Yet another question about double buggies...

[mackerella]

I'm expecting DC2 in June and already have a toddler (who will be 2y6m in June). We currently use a lightweight Mothercare stroller (Mino) for DS, but also have a Silver Cross pram that we can use for the newborn. However, I'm considering getting a double buggy of some sort for transporting both DCs around and would welcome some advice!

We've already considered using a sling + stroller when DC2 is tiny (we have a stretchy fabric sling which I used with DS), and have also considered using pram + buggy board as an alternative. However, I think there will be times when we really do need a double buggy of some sort:

1. DC2 will be born prematurely by ELCS (medical complications) so I'm not sure how suitable the sling + stroller option will be for either of us initially.
2. We don't own a car so do most of our journeys on foot or by train/bus. This means a 2 x 20 minute walk either side of the train journey for me, and I think it would be easier all round to use a double buggy for this.
3. DS is visually impaired so it's easier to take him in a buggy for long distances than to try and get him to walk alongside a pram.
4. DS has frequent hospital visits in London (20 minute walk + 80 minute train journey + 25 minute walk). Each time he has a general anaesthetic, so is often drowsy and a bit fragile when we leave. I think he would need to come back in a buggy of some sort so he can sleep off the anaesthetic - not to mention that it's useful being able to transport all our stuff for the day on a buggy rather than have to carry it all.

So... my criteria are:

1. Small enough to go on a bus/train and light and manoeuvrable around town (we don't need any off-road capabilities!), especially in the weeks following my ELCS;
2. Capable of taking a big toddler and a baby at the same time - potentially for the next year at least (until DS is 3y6m and DC2 is 1). DS is currently about 13kg, average height and fairly slim build.
3. Useable from birth (or near enough), ideally without having to put a car seat on it.

I'm not bothered about how small the buggy folds up or whether it will fit in a car boot, as we tend to hire cars as we need them and they're different models each time.

We've looked at various options and I'm not keen on the baby-in-the-basket type (e.g. P+T). I don't think DS would like anything that obscured his view too much (e.g. Uppababy Vista, Oyster Max) - ironically, his visual impairment means that he's more sensitive to what he can see than fully sighted children might be. I was looking at a Joovy Caboose, but I'm not sure how comfortable the rear-facing seat would be (e.g. for DS to doze in after an operation)? I think these criteria probably rule out most tandems so I was looking at side-by-side pushchairs instead.

So far, I'm considering a BJCM, Out'n'About Nipper (the newer, narrower one) or Mountain Buggy Duo, but I was also wondering about umbrella fold double buggies (e.g. Maclaren Techno). Or are the stroller-type ones harder to push and steer?

Sorry about this gigantic post but we have been thinking about this for ages and keep going in circles - so any advice/experience would be very welcome!

Can I ask why not keen on the P&T? We went for that in the end and 17 months later it's great - ds is quite chunky (3.6) and fits in the bottom seat with his little sister in the front. Very sturdy and easy to push.

Ok, let me go through your message a bit first.

With the Oyster Max, the eldest child, especially one as old as your son, would go at the front with the baby underneath. There is no reason for this to change once the baby comes out of the carrycot, although the top seat has the better recline but they are interchangeable but not safety approved but its worth knowing
The Vista wouldnt work if your son naps. Neither will the Joovy Caboose unless you buy the additional rear seat fabric which would give your son a forward facing seat with a small recline. However the baby will then be in a car seat, and TBH the whole thing would be a compromise. It feels like a trolley to push and I wouldnt want to push it the distances you talk about. For the bus I would want something that turns on the spot.

To be perfectly honest, there isnt a huge choice of tandem pushchair where two children can both nap. I think the Oyster Max, Peach Blossom 2 and Britax B-Dual offer the best options for you. I would be steering you more towards the Max though with your age gap.

There is more choice for a side by side, and to be honest, this may be nicer for you to push. I would generally choose a side by side to walk with. I would steer clear of umbrella folds - they are hard to push and I bet your son will soon be able to paddle the pushchair along with his feet or even stop you pushing it. They arent the most comfy for babies either.
The Nipper (narrow one) is a great choice especially with a carrycot on a V3 for a newborn. Just watch the harnesses as they are huge on the V2 and you may wish to add on a smaller one for the baby. The Baby Jogger City Mini GT is a lovely push, as is the Bumbleride Indie Twin. The Mountain Buggy Duo is no longer being produced. Look also at the TFK Twinner Twist Duo.

Thanks for the answers, and I'm so sorry not to have come back to my own thread until now !

I wasn't keen on P&T because I don't think DS will be happy in the bottom seat with a very restricted view because of his visual impairment. Obviously this is a problem with many tandems (the stacked ones, anyway - and the sort that are just one seat in front of the other would be too long to go on the bus, I guess). Thanks for the suggestions of tandem pushchairs where both children can nap, Tiggywunkle - I'll go and look at some in the flesh and see what I think. I take your point about them being harder to push (and possibly to get up kerbs and onto buses?), which is why I was thinking of getting a side-by-side.

Any views on whether the BJCM GT or new Nipper would be better? The BJCM GT looks to be much longer than the BJCM (presumably because of the bigger wheels), but it seems to be much of a muchness with the Nipper in terms of "footprint". The BJCM is really quite small in comparison (98cm long vs 112cm for the GT, I think) but I guess the hard wheels would make it harder to push? And it looks as if the seats are a bit smaller too...

Hmm....I have had both thre Nipper and the BJCMGTD recently (The latter is sat in my hall) and I have had my 4 year old in them both and both were fine. She definitely has more leg room in the BJCMGT. The BJCMGT is a better push than the BJCM. I am wondering where the handle is on the measurements you quote, because of course on the BJCMGT you can put the handle up or down to make it shorter. I think there's something like 11 handle settings.
The Nipper is probably easier and lighter to push. There's plenty of storage on both pushchairs although the Nipper basket is really hard to access on the V2 ones. I wouldn't consider a non narrow Nipper for buses and trains TBH. I tried to take another wide double onto a train and it got wedged. I think for a baby the BJCMGT is more cosy and the harnesses on the Nipper are huge. Both are excellent pushchairs though and I would be hard pressed to say which one is my favourite.

Hi, my friend has just told me that she is expecting twins. She already has a 13 month old baby and so will need a new buggy. Any ideas of the best buggy for twins and toddler.

Regards