Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Shopping

From everyday essentials to big purchases, swap tips and recommendations. For the best deals without the hassle, sign up for Mumsnet Moneysaver emails.

Original poster

Side by side, or tandem buggies?

15 replies

AimeesMum · 05/08/2002 18:35

Hi. A friend of mine is due to have her second baby when her first is 11 months old. She's not very tall, and was wondering which type of pram would be best for them, side by side, or tandem?
any ideas?

OP posts:
sb34 · 05/08/2002 20:56

Message withdrawn

ames · 05/08/2002 21:41

just wondered if she need one cos i know i wouldnt be able to get out the house!!!!!!!!lol

ames · 05/08/2002 21:41

sorry not much help am i!!

helenmc · 05/08/2002 22:28

I had twins and they started in a tandem (thinj it was Graco)- you need long arms to open doors, or train the kid at the front to hold out their legs then you can ram the door. They also stick out so if crossing a road with narrow pavement you end up on one side so stop the buggy poking out into the road. It also means you can't safely use the islands they have between 2 sets of roads as they are too long. The kid at the back doesn't get much of a view. We almost got stuck in the library lift because it was so long it was wedged between the 2 sets of doors!!! But on the whole I preferred it. Plus it did have a wonderful shopping tray underneath. The side by side wouldn't fit through our front door unless you get the angle right. It was also a nightmare pushing it round shops where the clothes rails /aisles are so tight you are consistently knocking into things. - so check measurements. The other thing was I found if you pushing in the middle your feet kept knocking the middle set of wheels. I wish they did tester days just like you can take a car out why can't you try a buggy for a day - see what its like to fold up on your own ( once took buggy home tottaly erect int he back of our espace as after battling as a new mum for 20 mins I couldn't fold the thing up!!!), see how much space for shopping (and see if it will fold up without having to empty all the shopping first) Wittering on here but hope its given some food for thought.

sobernow · 05/08/2002 22:28

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

nmd · 06/08/2002 08:43

I bought a tandem when dd2 was born - great for things like getting through doorways, squeezing past cars/roadworks that take up half the pavement, getting lots of shopping underneath etc BUT as soon as dd2 could sit up she discoverd hair-pulling and I had to buy a buggy board - fine as dd1 was then 2 but not ideal for smaller ones. Definitely shop around for easy ones to push - mine was a Waki and very easy to push, but I'm quite tall.

SueDonim · 06/08/2002 09:28

What about using a sling for the new baby and a single buggy for the 11mth old?

JaneyT · 06/08/2002 10:16

We have 16 months between our dds, and have a side by side buggy - I did want a tandem originally but couldn't get it in the boot of my car - very important factor !!

I also decided on a side by side - a graco I think - as I agree with sobernow that I thought there would be lots of poking from the dd in the back ! HOWEVER side by side is just as bad if not worse as there is a lot of poking from dd2 and I have to give them both things to occupy their hands.

I agree with the door situation but a lot of shops now have at least one set of automatic doors and it is surprising just what you can get through !

I keep the pushchair in the garage, to get around the front door problems.

An alternative is to use a back carrier for the older child - who will be 11 months you said, and to use the original pushchair for the new baby, this would save quite a lot of money, but can be a bit tough on your back, but older child can use back carrier till about 2 years old, by which time may be ready for a buggy board. hth

clary · 09/08/2002 17:05

I would back Sudonim's suggestion every time, sling for baby until 8/10 mths (unless very big, but even then good for 6 mths surely) and toddler in pushchair. Then graduate to baby in p/chair and toddler on buggyboard. Worked very well for us but then gap is 2yrs. 11mths is very small gap to do this - ie, will the bigger child be walking well enough to give up the buggy once the baby is out of the sling? - but it's surely worth a try, nothing to lose, plus if you do then need the double buggy with 18mo and 6mo babies, you don't have to choose a from birth one, ie you can get one that's a bit lighter and smaller.

Lollypop · 09/08/2002 19:45

Which is the best buggy board?

reager · 13/08/2002 22:56

I received a 3 wheeler from this site today. You are able to 'double' up with it. ie. one on top of the other. Weird but it looks like it works! www.babybuggy.co.nz

monkey · 14/08/2002 12:47

I have had this for nearly 2 years. I have LOTS of thoughts on it if anyone needs advicwe/opinions! Some good, some bad)

monkey · 14/08/2002 16:47

btw, reager, I mean to ask - how many kids have you got, & what ages are they? How did you hear about this buggy? And finally, have you used it yet, & whaddaya think?

reager · 14/08/2002 21:25

Monkey,
Saw someone mention it on this site. Took it out for a spin today and think it is groovy. Easy to push, almost floats. Mamas and Papas Pliko had been run in to the ground. One DD at this stage Monkey - 10 mths. Thought the 'stacking' concept might be useful in future.....

Original poster
AimeesMum · 15/08/2002 08:39

I took a look at the double buggies on the site mentioned..'Phil and Teds excellent buggy' or something, lol. Thought they looked a really good idea, and I know I would be buying one of those if I had two children close together. Our friend has opted for a large four-wheeler side-by side, which seeing as her first baby is very large for her age, and baby number two is thought to be a large baby, plus shopping and the weight of the buggy, and she's only small, I thought was a bad idea.

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page