Double buggy - help!!

[PassTheCremeEggs]

I am 21 weeks pregnant with our second DC and DD1 will be 18 months when number two arrives. We currently have an Uppababy vista which I love more than anything, but I don't read good things about the Rumble seat attachment.

What I would like is to sell the vista and get a Phil and Ted's that will take our DD1 and our newborn. But I don't have a clue which to look at and baby brain is impeding research quite considerably.

Can all the doubles be used with the newborn cocoon? How does the cocoon work? (Where does it go?!) I just can't work them out. I promise in real life I'm actually a relatively intelligent human being...

So, to simplify my craziness:

1. which P&T for toddler and newborn do you have/have you had and is it good?
   
   
2. how does the cocoon work - where does it go?
   
   
3. does anyone have the Uppababy rumble seat for this age gap and love it and think I should actually keep the Vista?

[CuriosityCola]

I have just replaced a p&t explorer with a bcmj gt. Dc1 is nearly 2 and looked too big for the p&t front seat. As someone mentioned up thread, the good is rubbish. Ds could pull it off. Dc2 looked too small for the cocoon. My friends babies looked nice and snug in winter, but without a snow suit, dc2 looked lost in it. Even though I expected some compromise, it wasn't working for either dc. It also had a rubbish break, though I think that has been corrected in later models. I found the p&t ridiculously heavy to push

The bcjm is amazing. Can push with one hand. The hoods are great. There is a carrycot option for newborn. The fold is incredibly easy. You just pull two fabric handles and it folds for you.
The only down side is that it doesn't take a car seat. This doesn't bother me as I don't like my newborn in it for any length of time anyway.

So after all that waffle. I would get a side by side pushchair. Avoid p&t. Be careful you aren't making too many compromises if you stick with the uppa baby.

[Tiggywunkle]

If your DD doesnt sleep, then get the Rumble Seat and survive the first 3 months somehow. It will serve you far better than a P&Ts long term. Failing that look at an Oyster Max or a Peach Blossom 2 or a new Apple 2 Pear, and leave the P&Ts behind :) There's also the new Micralite Twofold which is due out any day now if you want a look.

[PassTheCremeEggs]

Oh thanks v much for the replies, wasn't expecting more as assumed post had dropped off active conversations - nice surprise!

All really useful stuff, thank you, and has definitely made me think more about the rumble seat because DD1 doesn't sleep in pushchair at all so the uprightness of it wouldn't be an issue. And oh it would be so much easier...just not crazy about idea of newborn being in seat (even flat) or car seat. Part of the attraction of the vista originally was the carrycot top - so stupid you can't use it with the role seat.

I think I'll go and find a shop and have a play with the various phil and teds too just so i know what I'm looking at. Basically it seems every option has its ups and downs and it's weighing them all up against each other as to which is the least worst option for both toddler and newborn.

Thank you all!

[dannyboyle]

I had a 17 month age gap and bought a Phil and teds. Absolutely love it and it has worked well for us! Happy to answer questions but I would suggest you do go and look at one as quite difficult to explain otherwise.

[notso]

I think you need to work out what is important to you in a double e.g small fold, off road, basket space, will your older child need to sleep in the pram etc.
Ideally I would have had a Bugaboo Donkey or a StrollAir My Duo in the early days, I really regret not getting either of these.
We have a BJCM double now which I love, and will probably move on to a tandem or maybe something with a buggy board after the summer holidays as DS2 is almost there with walking long distances but sometimes needs a rest.
It depends a lot on your older child as well lot's of older DC like 'hiding' in the lower seats of tandems. My toddler hated it with a passion!

[forevergreek]

You could use the izi sleep car seat on top as that lies flat compared to most others.

Looking at pictures I would be rally tempted to just get seat for vista seeing as you have already. And they do a board also that looks like it works well. Depending on child you might only be using the second seat for 6 months. And then the buggy board could just be kept in basket for emergencies

[forevergreek]

I hated the Phil and teds! Cocoon is supposed to be 0-6 months but most outgrow by 3/4 months and then still are to small for back seat.

I would def look into rumble seat. We have a slightly smaller gap and used bugaboo cameleon with buggy board most the time. I'v not used the vista but I'm sure If you can go and play.

The main thing is where eldest naps. We always went home for naps so board was fine as didn't need a seat/ recline

[Ihateparties]

Hmmm okay, what sort of trips do you anticipate making? The rumble seat is excessively upright, so your 18month old would need to be not too reliant on sleeping in he pushchair.. good pics here. Plus your newborn would then have to be in a carseat or in the main seat with a wedge, facing away from you.

It's do able, it's probably not what you'd choose if starting from scratch though. Dc3 is 16months, she would be fine in the rumble seat for shortish periods, as long as a nap not required, I wouldn't be happy using a carseat for the baby though and would have to see how the wedged seat looked. If you did keep it then then using it as a double would probably become a lot easier once your baby started sitting up.

If you love it it may be worth the compromises to you, as alltandems have some compromises. I wouldn't ever recommend buying a vista as a double for a toddler and newborn but when you already own one the situation is different.

[PassTheCremeEggs]

Thanks notso. I've looked at the icandy peach too, it's hard to make a decision. I live pretty much in the middle of nowhere so it's difficult to go and try them all in a shop, but perhaps I should just make a trip to do that. Thanks for your reply.

[notso]

I haven't had personal experience of P&T but four mums I know from Toddler Group had them and struggled with them during the newborn days, two got rid of them.
I have tried a few tandems and didn't find one where I didn't struggle to put the newborn in the lower seat. DS3 ended up with a lot of knocks to the head!
I had a 16 month age gap and I found a side by side is better for a smaller gap.
That said my friend has an Icandy peach and it suits her well but she uses the car seat for her youngest so has never had the problems I did with getting the little one in and out.

[PassTheCremeEggs]

Bump!