How did you decide what double to get, my head is in a spin already

[sedgieloo]

I thought this was going to be easy, now I'm as confused as I was when buying my first pushchair. I went to a buggy shop today and SA was unhelpful just telling me it was all personal preference.

I can't even see if I should get side by side or the other (stacked?!) type. Budget wise I'm flexible, I just want it to be the right choice. All I know is I will want to use a carry cot and car seat for the new baby my dd will be 2 exactly and I would like all terrain.

I've looked at bestbuggy, a fantastic resource but I still do not know where to start. I was thinking the BJCM GT but don't think it will take a car seat?

Can anyone help get me started please?

Ok :)
All terrain instantly cuts the field down. Working on the basis that you want a proper off roader and not just a walk in the park, odd outing to the beach, then I think you need to focus on the side by sides.
Given you need a car seat option, that instantly cuts the field down further.
I would be pointing you towards the TFK Twinner Twist Duo, the Bugaboo Donkey, the Easywalker Duo, the Air Buggy Mimi (second hand) and the Mountain Buggy Duo and Duet.
The only real tandem option is the Jane Powertwin or a Phil&Teds that take car seats. I really wouldn't recommend the Powertwin though.

The GT won't take a car seat.

If you don't need serious off road then the Britax B-Dual was very good across soft sand, grass and rough tracks. There are other options if you don't need a car seat.

I think if you now go back to Best Buggy, use the Pushchair Comparisons tool at the top to see the stats side by side and then head for the Side by Side Pushchair Comparisons section and look at some of the comparisons of these then you should get a good feel. I think if you have the money the Donkey car seat option is the easiest to use but the elder child has to be parent facing (or is it the other way - one way anyway) but for serious mud I would get something like the Twinner Twist Duo or Mountain Buggies where the fabric can be stripped down to wash.

I had an icandy pear after months of scrutinising and searching I had a 16mo son and newborn, needed carrycot, carseats and wanted a parent facer.

It handled our trips to watch family play at the local rugby club admirably and was great in town too up and down kerbs.

I adored it, fantastic pushchair. My dcs and 3 and 4 now so its gone to a new home but I'd buy it again in a heartbeat.

I had a gap of 23 months between dd1 and dd2.

I didn't have a double buggy. I used a buggy for the toddler and a sling for the baby until about 9 months. I then used a buggy board for the toddler and baby in the buggy.

If you don't have to walk a lot, this is fine, but if you live somewhere quite rural then you will probably have to go for a double buggy.

I've just seen these great replies and thank you all, once I've got a few minutes I'm going to take a closer look at all the suggestions thanks so much

Despite saying price isn't going to be the deal breaker for the right pushchair the Donkey really IS too expensive! I'm getting excited about the twinner twist duo. Tiggy if you are there, would you say there is an advantage in going to these baby shows to get a deal on a pushchair, I expect I will have to travel to find some of these pushchairs anyway so wondering if a NEC baby show is worth a trip (in the south west)

my criteria was
1.it will fit through the door

1. can be folded one handed while holding a baby

sedgieloo I wouldn't bother going to a baby show. IME companies don't sell cheaply there, and you've also got to factor in that you've spent money on petrol or train fares, tickets to the show etc. i'd be annoyed if I went a long way to find the prices aren't great and I've just spent all that money to get there!

I'd search well online and look for special bundle offers, codes etc.

Or you could buy second hand. You can get mountain buggy urban doubles for less than £200. If you buy well, you could even make a profit when you sell!

I've never been to a Baby Show as such...but I suspect you can get a good deal by doing one phoning round and getting price matches etc. The Twinner Twist Duo is a fantastic pushchair. Ours has been fab. It so comfy, folds neatly, is light to push and I love the multi position footrests. Excellent.

KalSkirata my mind is boggling as to which double pushchairs other than an umbrella fold tandem and a Graco, that you can fold with one hand whilst holding a baby....I really would love to know what you chose.

I debated for ever on a double buggy. I mean forever!!

No one is perfect however I ended up with the Mountain Buggy Duet and I love it! The girls love being side by side and it fits everywhere. They can both sleep comfortably. I have been all around London in shops, the park and even on the bus. Its so easy to push and move around and its light even with my huge toddler on board.

There were a lot of negative comments about it so I hesitated a lot. I actually got sent the older version by accident (the first model that came out) and I agree it was crap. The hoods got stuck and had a hole in one, the brakes were thin and cheap and rattled and the foam on the handlebar was cheap and not fitted properly and there were foam bits sticking out of the seat.

But then I returned it and got the new one, latest model and ALL of those issues were fixed. Such a huge difference. Everything is better made and I have no complaints.
The only down side is that it does not fold up very small. So it would not be my choice if I was in and out of the car every single day. I only put it in the car on weekends so I think its just amazing!
my vote is for the Duet.

Whatever you go for, have a look on ebay to see if there's anything that looks good second-hand. We got a Phil and Teds sport double in rather good condition for about £300 quid less than it would have been new!

I love my Phil and Teds the carseat goes on top it folds nice and small Thr second seat goes on easily.

I would not reccomend a britax- unless you are extremely tall and strong!

Please do what I didn't and measure your front door first

Why have so many people got an aversion to Britax? I've got a B-Dual and B-Mobile, both of which are fantastic pushchairs with minor niggles.

stinkingbishop - oh lord yes, forgot about that vital point!! We barely got away with our my4 mothercare pram in our mid-terrace tiny house

The B-Dual at present is probably the best all round tandem on the market - until the new Peach Blossom 2 arrives :)

i have a side by side and a stacked buggy. i am expecting baby #6 soon

the mb duet is fab, i use it most days for my 1yr old and 3yr old. its nicely balenced, and ideal for off road, nipping round shops etc.

i also have a phil and teds explorer, which is for new baby and my 1yr old. i have this as i can use the second seat like a bouncey chair, my car seat fits on it, and its actually a better fold to get in other peoples cars.

Yes I must measure the doorway stinkingbishop, thanks for the reminder! I have an awkward narrow porch and hall, can see this being problem.

Thanks misdee also, and I take my hat off to you with no 6!! I must chill about going in for no 2