Inline double for toddler and new baby- Uppababy Rumbleseat unbelievably shit!

[Giraffeski]

Currently we have an Uppababy Vista for DD2 who is 16 months, and the intention was to buy the add on Rumble seat to make it into an inline double and bobs your uncle!
We even bought the Uppababy with this in mind as an option, but at the time I think the Rumbleseat was new and there weren't many reviews of it out so we didn't know what it was like really.
We are really happy with the Uppababy in all other aspects I think.

Just been to have a look at it and tried DD2 in the seat and I was unbelievably disappointed. DD2 is not a large 16 month old, average height and slim build but she was almost too big for it and as the seat was so shallow and sloped down she was slipping off it, held in only by the strap which is obviously not acceptable.
Her feet were right in the bottom of the shopping basket.

The thing is, it's so small that it wouldn't work for a bigger toddler, and yet I can't see it working for a younger one either as it doesn't recline AT ALL, so not sure what it's all about really!
It also doesn't work with the carrycot on the pram so would have to have baby in car seat for first few months until big enough to go in buggy, so again not ideal really at all.

Anyway, I looked at the Baby Jogger City Select which on paper does everything I want, the chassis folds reasonably small (looks about same size as Uppababy chassis) and can use with carrycot etc.
But the carrycot was really low to the ground which I didn't like (maybe possible to have configured differently?) and seemed very heavy to push, even empty. The JL woman even pointed out how heavy it was. Not sure if this would just be a general problem for doubles though.
I did like the look of it though.

What other options do I have?
Boot space shouldn't be a problem as am currently in process of buying new car and it will be either a 4x4 or an estate.

I would wait personally until nearer the time. We have a 15 month gap and just used single/ sling and buggy board. Neither used a pram after 2 years apart from odd day at the zoo . We sold when youngest was 2 1/2.

Hmm, not sure DD will be a reliable enough walker by November, she's only just walking. plus she is stubborn spirited.
I just don't feel that I can do without the option to bundle her into the buggy and go.

My friend had a city select and a deut we are in New Zeeland so not much choice. I pushed the select out of my door and down the drive that was enough. found it horrible to push. She had bought it so that she could have the baby face her. she has a baby and a 2 year old. She used it for a few weeks then decided she much preferred the deut which is easier to push similar width her 2 year old fitted in better.

I would get a deut you can also get a bag instead.

I'm in the same boat and just wanted to say OP that I tried my eldest in the MB Duet when she was 18m old and her head hit the canopy. She is in the 50th percentile so not v tall. The seats are also v narrow. She is now two years old and took a stretch but there is little chance she would be comfortable in it for long.

The Oyster looks great on paper and I bought it but it's v heavy. I'm already looking at buying a diff buggy and haven't even put two kids in it as it's so heavy with just my two year old who is neither tall or heavy.

Arrgggh! So many different opinions about the same buggies, what to do?

this always happens. Go and see whatever you can, try pushing them, put dd2 in them etc. it really is valuable because it is subjective. Actually while I'm typing that, will your elder dc/dcs need any physical help with road etc when you are pushing the pram? I used the twone for quite a while, we had a prototype oyster max fairly briefly at which point the dds were almost 3 and almost 1, ds had just turned 5 (an unreliable 5 around roads) so I literally couldn't use anything that needed two hands all the time.

If I was looking at tandems again now I would still have the oyster max and twone on my list, I would also go and see the obaby zezu multi with tandem seat/integral board and look closely at the dot and navigator. I would say the peach 3 too but realistically I wouldn't because it's too shiny for me and the cost makes me go :-O

We very briefly had a duet, dds were hmmm 7m and 2y7m, seat size was fine dd1 is 50th centile height and weight and she fitted okay imo, I wasn't at that point expecting much growing room in height as I was confident enough her limbs would be growing faster than her torso at that age. Daily people commented how huge it looked :-/ and the half empty thing as dd1 walked quite a bit by that point.

I must say I didn't like the look of the icandy peach blossom either, too shiny and chrome. Apparently you can get it with a black frame though, according to the John Lewis woman when I pulled a face at it. It is also a lot more expensive..

Dd1 is 11, so she should be fine to cross the road etc! So not a problem where she is concerned.
Yes, think the only thing is to actually try DD2 in them, push them, etc. I loved the UB Rumbleseat until I did that and saw her in it so think it needs to be done.
I suppose everyone's children and priorities are different too, a lot of these pushchairs are very much love or hate.

Ooh, Obaby Zezu, not heard of that one.

This thread is really helpful, thanks everyone!

I wish DP would have a bloody opinion on the buggy, I think he thinks he is being helpful by just letting me have free rein and saying 'whatever you like dear' but I want to discuss it! and he could not be any less interested if he tried!

Update- I can't look at the Jane Twone as they haven't got it in stock and she said they didn't find that they were popular. Tried to persuade me into the BJCS which I reckon I am going to end up getting just because I can't be arsed doing any more research and I can get DP to get it loads cheaper from USA. Going to keep the Uppababy I think anyway as we used the bassinet as a Moses basket last time and we have a Moses stand for it and everything.

So, a new question: I am looking at cars now, it's between a Freelander and a Honda CR-V. Do we think that a double BJCS will fit comfortably into the boots of both of these cars, as well as the carrycot?

LOL I seem to have missed the discussion whilst MN was trying to link my user name and accounts up after the virus thingy!

The City Select is small folded. Its probably the smallest tandem there is. So as long as you can fit the squareish chassis in, then the seats, and the carrycot all squash down really flat. We went on holiday once with a car boot full to bursting, and the City Select simply slid flat onto the top of all our luggage. Pretty awesome!

I agree with you re some of the points of the Rumble seat. The main issue is the lack of a recline for a child who naps. However, just remember that your current 16 month old will essentially fill the same space aged 2 and a half, its just that their legs and arms will grow longer, knees will bend etc and I bet your 2 and a half year old would probably look better in the seat because they will sit better in it all round. That make not make sense, but it is true!

However, I think you probably need a proper full tandem. The City Select can have the carrycot on at the top or the bottom. The bottom is nicer really because you can see the baby, speak to your toddler and also you can see where the end of the pushchair is - so that your toddler doesn't get bashed legs. The City Select IS heavy though, and it will get heavier. Be prepared for that, as once day you may wish to swap - treat your pushchair like a rental - keep the boxes, look after it, and don't get attached to it. If its heavy, swap later.

The iCandy's are excellent for your age gap. I second about the Oyster Max too - just watch the small seat recline on the bottom seat, but at least with the Oyster Max you have lots of options. Probably more so, than with the City Select - look at which positions the seats recline in on the City Select for example. I was not a Twone fan - I couldn't even get my hand through the chassis to wipe my son's nose. It was light to push.

It is vital with any tandem to look critically at your age gap - and importantly if your child naps. And then look at your car, house, door etc. and make sure it works. Look at storage too - where will you carry your changing bag / shopping / picnic.
After that you can get fussy about seating positions, height etc. But if its not practical, then it won't work for you.

Lovely advice, Tiggy, thanks! I think you were on my pleading for advice thread two years ago too!

just to agree re the rumbleseat and oyster Max not being remotely similar. the rumbleseat is basically useless IMO unless it is just for a quick up. the Max has a proper second seat just with a limited recline, although until about 7 months dd2 could actually lie flat down there as the seat is so big.

like all these prams it is a pita to take it apart into 3 pieces and for that reason we have got a cheap one piece fold for our plane trip that is coming up.

otherwise I love it!

I think pretty much all in line doubles are pretty shite in some way or another tbh. You seem to have to make a massive compromise. I looked at it when I had dc2 and then again recently for dc3. Same age gap as you.

First time I ended up with a p&t explorer. I hated it and sold it ASAP. Here's why: DS couldn't see as the toddler seat was literally in his face. It was pretty dark under there! He screamed if you put him near it. But the seat underneath isn't suitable until 6m. It's impossibly heavy to push. No basket with a toddler in underneath seat AND no where to hang bag as it bashes them in the head!

Didn't like city select as too heavy and long. Also, you can't have carrycot near you and toddler at front. Which would make it really heavy anyway.

Peach blossom was ok, but seats very small and can't have parent facing newborn.

I have ended up going for the bugaboo donkey. I haven't started using it as a double yet (3 days overdue - wahhh!) but! Here's why I went for it:
Can fit through standard door
Have parent facing / ff options galore
Both dc can see
Big tyres make pushing easy and easy on grass Etc
Can have proper carrycot
Can use with maxi cosi
Folds in one piece
Still have a shopping basket and somewhere to hang changing bag

I got mine from eBay for £750 and hopefully won't make too much of a loss, will prob only be used for a year or so after all.

Just to say Yoruba, you can now have both children facing you in the Peach Blossom 3 :)