best double / tandem ?

[HappyJoyful]

helping friend out as she's heavily pregnant with 2nd baby.. already has a 3 year old.

What's the best double / tandem ?

She wants baby to lie flat and obviously 3 year old wouldn't be in it all the time.. 3 year old is small.. needs it to be stored in boot of car (new ford fiesta) and just use on day out's etc so not needed for everyday use.

I've looked at review's of maclaren twin techno and cossato duet lite tandem neither one appear's conclusively better imo ? not sure needs / usage justifies anything as expensive as a phil and teds..

I recommend a single pushchair which converts into a tandem:

www.bestbuggy.co.uk/category/tandem-pushchairs/icandy-peach-blossom-twin/

www.bestbuggy.co.uk/category/single/babystyle-oyster-max/

www.bestbuggy.co.uk/category/tandem-pushchairs/jane-twone/

Second hand Phil and ted? Offers what you need but much cheaper than new. I got one for 200 and should be able to sell on for about 150 I think.

Being honest, the choices with an already 3 year old are very limited. I woudnt look at any umbrella fold because the eldest will simply walk the pushchair along with their feet and a side by side would be unbearably hard to push with so much weight in one side and a newborn in the other. Umbrella fold tandems are hugely long folded too - they don't fit in my huge car boot.

I suggest your friend either buys a tandem that she will be happy using as a single long term and invest in a decent tandem. Plus size is an issue with a small boot. She needs to look at a double pushchair as a rental, buy wisely, keep the boxes, paperwork etc and sell on later. If she buys say a decent Peach Blossom second hand she can easily sell off any bits she doesn't need (ths reducing the initial cost) and probably resell later for similar money.

The Twone would be good for an already 3 year old, or Peach Blossom. I would think that both would fit into a fiesta boot (a carrycot may need to fit inside the car?) The Uppababy Vista with Rumble seat could be worth a look if you look into wedges for the main seat and depending on the weight of the 3 year old for longevity. A B-Dual is worth a look too. With the upper seat off, the fold isn't too huge. Best Buggy is your friend for photos of a 2/3 year old in tandem seats.

Britax B-dual is bloody fantastic

MilkNoSugarAndAShotofWhisky knows a good buggy :)

Just realised I should possibly mention WHY its so good!

*dream to push

*fantastic basket-easily accessible and large!

*both seats v comfy

*hood on bottom seat-v useful!

*top hood offers brilliant coverage

*variety of handle heights offered is great

*when bottom seat isn't in use, you can very very quickly and easily turn the top seat round to face you-so baby can be parent facing then if older child wants to hop in just turn it round

*bottom seat fully reclines so both can lie flat to sleep

*can fold it without taking the bottom seat off

*for what it is I think it folds to a v good size

*its a brilliant single and double-no real compromise on either

*it IS wide-due to mudgaurds-but it fits in the narrow hallway and I regularly use it London buses with no problem

I bloody loves it :o

Cheers milk :o

Umm, lots of help.. and food for thought thanks!

3 year old is incredibly petite (almost size of my 17mo) so she figures she'd happily sit in the double fold up ones. Anyone think that will therefore work ? I know what you mean about the dragging feet though and will it be too oddly weighted ?

She is v.happy with her bugaboo bee so going to get buggy board with intentions of that being the main mode of transport.

Thanks

It does help that the 3 year old is petite but a tandem I suspect will be way too long folded for a Fiesta and side by side umbrella ones quite frankly are hard work, and I think the odd weighting could be an issue. To be honest as well, she needs to think 6 months hence as well when both children are another few kgs heavier and taller. IMHO she would be better avoiding anything umbrella or even cheap new and buying a better brand / quality second hand pushchair. There's a whole set of decent pushchairs out there which are cheaper than a new umbrella fold double. The fundamental question really is does she want a tandem or a side by side. Plus some boot measurements would be helpful. I am guessing a Baby Jogger City Mini will fit in her boot but if it doesn't then side by side options will be limited. Tandems are a little easier as they tend to break up into pieces.