I think we have to get a double buggy... inline recommendations?

[januaryJump]

We saw a few options today - Bugaboo Donkey, Phil and Ted's Navigator V2, iCandy Peach Blossom 3 (I think) and Apple 2 Pear, Out n' About Nipper double, BJCM double, City Select double...

The side by sides just felt way too wide. Wasn't keen on either iCandy (felt kind of wobbly and bulky), likewise for the City Select double.

The only style I liked the idea of was the P&T Nav V2. In the past I've said that I don't like seeing kids skimming the floor, but I also once said that I thoroughly disliked the BJCM and we've been happily using that for 16mo I've been searching online and the main issue I've seen is what to do when the smaller one outgrows a cocoon but isn't sitting up. The set up we saw today seemed to be the main seat in lie flat (no cocoon) and the double kit on top, it looked like there was plenty of room but I had no baby to test drive it so I could be wrong! Others have said that the top seat is no good for napping as the baby underneath would have no room if it was reclined, but DS doesn't like napping in his pushchair anymore as it is so I'm not sure if that will be an issue for us. Would it be relatively easy to get DC2 in and out of the main seat in recline? Would you recommend a cocoon, or fine with a footmuff/snug? Due in November so chilly weather - we have a Wallaboo fleece wrapper so I thought that would be enough for snuggliness/padding as well as warmth...

Any experience of inline doubles? I'm confused by P&Ts configurations online and I still don't get how a hood would work for the lower seat. I'm not worried about basket space as the BJCM basket is such a hassle to get in and out of that only the raincover and a blanket ever go in there, so we'll probably just put everything in a rucksack and wear it.

DS will be 23mo when DC2 is born. He walks now as it is but we walk a lot and live in London, so I think that it will be too much to get him walking all the miles we cover when he's just 2yo and it's easier to strap him in if we get public transport or end up in a crowded place. We will be using carrier but want the option of having DC2 in the pushchair also.

I just want something practical!

Sorry for the rambling

I wouldn't get a three wheeler double if you use buses. So heavy and will go off balance when you get on/ off with only one wheel at front

Prob something like the oyster max

Or Jane twone. Actually the Jane twone is good as you can get the lay flat carrycot that converts to a car seat. So can strap in securely in black cab if you use

I have just sold my Icandy Peach Blossom as DS1 was wanting to walk all the time (he's 2.7), it was by far the easiest pram I have had to push and was great for DS2 as well who was prem, it just seems to do everything.

I really miss it, it also fits on buses really easily, has a decent brake, turns in to a single.

I can't recommend the city select enough. It's been great for me, i still use it from time to time with my three and two year old. Put the oldest child over the back wheels closest to you and it's easy to manoeuvre.

I used my p&t without a cocoon for one dc and with for a further dc - the one I used it with was because they were a winter dc. It is very snug, it makes it easier to get the baby in and out and I had no growing out of it issues. Having said that, it was also ok using it without cocoon and just a liner, and that way definitely gives you more space.

I used mine on buses without issue. Cocoon is very good for that as you can just swing baby out as they are in a bag! I was also glad to have a model that folded with both pieces together, some models you end up with two pieces. I was just glad not to have a side by side when I used the bus.

Is a narrow double a possible? I had a mountain buggy Duet which I loved - 63cm wide so I could load kids up and then push them out the front door and was narrow enough to go all places. Plus lovely to push even one handed. Heavy to get in car though. I've now gone to a joovy caboose which suits us now but nowhere near as nice to push

I have to say I've had a Phil and Teds for the past year in similar circumstances to yourselves, and I've really loved it. My older child now hops in and out of the bottom seat, admittedly the storage space is an issue but thems the breaks with doubles, always a compromise somewhere.

I've used my Phil and Teds in doubles mode all over London, using the tube and buses. Some stations are a pain, but I just smile and ask someone to help me up the steps (or I shove one in the sling and the other walks).

I loved my twone, not without it's downsides but it's extremely compact, very stable and very easy to push, turn and tip.

Thanks for all your feedback, we're going to have a look at the others mentioned here and think about it some more. We've decided not to buy anything before DC2 is born as at the very beginning we'll almost certainly use the carrier, so we can see how things are with them both. If we find they must both be in a buggy, we have a small Maclaren that DS can go in until we get a double as a short term stop gap. Definitely intrigued by some of the above suggestions, thanks!

If you are looking for an inline that can go off road, then the P&T Navigator 2 is the best one by a country mile! (excuse the pun) Anything else, then I would look at the Jane Twone as well.

I have P&T Nav and used it for a newborn and a 2yo. Newborn dd grew out of the lie flat bit by about 4 months. I physically couldn't torpedo her down into the space with the seat on top (and for reasons known only to himself, ds had to be in the pram first so I couldn't lay her in the lie-flat then fit the top seat). That's my only gripe. Dd was quite happy laid back in the underseat at 4 months and now she's 14 months, she sits up front and ds walks (and scooches into the underseat if he's tired).

We also had a 'face to face' seat for the baby which replaces the main seat and then toddler can sit in the underseat.

Have to say, I catch the bus with mine all the time. Its really manoeuvrable in the aisles and not that heavy even if its fully loaded with babies and shopping.

I agree with PlinkyPlonker, I have the Mountain Buggy Duet and it is brilliant, really narrow so can get through any doorway, fantastic to push and great for both children to be able to see what is going on. I have 3 children with small age gaps (come September will hopefully have four all 6 and under :) ) and the Duet has been invaluable. I tried the Phil & Teds but didn't get on with it, found Mountain Buggies just so much easier to manoeuvre (I am in NZ and Mountain Buggies are everywhere!).

Thanks blink and Plinky, how do you find the MB Duet for carrying (eg if you were to put it into a car or up stairs)? Folded of course! And how are the seat sizes? I will see if I can find one to put DS into, he's big (tall, heavy, but slim), so I'd like to see how he sits in it and the room left. It's interesting, I think it's only 3cm wider than the BJCM we have!

It's fine to get in car although does take up a lot of space - although all doubles do I guess. I could carry it upstairs but i couldn't do it holding anything else and I'd be cursing if they were narrow or steep stairs. Seat sizes are narrower than a usual single seat but my chunky 2.5 yr old was fine - he sat with his elbows out unless laid back and younger DD sat with elbows in. But just so nice to push, even with a big weight difference between my two DC I could push one handed and it wouldn't veer off, and so, so easy to turn and manoeuvre.

LOL re carrying the Duet up stairs....I could barely hold it or lift it. Its huge folded. Much bigger than most doubles. There's easier pushchairs to push too.