double buggy needed for 2 and 1 year old

[manitz]

hi, am about to child mind a 1 year old - turns one the day I get her. have a ds who will turn two around the time she starts. I have phil &ted and an icandy cherry. was going to use the p&t but now realise I want them to face me and also for both to recline so I can leave them to sleep in buggy if nec.

I wont drive with the two of them so not bothered about folding and can't hear them talk to me with a forward facing buggy as a lot of my walks are on busy roads. I want swivel wheels and prob not air filled puncture prone though that's not a deal breaker.

Am I looking at a donkey? I remember someone telling me about a pram iwth swivel wheels - vaguely think it might be an emmljunga but nothing on their site. Are there any others that would do the job which I might be able to get secondhand? Was thinking a peach or apple but I think two larger children would find it restricting, also can't imagine I'll get to chat with both if tandem. Am i right?

Thanks x

Icandy peach? You can get them to face you in a stacked type style and can recline.

The emmaljunga is the twin nitro. With would have to not be an issue though as it's wider than standard doors iirc. Ditto the obaby zezu twin i think (?)

There isn't a lot of choice, the new stroll air my duo should be less than the donkey with the same features and width/footprint. You can parent face both with an icandy pear but not the peach. I don't honestly know how it would be with two toddlers, speaking to the front one would probably be no better than using a forward facing pushchair tbh. Same goes for the other parent facing tandems - city select, abc zoom, brevi ovo twin etc.

I'm sure there are more parent facing side by sides if width isn't an issue. Will try to think of more.

thanks. looked at a couple in john lewis today and I think a tandem is out as it's not much better than a forward facing as want to give both kids equal attention, think ds will feel pushed out and new baby will need to settle. The donkey is lovely and width not an issue but £1000 is a major issue. will look at your suggestions I hate parties thanks. Kellestar I love icandy but dont' think a peach will work for this combo. thanks.

The Emmaljunga Monkey has two parent facing seats. The Donkey, Twins Freestyle Cool and new to the UK Stroll Air MyDuo are all good options too.
The iCandy Pear can have the children parent facing but you can only see one. Ditto the City Select. I am not sure I can think of a tandem where the children at that age can really talk to you easily. One would be able to, but not really both.

I can't find stroll air myduo in uk for sale. The twins freestyle cool doesn't look as pretty as some of the others but seems to have everything I want and I seem to have found it on ebay for 499 or 299. I think the difference is no carry cot which I don't want anyway. Does anyone know anything about this buggy? doesn't look like I could try it before I buy and although 299 is a good price for me it's still a lot of money if it's not a good push. will have a look at the monkey. Thanks again

I have just got Obaby Zoom. For the reason that both seats can RF or FF independently, but also the lo's can face each other (or away from each other). Both also recline.

Although I must admit it's Really Long! We're calling it the chariot :)

I really liked the Twins Freestyle Cool and the guys who sell it are great to deal with. Its good to push - there used to be a choice of air tyres too. The seats are a bit bulky when removed, and are a bit more tricky to remove, and its wider than a standard doorway. But from what you said you wouldn't fold and you walk, so hopefully it would be fine. It has a similar feel to push to the Donkey TBH with a better basket. The quality for the money seemed excellent. Its not in the same league as the Donkey, but for what it does, its definitely worth a look. I would have another.

yeah, I'm not planning to fold it as I don't plan to take my mindee in the car unless absolutely necessary and then won't need more than a single to save my back. will check width against my front door. When you say not in the same league, what do you think doesn't work about it in comparison? Is it the weight of the seats?

Did you think the air tyres were better? I am happy to have or not, what did you have for tyres. Thanks again for all your help.

I'm guessing build quality, components etc.

No, the build quality is surprisingly good TBH. Its sturdy and I liked it. There's odd details like the seat removal that could be better but its ages since I had mine and I know they were hoping to improve these. I had air tyres. I pretty much had the Donkey and Freestyle Cool back to back. They are just different if that makes sense. There's something sleek and sophisticated about a Bugaboo - its in the finish, simplicity, ease of use and fabrics. But there's also a huge price difference. Lets put it another way. There's a lot of pushchairs I wont put my children in, but I was happy with the Twins Freestyle Cool.

yeah, i think the plain fabric and the way the donkey looks is lovely and am a bit put off the pattern on the twins freestyle cool but I think I can stomach it for the price difference. Am I right that the 299 is less because it has no carrycot but everything else is the same or is the 499 the real price? It's just that it calls itself the 2012 version and I'm wondering if it's just an old version. Sorry I'm being really lazy, I can just ask them that but I'm not ready to buy yet and just want to get my financial expectations in order so dont want to contact them yet.

once the seats are in place I'm unlikely to be removing them much How is the recline mechanism? I read a review saying the raincover wasn't up to much, how did you find it? Did you buy without trying first?

Thanks again for answering.

ps hopng that's my last set of questions btw think my mind is almost made up.

I honestly dont know. I haven't looked at them for ages. I would message the guys direct and ask.
Again its a while since I had mine. I rarely use a raincover and TBH its easy enough to get alternatives if they are no good, so I never stress over raincovers. I am sure the recline was ok....I can't remember it being bad.

Thanks again. I think I'lll get in touch with them...

I bought a twin freestyle cool today. Thanks for your advice. It's secondhand so was much cheaper than anything else. The raincovers are rubbish but you are right, it seems to suit me for everything else. Will find out monday when I go for a long walk...

Any suggestions for where I can get new raincovers when these ones rip would be great....

Glad you are all sorted. I have no suggestions re raincovers but I have seen Koodi ones on a Donkey so they may be an idea. If not go to Mothercare and play with some!

yes, the koodi ones looked ideal and a good price. Good that's me sorted. thanks again. Pushed it today by the way and you were right it is a great push. The only issue I have is that when ds 2 leans forward it does that thing maclarens do and the seat goes with him. I can't work out if there is a way to make the seat stay back when the baby leans forward. It was second hand on ebay and has no manual so I'm jut having to try it and see.