:48

Thanks boyswillgrow xx

OP posts:
Nancy54 · 11/07/2012 15:07

hi, i'm expecting twins and have just bought the mountain buggy duet - i put a thread re double buggies in multiple births section and people said it was really good, plus i know a couple of people with kids of different ages who have recommended it. you can get them second hand on ebay but they're still quite expensive - there's one on at 360 pounds at the mo but there's still 6hours left.

SwissArmyWife · 11/07/2012 15:20

I have a 15mo DD and my baby is due Nov, like you I also worried about the price of doubles - it's ridiculous isn't it?!
I did so much research and went to shops to see which ones I liked, and in the end I got the Icandy Pear Twin from Ebay for £300. It is a fantastic piece of kit, not to mention I saved about £500 and can be turned in to a single aswell.

However I will also be putting baby in a sling a lot of the time, which will be the MobyWrap I still have from when DD was smaller. It's a lovely comfortable sling, and can be used until they're walking. :)

Chunkychicken · 11/07/2012 15:23

Have you tried the 'pushchairs' forum at all? I'm 21wks pg & have a 2.2yo DD and have been questioning whether a double is necessary, but there are a few similar threads/mums in the same situation, so you might get some recommendations there...

I guess my main concern is walking longer distances in the winter, plus my current pushchair doesn't do a buggy board easily. If I had a slightly older toddler, or was due in Spring/Summer, I wouldn't bother replacing my current pram (as I love it!!).

MamaMary · 11/07/2012 16:02

I will be needing a double buggy and I have been advised NOT to get a Phil and Teds. My friend bought one but never used it - her newborn was far too low down.

mrsalwaysawake · 11/07/2012 16:34

I am currently eyeing up the Britax one that can be single/tandem/carseat, but can't remember what it's called!

CravingSunshine · 11/07/2012 20:19

My eldest is 20m and youngest 6m. We bought the Baby Jogger City Select following advice. It's got pros and cons like them all. If you drive, I'd say it's a good one: it folds easily, the chassis separates, seats easy to remove and shift around so forward or backward facing, it's very sturdy and the sun shades are excellent as well as the shopping basket. However it IS heavy and VERY LONG and we live in a small house with a narrow doorway. It's annoying me now as it's a pain to manoeuvre in and out and it's very heavy when you're going over curbs and on the bus. I also feel bad about asking grandparents to push it! Someone recommended the Nipper 360 and I'm thinking about selling my City Select and swapping. Try and get to John Lewis or somewhere so you can try them out. It takes a while to work out which one is best for you.

kaymondo · 11/07/2012 21:40

I've gone for the icandy peach blossom which looks fantastic but are a bit pricey unfortunately!
I know some people will question if you need a double but I think it will be a necesscity for us. DS will be 2.2years when new baby comes in 8 weeks, but he is still very contrary about whether he wants to walk or not so we still use his pushchair loads. I am planning to use the icandy as a single with baby in a sling when I can but am also conscious that this might not be possible if I end up having a CS (which is quite likely at the moment).
I think for me the key thing was having a double that could also be used as a single so you have a bit more versatility but that's just me!
Happy shopping!

surroundedbyblondes · 11/07/2012 21:46

We have 24 months between DDs and have the Easywalker duo. It has been fab for just getting us all out. Never did much shopping with it, but it managed any doorways we encountered and is easy to manoeuvre. Maybe 2nd hand on ebay?

lacroixsweetie · 12/07/2012 15:05

I bought the McClaren for a nanny share and couldn't wait to get rid of it when the share ended. On the odd occasions I had to use it I found it really heavy to steer and really bulky to store. It was a royal PITA to get in and out of a victorian terrace. If you have a garage you can just wheel it into though then you are sorted. The single version I have is great though so I am not McClaren bashing. I sold it after less than 6 months use for 50% off so I recommend Gumtree/ebay etc rather than looking at new options. There were tons of double buggies on there.
Is your child 2 now? By October (esp if you start now) they could be well used to walking places with you. I'm banking on that as I'm not buying another pram ahead of No 2 in November. My DD is almost 2 but it is currently murder if we leave the pram at home and she gives up. I just can't carry her for more than a couple of hundred yards.
We bought the double McClaren as everyone we interviewed said it was a pain to have a child one behind the other - one always got it's head bashed on the door frame trying to see where you were going. With a 2yrs+ age gap though, I would have thought that the Phil & Ted's /jogger style buggy makes more sense if you can pop the older child in the back when they get tired or you want to get home quickly in the rain :) Not sure if you have to put the larger child in the front to balance things though..... putting a newborn practically on the floor seems wrong.

joberg · 12/07/2012 16:03

I had my children 14 months apart and do thought a double push chair was essential. I bought the Phil and Teds sport, and I LOVED it! I had the baby nest and double sun cover, and it handled really, really well. For the whole six months I used it (and even then, barely, as I love carrying babies in a sling so much!) so I would recommend a second hand push chair. It was vital sometimes, but not to the full extent of all the money I paid (about £700 altogether!)

Hth! X

shouldIbecrossaboutthis · 12/07/2012 19:12

I love the nipper 360 I use it every single day as part of work and have had it for 5 years and it's like new still!

CravingSunshine · 13/07/2012 13:49

shouldIbecross are there any downsides to your Nipper 360 that I should bear in mind before selling the City Select double I've got? Thanks

WhosPickleisThatOnion · 13/07/2012 13:55

Sunshine was it the city jogger double (the cheaper one) or the more expensive one you had? I was tempted by both but that sounds a bit off putting. The nipper 360 looks good though!

TinkerMaloo · 13/07/2012 16:57

2nd hand phil and teds. sorted :)

I was initally against having the one on top of the other feature, but if you want to get through doorways and onto buses then its the only way!

LolaAnn · 13/07/2012 19:38

Look up baby jogger city select, britax b-dual, icandy pear/peach... those are all the best ones off the top of my head that haven't been mentioned much! Otherwise normal buggy + buggy board will save you a chunk of cash.

shouldIbecrossaboutthis · 14/07/2012 19:39

CravingSunshine the only downside is some shops it can be hard to get around, like my local WHSmith sticks piles of games at odd angles at the end of the aisles - so infuriating, I feel really bad for wheelchair uses! Also if you live in an area where cars park up on the curb.

With a bit of forward planning I can usually get round everywhere though.

mrsalwaysawake · 14/07/2012 20:19

Yep, the Britax b dual - that's the one I've got my eye on!

CravingSunshine · 16/07/2012 12:51

WhosPickle we have the Baby Jogger City Select. It wasn't cheap. Its' the one that goes length-ways. Lots of 'em on eBay.