Tandem/Inline buggy for newborn and 17kg+ toddler?

[albionica]

DC2 is due in early September, and soon afterwards DS will be starting pre-school, 5 mornings a week. He will be 3.1 then but is already more than 1 metre tall and weighs over 17kg. He does a lot of walking and scooting but pre-school will be a 20-25 minute walk up a steep hill which is unsuitable for scooters and we will be in a rush in the morning so DS walking the whole way then is not an option.

His weight seems to rule out the vast majority of double buggies. I love our current BJCM but after reading lots of reviews I gather the City Select is just too heavy to push. I definitely think we need a tandem/inline buggy rather than a side-by-side one as pavements and shops where we live are pretty narrow and half the time I will be pushing only one child.

Does anyone have any suggestions? Would DS definitely be too heavy for the bottom seat on a Phil and Ted’s Navigator, or is it actually ok for children over 15kg? Is it worth getting the cocoon for the Phil and Ted’s? I’ve also read good things about the Mountain Buggy +One but we are in Italy and there don’t seem to be any stockists here so I would have to order one online without seeing it first. I can’t imagine it would fit into the boot of a Fiesta although that wouldn’t necessarily be a total deal breaker if it was the best option otherwise. Can you recommend any reliable Mountain Buggy suppliers that deliver to European countries? Are there any other buggies I should consider?

Thanks so much for your help.

DS wouldn't be in the bottom seat on the Navigator to start with - he would be on the top above the baby on the doubles kit seat. Like this so you need to consider head room more than anything, especially how near to the child's face the raincover is. It would the same for most of the Phil&Teds. My worry with the P&Ts is exactly how much room your son would have long term. There isn't much leg room once the doubles kit is underneath.

I loved my Mountain Buggy +One but you need to think carefully about where the baby goes after 6 months. I recently saw a photo of someone who had put a Face to Face seat successfully in the rear section which looked fab. I think this could be a good way to get over the 6-12 month hump before I personally would put the baby in the front seat. I doubt it would fit in a fiesta boot either!

Have a look too at a TFK Joggster Twist with a Buddy seat and a Multi X carrycot for the baby. That option could maybe work really well with your age gap and your son's weight.

Look also at the Bugaboo Donkey and also the Babystyle Oyster Max. I absolutely would not get a City Select with your age gap.

Bear in mind here that pushchairs are tested only to 15kgs unless the company pay for more testing (costs more) so its worth noting what upper limits are in other countries and using your common sense especially given you aren't in the UK.

Tiggy what would you recommend for a 6 month old and a two year old (who still naps in her buggy?)

I have the OM but don't like it.

Thank you in advance!

Tiggy thank you so much for all your advice. I think the Donkey would probably be too wide, but I'll look into the Oyster Max and the TFK Joggster Twist. The Oyster Max looks very pretty rather than robust - do you think it's too flimsy for such a heavy toddler? Would you definitely recommend a carrycot for a newborn, or could I just use the main reclining seat? If I went for the Navigator, would it be worth getting a cocoon or do babies tend to grow out of them really quickly?

Looki, out of interest, why don't you like the OM?

Thanks again for your suggestions.