New to uk, 2 kids, no car.. How well do buggy boards work?

[ginaaharris]

I've just arrived I the suburbs of SW london from Australia. I have a 2.9 yr old and 3 month old. We bought a cheap umbrella stroller with is for the trip, but somehow it didn't make it to LHR with us (grrr). Friends have loaned/given us a huge jogging pram (quinny freestyle) but it's huge and impossible to steer with one hand- I need something else.

Money is very tight (looking at all options secondhand where able). I'd like to keep things simple and get by without a double. At home we had a bugaboo frog (2 part fold meant it lived outside our front door which worked there, but won't here) and a older maclaren quest that lived in the car- it was fine, but I didn't love it. My 2.9 yr old is a slow walker but quite good on his scooter... I am confident with a sling for the baby. I'll need to be able to do public transport (lift at my local train station, buses needed too, occasionally into Central london) get around my neighbourhood (single and scooter/sling should be ok) and occasionally get around the shops (have discovered groceries online). The buggy board idea seems perfect for times when scooter isn't appropriate (local shops) or I want to get somewhere efficiently without a small human strapped to me. I'm just not sure how good they are in reality.

I've read and read on this forum, and we just had a harrowing trip with the whole family to kiddiecare this morning to check out what I thought were the best options. Looked at bjcm, maclaren quest/xt, micralite toro, graco evo mini. I know the bee is another option but it's terribly expensive, even secondhand.

Overall I like the bjcm most- I'm sure I would generally be quite satisfied with it- (especially the fold). We didn't like the tippy feel of the micralite, and can't see major advantages of graco over bjcm (difference in weight and width don't bother me that much). (I only realised after getting home I could have looked at a red kite zumi).

BUT think the maclaren xt would be best with buggy board- correct? I see lots of maclarens around here with the buggy board, not many bjcms. We tried both with the board In the shop- handling wasn't great on either but hard to tell with tired uncooperative toddler. The handle vs head issue looks like it might be a pain on the bjcm, but seemed ok in the shop.

So I guess my question is how handy is a buggy board in reality? Can you keep it on when you get on a bus or train? Would having one on the bjcm be totally useless?? Is it worth getting a stroller I don't love (the XT) just to be able to use one a bit more successfully?

Any thoughts welcome!

Sorry I have no advice but am interested in exactly the same thing (although in my case it's because we're about to move to Dublin and not sure our P&Ts double is that suited to public transport.

I have a Maclaren Xt with a buggy board. We've been using it for over a year (20 month gap between daughters, DD1 is nearly 3).
I really like it, and DD1 likes to go on it ( and DD2 now too, they swap sometimes!). You can keep it attached to go up and down curbs, onto the bus etc. It is surprisingly stable and DD1 can stay on while it goes up and down.
I have no knowledge of other pushchairs, sorry!

Hope you don't mind hijack OP but which buggy board do you have fivepies?

I have the Lascal Buggyboard Maxi.

Not at all Tarka- and thanks fivepies- great to hear they can go on a bus and little ones can stay on to get up a curb.

Hmmm... My gut instinct is that it would a fabulous option to have... My 2 yr old is much more of a sitter than a kid who runs around a lot, so I think we'd get use for a good year or two if it worked. And as much as I might love the bjcm as a single, I suspect it would be a major peeve if the buggy board didn't work well.

The blue XT was on sale for 160 at kiddiecare.... So maybe that is my best option.

Happy to hear more opinions

City mini. Buggy board. No, don't do it.

It would drive you insane.

The only Maclaren-a-like I have tried a board on is the joovy groove and that was fine if a little back heavy, I had to be careful iyswim.

The zumi was significantly better but relied on the board riding child being the right size, dd2 was too short, dd1 was tall enough yet her head still fitted inside the handlebar.

Every combination I have used has been irritating one way or another to a greater or lesser degree, if your toddler isn't a runner and scoots with enthusiasm then maybe you're best off skipping the board altogether?

The huge plus for me with the zumi was how well the buggy folds with the lascal mini attached, so it was easy for the train Etc. I'm sure there will be other pushchairs that fold with the board attached. Ah... I always hear great things about the oyster and board.. Worth a look maybe? Good used prices and a pretty reliable not huge pushchair.

Thanks so much ihateparties- I'd read about your love of the zumi. The sweet spot for height on that one sounds like it could be tricky.

My little guy does scoot well, but the enthusiasm doesn't always last!! And while I do love carrying my baby, I do like the idea of having no-one attached to me but being able to move along without constant stopping and negotiating with a toddler. Buggy board sounds like it's worth a go at least, but good to know there isn't a perfect set-up, will help me deal with any minor niggles.

Thanks also for confirming the city mini is a bad idea.. I thought as much, but good to be told in no uncertain terms.

I'll have another look at the oyster, but if it has 2 part fold (which I think it does) I think I'd (only just) prefer an umbrella fold.

So perhaps a secondhand maclaren XT and see how it goes. They seem to be pretty affordable and easy enough to find secondhand. I don't think I'll adore it, but honestly at the moment I just want something that works and won't drive me insane on a daily basis!

The latter half of your last sentence is the rub imo "something that works and won't drive (you) insane on a daily basis." Move on with that basic expectation rather than looking for buggyboard perfection

The oyster is a 1 piece fold actually, with the seat in either direction but parent facing it's pretty long.

I don't know if anyone has tried a board on a petite star bubble? That could potentially be okay.

I had a lascal mini on the joie chrome last summer, that was pretty good actually, very similar overall size to the oyster but the fold was a more logical/easily carried shape.

Thanks parties... Yep, like many things with kids lowering expectations seems to make life a bit easier.

I'll think a bit more about the oyster/joie chrome. Being lightweight was in my list of desired characteristics- and they are both a fair bit heavier than the XT. I know I am kidding myself if I think the XT is a small stroller, but at 7 kgs (I think) it's not hugely heavy.

Thanks again for all your advice. I'm leaning toward the XT, if for no other reason than I have just seen quite a few people out and about with them using a buggy board (not a common sight at home)- so when in Rome... May as well give it a go!

Def look at a bugaboo bee on eBay. The bugaboo buggy board works well IMO, and can be folded up or unclipped out the way on buses/ tubes.
I think parent facing works best with buggy boards as otherwise with prams reclined the babies heads in the way of where toddler would stand

At 7kg it's a lot lighter than the others. Simplicity is good, the zumi was my "umbrella fold size and weight that isn't an umbrella fold cos I hate 'em" type thing. I walk everywhere in a busy environment and have a ahem.. challenging... slightly older child, one handed steering became my absolute must.

They all walk now, it's both brilliant and slightly horrifying. I have to carry bags and everything.

That's a really good point about the recline actually... I forgot all about that and you do still have a relatively young baby. It's okay on the joovy but impossible with the zumi.

We used ours loads and still do as back up - dd 4 and DS 2

Yep - I get the recline point-IMO that's what kills it for the city mini. Impossible. Anyone got real life experience with buggy board on maclaren when fully reclined?

I can see how the bee might be best. Is it possible to fold the bee for a bus with buggy board on? That would be a huge bonus, and perhaps I should reconsider.

I've had no problems with using the buggy board with the Maclaren reclined. There is enough space for the toddler even when fully reclined. There is a clear panel so you can see the baby. My toddler laughs at being able to see her sister!
The only niggle is that the chair is quite high so the toddler can't see over the top all the time (but my toddler is quite petite).

In London you rarely need to fold buggy. So if up I would clip board off bee and put in basket underneath. It's easier to wait for next bus really as nowhere to store folded up buggy if it's that busy. Otherwise no as with all you would have to clip board off and then fold.

Ps a quick look on eBay shows they are selling for £100-200 secondhand. A few less if lucky.

They telescopic handle also benefit on bus as means it tucks in small and out the way compared to an umbrella style

Do ask around at playgroups etc as many in London have the bee and if they have 3/4 year old and no younger child they might be looking to sell ( we just gave our bugaboo cameleon away a few months back. It had been great for 4 years and x2 children so didn't mind not selling and happily just gave away)

Thanks fivepies- it's great to hear that you can use buggy board with maclaren fully reclined. I'll investigate bees a little more, but the XT sounds like it would work on most fronts- good to know I have at least one good option. And super affordable if secondhand, so won't be a disaster if it's not perfect.

Artandco- good to know how it all works with the bee. I do think they would be great- BUT would I not need a bee plus for my older child to ride in the chair comfortably? My toddler is fast approaching 3, but he is average to short in height (haven't had him measured for ages). I can see there are plenty of older bees that are affordable, but I was assuming i would have to go with the plus, which seem to be more expensive... More like 250 to 300 without buggy board.

I know what you mean about handing on- we passed on our frog to friends at home too (wish I had it here now, but before we left it seemed likely we'd be living in a flat with stairs- we don't!). I haven't been here long enough to meet many other mums, but I have one or two old friends I could ask to put the word out... Even to buy at a good price.

I have a joovy caboose too ultralight (ultralite?) it was £230 shipped from the US & it's fabulous for a standing/sitting two yr old.
Ou can recline the front seat almost flat so should be possible to use from 5 months, if you can wait hat long?

Genuinely the best baby related purchase (downside is it's two hand fold), same width as my xt & only slighty longer/heavier

Just an update to finish this thread.

Ended up getting a Maclaren XT from ebay. Only 2 years old and 70 quid. Once I gave all the different parts a bit of a wash its brilliant (so much happier with the hood and basket than I was with my old quest).

I also bought a Lascal mini board. Its not perfect, but so far all going very well.

The buggy board in general is great to get moving when needed. My little guy is walking far more than he was before- so I can see what people mean about 'training'. He can still have a break when he's tired, but I'm sure he'll build up stamina over time.

I do occasionally kick the buggy board when I walk, but I don't find it as bad as I thought I would (I'm 5'1). And I can definitely push the XT one handed for short spells when needed, (even with toddler on buggy board) which is great. So, with a baby sling tucked underneath in the basket in case toddler needs a sit down for a bit- its a good system.

Thanks for all the advice mumsnet- a good result for me!