I'm driving myself mad looking at doubles! Help please.

[WaftyCrank]

I need a double for DS2 and DD2 who's due in November. DS2 will be 20 months however he's pretty small, 23lb and still in 9-12 month clothes at nearly 18months.

I want something easy to push as I also have DS1 who's 5 and has ASD and DD1 who's 3. DD1 is pretty good at holding on to the pram but I do need to keep hold of DS1 quite a bit.

I had a P&T Sport for DS1 and DD1 and mostly liked that but I did find sliding DD into the bottom seat a bit of a pain.

I do 3 school runs a day and use public transport (bus) once a week. As DD is due in November I'd like something that's warm and cosy for her.

So far I've narrowed it down to the MB Duet with Carrycot, Britax Bdual and the P&T Navigator.

I didn't like the BJCS, BJCM, P&T Promenade or the Icandys. Loved the Donkey but it's a bit pricey!

Are there any I've missed that I should look at? Can't really got for a side by side that's wider than the Duet due to the door at preschool.

Thank you.

What about a maclaren twin techno or a first wheels city twin which is very similar to bugaboo donkey but a tad cheaper?

I have the same problem with the P&T sport for my 2 boys - DS2 is only 6 weeks old and he's already too long for the bottom seat!

I have resorted to using a lightweight stroller for DS1 and carrying DS2 in a BabyBjorn sling. Don't know if that's a possibility for you but it is going well for us so far.

Sorry, no more useful advice from me!

I don't like the Maclarens as I'm not keen on DD facing out from newborn. I love the idea of the First Wheels but it's so wide I'd have no chance on buses.

I do have a wrap for DS2 that I'll be using for DD so I always have that option too.

Thanks

Have you looked at the jane powertwin as you can use the matrix lie flat carrycot on the back so baby is facing you?

I have a Jane Twone, which is small and very easy to manoeuvre whilst dealing with other kids. For a newborn you also need a matrix lite carrycot/carseat thingy in the lower position, a stage which I missed out so can't comment on. Access to lower child is not particularly easy when both seats are upright, my toddler though can climb in to the lower seat even though it doesn't look like she would be able to. There are compromises (ie very little storage space and the seats being close together when the lower one is upright) but it's small, light and v easy to push for a tandem, which suddenly came to the top of the list when I had 3 under 5 to safely get places.
If I hadn't got this I would probably have got a duet. Occasionally wish I had in passing. Ah, remembered something else, brevi ovo twin - have a google for this. Never seen one IRL but looks interesting if there is anywhere local to you where you could see one. The new nipper is 72cm wide if that's any good to you? Only forward facing though, it's a shame they haven't made a carrycot for it like they have for the single one.

Oh and last one - the new britax b agile twin is also 72cm and we think takes the full size britax carrycot. It's in the new mothercare catalogue. This and the nipper are narrow doubles but I don't know if either is narrow enough for the door you need to get through but they are worth a mention...

Rocky - there is absolutely no comparison at all with the Donkey and either the Maclaren or FWCT....none at all!!!

I had a Duet and I struggled with a) the low handle - handle height is critical when pushing a double b) the children were too close together - I think its better for twins rather than siblings who annoy - first the elder but later the two together. Its also longer than you think and big folded. I have a 21 month gap. I used to have to remove shoes every outing. The raincover doesn't fit well in carrycot mode and the window opening is too low. But one of the MN-ers here loves her Duet.

As you say, if the preschool door is an issue and you have ruled out the other options, then I think I would go for the B-Dual - but thats 69cms wide or so...so not small. I just find P&T's problematic whatever the child's age TBH. There are small chunks of time where they work well but lots of times where there are better options.

The P and T works sO well for me. I have the maxicosi attachment for babies car seat and little man climbs in and out as he wishes.
When he's out I have somewhere to put my shopping.
When my friends lo is with us he sits on the front

I have the mountain buggy duet and feel it's really great for me. I have a just turned 3 daughter and my son is nearly 16 months and we have had it since it was launched over a year ago. I have never had an issue with it pulling to the side of the heaviest and yes they are close together but that is kind of the way it has to be being so small! But my 2 are fine in the seats. I still walk up to doors and think "oh my gosh this isnt going to get through then it glides through with ease.

Thanks for the replies. I am quite tempted by the Duet, especially with it having a carrycot option. I can take DD1 and DS2 to our local pram shop and try them in it for weight and how it pushes.

The Brevi Ovo Twin looks interesting, has anyone had one?

I got a second hand donkey because I have the same age gap and really want dc2 to have a lie flat pram and rear facing seat in the same way that dd had. You can get them at around £600 on eBay if you bid at the last second and don't mind sourcing extras yourself (eg foot muffs and the pram bit). They'll probably fall in price again. In about 6 weeks when the new design of chassis hits the shops.

How wide is the Donkey Happy?

60cm in single, the same as the Chameleon, and 74cm in double. It goes through my front door and in my boot quite easily. It isn't a single fold though so if you hit the wheelchair vs buggy situation on a bus you can't just fold it.

Bus isn't too bad, I'm only a 20 minute walk from the centre so if I need to get off it's fine. I'm tempted to take a tape measure to nursery and measure their door, would that be weird?

So long as you're already showing I don't think anyone would dare ask bat an eyelid! We've started using the donkey even though dc2 isn't here yet to get dd used to it and so far I think it's fab. As easy as my iCandy cherry to put up, better handling and loads more storage.

I originally wanted a BJCM as I didn't think we could afford the Donkey but DH insisted that it's was worth it to go 2nd hand because I'd hate having dc2 forward facing and not lying flat (and he's right) I'd probably have made him buy one full price at short notice after having already bought a BJCM!

Accursed narrow doors I like the look of the Stroll Air My Duo but right now that is an import. There is a Love n Care Twingo on ebay presently that is the same thing, has lie flat seats so carrycot not a requirement. One MN-er on this board has had one and thought it was fab.
Go forth and measure that door! Practicalities have definitely broken through in this house above desires to give dc2... oh and dc3 same experiences as dc1... Tandem that fits through the front door it is!
The Brevi Ovo Twin is really new but someone somewhere must have got one or at least seen one?!?!