advice on what double buggy to buy/ recommendations please!!!

[CayKon]

I have a 14.5month dd and a 2.5month ds someone gave me a side by side mothercare double buggy, I was grateful and as my daughter could walk thought I wouldnt need anything else.

Unfortunately its not that easy it wont go through doors down isles in shops etc etc so i am looking for a new one, but would like some advice etc from other people as I havent a clue whats best

Most people seem to end up with a Maclaren twin traveller. Gets through doors. Always lots on ebay and seem to hold their value for when you sell on. Just got rid of mine as 2.6 and 13m are both big boys and apart from the sheer weight of it, they started to look VERY SQUASHED!! (oh and the fighting....)
But its a great buggy, get one.

I love my Phil and Teds - although you do need quite a big boot to fit it in.

Both of my children sit in it really comfortably as it is supposed to fit 2 4 year olds I think.

Ds1 is big for his age and sits in the front comfortably and not with his knees on his chin.

I know that a lot of people hate these. But I think it is a good buy as you can use it as a single or double. When we go somewhere if my older child wants to walk we just move ds2 into the front and can then pile all of our bags/coats etc on to the rear seat.

I have a jane powertwin. One child sits behind the other so you can shouldn't have any problem going into shops. They are also incredibly manoeverable. Also, both children can see, unlike the Phil and Ted's. The downside is that they are pretty expensive. However, they retain their value well if you sell it on ebay. I know a number of people with this buggy and everyone seems delighted with it.

I had the powertwin, they are great, best one if you want a tandem. If you still want a twin style, go for a nipper. Narrow enough to fit through doorways and a dream to push.

instep nipper is fab, really narrow and light

Phil & Teds or Jane Power twin

Note - with tandem styles like Jane powertwin, with a fairly old/heavy child in the front seat, it becomes quite difficult to maneovre the buggy up onto pavements as you have to really give it a hard push down on the handle to lever the front up enough IYKWIM?

IME the Phil & Ted's is way easier to handle in this regard cuz the bigger child is just right in front (with the smaller one directly below) so weight distribution is much better. It also folds much smaller than the powertwin.

I've nothing against Jane, they make fab buggies (it was my first!) but the P&T is just so much easier to use...

lilKelBel: i would put the older child in the lower P&T seat as he is more likely to be walking a fair bit of the time.

With the Jane i would again pu the heavier child at the back, tho OPmay have a elfin ds and a bigger dd!

The P&T i think if fab as it can so easily become a single.

Hiya - only prob with putting the wee one in front in the Jane PT (and big kid in back) is the new baby is way too small to sit upright as required by the front seat (if I remember correctly).

Also the front seat of P&T is way too big/upright for a newborn so at least for the first 6 mo I think the bigger kid has to go up front / on top seat.

and agree, it is a fab deal that it can be single or double as required! I know I'm biased but I love mine!

LilKelBel OP has a 14 dd and 2.5y ds, no mentiuon of newborn.

If you want a side by side the nipper is fantastic and fits through my front door (standard upvc) dream to push. Don't know much about tandams as I have baby twins so they were no good.

I would recommend a Mountain Buggy Urban Double - these prams are side by side and are actually the narrow-est width wise side by side on the market. They are also one of the lighter prams, if this is a factor however not in the league of a mclaren. Having said this, they push (with 2 kids in it, even my 4 year old) like a dream and really do take the hard work out of it (mclarens for example are evil to push with 2 kids in it). The new model for 2007 is brilliant with a massive under compartment, for all shopping etc to be chucked in aswell. Only thing i'd say is it isn't cheap, but you'll get more than 2 thirds of the cash back on ebay once your done with it, if you buy one! I had my first one nicked and replaced it with a phil and teds which was rubbish in comparison. My boys love getting in the pram, as its side by side there are no arguments at whos in the back and both are independent of each other, so you can recline one or both depending on the child. AAA+ - expensive but worth it, with resale value!

sorry this is a crap question but those with P&Ts/Janes, what are they like to get in the boot? are we talking squeze them in and forget anything else or are they not too bad? We are looking at double buggys now for new babys arrival and have an estate car.

I have had my P&T's for 2 weeks and absolutely love it.
I tried just about every double buggy in my car boot and this was the only one(apart from Marco Sky)that fits,although I have to take the parcel shelf out.
I have an old style Fiesta and the boot really is small,so if it fits my car it'll probably fit most others.

sorry loopymumsy - if you lived by me i'd say you can borrow mine anytime! (wink)

thanke everyone for the advice, now i have some ideas I can go to a shop and have a feel and see what I like. Luckily I don't have to worry about boot space I can already fit my mothercare double buggy, my mamas and papas mpx and carrycot and a single buggy in at the same time, but would be much easier to have just one system i like and can use