Tandem for a newborn and 3 year old that converts easily into a single

[suburban]

Hello knowledgable ladies, I hope someone can help me.

I am due DC2 in March, 6 weeks before Dc1 turns 3 and am looking for something to accommodate both of them. Dc1 is a pretty good walker, but I don't drive so tend to walk a lot, and would like the option of just strapping her in and getting on with it. Ideally I am looking for a tandem that i can put them them both in to do the preschool run of 1.5 miles, then take one of the seats off and leave at preschool, whilst I mooch about with the baby.

Am not too bothered about size and how it folds down, because if we are going in the car/on the bus, DD will be able to walk so the baby can have her old MacLaren. Have looked at Phil and Teds, but am quite confused about where the baby goes. Possibly a Britax B dual? Would prefer a tandem than a double so that I can fit into shops and cafes (shallow). Needs to be quite hard wearing and cope with the pre school trek everyday. Budget unlimited within reason, am hoping to buy on eBay and then resell when Dd starts school.

Thank you

I'd say you are very sensible to be getting a double. I have a 2yr 11m gap. dD1 rarely uses the buggy but if we are going for a long walk or I need to ensure she is contained we need something. Buggy boards are horrible Especially if you are short -tried pushing my mate's bugaboo cameleon with buggy board on the other week -I couldn't reach the handlebar because the board stuck out so far. We have an ancient secondhand p&t E2 it is heavy and hideous but works a great on the odd occasions I need it

Or even "works a treat" damn ipad

I have the BDual for this exact reason, Suburban, and find it serves the purpose well. DD has just turned 3 and, for the walk to pre-school, sits on top with 5mo DS underneath. Whilst DD doesn't have a footrest, she doesn't seem to mind. The bit which she & I both mind is that her legs are too long for the Britax foot muff (and she's short for her age) so we just tuck it over her legs with her feet hanging out the end. We can't leave equipment at pre-school & I find it a pain getting the bottom seat off the B-Dual so, once I've dropped DD off, I just transfer DS to the top seat & turn it to rear facing and the bottom seat transforms into a very large shopping basket. When I collect DD, I make the call as to whether she's going to walk all/most of the way home or go in the pushchair. If she's going to walk, DS stays on top and if she gets tired, scared by a dog etc, she just climbs onto the bottom seat with, if necessary, me turning the top seat to forward facing before she does so. If she seems tired & DS is awake, he gets transferred to the bottom seat & DD goes on top; if she's tired & he's asleep, he stays where he is (but forward facing) & she goes underneath. I do feel quite confident unclipping the top seat & turning it with DS still in it even though I probably shouldn't do it.