single or single that converts to double?

[katemeister]

Hi There, I am pregnant with my first and we have just started looking at travel systems. My MIL has very kindly offered to pay for it up to £1,000 (way more than we would ever want to spend). As this is a very generous gift she suggested we might want to look at systems that can convert to doubles to get as much value from her kind gift as possible. DH are not sure what sort of gap we would like or will end up with between children.

I was wondering is anyone has any suggestions for buggies that can be converted to a double that are not massive compromise if you end up only ever using them as a single, or if in fact it is better just to get the single that suits are lifestyle now best and worry about a double if/when the time comes. Hope that makes sense! Thanks. x

I candy apple. Had 2.5 years as a single (loved, loved, loved it) then bought the convertor to turn it into a Pear. Think we paid about £700 3 years ago and for the Pear £370 although you can buy the Pear Converter really cheap on ebay....I was just too cautious (and stupid). When DD1 goes off being wheeled around we will go back to the single.

We frequently use as a single now, great as you can switch between the 2 so easily

Thanks Flibbedyjibbet will take a look at the apple!

Have a look at Phil and teds my friend has one and loves it. Bugaboo donkey can be used as a single with a cool storage bit, but is huge in comparison to some pushchairs.

Phil and teds, though for me it wasn't great as a double, and really long as a single. Bugaboo donkey. City select. All the doubles take up quite a lot of space in your boot, and depending on your age gap might not get much use. I have 2.9 years between mine, and really only used the double (3rd hand hand-me-down Phil and Teds) for about 6 months. Totally could have managed without using a buggy board and scooter, and the sling for the baby if DS1 really needed the buggy. I'd get what you want now, and get a double if / when you need it.

City select. It's single size but converts to a very spacious double. I'm debating whether to get one because I don't 'need' one with a 2.9 gap but I really, really want one.

The new apple2pear is a slightly different product but still a single to double, doesn't have the parent facing seat position in double mode but it's miles lighter to push and lift plus folds in one piece with both seats on.

There is also the icandy peach that is a sensible single. Plus as a double both seats fully recline so it works for larger and smaller gaps. The only issue I can see with larger gaps is if your elder child is only in a pushchair part time then they have to sit in the top seat when you also have a newborn, which can be a bit daft.

The new micralite twofold could be something of an exception on the age gap suitability front as it has an integral buggyboard and second seat option. We don't really know yet how young a child the second seat is suitable for though, it has no recline or hood.. so close gaps 12-18months say... could be tricky.

I never know what I think when this sort of question comes up,in some ways being prepared seems sensible, in other ways lots of doubles suit different age gaps differently so a single which is then sold for a suitable double once you know your age gap is equally sensible really. As you're not yourselves planning a close gap at this point then I think unless you happen to love one of the single to doubles then if it were me I would pick the best single for my lifestyle, singles being inherently easier than doubles imo.

I have to say I wish I had bought a pushchair which could take 2 children when I first bought mine - however I know people will say its daft to choose a pushchair before the first is even born for two.

The critical part of a double pushchair is really your age gap. It is hard to recommend a pushchair for you now without a crystal ball to know what your age gap is. A bigger age gap ie over 2 years would merit a different pushchair to maybe a 12 month gap or a 2 and a half year gap.

If you want to hedge your bets so to speak definitely look at the iCandy Peach and also the Apple 2 Pear. Look at the City Select, and the Uppababy Vista (not the limitations on this) and the Oyster Max. BUT always bear in mind new things come out all the time, and unless you buy the full kit now and put it away, you may find the colours or pushchair may have changed 2 years hence.

Thank you for all your advice, think we will look the convertibles suggested but not use that as our top criteria. We had a little look and did like the peach so that may well be good option.