Best double buggy conundrum - just found out my 21 month is already 15 kilos and tall this limits me further doesn't it?

[sedgieloo]

I'm due end oct. dd will be 24/5 months.

I managed to try a few at John Lewis last week, and she seemed to be filling some of them already, the duet, peach looked a squash. The phil and teds looked fine but when I went to push her in the store it was horrible.

Since found that she is 15 kilos which limits me further doesn''t it?

I hadn't ruled out a tandem but see lots of limitations with the phil and teds. I think I would quite like a double I can keep in my (narrow) hall.

Any thoughts please? I'm thinking I've got these options:

TFK
Mountain+1
B-dual?
A better phil and teds? (think it was the explorer I looked at)

I'd quite like to use my maxi cosi with it. Although thinking of keeping the Elite as well and getting adapters/carry cot buggy board to give us more options.

Oh just to add, that we do need something that isn't solely for urban use, its hilly here with some rougher paths, not sure if the b-dual is up to that. Also dd does like to sit up high and upright and isn't mad on the elite for that but we like the use of it to push/open so easily

Mountain buggy duet? Is the same width as some singles although side by side

Mountain buggy duet: Maximum child age or weight: Combined load of 36kg - Approx up to 5 years :)

Thanks I am pretty certain the duet was the one I say her in an she completely filled the seat and didn't look as if there was any room to grow or for bulky winter clothes :s

sat her in

I think it depends in a way how rigorously you want to stick to the UK tested weight limit. 15kg is standard, it doesn't not automatically mean that use beyond that would be unsafe in every case. I know Tiggy on here uses her peach blossom and I think but am not sure that her DD is 15kg if not a little more. Also I find the main seat on that to be large enough, with the liner removed it's 52cm in the seatback, min 30cm wide, 24cm seatback to knee, 18cm knee to footrest. DD1 is 92cm ish and 13kg ish and although her head is up towards the top she certainly doesn't look squashed. I expect her to grown mostly in the limbs this year anyway

I had a b dual and liked it but people says it's very heavy up hills (we have no hills but lots of cobbles and rough pavement etc). It's wide though, especially with the wheelguards on so not great for narrow hallway scenario.

Several on here have the +one and really rate it for two slightly older kids. It looks good for heavy toddler and newborn baby but once the baby outgrows lying flat in the rear it then has to sit up in the front seat (which has a small recline) and the older child then has to sit bolt upright in the rear. Tricky for sleeping and possibly sibling hair pulling olympics type activities.

So far the peach was my favourite tandem but I've totally lost interest since a Jane Twone came through my door this morning. Just as easy to push, more compact, LOADS lighter, both seats sit bolt upright and recline, none of the irritating screaming to a halt because the wheels drove into a small lip or curb and stopped dead instead of going up it... Meh so the lower child is literally in the basket so there's no room for shopping and loading said lower child is interesting at best. Once they're in.. I love it!

Ihateparties - now you have done it! I liked the look of the twone, but would have to buy a new car seat making it quite a spend and some unknowns for me about the brand and resale. I was talking myself around to the +1 thinking I could put up with some of he down sides. Dd loves being bolt upright and we tend to be home for naps. Also resale should be ok if i dont get on with it But the twone sounds sooooo interesting. Please would you post back on how it handles on rougher ground and cobbles etc and how your biggest child fits? Thank you!

My eldest is cough over 15kgs - but I know from talking to manufacturers that pushchairs are tested to one and half times the weight limit to pass testing plus here in the UK pushchairs only need to be tested to 15kgs to pass testing. A few manufacturers pay to test over 15kgs but it costs thousands to get a pushchair past at 15kgs - at which point it can go on sale - so most dont bother paying extra.

We have a Peach Blossom 2 - I have had a much older child in the seat and they fit fine with the liner out and hood pushed right up and a Mountain Buggy +One - fab and may well suit you as your eldest may well be walking more by the time the baby needs to move to the front seat. But the Bugaboo Donkey, Jane Twone, Twins Freestyle Cool, Smyths Dimples Duo, Joovy Ultralight and others would all be worth a look TBH. Most side by sides (apart from the Duet) should cope no problem with the different weights - look at the Baby Joggers, Easywalker Duo, TFK Twinner Twist Duo. Look also at the TFK Joggster Twist with Buddy Seat and keep your eye on the Micralite Twofold.

Oooh yeah, joggster twist with buddy seat, I had forgotten about that already! Plus the Micralite option is really interesting.
Re the Twone - it handles better than the peach over the cobbles and lips of pavement, it's easier to tip up a curb etc. But there is no basket with 2 of them on. Probably can sneak the raincover under and a tiny nappy pouch but that's it. My baby came home from school literally covered in coats and book bag. PITA re having to buy specific Jane car seats to make it newborn suitable. I wonder too about the brand and the resale but in this case I figured I might actually keep this one for a really long time and get my money's worth given how much I am loving walking behind the thing!

Thanks Tiggy and I hateparties, I promise I am taking all of this on board. I am still really interested in the +one. If only I could see one near here grrrrrrr.

I have looked also at all the other suggestions and intrigued by the Joggster twist with buddy seat, I am going to explore this option a bit more, I'm struggling to find info on how it works with the buddy seat but will keep looking online.

I found this link I am guessing I cannot put the newborn flat with the buddy seat so its better for after baby is out of that stage and sitting upright, doest his sound right to either of you please?

I think you can.. I'm sure I have seen a picture.. will search....

here

Looks like the buddy seat might be slightly reclined though...

You need the Joggster Twist for the chassis, plus the new TFK Multi X which is the converting carrycot seat and then the buddy seat. They are doing a package for all 3 at present I believe.

The buddy seat is quite laid back see here but not uncomfortably so if that makes sense. I am happy with it. The seat on here is the regular Joggster Twist one which as you have said can't recline flat.

I use a B-Dual with DD2 who's 4y 8m, 112cm & 18kg and DD3 who's 2y 9m, 92cm & 13.5kg (yes DD2 is a big child to be in a pushchair but she has Hypermobility so gets tired easily ).

DD2 can't sit underneath any more as it hurts her ankles (not something most children would need to worry about tbh) so has to sit up top, as I have the 2010 model the hood is enormously tall (Tiggy can you confirm the 2012 model has the hood extenders?) so even though her head is over the seat back she isn't squashed under the hood (her head touches the top of the hood on the bottom seat).

It is difficult to push up hill especially on the school run with bags, PE kits, etc or when coming back from the shops laden but then I am carrying possibly up to 40kg of stuff/children on top of the pushchair's weight itself (and I am 7m pg) so it's not a small wonder! It wasn't difficult when we first got it and I wasn't pg

It is wide though so I have removed the mud flaps but then DD2 isn't daft enough to touch a moving wheel and DD3's arms aren't long enough to reach them when strapped in so it's not a problem for us - this has made it slightly narrower which is helpful.

I don't know about the 2012, but the 2011 hood height was reduced because the height was felt to be too tall, but Britax kindly supplied small extension pieces in case you wanted the hood taller. I am sure any retailer could confirm these are still on the 2012 (or not).

tiggy and others who helped I just ordered the Mountain Buggy +one as I found it for £449 and have 5% cashback with my cc at the mo. But I haven't seen it! And I think my online retailer isn't the best but such a good offer I thought.

Hope I made the right choice - thanks for all the help

Tiggy might have some good news for you on an alternative way to use the +one when the baby is too big for the cocoon. Maybe.. no promises but it seems there may be a solution to the both kids having to be more or less upright when the baby is beyond 6 months
I really like the +one push (unloaded in a shop... hopefully it's still good with kids in!) I think it's a good choice for bigger heavier kids, really hope you like it!

I hope you like it. Both DH totally agree the +One is probably one of the best pushchairs we have. DH took it to the supermarket last night with DS and brought back a trolley load of shopping in the rear and in hamster bags. I have a fab back to back solution which is working for us but I want to test some more. I love it TBH. It just works for us.

Nipper 360 twin. Sturdy, cheap, goes anywhere.

The new narrower version does...the old version doesn't :( Its wider than a standard doorway. But the new narrow version will make a HUGE difference :)

tiggy thanks again it is good to know that you rate it I had been getting pangs of buyers remorse!
I will be interested in the back to back idea, even if it is for the odd occasion. When you have time that is, I will keep checking back.

Think I am going to take the plunge and order one too. DS quite large and will be 24months when LO arrives. With a double there is always going to be a compromise and between this and the peach the +1 just suits our lifestyle better. Hopefully you lady's will have cracked the back to back seating idea fingers crossed it fits in my lift tho!

DS is 21 months and 15.5kg, also due in Sept!

Have bought the aria twin 40/60 - one side bigger than the other, genius!. He is perfectly fine in it. Am sure there is leeway with the weight :)

Also have the safety first tandem bought second hand as an alternative. TBH not sure the front-loaded set-up is going to work though with him weighing 15.5kg!!