Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Pushchairs

Join our Pram forum for pram advice. Plus read our round up of the best pushchairs currently available.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

What buggies will I need with two?

41 replies

Liveinthepresent · 15/12/2012 16:01

Really dont have a clue what to expect - all being well dd will be 2.3 when I will have a newborn.

Currently we have a bugaboo chameleon which I plan to use again in carrycot mode for newborn.

I am assuming/hoping we can use a buggy board for short trips - or that dd will be using a mini micro by then.
But imagine I will on occasion need some sort of double buggy.
That's all I know!

I was planning to buy a mclaren techno or similar for DD but am now wondering if I need to think longer term and what other options there are.

Will I need something like a Phil and Teds?

Really need help!
TIA

OP posts:

KateShmate · 15/12/2012 16:15

Have you thought about the 'twoo seat' for the chameleon? Is really good, especially for legs that do get tired, even standing up.

Personally I'd say that it's always good to have a double there if you need it. Sometimes you need to quickly pop somewhere without having a 2YO walking like a snail. Also good if you need to go shopping - can stick them both in the buggy with something to look at or eat!

I can't advise much about the maclaren techno as have never had one, although have pushed a friends double maclaren and it was unbelievably hard!

Phil and Teds could well be the answer - I wasn't keen on it when I had a newborn and a toddler, but know many people that loved it. It was brilliant when baby was 5/6 months and able to sit in big seat with toddler in extra back seat!

How much does your DD walk? If she isn't much of a 'walker', have you thought about a Bugaboo Donkey? (I will be very jealous though!)

The type of buggy you want also depends on what you'd use it for - if you live in the country (narrow paths and doorways, small shops) or go shopping a lot then you would probably want a tandem buggy for ease. Then again if you're doing lots of walking then a side-by-side may be okay for you.

BikeRunSki · 15/12/2012 16:33

You'll need some kind of double for 2 occassions:

When you are out all day and your older child needs to sleep.
When the baby is crying and the toddler is screaming and you just have to get out of the house!

I have a three year gap. Bought a P&T Sport with doubles kit and carry-cot cocoon on eBay. It was invaluable when DD was newborn last winter for getting DS is nursery in cold/dark /rain. Fairly useful for days out this last summer. Sold ot on eBay last week for pretty much what I paid for it.

PacificDogwood · 15/12/2012 16:37

Lots of people don't have a double with a 2 year age gap (my mother didn't ), but I don't really know how they do it...

FWIW, I had a Double Nipper and loved it. It is a side-by-side buggy which allowed them both the same 'view' and hitting each other. It turned on a sixpence, was light, easily foldable and sturdy, even off-road.

When we no longer needed it I bought a single off ebay which I also love. Shame DS4 will soon not need/want a buggy anymore!

KateShmate · 15/12/2012 16:50

Or bikerunski when you are in the middle of a busy place and newborn is screaming because they are hungry, and toddler starts having huge tantrum! Stuff them in and off you go!

milkymocha · 15/12/2012 16:54

Bugaboo donkey!

BikeRunSki · 15/12/2012 17:18

Yes, sometimes you just need to go, from wherever you are. I was lucky that my 3yo still slept in the afternoons when DD was born. The P&T let me get out for a walk occasionally, even if it was never very long between feeds!

I have "replaced" my P&T with a single Nipper 360 for DD, which is fantastic. I highly recommend it, and would definitely advise considering a double if width is not an issue.

KateShmate · 15/12/2012 17:37

Do you have one milky ? Is it amazing?
I so desperately want one but it would be quite ridiculous to buy one now as my youngest are triplets and they're 3 now! Although to be fair, they are in the buggy quite a lot of the time as it turns into a nightmare if they come out. We've got a huge ABC buggy and I'm so desperate to go back to a 'normal' buggy!
I even bought a Bee+ for all the nonexistent times that I take one of them out at a time!

KateShmate · 15/12/2012 17:38

Many a time bikerunski , many a time!

milkymocha · 15/12/2012 18:08

Yes Kate i do own a donkey. I have had it for 10 months now and would definitely recommend !!! Although not quite sure if i recommend it for your Triplets (wow by the way, take my hat off to you!) my boy is 2.8y and just about squeezes in ut height wise!

The new style bugaboo buggy board is fantastic, very sturdy and robust. I feel very confident with my LO on it!

The donkey is the same width as a 'normal' double side (74cm i believe).
The only downside is the price!!!

KateShmate · 15/12/2012 18:59

Oohhhh don't tell me about the small seats! Is he quite a big boy as my girls are pretty small for 3.

Which buggy board is that? The twoo one that is triangular-ish shape?
Please say that you would recommend it.. my girls can just have their knees up by their ears can't they?
I really am tempted with one because I always take the 'easy option' of putting them all in the buggy, but really they need to start walking more. Having a double (i.e. donkey) would mean that I have to have 1 out walking and then they could take it in turns. I have 3 very different walkers - 1 who is desperate to walk all the time, 1 who has a condition that means she gets tired really easily, so will be in a buggy a lot longer than the other 2, and 1 in the middle who isn't really fussed either way.

Yep, downside to Bugaboo's are always the price.. but I do think they're worth it. If only they did a tandem Bee - my life would be complete!

KateShmate · 15/12/2012 19:00

I do love the snack trays too..

Overberries · 15/12/2012 19:13

Was in exactly the same situation - don't get rid of the chameleon what ever you do! I've found it fab again the second time and agile enough to keep up with DS on his mini micro (even taught him to ride his bike without stabilisers with chameleon in other hand). We did succumb though and went for a second hand P&T. It's been fantastic in many situations but I do struggle with it in shops or once DS has bailed out and is loose!

Original poster

Liveinthepresent · 15/12/2012 19:28

Thanks everyone - as I suspected it is not straightforward - but clearly consensus is I will need some sort of double buggy.
Will start looking around properly - I love the look of the donkey but it does look enormous and where on earth do you store all these enormous carts?!
Does a donkey fit in a normal car boot.. Actually I shouldn't even start considering it - I think DH will have heart failure at the expense after shelling out already for a chameleon.

So on a bit of a digress here but what I forgot to put in OP is that I have plenty of time to decide and research this as am not due til June - and I will wait a good while before buying anything for superstition reasons and the fact that I can't predict how far DD will want to walk by then.

In the meantime would it in your expert opinions be worthwhile getting a maclaren ( or similar) for DD in the interim so we don't have to use the chameleon for short trips and can free up the boot when we go away - or is this just going to lie unused once new baby arrives and mean we may end up with 3 buggies - which sounds excessive!

OP posts:

Original poster

Liveinthepresent · 15/12/2012 19:34

Oh forgot to say - BikeRunSki don't terrify me any more than I already am!!
I keep trying to tell myself it will all be fine...

KateShmate wow for triplets ! Thanks for the mention of the twoo seat - I assume it's this -
begeesonline.co.uk/index.php?_a=product&product_id=346

It looks fab - great idea!

OP posts:

milkymocha · 15/12/2012 19:35

My boy is quite tall in comparision to his friends (not sure in terms of averages), he has room to sit though although can only strap him around the waist as the harness straps are not big enough! not that he would wear them!

I use the official new style bugaboo board, i have hummed and ahhed about the twoo seat so iam interested in reviews of that myself. When buying i questioned how long i would use it for and was told it went up to the average height/weight of a 3.5year old if necessary. Although i would question that heightwise

It might be worthwhile for you though if your child who is unable to walk further than his/her siblings needs to use the pram for longer than your other two as The donkey in mono is wonderful. Although i know you said you love your bee!

If you have facebook i will direct you to a 'donkey' group iam a part if you wanted others opinions

BikeRunSki · 15/12/2012 21:10

Live Don't worry - you'll be too tired to be scared.... It'll be fine, really.

Violet77 · 15/12/2012 21:15

Just buy a sling your flexible then, baby in sling toddler in push, or baby in push, toddler walks. My little one refused pushchair after 10 m ( walking) it would have been a waste of money.

Ihateparties · 15/12/2012 21:27

Hahahahahahaha at 10m old refusing the pushchair

Ahem.

No, it's no good, there's nothing I can say to that

PacificDogwood · 15/12/2012 21:47

Oh I've had under 1 buggy refusenixs too, but at that age I was still stronger than them

Ihateparties · 15/12/2012 21:49

KateShmate · 15/12/2012 23:12

Think I would be worried if I wasn't able to restrain my 10MO baby..

Original poster

Liveinthepresent · 15/12/2012 23:16

Thanks BikeRunSki that made me feel much better.

Violet good point - definitely need to look at slings too. Had a baby bjorn last time - barely used it.

OP posts:

Ihateparties · 16/12/2012 00:21

live it WILL be fine, I have 3.. all alive.. and I'm a complete idiot. They've stolen my brain but who cares

Original poster

Liveinthepresent · 16/12/2012 16:44

Thanks ihateparties I have already kind of given up on my brain so that's ok

OP posts:

Violet77 · 17/12/2012 18:59

I know... i'm one of those led by my child parents. ( can't abide constant screaming) That 10 month old (2) can now walk miles.

Flip

1 2