Does this buggy exist? - A buggy for someone who likes walking

[Wills]

I need a new buggy. I have 3 children but the six year old will happily scooter home so she's fine.

So. I have a 3 year old dd2 (just three) and a 3 month old ds1. I want to walk to dd1's school and pick her up each day BUT its a good 1.5 miles each way and most of that is across grass and its hilly. So far I've tried the pram with a buggy board (absolutely awful). The three wheeler with dd2 perched on the back, much better but dd2 didn't find hanging on for dear life terribly comfortable.

An expensive double buggy seems a waste when dd2 is really only going to need it for a max of another year. Leaving me permanently going around with one slot empty. A lady in town had a "phil and Ted" thingy but then the younger child is permanently in the dark. Although ds1 is only 3 months he already really enjoys looking around.

So what's the best solution?

www.abcbuggy.co.nz/ This lot do a single 3 wheeler with a toddler seat on top

I have a double Mountain Buggy which I love. Had it originally for an 18 month age gap but will be using it next year for the new baby and an almost 3 year old when out and about - taking the 3 year old to playschool and the 4 year old to school.

They are usually anywhere between £200-£300 secondhand but you could buy it for that and sell it on again for the same. So a year of free buggy use!

When you don't need the double anymore then the 'baby' will be big enough to go in a regular single buggy (cheap/expensive/second hand, etc.).

FWIW - I bought a Phil and Ted's and hated it, used the buggy board once and almost keeled over from the strain, couldn't cope with a baby carrier and wrecked the suspension on a single 3 wheeler by making one of the children sit on the roof! You see I have tried the alternatives.

Theblonde, first reaction was wow, second was no way I'm putting dd2 (the three year old) in and out of that seat every 30 seconds or so. .

Gem13 don't fully understand your dislike of the phil and teds could you describe it more. I've just been looking online and seen that what I'd seen was an almost carry cot like section but that you can have a second proper seat. Our reaction was fantastic, great we'll have that. Do you mean therefore that with the second seat attached the buggy is no longer balanced well? You say a buggy board, are you describing the second seat or a buggy board where the child stands?

Thanks

I love my phil and teds in single mode - about to convery to double - does all terrain fantastically. Friend (who walks everywhere) has used it with her LO's in both baby and toddler double mode and thinks it's fab - the one in the back still gets plenty of 'side view'. I suppose it depends how long they're in there each day.

Have you had a go with the Jane three wheel double - bith kids at same height.

bargain i love mine more than the e3 i had.

When I wasn Australia saw loads of people with toddler seats on the fromt of their normail buggies (mainly all terrain 3 wheeler things for the baech) Have never seen them here but seem are far better option than a double buggy (and cheaper as assume you just buy the seat) anyone seen them here? Would be ideal solution for you Wills

Just looked at the site the blonde linked to, toddler seats I saw went in front of the buggy facing forwards if that makes sense, so far easier for getting in and out of. Would love to know if you could get them here. Seem to remember when we were little, Mum had a toddler seat on top of the pram

Hmm, I had a similar problem, and used sling etc for a bit, but got the older child to use a likeabike, which made him much better at doing long distances.

You can pick up likeabike ripoffs pretty cheap these days. Not a solution if your 3-year-old is the type to do a runner or dash into the street, but otherwise it works very well ...

Baby Jogger is definately best off roader

and no plastic wheels pretending to be...

What about this:
\linl{http://www.babybirds.co.uk/BuggyPod.php\here}
Assume there must be a counter balance to stop it tipping over!

sorry

Sorry Wills, I wasn't clear. I meant I'd had an E3 AND tried a buggy board on the back of another single buggy AND used a carrier while pushing a buggy AND sat one child on the roof while the other one was in the buggy. Basically all the options people suggest for 2 children.

I hated the E3 as the bottom seat didn't recline and so the baby was always slumped (she grew out of the cocoon at 4 months, but instructions say the second seat is only suitable from 6 months) and had to go in the seat. It also really hurt my shoulders as the weight arrangement was weird (for me). I also banged DD's head on the metal frame trying to slot her into the bottom seat - that was the final straw. My friend also had one and got sick of her DD2 sticking her fingers in the bottom wheels.

And... it is very heavy if you are going to be putting it in and out of the car much. The Mountain Buggy (despite its size) is a lot lighter. If you are interested the Terrain is the lighter model - much better too for non-pavement walking too.

sling / backpack-the ergo is good. dd was in the backpack configuration from quite early, I think 5 months or so.

And

Likeabike, which is great on grass/hills etc

We do a good 3 mile walk a day. Dd loves the sling and ds loves his likeabike.

Phil and ted E3 is fab for long walks - used to do 5 or 6 miles at a time with both kids in the buggy. I dangled toys from the clip on the back seat to amuse the rear passenger, but from the moment they could both walk they used to fight to sit in the back, so it can't be too awful back there.
It is a bit awkward when younger baby is about 4 months to 6 months - they don't want to be lying flat anymore, but you can use a zip to tilt the 'carrycot' bit, or you can put baby in the back seat with a head hugger ( I got expert at swapping from one 'mode' to another when baby wanted to lie down for a nap).
My kids never touched the wheels, but I hear that the new model has 'mudguards' to stop this happening anyway.

Phil and teds also do a side-by-side double buggy (was admiring one in MandS the other day) but no idea if it's as easy as the E3 for pushing.

Just saw the link to the buggypod - we tried one and it was useless and in my opinion dangerous. Very flimsy and unstable in my opinion.

have one of these and its perfect fopr my 8 month old and then i have the option of using the toddler seat with my 2 year old mindee!!! Toddler seat fits in basket for when she walks etc but can also be useful for bags!!!! Also means i can use it as a single when im not childminding!!

Hi,
I have the older model to the abc everest, the Venturer and LOVE it!
link
About those Toddelrseat that go infront of a Buggy (like the Zooper)...I have heard it is really awkward to get a lil one in and out of the Buggy then!

this looks great, too:)