ednurse - wow that was a steal at only £100 - and wow - they are lucky to have a nanny with 11 month old triplets (I should think it's still hard work even with you though - prem triplets must be a lot of work!!!).
Yes they do look a bit tricky for in and out the car - I would mostly have mine set up all the time at home for walking to school and back locally (we walk at least 6 miles per day!).
One of the mums at my school (who has about 6 or 7 kids!) has a double with top reclining toddler seat - I notice she's still able to use the top reclining toddler seat with her son who looks about 4y old (and she has twin girls around 1y old in the other seats). She has actually had this buggy for a long time (before she even had the twins!) due to so many kids - and it still looks brand new (even though I have seen her around with it daily for years!).
I'm having to think long and hard about whether to order or not - I have a range of lovely prams to use - but mostly use something sturdy and parent facing for daily use.
I need to whittle down to two prams (one sturdy for everyday - one lightweight for bus/train on the odd occasion).
I have enough (prams) to sell to cover the cost of this new one while it's on the January sale deal so that's not the worry.
It's just my everyday pram is parent facing - and I'm wondering whether I'll look a bit silly using the abc adventure with top seat for 2y old - and only occasionally using main seat (in order to have him parent facing as I like - or if I'll put him in the main seat mostly - and only in the top seat if need main seat for older child (who will only need seat when exhausted from busy week at school plus daily 3 mile walking - 2 journeys a day of 1.5 miles - or if unwell).
I got really stuck this winter with both my older kids being unwell alternate weeks - but having to either walk sick child to school and back twice to deliver well child to school (not practical as that's a 6 mile walk altogether for an unwell child).
In the end - Dad had to alter working hours to drop one kid at school and gran had to collect from school and keep until 6.30pm when dad could collect her after he finished work!)
If I had this ABC adventure buggy - it would suffice for daily use in single mode - but at least I'd have the option of being able to bundle poorly child in main seat, have 2y old in toddler seat - and well child delivered to school and back without any problem to dad or gran!
Its not a situation that arises regualarly though - maybe once or twice a year.
Also the younger of the older children does get a bit too tired to walk some days - and we have an awful lot of whining and bad behaviour due to tiredness - which could be solved by letting her ride home from school in the buggy seat on a thurs or friday (due to the very long walk - and how long it takes her to walk it when tired (takes up to 50 minutes if she's worn out..which is awful if she is whining all the time).
It just seems a bit mad for me to buy this now - at this late stage...although toddler would benefit from main buggy seat until at least 5y (given our circumstances of distance from school and my experience of how it is for little ones being so tired with long walks and school).
I don't drive - the bus is not only ridiculously costly (costing £5 for our family - to travel only one stop - less than a mile - and still having to walk some distance home) the bus is also difficult to get on and off with a buggy - even a small one with a number if kids in tow - drivers don't even allow you to your seat before setting off with a lurch!
There are too many of us to beg a lift with a neighbour or friend (car seats and room in cars etc).
There is no other option than to walk the distance - day in day out - even if it's power showering with rain - and it's so miserable walking back slowly with very tired whiney kids!
I have tried a buggy board on my main buggy, actually, I've tried a buggy board with many different buggies - but it doesn't really help me much. I have a long stride and am fairly tall 5'7" and find stooping to use a board is too painful for my lower back (I have some back issues after 4 pregnancies with heavy babies!).
I'm taking driving lessons - and hope to pass my test this year (have already passed the theory part now - whoo hoo!) - but we will remain a one car family - and husband will need the car for work - so we'll still have to walk most of the time (if not all!).