Oh blast it... Single pushchairs that actually work with a buggy board

[InNeedOfAKickUpTheArse]

I know buggy boards are the work of the devil but... DS is a tall and heavy 3.5 and won't go in a pushchair anymore. DD is 9mo and needs I want her to have something comfy. I've sold our double (a much loved Nipper 360). Have tried a buggy board on our old M&P Pliko but it plays hell with my back and makes it a pig to manoeuvre. So DS is using the footplate instead. It kind of works except when DD needs to sleep, as the recline prevents DS from getting on.

Just went to Kiddicare today to buy a Nipper 360 single/BJCM/Sidewalk but when you put the buggy board on it's dangerous (very tip-py) and DS is so tall none of the single handlebar pushchairs seem to work with a board.

So... is there a buggy out there that either has a footplate we can use safely or that actually works with a buggy board? My main criteria are:

1. Must allow DS to stand straight
2. Need to be able to recline DD at least so she can sleep (doesn't need to be totally flat)
3. Mustn't cause bloody awful backache (I don't even have a bad back normally!)

And in a perfect world it'd be parent-facing... BTW DH and I are similar heights (I'm 5'5" and he's 5'7").

Joovy Ultralight? Chipiolino Euphorio?
Sadly the Micralite Twofold isn't out yet :(

Bugaboo cameleon . Get secondhand unless you have a lot of spare cash

My old Bugaboo frog works well and meets your criteria. The Chameleon is its newer replacement. They are flippin expensive, so I got it on ebay and bought new covers.

eek - £700! (mind you our Pliko P3 was about £500 4 years ago) so yes, second-hand is fine, particularly as I don't want DH to have a coronary... I like the idea of the big wheels, as we do off road quite a bit.

Is the Joovy comfy for the little one? It looks a bit rustic. The Chipolino looks interesting. Need to dig around for a stockist where I can go see it.

When is the Micralite Twofold out?

Crikey - just found a Cameleon on Gumtree for £230. I might have emailed the owner. I've looked at Bestbuggy too at the bugaboo buggy board and it looks much more stable than the other options. Thanks for your help.

Is there anything I should particularly look for if I get to view the Cameleon?

Cameleon - is it a first gen or a second gen? The difference is the handlebar adjustors. With the second gen look out for slipping handles. Mine had handlebar issues but it just needed some screws in the back. There's a huge market for fakes and MiWheels out there so check logos carefully, check the wrist strap and wheels for the words Bugaboo, check general quality. I am sure there are more things to look out for! Just watch the Bugaboo board - we found it a bit slippy when wet. I like the sit on seats that go on top.

The Twofold isn't due out until the autumn.

The Joovy Ultralight is really pretty comfy for a little one. You can always add a head hugger or similar? The only thing I dont like for the child is the open through hood. But it means you can see them from behind. Its a little like pushing a trolley but is a lot of fun being able to interact with the rear child, has good storage, and is far better than stumbling / leaning over a buggy board IMHO.

If the cam doesn't work out, and you're in the frozen north, or can get to Carlisle, I saw a 2nd hand frog for sale at the weekend -£220 I think

I have an answer :)))
A new Musty Evo :) I am currently trying one out and I have to say its absolutely brilliant as a pushchair. Its better than the Oyster for child comfort, seating positions, fabric, attention to detail etc and its got a very reasonable price tag too for what you get £399 (which includes a carrycot which I know you dont need). But what I have just read is that it can take a Mutsy Step up board. Now probably one of only two down sides of the Mutsy Evo is that the handlebar from the height pivot is a long way from the seat. But thats going to be a huge advantage for anyone like you who needs to put a buggy board on because if my hunch is correct, there is bags of room then for the child between the seat and the handlebar. Plus you should in theory be able to have the youngest parent facing as well. As soon as I can get some photos live, I will link for you, but I am actually extremely impressed by the Evo - seriously impressed - its not far off the perfect pushchair for me!!! I have been struggling for ages to find a pushchair to recommend that really works, because I dont like the seating position on the Oyster for the child. But this has a total lie flat, suitable from birth seat, as well as a bolt upright seating position. And my 3 and a half year old looks really comfy in the Evo too. It's a win, win, win here!!!

Oh and it also apparently takes the fab Mutsy fun seat for an older toddler! capecodbaby.blogspot.co.uk/2008/02/mutsy-4rider-light-with-fun-seat.html

Thanks Daisy - in the frozen east so too far for Carlisle. Will keep an eye out for Frogs too.

Tiggy thanks for the info. Will def make sure I do as much checking as I can. Shame about the twofold - it looks really interesting. It seems like Mothercare have stopped stocking the Joovy - it's disappeared from their website. Might try to get to my local one to see if they've still got it in stock.

Just to show you the Mutsy Evo and importantly how far the handle extends so that I really don't see you having a problem with the board being added on because you should be a long way off!

Re the Joovy Ultralight. The best and cheapest place to buy them from was always Amazon.com. They used to be around £140 although its a year since I had mine. It was easy to order.

Hi Tiggy. I actually cross-posted with your emails about the Mutsy (wasn't ignoring it ) The Cam had gone, by the way.

The Mutsy looks really lovely and answers one of my concerns which is that I'll buy a twin (like the joovy - which DH was quite keen on) and find that in 6 months DS doesn't want to hitch a ride at all.

I don't suppose you know of any stockists in the East of England do you? I've googled but the nearest I've found is Oxford - not ideal. I'm near Cambridge but can travel.

Oh! I should really think about this, shouldn't I? Thank you, OP, for all the great stuff on the thread so far!

SO ... I have a baby jogger citi mini, Can I put a toddler step onto it? I've loooved my citi mini and I basically don't want to get anything else. Unless maybe the citi select. But I think DS (who'll be 2 yrs 6 months when LO arrives) might want to hitch a ride sometimes.

Babystyle Oyster with the custom buggy board. I actually wasted my money on several other options before finally finding this.

Ahah! I have answered my own question, sorta. There's a glider board which should do the trick.
Excellent! I couldn't face buying a new pushchair!

Sorry I dont know of any Mutsy stockists - I believe the Mutsy website has a list (only because I randomly happened upon a retailer the other day). Just bear in mind the Evo is just starting to filter into the UK, so I know some shops have it on display and others don't. It would be worth a phone call.

Just to add, the Mutsy Evo is very very like the Oyster - very similar - but it irons out some of the niggles I have with the Oyster.

Brill - will take a look. Thanks so much for all your help.

Blackcurrants, I did look at the BJCM plus glider but because ds is v tall his head hit the bar. It might be worth checking properly before you shell out like I did with my lascal nightmare . I also could that if I tried to recline the baby seat it made him have to lean awkwardly.

Ohh.. that's interesting and useful, INeed, because DS is the height of a tall 3 year old already (not even two, blast him!) so perhaps that won't work. ARGH. I wish there was somewhere I could trial a bunch of them with him! I bet he'd love it too!

[glum face] I don't want to buy a new push chair, but I can't guarantee he'll be on a bike by Christmas.

Thinking about it if the glider board on the baby jogger is directly below the handle then the majority of children are probably going to hit it if they are of buggyboarding age:

The underside of the handle is apparently 101.5cm, if you then take off 15cm for the board (guess, mine is a different brand with quite small wheels and this is how much it raises the child from the floor) they'd only have to be 87cm to touch the handle with their head, which is 50th centile 2 yr old boy.

So, unless on the smaller side it would seem most children would hit the handlebar. Does anyone actually have one so could pass on some tips of how it works in practise?

I'm trying to buy a buggy board for my Cameleon, have no idea which to get- can I hijack and ask for recommendations?

I used a lascal buggy board on mine which was far better than the bug one once they were out of the cot.

I will pm you a photo link

Thanks Random... I was being seduced by the seat attachment on the cam one- is it rubbish?

Ihate from the reviews on the amazon page for the glider board, most people were unimpressed with it for exactly the reason you say. The child hits their head.
I wonder if it would work better with the city elite. A friend has it and, while it's heavier than the citimini, I rather covet the tires. terrible pavements around here.

well it sticks out really far so you have to walk with your feet either side...

I had the lascal on a frog and could stride as there was plenty of room the way I attached it.

How about the mountain buggy with their special scooter style buggy board...