Which double buggy for 3 y.o. and 5 m.o.?

[peaches27]

Which is the best double buggy for a 3 year old and a 5 month old to use together? I want something lightweight, VERY easy to fold, easy to steer, inexpensive, and able to take a rain cover. I might even be buying second hand. It is for my grandkids, so nothing complicated as I still havent figured out folding/unfolding my DGD's buggy (Mamas and Pappas ?Pliko). Also I have a slightly dodgy back so something lightweight and easy to push is necessary. I have my own car so we mostly go in that, but with the better weather we want to walk a bit more.

Your recommendations would be appreciated.

I had a Mothercare tandem which was fine to push - made DD get out and walk if pushing up hill though!!

Are tandems any easier to push or fold than side by side?

For a 3yo I would get a lightweight buggy and a buggy board - for occasional use. Pushing a 3yo and a 5mo in a big heavy pushchair (most doubles are ime) will be a killer.
Unless the 3yo has some kind of mobility problem (in which case I apologise) he/she should be able to walk pretty much anywhere, surely? B/Board gives a hop-on, hop-off option which you can always detach and leave at home if it gets too popular.

I agree with Clary...

have yet to find a double buggy that pushes well and is light to lift and easy to fold... which seems essential for your back. IMO Easy to push = a 3 wheeler which is NOT light, and light and easy to fold and lift = an umbrealla MaClaren style buggy which are NOT easy to push, except on smooth pavements, in shopping centre for eg!

I think i lighterweight single with a buggy board may be the best option, as i exepct in a few months the 3 year old will do much more walking by herself.

Hi- I got a tandem double buggy from a neighbour, who felt sorry for me seeing me struggle with my toddler in a single maclaren and baby in a sling. I think she got the tandem for her dd originally, but it was so heavy and bulky dd couldn't lift it into her car. I should add that this was a v.old tandem though, so they might be a lot lighter now... My experience with this double made me decide against tandems though, as I found it hard to get up curbs with the weight of my ds1 in front, and I didn't like the fact that the front seat didn't recline, as ds1 still sleeps during our strolls occasionally.

Now I bought a babydan reykjavik side-by-side on ebay. It came with raincover, no cosytoes, two smallish shopping baskets. It looks a bit like a maclaren, also umbrella folds, but is a more budget buggy: mine cost £79 (+PP 19.95) new, compared to almost £200 for a maclaren twin techno/traveller, wouldn't get a twin rally, as the wheels are v.small which makes it uncomfortable to steer/walk with).
It is a bit on the heav side (14kg), but hen again most doubles are.

If weight is most important to you, you might want to check out the double nipper (3-wheeler). This one weighs 9kg and is one of the lightest. I personally don't have any experience with it tough, so couldn't tell you how easy it is to push etc. I do know that even 2nd hand they are v.expensive.

You might want to go and try some out, incl folding and lifting: if you find one you like you can always go home and look for that model 2nd hand on ebay (?).

Anyway, good luck on your search!

Sounds like you've got a similar age difference to me. I didn't buy a Phil & Teds but so wish I did. I've used friends and they're brilliant. Single when you need a single, double when you need a double.

Mean to add, they're not cheap, but if you see how much you can sell them for on ebay when you've finished it doesn't sound like such an outrageously expensive purchase.

i have a nipper for 3 year old and newborn - i imprted it so its called instep 10K

Lovely!

3 year old is fab walker but its when i am herrying or he is paddying that i find it essential!

only problem with P&T is that the baby underneath doesn't get much of a view, my friend bought one and has a nightmare getting her child in it.

Agree that they are fab though.

3 y o has no mobility problems but we live in a big city and roads are very busy, toddler is very active, dashes all over place, prone to trantrums etc, SO if he is strapped into buggy when shopping etc I know where he is. Also when we go away (we go caravanning) on evening walks it would be handy.

I dont think I will use it for long, but at the moment it seems like a must have, so I might buy second hand on ebay.

So Mclaren/umbrella style not easy to push then? Oh dear, I thought that might be my best bet as they are light.

Hi peaches, maclaren/umbrella doubles are not light! twin traveller eg is 14.7kg! That's over 32 pounds! If light is most important to you: apparently M&P Twin aria is 7.4kg. Have a look on the MN reviews page.

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Thanks for that link, very useful!

Anyone got a Graco Stadium? Im bidding on one on ebay, but I fear it will be another case of the Pilkos (i.e. I cant remember how to put it up and get it down and DP is worse than me!).