2nd child due in 2 weeks which pram shall I go for - m & P twin Aria/Maclaren twin/Phil & ted E3? Advice from people that have these

[foxy1]

Hello
I currently have a mothercare urban detour 3 wheeler pram which is heavy and bulky but lovely to push.

My son is 21 months and 2nd baby is due in 2 weeks so I need to get a different pram. Not sure which style pram to go for as they all have their advantages. Wanted to ask people that have these and use them. Have been looking at ebay.

1. M & P aria twin - lightweight/narrow compact but narrow seats
2. Maclaren twin - lightweight? Not sure how wide this is and how easy it is to push with toddler and baby?
3. Phil & Ted E3 - I have been watching these on ebay and they sell pretty much the same second hand as brand new. For the package i want I would need to spend £369 which inc cocoon. How heavy is this and does it fold compact??

I go for walks to the park and would need it for town occasionally when I am brave enough.

Look forward to hearing your views!!! Thanks in advance!!!

FOXY

foxy
i had the maclaren , it drove me mad, initially it was fine for walking with ds until about 6mths and he got heavier. it wrapped and some parts broke - i took it back to mothercare who d send it off for repair but i needed it !! so i couldnt.
the p & t wasnt around for me but i have a firend who owns a shop that ssells them and they are great - so if your budget spreads that far then try for it,

i got the phil and teds and have never regretted it just wish i had got it when first child was born, apparently great resale too

sorry not to answer your questions

it is only now getting really heavy now that ds is three and dd is nearly nine months the pair of them weigh over four stone now

not too bad folded fits in the back of my small three door hatchback

great for city living if you live in a city as easy to get on a bus

we did not get cocoon as dd born in the early summer, personally I would not bother with one i would buy toddler sleeping bag instead for winter baby as you can clip them in safely in the bit below

bough from practical pushchairs who were the cheapest when i bought, you have a one year warranty on parts and they have replaced various bits that broke without a quibble, my friend got hers from kiddicare and they were more difficult replacing parts

I like the idea of the sleeping bag - this makes sewnse as I have heard they don't stay in a cocoon for very long. Do you think p & T are worth the money?

it was for me only now that it is becoming less essential, i would have rather paid less but i have used it most days for the last eight months

depends on where and how you live really, if you use the car a lot and live out of a city then might not be so useful

i deliberated for ages over whether to get it or not but am delighted with it

so easy to push not 'heavy' like pushchairs with hard tyres are, ds had a maclaren before and once he was two it was getting really heavy to push, got the phil and teds a couple of months before dd arrived and it was a dream to push no effort involved

same now really now that they are four stone combined just notice the weight when lifting it on to a kerb and it is heavy lifting the thing into the car

twin aria so lightweight its not v sturdy. a pain to push

maclaren twin - no experience sorry

phil&teds - do it. i recommend.

though personally think a sling and your regular single will do you for ages...

and i actually use an ERGO sling to carry my 11mo on front or back from time to time now... rarely use any buggy at all and mine are 11m, 2y and 3y...

Foxy, we went through the same questions - have a 20 month old ds and second baby due in a few weeks - and have bought a Phil & Teds.

Reasons: it's the most adaptable (can convert to a single, also baby can go behind lying down when really little or can be like a twin sitting upright in front), keeps its resale value well, and very lightweight to push and good round corners. I tried out the Mothercare tandem and it was really heavy in comparison and I couldn't easily get it up on a kerb. I also tried out the Jane Powertwin and that waa heavier and less maneouvrable too.

Personally I prefer tandems to side by sides, as pavements are narrow around us.

I've also bought a sling to use with single pushchair, but I figure for long walks/trips out shopping a double pushchair will be easier on my back.

if you do want a slimline sidebyside, i had a we2combi twin which i liked. lightweight and folds compact.

truth is, there are pluses and minuses to every combination...i know coz i have tried them all, believe me. and i find that at the end of my great quest for the holy grail of wheeled transportation for children, i am utterly bored of the whole sodding subject and have a room full of unused pushchairs and slings which are going to more appreciative homes

circumstances, needs change, children grow, and i can finally stop looking for the ultimate pushchair (which doesnt exist)...ramble...mumble...hraaahaha...see where this can lead you???

ok - ill stop being wierd now

so if the 3 you mention are what you have narrowed it down to, i would say no3, p&T is best b/c
a)convertable from single to double. easily
b) a piece of piss to push
c) slightly awkward heavy to lift when collapsed, to but in boot of car, but not prohibitively so.
d)nice accessories (the sleeping bag is lovely and fleecy seat liner too)
e)as long as you dont trash it (diff to do as pretty robust) you can sell it on for decent return.

do buy a sling tho. and if you want the ultimate of those, visit bigmamaslings.co.uk and hire b4 you buy till you find the right one for you. personally LOVE the Ergo.

good luck!

vote here for the ergo too wonderful sling and used a lot when i had one child
but for me it is an extra and need a pc, found having dd in a sling whilst trying to deal with toddler and nappies too difficult