Argh! Pram Nightmare!

[NiniG]

Hi!

I'm due my 2nd child in June and my son will be 2 years old just after. So I need a twin pushchair.

I've disregarded the idea of a side-by-side style as doorways etc. just look to hard to navigate and the seats never look wide enough for my son to sit in comfortably (he's quite broad). I also dislike a lot of the bulkier looking ones where they sit behind each other as they look too heavy to push over rough ground and I do a lot of dog walking.

So, I thought the Phil and Teds was my only really option. Which looks great for pushing and walking the dog - but I know my son wouldn't like being stuck underneath when baby gets older and I'm desperate for a pushchair where he faces me!

Then I found the iCandy Pear... which I can tell is going to be hard to find one in a store to have a look at! It seems just what I'm looking for although sounds a bit heavy. Wondered if anyone had one and used it with similar aged children? On any pictures I can find it looks like the toddler wont have much room no matter which way I put the baby in...and would it be possible to use a carry cot so baby could lie flat, with toddler in a seat?

I know I've got ages yet to decide but it's a nightmare trying to find something that will keep son happy as well as be suitable for baby!

have you looked at the double nipper - side by side but not at all wide

also in the phil in ted you put the toddler in the front and the baby in the back it's just most toddler prefer it in the back seat! I agree lots of doubles are not particularly wide. I also thought the new jane powertwin had rear facing option?

Also there are ABC 3 wheelers from new zealand where the toddler seat sits by the handle bars rear facing.

Yeah - I think so (looked at so many I get confused!). If I'm thinking of the right one it seemed really easy to steer and ideal for walking on rough ground etc. But my toddler won't fit in comfortably already so as he gets older I can see that being a big problem

Nini - I've had the same dilemma but have ended up buying the Nipper. It's so light and not that wide. DS is 16 months old but quite chunky and he fitted in it a treat. I, too am quite obsessed with rear facing prams but had to compromise on this one. I still have DS facing me now. Was put off the P&T for the same reasons as you although many people are very pleased with it.

I have seen the iCandy Pear in a shop. It is sooo heavy. The one I saw had a carry cot at the front but it was fairly short and probably wouldn't do for much more than 12 weeks or so. I was also put off by the fact that both of the seats would have to be removed to collapse the pram. I have a Bugaboo at the moment and, although I love it, it is an absolute pain having to dismantle it to collapse it.

I think that the perfect double pushchair/pram is still to be invented, I'm afraid... Maybe something new will come out by June!!

HTH

Oh - the lady in Mothercare told us our toddler would have to go underneath... so suppose he might not get that stroppy lol!

We looked at the Jane Powertwin and didn't like it at all... not sure why but just didn't appeal.

Not seen these ABC ones... will do more research! Thanks so far ladies!

the double nipper was as good I as could get, light, fits through my front door and children look comfortable. And that is so right, the perfect double pram hasn't been invented yet.

I have a similar situation. Baby 2 due in April when DD will be 2.5. Definately need a pram as DD runs off. I tred the icandy pear and found it very heavy and the seats are too small to last much beyond 2 (IMO). I know what you mean about the phil and teds but I got one anyway. The baby would be in the carrycot thing under the toddler for the first few months by which time DD will be closer to 3 so hopefully more controllable. When the baby is old enough to sit up they have to underneath (the toddler is always meant to be in the top position but I have seen people doing it the other way). I figure that I will only be putting babe underneath when DD wants to sit in the pram which probably wont be too often. The other thing is the phil and teds is a great single buggy as well so you at least get a longer lasting buggy out of it.

I thoght about a buggy board but after pushing one for a friend I found it relaly hurt my back and I just know DD will be running off all the time.

TBH there always seems to be a compromise with double buggies.

I am using the phil and teds as a single at the moment and really like it. Easy to move with one hand and up/down kerbs. I wish I had bought one when DD was born 2 years ago but there you go.

Have you thought about getting a sling and carrying the baby until your toddler walks more, and can use a buggy board ?

We have a nipper twin and my 5.5yrr old still fits in it if he needs somewhere so sit/ rest ( he has special needs), he's average size. It's easy to push over rough ground but relatively slim as double go for shopping.

Only problem with P&T for me is I REALLY want a buggy that faces me for this child - my toddler now gets really irritable as he can't "talk" with me properly etc. So I'd not use it as a single buggy.

I'd wanted to do the sling idea! But everyone keeps pointing out that a) I already have a very bad back and so may not be able to cope and b) toddler may not like a buggy board idea (want to sit down, run off, etc)... I've read a few times where mums have tried and decided it was a mistake

I think if the icandy pear doesn't work out it may be the P&T, even if only for a year when son is bigger and possibly in school/nursery for half day anyways and i'll sell and get a buggy for baby 2...

any more thoughts welcome though thanks everyone

im going for a single with a buggy board for when this one arrives. dd2 will be 23 mths but she does walk a lot anyway when were out so a double would not get used much. part of the reason i went for a single as well was that i wanted dc3 to be able to face me and to be able to use a carry cot

I did the sling and buggy thing for ages. If you get the right sling it's really comfy, I have a wrap one that gave me loads of support, I ended up with the nipper when DD was getting bigger and it was clear that DS still needed to be in a pushchair.
We also have 'stroli' rather than a buggy board and DD used to love that (getting a bit big for it now) but it depends a bit how big your first one is as to whether tey would manage it as it's like sitting on a bike..

Has any one seen the Leebruss Zoom.
I have been looking in my local shops with no luck. The web site said it will take 2 carseat or 2 carrycots or 2 5position seat units or a combo of any, it is supposed to have good leg room and wide seats.Has anyone tride one out?

We have a Leebruss Zoom, and really like it. It is very light and easy to push and turn corners. However it is long. Much longer than a regular buggy (found myself projecting into the road at a zebra crossing). It is as versatile as they claim, however I cannot recommend ordering direct from the supplier. We purchased the whole package, at the beginning of December (when twins were born), and we have only just received the last bit that they had forgotten to send us. If you are anywhere near Bristol, that's where the main supplier showroom is, or we checked one out in Peterborough. It is expensive, but with 7 week old twins and a 2 year old, we feel it was worth it.

I also did sling and pushchair, then pushchair and buggy boardd.

Did it twice and a) it's les hassle (twins such a pain, whichever way you slice it - heavy, awkward, cumbersome) and b) a lot cheaper.

My gaps are 2yrs exactly and 21 mths.

I was testing a pear recently and didn't rate it at all. It's heavy and unwieldy and really just that little bit too small on the seat side of things. My 10 week old DS filled the carrycot bit which is really shallow (only about 3 or 4 inches deep) and has a metal bar across the top of it at the bottom that he kept hitting his legs on going in and out. My DD is only 20 months and on the 25th centile for height, but her legs were all curled up in the cosytoes and when the hood was up it came down over her forhead. The rep says it goes up to three years, but not a chance of that.

I could also see a time when the baby would be too big for the carrycot, but not big enough for the seat part as it is like that in the zapp and is a seat shape rather then flat iyswim.

I saw an apple in a shop yesterday and the seat until on that looked much bigger.

I think they have been clever about it, but haven;t fully thought it through. There are also four separate bits (six if you count the bumper bars which need to be taken off to get the kids in) when it is taken apart and it wouldn't all fit in the boot of my Renault scenic. the raincovers are separate as well so one kid gets wet whilst you wrestle with the cover on the other one as they are little pods that cover each seat completely

It's lovely to push though and beautifully made and DD and I had a lovely chat when out and about as the toddler seat in rear facing mode is really high up.

I bought a P&T for my 18mo old and newborn and love it to bits. When the baby is big enough it's he/she who go in the back seat as you are supposed to have the heaviest child in front. By the time that happens your DS at 2.5 might be happier to walk most places though and then he can use the rear seat if his legs get tired. That's what I'm planning on with my two as DD loves walking.

P&T baby can face you in cocoon at bottom for first 6 months. We have one and is great for woods, mud, beach etc.

I had exactly the same problem.
I do a combination of:
Baby in sling, toddler in buggy
Baby in buggy, toddler on buggyboard
Both in double mountain buggy (fits most doorways no problem) - you can get a carrycot for it so that baby can face you if you like.

I looked at the icandy and loved it but agree that the seat on the apple seems fine but the pear seats are really small.

I had a p&t but didn't realise that once it's in tandem mode, you can't recline either seat much. With the mb (or the nipper which is quite similar) you can recline them both almost flat.

We have the P&T vibe its fab DS1 18mth is on the top deck at the mo and he jumps in and out as he likes to walk a fair bit and DS2 5wks is snug as a bug in the bottom deck. It is brill for tramping over fields we go over some really rough terrain no problems.

I have a bertini pram plus detachable toddler seat.

this is my pram but doesnt have the seat here

this one is it cgi.ebay.co.uk/Emmaljunga-Duo-Combi-Pram-Toddler-Seat_W0QQitemZ220347645931QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Bab yBabyTravelPushchairsGL?hash=item220347645931&trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1298%7C66%3A2%7 C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318

It was great used for ages from 22 months, ds1 walks now but i still use it as is a fab pushchair.

got mine from ebay

I had a go with a Nipper as well, and found like all side by sides that it's a real faff in shops. It's a lovely pram though, really light and manoeverable. I also found with side by sides that DD likes to prod or chuck toys at the baby all the time.

If you could make the perfect double buggy your fortune would be guaranteed!!

How about a mamas & papas duette, rear facing, full sized seats, can take a carrycot and/or carseat.

Ok i'm about to tell you my buggy secrect that has saved my life and sanity.
We have a 4 week old and a 3 and a half year old who thinks he can walk everywhere but in reality can't.
So, after exhausting every double buggy option on the market and dis counting them either because they were to bulky, too flimsy, not comfy enough etc i stumbled across this on the internet and had it shipped over fron the USA.
I have been using it for a few weeks and it it a dream to push around and is fantastic as our existing car seat attaches and our eldest ds can hop on for a rest and then walk when he wants.
Please don't tell everybody as i'm loving the gobsmacked looks i'm getting whilst out and about and if i had a pound for every person who asked where i got it or what it's caleed it would have paid for itself.
www.strollerdepot.com/moreinfo.php?SKU=1054

Have seen these in hte US too, they looked good, htough forward facing only??

Looked nice and light (for a DOUBLE)

the baby can't lie flat in that with a toddler on board though can they nobody's fool...although it looks great for an older baby and a toddler.