Do I need a double for 2.5yo and newborn? Icandy Peach 3 with converter?

[silversixpence]

Just had a look at some doubles..firstly not sure we will definitely need one as DD will be 2 years 4 months and could walk/use a buggy board for short distances but I'd be worried about keeping her under control on busy roads or in supermarkets etc! I could carry newborn in a sling and DD in pushchair instead which would give another option. We have a Mutsy Igo which I like but find hard to steer and a Maxi cosi Noa.

I did like the Icandy Peach 3 but I'm a bit confused about if I can use it with the Peach Blossom converter seat or not, as it seems cheaper than the Peach blossom unit. I like that we can use it as a single once DD no longer needs a buggy

Do you need a double? Who knows, there are so many variables. With a 2y4m old I would but every time I step out of the house busy roads are a constant factor, as are several daily school runs and a history of uncooperative toddlers.

Re the peach 3/peach blossom, I'm confused. It doesn't take much to confuse me when it comes to the peach though. If you bought a peach 3 single you would need to buy the blossom kit to create a double with two 6m+ seats, additionally you would need to buy a blossom carrycot to make it suitable for a newborn. Other pushchairs that offer similar are the babystyle oyster max, jane twone, p&t promenade and the baby jogger city select.

My friend has an Icandy Peach 3 for her two, she bought the Blossom which came with the two seats and the Blossom carrycot (the small one) for when her DD was born, she moved her into the seat unit when she was 6months ish, she didn't find it too difficult and it cost her less than £200 for the small carrycot.

I intend to get one and my age difference will be 2.5. But I live in London and we walk everywhere or get on the bus/tube rather than drive and although we live near huge parks I definitely need to have the toddler strapped into something for some of the time in getting around. I think we are going for the Phil and Ted's Navigator just as the others seem too bulky and heavy. Unfortunately I imagine it's something we won't have that long, or will need another option to throw into the mix, a few months down the line. The trouble is none of them are perfect!

joining late but I will have a similar age gap. I think we'll need a double for the reasons mentioned above - longer walks, busy roads, uncooperative toddler... I am looking at various Phil and Teds and Oyster Max. Oyster Max makes a very good single and is cheaper than the icandy I think.

The icandy Peach seemed huge which put me off, but I'm a shorty! Also I hate the noisy click made by the icandy hoods (dd is a light sleeper...)

I've been trying it without and finally gave in as dd1 can't walk fast enough and it's a pain in the arse when I'm trying to get anywhere. Plus if it's just me, buggy and shopping and dd1 is too tired to walk she wants carrying and won't stand on the board.

Forgot to say! 100% better now with a double. I've not regretted getting it.

Which double do you have sparkly?

I am considering an oyster max, it looks like its possible to have the carrycot in the lower position and then dd can go in the main seat. We can then use it like that for 6 months (or dd in main seat and baby in a sling) before getting a tandem seat or buggy board. I forgot that our school run will be much longer as DS is moving to a junior school which is about a mile away instead of 0.3 miles. Think it will be too much to expect DD to stay on a buggy board for such a long time and she will probably need a nap sometimes.

A phil&teds e3

It's handy for when I need to be somewhere on time or somewhere it's a bit far to walk there and back, when I've got bags to carry or when it's raining as can getthem both under a cover and not have to listen to dd1 moan about being wet because obviously she's made of sugar and will melt

I'd say you'd need a double, if only for a short time. Check the Icandy though, firstly their customer service is awful but that's another matter. Secondly, I was looking at icandys today on the display in Mothercare, we have a Peach and I've also been debating whether or not to get a double or a converter kit as DS will be 2.6. I've decided against the Peach because he's already outgrown the seat and I've put it in the loft, I suppose I could squeeze him I to it if I absolutely needed to but I don't think he'd be comfortable. I also noticed that when it's set up as a double there is barely any room to get the child in and out of the second seat. It looks as though the lighter child would have to sit in the higher seat and the heavier underneath, DS hates his pushchair at the best of times and I can't imagine trying to squeeze him in and out of that tiny space, it's be impossible if he was protesting! He'd also have a very boring view of the back of the second seat so I don't think he'd sit still for the duration of the journey he'd need the pushchair for. So it's back to the drawing board for me.

Is your older one an enthusiastic walker? Likely to be jealous of the baby nicking her buggy? Still sleeping in the day?
My DD was 2.6 when her brother came along and I intended to do the buggy board or sling thing but dd refused to get on the buggy board (cue wailing tantrums lying down on pavements - not safe). The sling thing didn't work as I had a prolapse and a weak back after the birth and DS was a monster baby (98th centile) so I couldn't carry him for long.
When I got a phil and teds tandem when DS was 3 months I felt like a new woman, like I had been liberated,
So I would say, definitely get one. I got my phil and teds 3rd hand for £85 so you don't have to blow the bank.

PS My two are 4.10 and 2.4 years now and we still sometimes use the double if we are going out all day round town. My dd still gets tired from walking miles and miles at nearly 5.