questions for owners of Phil & Ted E3, double

[blossom2]

I'm thinking of getting one for toddler and baby but have a few questions that the website does not answer. hoping that you can help...

1. the raincover - if its in toddler & toddler mode, does it protect the toddler at the back??
2. is the cocoon useful any good?
3. is it small enough to fit into normal car boot?
4. is there really 2 positions on the front seat - upright & sleepy?
5. where is the best place to get one, given that i'll probably need almost everything?
6. how do you manage if travelling around in the car ? ie do u just wake the sleeping baby from car seat to buggy??

any answers would be greatly appreciated...

1.) Yes!

2.) Cocoon is fabtastic - not only used it in the pram, but used around the house - like a Moses Basket - Brilliant!

3.) Folds up pretty small (simple to fold too) - got it into my mum's boot ok - She's got a two door Feista.

4.) There are two positions on the front seat, but wouldn't recommend "sleepy" if you've got doubles seat on / newborn inside - Squish!! My 2 and 1/2 yr old still sleeps in the front / back not probs without changing position of seat - front is v.comfy and generous.

5.) Online - Kiddicare - cheapest by far, or Glasgow Pram Centre - often available 2nd hand if you have a wee investigation.

6.) Never found transferral from pram to car a big prob - just popped sleeping baby out of pram and into car seat - They just got used to it. Not a problem!

If you've got any more Q's - just post - LOVE my P&T - Don't know how I'd survive without it!! What's your age gap?? xx

ooooh ooooh can I hijack and ask another question?
the cocoon, is it too hot to use in the summer?

1. the raincover - if its in toddler & toddler mode, does it protect the toddler at the back??

Yes - though we haven't used it in heavy rain. It sticks together with velcro which does sometimes come undone.

2. is the cocoon useful any good?
   very good and cosy. You couldn't use it for newborn without the cocoon. We didn't use our cocoon for very long because dd2 was born at the end of April and the weather was getting warm, but it was invaluable for the first couple of months and it was good to use as a carrycot when visiting people.

3. is it small enough to fit into normal car boot?
   Yes. I have a Ford Ka and it fits. The wheels can come off if necessary to help fit it in.

4. is there really 2 positions on the front seat - upright & sleepy?

agree with what Captain Dippy said

5. where is the best place to get one, given that i'll probably need almost everything?

If you're interested I can sell you our cocoon (navy) for £20 inc p&p.

6. how do you manage if travelling around in the car ? ie do u just wake the sleeping baby from car seat to buggy?? yup, transfer from car seat to buggy. The baby lies flat in the E3 up to age 4-6 months, which is healthier than being in a car seat/travel system at that age.

Also, be aware that when using the double toddler configuration the bottom child's feet/legs take up space in the shopping basket, so you'll probably need to get the panniers (or wear a rucksack).

thank you very much for your answers - they have been really useful. again gap of kids will be almost 2 yrs and newborn

I love mine. Bought it a bit too late for the cocoon to be of use really, but still very sad to see it go when I ebayed it!
Its so great re size and 'ease of push'. And very versatile.
The only probs so far are that I have dropped an ice cube on ds2's head whilst in the back seat and you do have to be careful carrying carrier bags whilst pushing, incase they swing into the back seat occupant. Also ds1 can undo the clips, so cant strap him in as a punishment for bad behaviour(!), and he cant sit in the back else he's release the clips holding the front seat upright!
ds1 snoozes upright in the front if its hot weather etc ,and ds2 does the same in the back.

But I've never folded mine up... boughtit 2 weeks or so ago, and I've used it every day since, so it just gets parked in the kitchen!

Agree about watching out for falling bits and pieces into the back occupant!! I once dropped a melon on DD2's head when she was about 2 months!! (Never did anything like that again!)

DD1 can also undo straps, so we got some climbing carrabenas (don't know how to spell!!) and attached them to stop her undoing them cos it was becoming a problem!!

I also agree about the ease of pushing - fantastic, especially when they are a bit older and heavier (I've currently got about 3 and a 1/2 stone in mine atm!!!)

Buy a pump to attach to the back - just in case!!

Never used the sun cover, so sold it.

Pannier bags are fab - use mine as a nappy bag and the other if I am shopping for a few bits.

We've got nice sheep skin seat covers too.

Erm. Can't think of anything else for now!!

We did a simliar thing with ds1, but he was just in a normal stroller. Trying to load it up with market bargains!

hello again, i feel this is probably an OTT question but wanted to know your thoughts anyway, how do you feel about the height of the second seat, ie its very low and pollution etc???

one mother in a shop was very concerned about it, but i thought it was a little OTT, however i do live i london and car fumes are high!

TBH, I've had more queries/ comments about the crap view from the second seat. The height did put me off at first, but I actually like being able to see ds2 clearly. I dont think fumes are an issue; the difference in heights wouldn't make that much difference i dont think. But I do notice myself getting wary on busy buses as people are jostling and shoving past. I feel ds2 is a bit vulnerable then.
There's also the issue of being so close to the wheels. But they're not metal spokes, and even if little hands did wander, they're not going to do it more than once.

love my P&T too. Just in case you live anywhere near, Little Ones in Clevedon (nr. Weston Super Mare) is beating internet prices, including Kiddicare, by quite a long way. Got buggy, toddler seat, double rain cover, cocoon for £368, and they change their price if anyone undersells on the net.

Oh, and re. the second seat lower down, my 2 year old begs to get in the bottom seat...

I got that lot for £370, from local shop price matching Kiddicare. Should have been £369.50, but the till system wouldn't accept it! And kiddicare are including a free tent (??!!), which the shop wouldn't match

Never found the low bottom seat an issue - the view is crap, but my DD2 just leans to the side if she wants to see out!! Besides, she doesn't know any different, so not an issue - Like Clairemow - my 2 and 1/2 yr old also begs to be allow to go in the back - loves the novelty value!!

Never had an issues with "wandering hands" near the spokes - and like another poster said - once bitten, twice shy, iykwim!!? My 2 and 1/2 yr old does undo the clips of the front seat while she is sitting in the back though, which is quite annoying, but that is literally the only bad thing I have to say .....

I love my P&T!!

How much do your older ones weigh? I'm a bit wary of ds1 being in the back; it doesn't seem strong enough! And he wouldundo the straps. But it would be better with him at the back; walk a bit, ride a bit, front recline for sleeping ds2 baby!

hi mustrunmore - you do need to be careful re. the heavier child - once they're toddlers, the heavier one has to go in the front, or it tips. As we found out on Saturday with a friend's toddler! DS weighs 32 lb and the limit on the child in the lower seat is 15 kg (is that about 35 lb?) (the literature says that's the "average 4 yr old" - but DS is nearly that at 2 - and he isn't that large!!!).

When you have a little baby it's no problem as the older one has to go in the toddler seat at the front, but as soon as the baby can sit up and you want it 2-toddler style, the younger one will need to be the one in the lower seat. The older one should still be able to get in and out though, and I know some people put a weight or something under the seat at the front so that it doesn't tip if the older one wants to get out (if you see what I mean?)