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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

Just received my Mountain Buggy +One and......

37 replies

Poppyjen · 08/06/2012 08:58

I absolutely love it! DC2 hasn't arrived yet (we've got a good couple of months before that I hope) but I wanted to get used to it before so plan to use as a single for the summer. Desperate to take it out for a proper spin today with DS but 'tis raining and my raincover hasn't arrived yet

Thanks to Tiggywunkle once again for all of your excellent advice and photos, I think it will do the job just fine with our age gap (newborn and 2.5 yrs) and will give us the longevity that so many other tandems won't.

And, you can have 2 children in it and still use the massive shopping basket...that's got to be a winner

and do you know what, I think I may have come up with a cunning plan to solve the issue of baby-too-big-for-cocoon-but-too-small-for-front-seat conundrum....Watch this space, I am going to need to borrow my friend's baby to see if it works but I'll post details on here when my experimenting is done

OP posts:

Pascha · 08/06/2012 10:11

Ooh ooh DH wants one! I had real concerns over the space for the bottom seat but DH really likes the look of them. I want a BJCElite double but thats a no-go for him.

Please tell me its worth it? And I'm watching this thread now to find out your cunning plan

Original poster

Poppyjen · 08/06/2012 19:22

Well dodged the rain and took it out for a spin and it is great to push. It feels big compared with what I have been using but then anything does (its a Micralite Superlite ) but I am still really pleased with it.

You really wouldn't know it was a tandem when its in single mode

I haven't tried DS in the back seat yet but by the space looks fine - it is compact but looks comfortable and at least its not right in the shopping basket like a P&T!

As to my cunning plan - I will let you know more when I have tried it out. Needless to say this is just my own take on the issue and others may find my suggestion ridiculous but it strikes me it could work quite well.....anyway I'll explain soon and if it works I'll take some pictures.

OP posts:

Pascha · 08/06/2012 21:06

I don't mind big. I'm currently using a BJC classic single which is heeuuge and it suits both of us.

Tiggywunkle · 08/06/2012 21:39

I look forward to hearing about your cunning plan.
I hope you get on with the +One ok. I think your age gap is right to use it with.
We have our +One pimped up with hamster bags and they really make a difference (even though you have the basket as well).

lilhills · 15/06/2012 21:22

Hi Poppyjen, I'm looking forward to seeing what you come up with to solve that problem. I got my +one a few months before having my second, absolutely loved it, was a breeze to push with my heavy 15kg 2 year old daughter in, when my not so little 9lb 11 newborn boy came along i was so excited about using it with both of them in.....excitement ended when he outgrew the cocoon at about one month old. I've put a wedge in the top so he's slightly inclined, hoping this makes a bit of extra room but no, he's crammed in. I've looked at various snuggly head hugger inserts for the upright seat but im still unsure he'd be comfortable completely upright at 2 months old :( I invested in the buggy as my kids main source of transport as we don't drive and now im having to either cram my boy in the cocoon or carry him in a sling whilst pushing my daughter in the +1 :(

LiberteEgaliteFRIGGernite · 15/06/2012 21:50

I would have thought he would certainly be better off with his legs bent in the cocoon,than in one of the seats.

Having said that,the back is IMO huge one the back zip is opened.
when I bought it my then 18 month old tried the back out,and could fit in,legs bent.
The +one is certainly not the best double for two younger children,but I would say you need to keep him in the back,laid flat for as long as possible,until at least 6 months,because my 22 month old,is just comfortable enough to sleep in the front seat,reclined and my nearly 4 year old can only sleep/rest in the back by resting her chin on the front seat!
Or alternatively you need to buy another (cheap?) double,to get you through until the baby is able to go into the front seat at 6 months+.

The +one though is an excellent double for two older children,the push is fantastic and it is compact and will take you anywhere.

lilhills · 15/06/2012 22:03

Thank you for replying, i was considering seeing if a moses mattress would fit and also use my sheepskin liner or something on the back bit and just have him lying there with no cocoon. My daughter who is almost 2.5 looks so uncomfortable when she falls asleep in it, i put the hood as far forward as i can so her head can lean to the side on that or sometimes she'll lean forward onto the bar too. I think it's such an amazing buggy and with no car and playgroups, schools etc at least a 20 min walk away from where i live it's definitely going to last me for a while.
I did in fact get a second hand old phil and teds model as the back seat had a zip to recline slightly but it was rubbish and it was faulty, currently arranging returns etc so kinda put off doing that again ;)

Tiggywunkle · 15/06/2012 22:10

I would definitely lose the cocoon if its not working - the same happens with Phil&Teds before 6 months old. I would just lie the baby on a sheepskin in the rear or blankets. I would think there would be plenty of room then? I know Frigg has had a liner made with padding for her sons head at either side. I wonder if that might be a possibility for your daughter maybe?

I do always caution people about buying the +One for a baby and toddler to fully understand the pushchair. IMHO the bigger the age gap the better if buying for a newborn and toddler, or the +One totally comes into a class of its own for two older toddlers.

LiberteEgaliteFRIGGernite · 15/06/2012 23:44

Yes, snunkie make liners with padding at the side,to help stop little heads lolling.which will be great for the +one front seat as DS does tend to whack his head on the side bar a bit...
Mine should arrive this week!

LiberteEgaliteFRIGGernite · 15/06/2012 23:45

Oh and yes,pop a sheepskin down...should give him more room to stretch out.

Original poster

Poppyjen · 16/06/2012 19:29

I definitely plan to use the lie-flat back bit when cocoon is too small, with a sheepskin and some padding it will be as snug as a carrycot I think. I also have a "snuzzler" (can't remember the brand, possibly Kiddopotomous) which has head and side support which could work pretty well.

Re my idea for a slightly older baby - I be able to tell you more after Monday when I have arranged with my friend to borrow her baby for a trial run

Basically my idea involves attaching the second seat to the bar that sits behind the front seat (using the velcro straps) so you essentially have a reclined, parent-facing seat. My idea would then be to move the existing straps out of the way somehow (this is where my trial run comes in) add a head hugger type thing like the snuzzler and use a separate harness that attaches either to the D rings or around the second seat - I plan to try out my Phil&Teds wriggle wrapper as this would provide support around the middle and between legs to stop baby from wriggling down.

We'll see whether it works like it does in my head....my concern is that the seat needs to be extremely well secured to the cross bar so there's no risk of it falling down in transit, I will probably add a wedge or a rolled up blanket underneath the back of the seat as well just in case.

I'll let you know how it goes!

Also I have found over the past week I needn't have worried about DS not being able to nap happily in the front seat - we have had him sat upright using the bar behind the front seat and he's fallen asleep quite happily twice now (much to my dismay as I was sitting him upright to prevent this!)

Still loving this pram...

OP posts:

Tiggywunkle · 18/06/2012 00:00

That sounds like an interesting idea. I would be interested to see how you get on. But dont forget you shouldn't use the bar once you are out of baby mode ie in two toddler mode. I keep forgetting that the bar is in situ for baby mode...which means that the front child can't be reclined. Bother...I must remember this!!

Idocrazythings · 20/06/2012 08:55

I have the swift and it is excellent. We have just bought the travel bag and it is so worth the money if you plan on going on a holiday.

Original poster

Poppyjen · 21/06/2012 10:28

Well I tried it out and as far as I can see it could work quite well. I'll try to take some photos soon and post them to my profile so I can explain better what I did...

Tiggy what is the reason for not using the bar when out of baby mode? Is it just that it interferes with the space for the rear passenger? At the moment we are using it in single mode as the seat doesn't sit DS as upright as he would like without it....which leaves a very handy space behind his seat for extra bits (its especially good for carrying flowers I have found

OP posts:

Tiggywunkle · 21/06/2012 16:15

I think it's not safe....I read that one child got their fingers trapped or similar, plus you lose the front seat recline. You would have to ask MB though really for the official reason. I was reading one forum last night where everyone was asking about using the bar but no one had twigged that you don't need it according to the instructions!
I look forward to seeing the photos.

lilhills · 21/06/2012 23:12

I l

lilhills · 21/06/2012 23:14

I look forward to seeing photos of that. I ordered an oyster yesterday, it's coming tomorrow, so that will be sons pushchair to get us through this stage and daughter will use the oyster buggy board, then hopefully in 4 months or so I can have option of using mountain buggy with them both sitting up for Pre school runs

lilhills · 10/07/2012 11:15

Hey, did anyone find a solution for the back cocoon area? i got an oyster and the buggy board and the chassis broke first time of use so now im stuffed.....im having to walk 2 miles to a hospital appointment tomorrow and thinking im just going to have to put him in the back with a fleece x

Pascha · 10/07/2012 12:56

I forgot about this! I would really like to know too, please. Also does anyone know anywhere in the southeast (kent/east sussex/SE london if I must) where I could see a +one in the flesh? My listed local stockist doesn't actually stock MB any more, John Lewis Bluewater only has the Duo. I'm really unkeen to spend money on anything without seeing it up close first.

lilhills · 20/07/2012 00:02

desperate for ideas nw, took kids out in the thunder storms for an important hospital appointment, had no choice but to lie ds in back on the fleece liner, he screamed the whole way there and back (over 4 miles) and when he got home his feet were freezing cos they were touching the drop down material at the back it had soaked right through. i cant wait til he's strong enough to sit up, he's very strong for his age but i'd be worried if it was for too long x

Tiggywunkle · 20/07/2012 01:11

Did the raincover not cover the drop down fabric?
I am guessing your son is now around 3 months old. Why is he screaming?
Is there physically not enough space for him? But I managed to get my over 1 year old in the back though...admittedly filling the area, but he fitted with his legs bent.
Would something like a Maxi Cosi (or other brand, Wallaboo?) car seat footmuff work - its kind of waterproof and has a hood if you need it.
Have you tried distracting with toys hanging from the hood?
Would he lie the other way round with his head at the back - although you wont then be able to see him.
Have you tried Poppy's idea of turning the seat pad around. I MUST remember to have a look when I get a minute.
From 6 months look at the padded Snunkie liners. Frigg has one for her son, and I wish I had got one.

Tiggywunkle · 20/07/2012 01:15

I have to be honest and say that what you are experiencing was always my fear with the +One. I think its a fabulous pushchair, but this period of time between the baby growing out of the cocoon and probably even up to 9-12 months does mean compromises. Its just finding a way to make it work though because long term you will reap the benefits of a really useful pushchair. A big baby of course doesn't help....my two were both well over 9lbs too so I can empathise!

sedgieloo · 20/07/2012 12:37

Reading with interest as starting to zone in on this buggy as a possible for us we will have a 24/5 month gap, but this issue from 6 months until baby is sitting up better is a consideration.

lilhills if you find a 'workaround' or if you would not buy again given your experience, please would you let me know - this is the first double my DH has shown any interest in, infact he told me 'buy it' but I really want to be sure and I can't try it anywhere near me which doesn't help the situation.

Tiggywunkle · 20/07/2012 13:52

Just a note, I have just spotted on another group that someone has been using a car seat on the rear of the +One with their toddler in the front seat still - not recommended but they say that it works and is sturdy. They are using the bumper bar though. But one retailer I know had suspected that you could fit a car seat adaptor on at the front and still have room behind. I am not recommending either of these, but it could be something to investigate further - or go to a retailer / buy to return and try out a car seat adaptor???? They have also reminded me that the new Face to Face seat is due out soon and it does fit the +one - again in single mode - but again if you are determined enough and play around with the seat fabric, you never know, you may be able to fit it on. I believe it just clicks onto the chassis somehow like this so in theory may be able to be wiggled on with the fabric still in place / a few poppers undone??? Again its something to try??????????

sedgieloo · 20/07/2012 21:44

hmmm thanks tiggy, if that face-to-face/car seat thing would work that would be more than interesting! Thanks for the info

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