Is the Bugaboo Donkey the only parent-facing side by side pushchair?

[ThePetiteMummy]

We're expecting dc2 at the beginning of August, when dd will be 2.4. I definitely want to get a double, as I just know it'll be necessary for us. We'd pretty much decided in the BJCM double, which I know is popular on here. However, I'm now having second thoughts, as I'm not sure I'm happy with having dc2 forward facing from the off. We have an iCandy Cherry for dd, which we've been really happy with, & I still have her facing me in this. Our other limiting factor is we hav a relatively narrow outer door where we live. We think the BJCM would just fit through. I had assumed the Donkey would be wider, but I now find out it isn't! Now obviously it's heart-stoppingly expensive, but I'm thinking we could recoup a large chunk of the cost when we eventually sell it on. But are there any other parent-facing options I should consider? (that would fit through our door!)

Many thanks for any advice.

There are a few others, but you're right about recouping money on the Donkey later, and it's the only side by side parent facing double that converts to a single, so that's another plus.

The others (I can think of) are:
Firstwheels City Twin
Love n Care Twingo/Stroll Air My Duo (same pushchair, just different branding) - you can only import at the moment or there's one for sale here.
OBaby Zezu Twin
Twins Freestyle Cool (look on ebay)

I'm sure there's another one ...

How wide is your front door?

Thank you, I'll have a look at the ones you've suggested. I've just measured the doorway, and the actual measurement at the narrowest part is 76cm, so nothing wider than 75cm really. It's annoying because the actual frame is wider, but the door itself narrows the gap, as there's no space to fold it back. I'm not sure how useful the converting to a single would be. I've heard it's a bit of a palaver converting the Donkey from one to the other anyway. Do you think the Donkey will resell well? There are none on eBay at the moment, I assume it's too newly out to have reached second hand yet.

I've seen loads on ebay and they tend to go for about £700-800 with hoods etc. It does mean you're losing quite a lot but it might be a really good option for you. In terms of converting to a single, I was thinking more for when your eldest is walking everywhere and you just need a single it'll mean you don't necessarily need to buy a new single.

The widths are as follows
Donkey - 74cm
Firstwheels - 78cm
Love N Care - 74cm
OBaby Zezu - 77cm
Freestyle Cool - 82cm

So it looks like it's the Donkey or TwinGo/My Duo. I have to say I think the TwinGo looks great and I'd definitely be buying it if I needed one. For comparison the BJCM is 75.5cm so you might even struggle to get that through anyway!

Gosh, thanks for that, I was just about to look up all the widths! I'm also doubtful whether the BJCM would fit! I'd be happy to buy second hand if a Donkey came up. I usually prefer to go new, but if it could shave off a few hundred £, I might be willing. Although I do worry about not having a guarantee/shop to go back to, if there was a problem.

The single option on the Donkey could be useful later as you say. I had thought maybe we could sell the iCandy to fund this, but am just a bit unsure if I'd regret that later, as we have been really happy with it.

Have you used any of these?

I would get a TwinGo/Stroll-Air personally-they're much more compact folded, the seats are suitable from birth, the hoods are much bigger and they're very light for a double. You can import a Stroll-Air for £560 on Amazon including postage and customs. There's a TwinGo for sale on here for £400 too. The Stroll-Air is apparently better quality, but I think the TwinGo is plenty good enough.

There's a review of the TwinGo here. And you can compare it to the Donkey here and the Stroll-Air vs Donkey here.

Your resale on a Donkey would be much easier. Keep an eye on eBay for one if you really want one-I've seen plenty but they often sell within a few hours of listing. Have you checked it'll fit in your car if needs be? Also check you have room to syore it inside as it's massive folded.

I haven't had any of them, but TiggyWunkle has had all but the OBaby so hopefully she'll be along soon!

Thanks Hypatia, that's really useful. The TwinGo does look good, but the thing about not necessarily meeting British safety standards bothers me. Also, could things get difficult if it developed a fault, with it being imported?

We would need to check it would fit in our
car, and our boot isn't huge (although does take 2 Labradors!). We wouldn't need to take it in the car on a regular basis, but prob once a week. The space it takes up at home is less of an issue, as we have a very wide hallway, so I would anticipate just leaving it open.

Looks like I should wait for TiggyWunkle's take on this, sounds like she's the expert! I'd be interested to hear how easy these things are to push, as all doubles I've looked at look scarily big, & I'm not a big or strong person. I also worry about lifting a double into the car, so in this respect, I'd prob prefer something that could be taken apart (I'm talking myself into the Donkey now aren't I?!)

Lol my ears are burning!!

I don't know if it's helps but Stroll-Air are supposedly coming here ths year and do deal a lt with UK customers, so they could be worth an e-mail to find out the state of play re them coming here and if you have any issues.

I think if you aren't constantly converting the Donkey then it's great. I found most of the time it was fine but it does involve bending down to undo and do up the clips. It's not as smooth and as easy at times as at others. I also forgot to do be clip up once and only realised after I had loaded the children in and wasn't too chuffed at unloading them again. The seat units are long but thin but you need to be sure the length fits in your car.

Being more positive, the Donkey pushed like a dream, looks stunning, the hoods and recline are easy to use. I found the seats too upright for my LO but he refused to be semi reclined either. Great for my eldest.

I did have to watch hands through doors though which was tiresome especially when one moved just as I was about to go through. With say the TwinGo or BJCMD the child is set further back so hands and legs don't tend to stick out as much.

The TwinGo is a pleasure the fling open and go. It's solid as a rock, can take three times as much shopping and pushes great too. Easy to fold and folds ith the seats on. The seats are a tad too reclined for my eldest but I only use the 3 point harness on her parent acing so she just sits upright. My LO refused to sleep in the Donkey more than a minute or so, but he sleeps well in the TwinGo.

If I didn't need shopping space then the Donkey is prettier and lovely to use. But the TwinGo (or Stroll-air) is just easier to use. But it may well not fit into your boot. Stroll-air have carrycot, car seat etc options plus an adjustable handle bar and air tyres.

Tough tough decision, but knowing what I know, if I were starting again then I would import an all singing and dancing Stroll-Air.

Thank you so much for taking the time to reply Tiggywunkle, I hear you're the authority on these matters! That's really useful info, invaluable to hear from personal experience. I've had a chance to look at the TwinGo now (video review), and whilst it does look good, I have a few reservations. The most upright seat position does look like it leans quite far back (obviously you pointed this out). Although you found the upright position on the Donkey to be not such a good thing, dd seems to like sitting quite upright, so perhaps this would be a better option for us. I must say, this is the only negative I can find with our iCandy Cherry, it just needs one more seat position, to take it to upright.

Thanks also for the warning on watching little hands on the sides, I wouldn't necessarily have thought of this, in relation to the design. Also good to know that Stroll Air are coming to the UK. I suppose ideally dh and I would want to see one for real before buying.

I must say, based on all the info here, and my own research, I am leaning more towards the Donkey. With regard to the shopping basket, I don't need masses of space, but would like something similar to the Cherry space-wise (takes about 2 supermarket bags of shopping). However, I do need to measure our car boot, and also see the Donkey properly for real, and try the fold myself etc. Dh and I are going to look at one next time we're in John Lewis.

Hi, I have a teutonia twin, it is rear facing, has very upright seats and I got a carrycot for ds for the first 6 months. It is big and won't go through your front door but is great for walking and has a large basket for shopping! Very comfortable for dc too.

:)

It sounds like the Donkey will suit you :)
Happy shopping :)

Thanks Tiggywunkle! How could this have happened?!

Thanks nicm, just googled that one, came across a MN thread from 2 years ago where you mentioned it! It looks nice, but I do think being able to wheel it indoors is a must for us, dd often falls asleep when we're out & about, & I'd hate to have to disturb her to fold the pushchair (on the off chance that she & dc2 will nap at some point, once there are 2!)