side by side double that takes a car seat?

[ChocolateBiscuitCake]

Hi there,

DC3 due in feb and DC2 will be 19 months so needs to be strapped in!!!

I have bad PGP (I had it for 6 months post DC2) and already have a P&T, but it is too heavy to go in and out of the car. Usually I have a Maclaren that lives in the car but need to find a light double as DC2 is prone to tantrums and tiredness so can't carry him when he melts down!!!

I have been considering the nipper double and city select mini double. However, I need a buggy that EASILY fits the car seat (ideally maxi cosi as I have this!) as, again, my back is too rubbish to carry the car seat in my arms! However, I would consider buying a different car seat if this solves the problem!

Any suggestions oh wise ladies?!

I think you may struggle to find something that fulfills those criteria to be honest. Have a look at Best Buggy to get more information and compare pushchairs.

Some that take carseats are:

Mountain Buggy Duo (16.5kg, Maxi-Cosi)
Mountain Buggy Duet (15.5, MC, but only with a child weighing up to 9kg)
Baby Jogger City Mini (12, MC and others with an adapter from USA, the carseat hangs over the other seat, but that shouldn't be a problem seen as you can only use a carseat for short trips anyway)
Baby Jogger City Elite (19, MC and others as with BJCM)
TFK Twinner Twist Duo (16.5, MC, Graco, Recaro)
Stroll-Air My Duo (13.2, only takes American seats at the moment but they're releasing it here soon so they may be compatible with another seat here when it is released)
Bugaboo Donkey (15, MC, the carseats hang over the edge, making it quite wide)
Easywalker Sky Duo (16.5, MC)
Air Buggy Mimi (15.8, MC)
First Wheels City Twin (15, MC)
Peg Perego/Mamas and Papas Aria Twin (9.7, M&P Primo Viaggio)
Bumbleride Indie Twin (15.5, possibly takes a carseat-they're being released here soon)

Looking at all of these (can you tell I've got time on my hands today? ), I'd go for the either
a)the M&P Aria if you're only going to use the carseat on a pushchair occasionally. It's not a fantastic pushchair, but it is very light and can be bought extremely cheaply second hand,
b)the BJCM if you don't mind the overhang, or
c)the Stroll-Air My Duo if it's released here in time and they make it carseat compatible. This is a lovely pushchair with seats that can face either way.

Wow - thank you so much for the amazing list!

Based on your feedback:
a) I have used an Aria before and actually think that pushing it may damage my back ! I think that is why the double nipper appeals, because it is meant to be so easy to push? I also found it impossible to fold!
b) That is a contender but I am not sure that the car seat option is very easy to add/take off again. I was hoping for an option similar to the bugaboo Cham where you can just slot on clips etc. The donkey however, is too expensive for a 'car buggy' IYSWIM?
c) the stroll air looks great but expensive too for a second buggy.

Perhaps I should accept that car seats are not going to work and weigh up the Nipper Double or the MacLaren double. Any thoughts?

I guess it depends on your back problems. The Nipper is light and easy to push but it's wide and bulky when folded and I didn't find it easy to lift (I have back issues too). I found it easier to lift say the BJCM up by the handles and swing it or use the spikes handle bits on the Twinner Twist Duo to lift.
The Maclaren double for me wouldn't be an option as its heavy to push. The Nipper would be preferable.
For me handle height is more critical for my back than lifting weight. The Nipper V1 handle is too low but the BJCMD is too high for me - fine as a single but not for the extra weight of the double. I would always choose a good adjustable handle for a double because it really does make all the difference.
I can't think of a side by side where the car seats are really simple to pop on and off other than pushchairs that are expensive or wide.
Would you maybe be better with a tandem for car seat use. Something like a second hand Pear or Peach may just see you through the first ten months or so and if you buy second hand, I bet you get your money back later?

Definitely avoid a double Maclaren. I used one with two babies of the same age between 3 and 7 months. It felt fairly heavy even then. It also pulled a lot on cambers and was a real strain to keep on track. I had back problems too.

Have you considered any tandems?

Actually, I was just thinking. I had forgotten that the Air Buggy Mimi double is very light and easy to push - it actually spun 360 degrees on thick gravel it's that light. It folds neatly - neater than the Nipper. Its 15.8kgs so heavier than the Nipper but it's just 73c,s wide so easier to pick up and carry as a neater package. But it has one set of car seat adapters too. I would definitely throw it into your options because I preferred it to the Nipper on balance. The car seat adapters don't look hard to use either but I think you need to strip one side of the fabric off to use them. I got one side clipped on easily enough.