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Pushchairs

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Original poster

Double buggy advice

52 replies

Firsttimer1007 · 12/03/2012 22:13

Hi there
I have an 8 mth old and expecting DC2 in November, and my head is spinning with double buggys!

Just wondering if you all found either the side by side wider buggies better than the one up one down normal width ones?
I would like to have both of them facing me, with the option of pushchair-carseat and pushchair-carrycot
Are the wider side by side buggies easy enough to manoever?

Also, what is the general consensus on here on the best double buggy?
Any advice appreciated!

OP posts:
Tiggywunkle · 13/03/2012 00:18

First of all there is no perfect double pushchair. There are compromises all the way.

Secondly the choice of having even one child facing you, let alone two is very limited. For a pushchair suitable for a newborn and toddler with both children facing you really gives you - the following side by sides: the Bugaboo Donkey or First Wheels City Twin, the Twins Freestyle Cool (Ebay) and possibly by the end of the year the Stroll-Air My Duo - or for tandems where you can actually see both children: probably just one of the bigger tandems like the Bebecar One and Two or the Kolcraft Contours with a car seat for the baby. There are several tandems where in theory both children are facing you like the Baby Jogger City Select, iCandy Pear, O'Baby Zoom etc but in practice the child at the rear is hidden behind the one nearest you. But that may be enough for you?

If you can compromise and have one child facing you - whether short term in a carrycot or car seat, or even longer term in a seat unit then your choices start to open up.

As for whether you choose a tandem or a side by side is entirely up to you, plus also your budget. Personally if I had to choose just one, I would always get a tandem. You will never end up stuck outside a door trying to get in or trying to fit through a narrow alleyway and having to walk miles round (as happened with me). But you will get better and more equal seating positions for the children with a side by side. In an ideal world, I think a good number of parents end up with one of each type of pushchair ie a side by side and a tandem. I like a side by side for walking with eg to the park. Just look for a pushchair that is under 76cms wide because then it should sneak through an old UK standard doorway.

Go and have a browse around Best Buggy to start you off. There's loads of information, measurements and photos on there.

Original poster
Firsttimer1007 · 13/03/2012 13:34

Thanks tiggywunkle! Does anyone know if my bugaboo chameleon seat will fit on the donkey chassis?

And does anyone actually own a donkey and what do you think of it? I think I'm considering either the donkey or a cheaper second hand tandem. The donkey is a big outlay but I know lots of friends who have ended up with 3 or more pushchairs because they didn't get the one right for them first time round

OP posts:
Tiggywunkle · 13/03/2012 13:49

No it won't. The Donkey seats are a different shape - they widen at the shoulders, plus the Cam frame is outside the seat, on the Donkey, it's inside.
I had a Donkey short term and am about to get another for the Spring / summer. I liked it. It's not perfect eg large fold, not easy peasy to convert and at times can be difficult if it's not letting in right. But it's beautiful to push. Personally it's a fab walking pushchair. I woudnt want to be converting it every day ie if I had the space then I would leave it up. It looks fantastic, the fabrics and quality seem excellent and I am looking forward to having another.

Original poster
Firsttimer1007 · 13/03/2012 14:13

Well tiggy you do seem to be the resident expert on double pushchairs so if it's the one you'll be getting then it comes highly recommended!

OP posts:
misdee · 13/03/2012 14:20

having had 5 almost 6 children, various doubles over the year, it really does come to personal choice.

for me, the donkey is a no go. It doesnt fit through my front door. thats the first thing.

i dont want to be converting it with clips etc, i like the extra seats to be a quick on/off manovre.

next month i ill have a newborn and a 16month old. My doubles for these two are a

  1. phil and teds explorer, as it wil lfit through my door, take a car seat, suitable for newborn and toddler, secod seat can be used as a bouncey chair with the lazy ted kit, and folds into other peoples cars fairly easily.

2)my out with the dog and shopping in town pushchair, where i need extra storage space than the p+t offers, is the mountain buggy duet. Its the same width as the phil and teds, can take a carrycot for the early days with baby, can add a buggy board for my 3yr old, fits through my front door as only 63cm wide, means little boy can have a proper nap with seat fully reclined at the same time as baby.

Tiggywunkle · 13/03/2012 21:18

Its not my only double though...and not my first choice. But there's something beguiling about the Donkey :)
Read this to save me typing everything :) But hopefully you should have warts and all by then.

Original poster
Firsttimer1007 · 13/03/2012 22:20

What would be your first choice be then TW? Misdee that's what I'm afraid of, ending up with 3 or 4 pushchairs!

OP posts:
welovesausagedogs · 13/03/2012 22:40

When my DS was 2 and my dd a newborn (they are now 4 & 2 with a newborn as well) we used Icandy peach blossom and a maclaren double pushchair when dd got older. They Icandy was the best and we are using it with the third baby now. Here is the link:
www.icandyworld.com/uk/en/products/peach_blossom

Katiebeau · 13/03/2012 22:54

I love my Donkey. 3 yr old squeaks with joy when she sees it out. Drives like a dream fully loaded through think snow too Grin. Fits through our front door (

CantSleepWontSleep · 13/03/2012 22:54

I can't rate the babyjogger city select highly enough tbh. So many seat position combinations, a huge basket, easy to push etc etc. I shall be sad to see mine go in a way (am about to sell it as we don't need any more).

AdventureInKL · 13/03/2012 22:58

I always tried to resist the Phil and Teds but it has worked out to be a million times better than anything else we tried. I love it now.

Tiggywunkle · 14/03/2012 00:58

My first choice is the new iCandy Peach Blossom 2. It's just so easy to use. I never need worry about fitting through doors, through scaffolding, gaps, into small shops etc. My favourite Side by side has been the Love n Care TwinGo aka the Stroll - Air My Duo. It's just so easy to use, with a huge basket. The B-Dual was fab too and we liked the Kidz Kargo Duellette. The Donkey was gorgeous and I simply want it to walk with this summer with the children facing me. The Peach Blossom will still go in the car shopping with me :)

libbyssister · 14/03/2012 01:08

Another vote for the iCandy Peach blossom. We had DS2 aged 22 months when DS3 was born. Liked that the baby was in a proper cosy carrycot. Although neither facing me, unfortunately. I live in a rural town with narrow pavements and old narrow shop doors and it was easy to manoeuvre. and it feels really light, could genuinely be pushed with one hand.

SilverSky · 16/03/2012 08:16

Is there a buggy that is suitable for off roading eg dog walking thru woods and parks?

Something with air tyres seem to work best?

misdee · 16/03/2012 10:14

I use the mountain buggy duet for off road dog walking.

Tiggywunkle · 16/03/2012 16:51

For two older children, the Mutsy Duo Rider is fabulous - really bouncy suspension, huge tyres that go up and over anything and sooooo much fun!! BUT the seats have almost no padding in them!

Tiggywunkle · 16/03/2012 16:53

Sorry Silversky, I should have said, yes anything with air tyres would work better than another pushchair without. Pushchairs like an Easywalker, Mountain Buggy, Nipper, Air Buggy etc etc.

Original poster
Firsttimer1007 · 17/03/2012 09:34

Right, sorry to be a torture but.......... If the choice was between baby jogger city mini(or even the GT model which is out here soon) or the mountain buggy duet which would you choose!

OP posts:
Tiggywunkle · 17/03/2012 21:43

BJCMGT :) No question for me.

Beadley · 17/03/2012 23:05

Sorry to butt in, but has the new peach blossom been released yet? If so does anyone have a link? I'm so close to ordering a p&t promenade but can't make up my mind.

Tiggywunkle · 17/03/2012 23:58

No, the official launch is next weekend at the Harrogate Trade Show. After that stores can take orders as the new colour Peach arrives in the UK. The first colour is due fairly soon though from what I hear :)
There's lot of information here with links to the new colours, plus videos showing the new colours and new Blossom Kit.

SilverSky · 18/03/2012 13:29

Is it heavy? The peach I mean?

I've no idea what to do. Him indoors is contemplating a bigger car to accommodate a double buggy which whilst a good idea does seem a little crazy!

The double would have to stay in the car as I won't be able to get it in the house (funny layout) or through the gate to the back garden. Dilemma!!

Tiggywunkle · 18/03/2012 13:49

In Kgs on paper it looks heavy but it's in parts to carry and the chassis can be slung over your shoulder. To push its probably the lightest tandem there is, easy peasy one handed push even with heavy children on board.

HandMini · 18/03/2012 14:04

Twiggy wunkle, you are a buggy guru. Is it your job?

Tiggywunkle · 18/03/2012 15:26

Does a job = payment!??!

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