Double pushchair advice needed - tandem or side-to-side?

[mistressploppy]

Argh, I'm reading every thread I can find on this and am still confused

DS will be 2.2yrs when DC2 arrives and I can't figure out what would be best - veteran advice needed....here are my criteria:

I'm 6ft so need high handle/'kick room'
DS1 pretty leggy too
We live in the country on a gravel road so need decent tyres
Would prefer newborn to lie flat and have removable papoose-thingy if poss
Not bothered about fitting a car seat to it.
Have an Audi estate so decent amount of boot space
Don't use buses/trains much

Any ideas? People here seem to favour the ubiquitous red P&T but I think I'd kick the baby in the bottom bit . Would I? Are side-by-sides really cumbersome, is that why they seem to be avoided? Are tandems are better choice generally?

I already have a Quinny Buzz which is....ok, and used for walks up to the park etc, and a Maclaren XT for the car boot which I use in town or on days out.

Thanks for your help

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Hello!

We've noticed that this thread is quite old now, and some of the product recommendations are a little out of date. We've spent weeks speaking to parents and testing the top-performing buggies on the market to find the best double pushchairs for 2019.

Hope this helps!
MNHQ

Lol, it's my site. It was built as a resource site to help people but also I am on a personal mission to find a pushchair that will see our family through the next year. DD will hopefully walk more but she is tall and it's not easy to find something for a tall 2 year old and a baby, never mind for the coming year ahead (and yes we DO need a double on occasions before that debate starts again!!)

My City Selectbis fab around shopping centres and anywhere flat whether gravel, rough or smooth, but when I hit an incline or even small camber on a pavement - we have a particular stretch near us - it's hurting my right arm badly trying to stop the pushchair heading for the road. It's had new wheels on it too. The OP may well be great with it depending on where she lives and what she does. Don't get me wrong, I still use my BJCS but there are much easier options to push.

It's a great site Tiggy

Hmmm, Can'tsleep - interesting. DS1 is tallish but quite light, so maybe it wouldn't be tooo hard to push.

I'd keep the quinny so would prob just go back to that once/if DS1 didn't need the buggy

It just needs hours and hours and hours on it to build the pages...it's a work in progress...

Come here and have a play . Maybe I should do open afternoons! Lololol

You SHOULD!

Am in Hampshire....

Lol, miles away :( Half this forum are in Hampshire and I was until three years ago when OH kidnapped me!

Boo

BB is the next best thing then ;) I try to be honest and prefer pictures to speak for themselves really.

lol, that'll explain your knowledge then Tiggy!! :)

So wotchagonna do mistress? (and where will you put Hugh Laurie's other two squidlets if you do end up getting a double?!

If you happen to go for an Easywalker Duo side by side (which would be good for you with the adjustable handle!) you can have my carrycot for just the cost of the postage...

(it's just sitting in the loft cluttering up the place...)

DD1 was 2.3 when DD2 was born. I used the double twice (luckily I'd borrowed from a friend).

DD1 declared she was 'not a baby' and screamed merry hell every time she was in it. Used a buggy board and single pushchair for all the school runs (DD1 was 2.4 when started doing them). If you go down this route though I'd recommend a sit down buggy board rather than a stand up, as when she was tired she would whine about standing up. And get some reins...DD1 would sometimes jump off without warning.

(DD1 grew out of her cow bagginess when she hit 3, in case you're wondering )

Just as an aside I took a Joovy Caboose out last week and forgot that DD was rear facing and not in a tight harness (she did have one on), I went up a step and she nearly flew out the back at me!!! Lesson learnt!

I'm going to harass anyone I know with a double and try out as many as possible!

Also watching some videos on Youtube...it's nice to see them in motion.

I've got a while, only 13wks pg atm

(Flubba, the other two squidlets are going to go and stay with their famous daddy - it's a sociological experiment )

mistress I did that! I asked a mum in sainsburys if I could try her pushchair out and she let me push her dc's along the aisle for a moment . I guess she figured I could hardly make a run for it with 2 kids in a buggy!

I'd say go for a double nipper or the new mb duet if width an issue although nipper been everywhere with me, even disabled loos in star bucks for nappy change table, but whichever make I think a side by side the way to go, easier access both children, both good views, one piece fold for you, loads storage and can still hang a nice bag on back, I had nipper wen dd2 born and dd was 2.5, invaluable, then tried p and t, singles, no buggy board, buggy board etc and have come back to nipper double! It's soooo light to push fully loaded and one handed wen holding either dd's hand, they now 1 and 3.5, I have a single Mac in car for shirt trips, clearly dd1 walks but I do like nice long days out to parks or city, we have loads to do in ours for kids and I get a pop in shops, dd1 never whinges but wen she says her legs tired I believe her and it's nice to let her sit for bait and play with sister or hav a drink while I do a boring errand.....just couldn't do without, I'm about to move near lovely park and new playgroups etc, local shops so will be doing lot more walking hence another reason back to nipper double, Phil n teds had it's plus points but had to think about weights in seats and storage.....yeeeuch! Nipper is up to 22kg either seat. I would have tried a duet if they were out wen dd2 arrived last summer though!

I have a few niggles with the current Nipper but the new Nipper improves most of these although not all. However the OP says she is tall and DD is tall. I find the current handlebar low at 5ft 6ins tall and my 2.9 year old DDs foot - the one that isn't in the centre dangles off the footplate because a) it's not wide enough and b) she's too tall for it.if the OP is interested there is a thread below this re whether to buy the Nipper or Elite where I posted some photos showing quite clearly that the Elite offers more room for growth than the Nipper.I am not saying the Nipper doesn't have it's benefits because it does; it has great storage, and is incredibly light and manoeuvrable and easy to lift.

Indeed tiggy although I am only five four and do prefer the lower handles anyways and it is by far and away the easiest push of any double or single I've had.....the bees were great, and bug cam and even a micralite was fab but nipper beats them for me and others for push ability espies one handed, my dd1 is 3.5 and quite tall but nipper is one of few buggies she doesn't look big in, prob the seat style, agreed the footplate being triangular doesn't always help the outside foot to keep on but dd1 doesn't sit in it for that long, she rests her feet on the rectangle part anyway and often turns bait to side to see her sister so her feet come up the footrest then anyway, I guess the triangle footplate adds to the steering with the three wheeler design making a narrower shape to navigate, also it feels easy to steer to me as it is lower handle and dd's are touchable and I can pass them stuff or lean over and talk easily, so it it 77cm wide but feels so accessible, I guess ifu wanted dcs to rest feet ages then yes a non triangle shape would be better.

I got an ABC Adventure buggy - single with toddler seat today and it's quite brilliant! I love it. Baby has a huge comfy seat, DD likes being sat up high and we had a good chat en route (baby fell asleep instantly as usual but I could actually recline him to flat. Best of all the static toddler seat takes up to 18kg and the reclining one up to 25kg. The handle was perfect for me but hubby found it a tad low (non adjustable). On top of all the positives there is tons of storage and the main bag even detaches and becomes a rucksack. It pushes so easily too! It's one of my best tandems to date! Fab!

Hi everyone - just popping in to say I was in John Lewis today and tried out a Peach BLossom iCandy and a Baby Jogger City Select.

The iCandy is easier to steer but I fear DS will outgrow it quickly. The City select is great but a bit tricky to manoeuvre with two in it (tried it out with a weighted fake baby ) and very long in certain configurations.....

The sales girl seemed to think that a side by side was 'overkill' considering the age gap

Might just wait and see what ebay has to offer nearer the time! They all seem to have their pros and cons!

When are you due? My DD is tall for her age (about to go into age 4-5 clothes) and she fits really comfortably in the Peach seats. Did you slidethe hood up the chassis to make it taller? You can also unzip the back of the hood to give more room. The seat liner also removes. If you have another look at www.bestbuggy.co.uk you will see DD in the seats to give an idea of size plus there is a new Blossom kit due out hopefully at the end of the year which is much much much much better than the current blossom kit. You can see it on Best Buggy too. I much prefer the new Peach over the City Select for push ability but I do miss the seating configurations and easy access basket.

Lol re the salesgirl - did you ask her how many pushchairs she pushes out in the real world with children in them???

I had about the same age gap and tbh i found the cheaper tandem the best folds down easily, robust tyres(air tyres a no no for country) and decent handle hight, then as you havnt spent the earth when the time comes you can buy a nice single buggy for little one.

I admit they arnt the comfyiest (tried 3 times to type that and i know its wrong and maybe not even a word) for the little one but i just made a little cushiony washable insert that was fine. still use it now ds is 3.5 and dd is 1.5.

Good luck! :)

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/cossatto-duo-lite-tandem-buggy-/230653407948?pt=UK_Baby_BabyTravel_Pushchairs_GL&hash=item35b403b2cc

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Safety-1st-Duodeal-tandem-Stroller-/250866502243?pt=UK_Baby_BabyTravel_Pushchairs_GL&hash=item3a68cf0a63

I found these just don't work Alpha with a taller toddler. It's fine when they are still little ie just two and baby goes in the back. But after six month, the toddler has grown another six months worth and their feet start to touch the ground and interfere with the wheels. My DD at just 2 and a half could easily paddle the pushchair along with her feet. It just wasn't safe to put her in the front. But if at six months you put the toddler in the rear so they are higher with their feet off the ground then that leaves the baby in the front with the most minimal of recline for napping plus usually a more shallow hood offering less protection.

They are surprisingly easy to push though, but are also very long when folded. Great baskets too.

I disagree re air tyres - they are fab for off roading!