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Pushchairs

Join our Pram forum for pram advice. Plus read our round up of the best pushchairs currently available.

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Original poster

Do I need a double? Help!?

18 replies

celebmum · 17/02/2012 21:41

Evening all..

I'm very early pregnant, due in Oct, and I have a DS who is 22months, he'll be 2.5 exactly when baby is due..
He is a good walker, has been on his feet since 9month but I can't help but think 2.5 is a bit young to be walking/on a buggy board?
We live in a hilly area and I don't drive, we live on a busy ish road too. Also baby will be due just as winter kicks in so i don't fancy DS walking in the snow/on the ice.
I went to see a few single that convert to double buggys with the intention that DS can use it now, I double up when baby arrives then a year so down the line when DS is more capable of walking I can revert back to the single.. However the man in the pram shop told me not up waste my money and that I should just control DS and get a decent buggy and a buggy board..?!?

WWYD?! is he right and am I being PFB re DS? Or do I trust my instincts and stick with my reasoning for wanting/needing a new buggy?

OP posts:

Tiggywunkle · 17/02/2012 21:58

I would get a double. I tried a buggy board with my 3.4 year old last week and it was a disaster. She's back in the double this weekend at least for certain outings. She didn't really start walking a lot until just before she was 3. Buy a double well, and you should get a good chunk, if not all of your money back later. See it as a rental :)

HypatiaTheProcrastinator · 17/02/2012 22:33

How shocking of the sales assistant!! I'd be really annoyed actually. A single might be fine if you were going to drive everywhere, but that obviously isn't the situation for you. I think it would be very sensible to get a double-single pushchair for you.

BrassMonkeyBaubles · 18/02/2012 07:42

Celebmum I would follow your instincts and get a double. It's much easier than a buggy board with such a young toddler in your situation. Your toddler can walk (on reins if near busy road!) if you have the time and the weather is nice...if not you have a proper seat for your child.
Also a seat is better because your child can be tucked into a buggy snuggle if it's very cold, and have a nap en route if tired after pre school. Also if your child is full of cold (as my youngest is now) you can tuck them up and pop out for fresh air, or get the groceries without causing them too much stress...

Mountain buggy doubles can often go at a low ish price on eBay and are pretty good for a walk everywhere lifestyle!

JimbosJetSet · 18/02/2012 07:47

I'm also expecting my 2nd and there will be a similar age gap between the two. I used (and still use) a sling as much as I use the pushchair with my first, I think I'm going to see if I can get away with the combination of a single pushchair and a sling before I invest in a double.

Meglet · 18/02/2012 08:00

Get a double. Especially as you won't be driving.

We had a phil + teds and a 22 month age gap. It was used for 2 years, by the end of it my 4yo DS would walk most places but he could still hop in and out when we were in a rush.

I borrowed a buggy board once and lasted about 30 seconds before I wanted to hurl it across the street, all I did was kick it and take tiny dolly steps, useless if you're marching down the street in a rush. DS wouldn't stay on it either.

StuckUpTheFezziwigTree · 18/02/2012 11:55

Glad I read this, as I've just found out I'm pregnant and it should be a 23 month gap. Which double do people recommend?

Tiggywunkle · 18/02/2012 12:13

It depends on your budget but my top tandem choices are the new iCandy Peach Blossom 2 (due out in Spring), the Britax B-Dual or look at the new Babystyle Oyster Max due out this summer. Side by sides are much easier. Look at the Baby Jogger City Mini, GT and Elite doubles, the Easywalker Duo, the TFK Twinner Twist Duo, the Bugaboo Donkey, the Nipper, the Air Buggy Mimi etc. Dont be afraid to buy a double second hand because most get very little use! I personally think its better to buy say a Baby Jogger or Easywalker second hand than to buy a brand new umbrella fold side by side. Have a look here for information, photos etc of double pushchairs.

Original poster

celebmum · 18/02/2012 13:52

Thank everyone, it was the iCandy apple/pear or the blossom that I went to see, damn sales assistant man!

Also I've seen the city select twin, which is new out and does the same as the blossom just without all the chrome cheaper too! I'll show DH this thread now and tell him not to listen to the silly salesman!

OP posts:

Tiggywunkle · 18/02/2012 14:22

The City Select has been out now for nearly two years. Sadly it gets very heavy as the children get older. Mine only lasted me ten months max before it actually hurt to push. The Peach Blosdom is the one with shiny chrome and coloured seats. The Pear would have had black seats with a matt silver chassis.

karlahine · 20/02/2012 09:48

Hi there, I was in the same predicament a while ago, I too lived in a very hilly area but I've got say getting a twin was nightmare! My eldest would sit in the front and baby at the back and it was so heavy I just couldn't do it! I then decided to re-adjust another pram so baby would face me and the shopping basket below had just enough room for me to place a cushion so my other son would sit on that facing out! It was a lot lighter and my son thought it was great as he could walk and could sit down when he got tired. I think there is a seat attachment instead of the board. Worth Googling!

HypatiaTheProcrastinator · 20/02/2012 12:55

Karla, what pushchair did you have and what have you got now? I've never heard of someone having a child on a cushion on the basket and I can't picture how it would work.

weasle · 20/02/2012 13:23

I had a 2.5 year gap and didn't use a double. Baby was in a sling and 2 year old on scooter most of time! Pram empty! I had a MacLaren type so either could go in it. Also don't drive. Have never found buggy boards very good, just bash my shins!

DameFlatYouLent · 20/02/2012 13:40

Oh this thread is interesting. All being well I'm going to have a 23 month gap and DS has only just started walking (15m). I reckon I'll need a double, and am wondering if anyone has the MB +one? I'm wondering what it would be like when the youngest gets to 5/6 months, outgrows the cocoon, and has to sit in a bolt upright seat! Would a side-by-side be better? I like the look of the MB Duet but have heard the handle isn't very high (DH and I are both v tall).

Tiggywunkle · 20/02/2012 15:12

The Mountain Buggy is fabulous but I think your age gap may just be a bit small. My criteria would be if by the baby is 6 months old, the eldest won't nap at all. After all he will be the one in the bolt upright seat. Also it depends in his personality. My DD is very good but at times she will ruffle the LOs hair or lean over and pin his arms down or something like that!! The Duet handle isn't that high but more than that, you end up walking really close to the back of the pushchair. The Duo handle is a fair bit higher. I would look at the new iCandy Peach Blossom 2, Britax B-Dual, Mima Kobi or if you have time the new Oyster Max for tandems. For side by sides look at the Baby Jogger City Mini or GT or Elite, the Easywalker Duo, the TFK Twinner Twist Duo, the Bugaboo Donkey, the Stroll Air my Duo.

DameFlatYouLent · 20/02/2012 15:53

thanks tiggywunkle, will have a look around. I've got MB on the brain so need to broaden my horizons...

StuckUpTheFezziwigTree · 20/02/2012 16:10

I think I've got my eye on the Britax B Dual or wait and see what the Oyster Max is like. I do love my Oyster!

surroundedbyblondes · 20/02/2012 16:17

We have 24 month age gap and got the Easywalker duo (was a gift from the IL's at our request). Have been delighted by it and still use it a great deal.

We found it useful for (amongst others)

When baby was small and needed to get a sleep, strapped both in, and off for a walk. Couldn't have faced dragging a mardy toddler along at that stage.
When we wanted to get out somewhere local but not make the walk the 'activity' in itself (iyswim) such as a walk to the swings
When I was out with 2 kids in busy places and wanted to have DD1 'contained' rather than running all over the place.

We had the pram accessory/carrycot in the beginning and could even put our maxicosi car seat onto it. It fitted easily into the boot of our Volvo estate, but was also easy to remove the wheels to get into my parents' Golf and was not at all difficult to fold (okay, not a MacLaren, but still..)

Used it this weekend (DDs are now 1 and 3) as it was gorgeous spring like weather and we wanted a proper walk, not the stopping every 5 mins to look at something a 3 year old finds interesting.

We do have a single buggy with a buggyboard that DD1 can hop onto when we're out on shorter trips, and obviously her stamina is getting better as she gets older, and we find it's not necessary to haul the double everywhere with us these days but we will continue to use the it for days out etc.

It is an investment, so I can understand it might be a bit much for some people, but I have several friends who got good deals on 't internet for second hand ones (or sold theirs on again).

Tiggywunkle · 20/02/2012 16:25

IMHO you are better spending money on a good quality second hand double pushchair than on a cheaper brand new one. Most top quality side by sides have fabric which removes and can be washed, leaving the pushchair looking like new. Those second hand from siblings barely get any use and good quality brands do last and are in general much easier to push.

Its when you push a double that you notice the difference - and an easy to push double is worth its weight in gold by the time your toddler is heading for 3 and the baby is over 12 months. All doubles start out easy to push

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