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Original poster

yet another double buggy thread

26 replies

kbaby · 09/04/2006 20:18

This is causing me such a headache!

DD will be 2.2 years when baby 2 arrives.
She hates going in a buggy but unfortunetly is quite strong willed and if your out shopping she cant stand still to queue etc. Therefore I need a double buggy for when im on my own with both children.
I dont want to spend a lot as im not sure how long we'll use it for.

So far my options are
Mothercare Foxton, but its too heavy and I cant lift it.
Marco sky
cosatto duet lite
Or basically any other one thats suitable.
I also cant decide between a tandem or side by side.
Help please I need advice!

OP posts:
peaches27 · 09/04/2006 20:31

I will let you know shortly when Ive road tested my tandem. Its a mothercare which is similar to the graco stadium which is a tandem. I bought it for £30 including all raingear and foot muffs on ebay. I will be using it with a 3 year old and a 4 month old, they are both on the small side.

I got a tandem as I heard that people couldnt get through checkouts in shops with side by sides! You will get a thorough review from me as I have a bad back so not all would be suitable. It is currently in the car boot, but will be tested this week!

peaches27 · 09/04/2006 20:36

PS our 3 yo doesnt use a buggy, but I cant cope with both of them when shopping or near a busy road, hence the buggy. When I fetched it he was looking forward to riding with his sis!

Original poster
kbaby · 09/04/2006 20:40

Peaches thanks let me know how it goes. Unfortunetly I dont think our DD will be quite so keen. We had a tamtrum in mothercare just getting her to sit in 1 so we could try it.
And I thought this would be easy !

OP posts:
Original poster
kbaby · 11/04/2006 21:09

Anyone else have any recommendations

OP posts:
magicfarawaytree · 11/04/2006 21:32

imo there is no perfect double buggy - we tried a few when we were looking to buy one three years ago - it near falling apart with use but I cant face the thought of having to buy another one. It all comes down to what features you want to compromise on. I have a mcclaren twin - it fits through most doorways and will also fit in dh small boot (no room for anything else) it doesnt have one handed recline but it is from birth. I dont know anyone with a double buggy who thinks it perfect ironically a combination of the good points of several would make the perfect twin buggy but no one seems to have cottoned on it that yet.

magicfarawaytree · 11/04/2006 21:34

have you seen the add - on seat on the great little trading company.

magicfarawaytree · 11/04/2006 21:37

have a look at \link{http://www.gltc.co.uk/ProductDetails.aspx?language=en-GB&productID=G9220&CatID=SSOutNew\this}

Nemo1977 · 11/04/2006 21:40

hi
I had the same age gap and I have a marco sky. Think it is great but only if you are 5ft 7 plus as the handles are quite high. I still use mine now 4mths on when I go out for a long trip or where I think Ds will be difficult.

mrspitt · 11/04/2006 21:42

I used big pram/buggy whatever you call it with buggy board when dd1 was born , ds was 2.3 and is big for his ge. Wasn't exactly easiest but definatelt was a saviour.
When dd2 was born 12 weeks ago i bought a double maclaren from someone on mumsnet cos dd1 was only just 2 and ds was 4.3 and he was a handful when out shopping.
I had tried a tandem but found it far tooooo difficult to manouvre esp on kerbs as dd1 is also big for her age, its all in the genes!!!
Maclaren does through doorways and is pretty fine to push etc..

champs · 11/04/2006 23:32

hiya!!
the cosatto duet lite, is veeeeery heavy and hard to steer. marco is a fave with many mn's

schneebly · 11/04/2006 23:46

i have a graco stadium duo tandem and like it but think the marco sky is a lot smaller and lighter.

ChicPea · 12/04/2006 00:50

I have a mamas and papas Aria side by side double buggy. It is very light, I think comfortable for DD 3.5 (when she is tired) and DS 2.5, I can get lots of shopping in large basket and when it folds down it goes quite small as handle bar goes in. Difficult to explain but I am very pleased with it. I can get through doorways too.

threebob · 12/04/2006 04:41

What about a sling or front pack for baby and your dd can go in her normal buggy.

honneybunny · 12/04/2006 12:21

hi kbaby
i just got a babydan side-by-side on ebay, and so far am thrilled with it. it cost me £79 plus P&P, but doesn't come with cosytoes or headhuggers. it is v.similar to the maclaren twin traveller, but is a more budget option. it weighs 13.6kg, which is less than mc hoxton (14.5kg), but heavy still (heavier than marco sky at 12.3kg, lighter than duet light at 16kg(!!!)).

the fact that it is side-by-side does make it a bit narrow though, esp. if your toddler is big she may be a bit squished in. my ds1 (28mo) still fits in though, and even though he hates his single buggy and keeps jumping out, he loves the double, as he gets to sit next to his baby brother. he likes this more than the tandem i got from a neighbour before i got the babydan. (she felt sorry when she saw me with ds2 in sling and ds1 in pushchair).

i also like the fact that both seats recline (almost though not completely flat), so if ds1 wants to\ sleep he can. it also fits through our front door.

Bozza · 12/04/2006 12:27

kbaby if DD is really not keen on going in a buggy I would be tempted to get a really cheap second hand one. When baby is little you can use your existing one and either have DD in it and baby in sling, or DD walking, sling in shopping basket and baby in pushchair. I just don't think you will get all that much use out of one. DS hardly used a pushchair after the age of 2.6, although admittedly that was because DD was on the way (and with a 3.3 year gap there was no way I was getting a double). The only time DS went in it after DD was born was while we were on holiday and DH pushed him and I carried DD in the sling. Could you get a buggy board and have DD on reigns? They are easy to grab I find.

peaches27 · 12/04/2006 12:38

kbaby its going OK, but its heavy and cumbersome to lift in and out of the car boot. Its do-able for me and I have a bad back. The 3 y o actually enjoys it because he is going through that thing that they do when the baby arrives that he wants to be a baby again and do what the baby does, hence baby talk, craftily trying out a dummy etc.

Its reasonably easy to push on very uneven pavements like the ones around where I live and its very easy to push in the shopping centre. Yesterday when it was raining intermittently, I found both hoods were enough without putting the huge plastic rain cover over it all, because the back hood covers the baby and reaches up to the front hood which covers the toddler. Toddler did look a bit big for it. The seat was plenty big enough for his bum and reclined, but the foot rest seemed a little high for him. Every shop, checkout, doorway was negotiated easily, even the aisles in one clothing shop where the goods are displayed on hangers with not much room between.

Got in and out of the chemist OK too (our local chemist is small and poky and has a step up!).

peaches27 · 12/04/2006 12:56

Just had to break off for baby ... I would buy a second hand one if youre not sure how much use you can get. A tandem is good, BUT get the lightest you can find and look at it carefully when its folded and decide how much room it will take up in car boot and in home.

Oh, btw its very easy to put up and take down, much easier than the blimmim Mamas and Papas single pushchair (Pliko) we have which I consider to be a pain in the proverbial.

clothespeg · 13/06/2007 19:25

My 4 month old baby refuses to go in her pram- she arches her back and screams until I have to pick her up. I think the problem has arisen because I couldn't bear to see her crying when shre was first born and so picked her up from her pram. The result is I have to carry her round in the baby carrier - exhausting as she is getting heavier. I spent an hopur today persevering with her - 25 minutes she was okay and then she started. I would love more than anything for her to relax in the pram and go to sleep in it!!I have changed it to the buggy setting which is slightly better but still results in crying after 15 or so minutes.... I am worried that she doesn't get enough sleep as she only sleeps in the baby carrier and by being breast fed at night. I should add that she is generally a very happy baby apart from this and can play on her own for longish periods? Any ideas anyone? I wish I had never bought the Bugabooo and I am considering floggibng it on e-bay!!

Loopymumsy · 13/06/2007 20:57

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clothespeg · 13/06/2007 21:13

I am using a Wow Oui carrier (designed by that woman from Changing Rooms bizarrely!)- but perhaps I should invest in something sturdier ...it's just so frustrating when I see other mums happily pushing their prams around...but perhaps I should change my mindset rather that expect my baby to change hers?...

luckylady74 · 13/06/2007 21:27

i've got a marco whichis good, but my 2yr olds have got doggy backpack things which they love because they think they're toys, but i know they're reins! they seem to keep them walking in a straight line. i would think about combining them with a seat2go buggy board thing for when dd is tired.

Loopymumsy · 13/06/2007 22:02

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clothespeg · 13/06/2007 22:42

Thanks Loopymumsy, sound advice - I suppose there's a lot of time fopr me to get the use out of the buggy, maybe I should cut my losses and try out some other carriers - I will definitely check out your recommendations

bafty · 14/06/2007 12:18

Hi there

I hope you dont mind me joining in on your thread with a query? I am due my second baby in August and my DS will by then be 2.8. we have a maclaren xt techno which we bought because its meant to last - and it has. I had planned to use it for number two and just stick a buggy board on the back for DS1 (hoping he would be old enough to cope by then). However, we have just realised that when the seat is fully reclined for a new born it wont fit a buggy board on the back (if anyone knows otherwise please do let me know!). we have been recommended the phil & teds double tandem as it's very narrow and light weight but it is expensive. If my DS decides he's ready for a buggy board in the near future does anyone know if the phil and ted can adjust to new born seat position with a buggy board?

amazonianwoman · 14/06/2007 22:06

Bafty - don't think you can fit a buggy board on a Phil & Teds due to handlebar position? Also think the newborn bit will stick out too far at the back.

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