P&Ts, icandy pear or ABC with toddler seat

[micegg]

I am talking buggies in case anyone wondered what the cryptic title was about! DD1 is a terror for running away so I have decided I need a pushchair for her and the new baby. DD will be 2.5 when baby is due. I have pretty much decided against a side by side (too wide) or a tandem (too long). I have narrowed it down to the P& T here but I am not so sure about the toddler seat being so close to the ground. I have also seen the child underneath kicking the one above.

I also like the ABC with the toddler seat here but don't know anyone who has one so not sure how practical they are.

I also like the icandy pear here but it says the seats are only suitable for up to age 3 which would mean only 6 months use out of it.

Have any of you got any of these and if so what are your thoughts?

Thanks

Have only had the P&T but would say that would be your best bet for your age gap

The newborn position is great, nice & cosy, and the swaying rocks the baby to sleep. The toddler position means that your DD will still be undercover if it rains (don't think the toddler seat offers this on the ABC)

DS loved being in the toddler seat when he outgrew the newborn position, DD also loved both seats, no problems with kicking!

And because you won't need a double for that long, it becomes a very good single that can cope with any terrain

If I hadn't already had my fab Mountain Buggy, I would've definitely kept my P&T even when DD no longer needed a pushchair

I love my P&T! I only got it a few months ago (when dd was 2.4 and ds 10 months) so I haven't ever used the newborn position, but I've used it every single day since then and it's been fabulous.
Only thing I don't like is the raincover - you can't put it on and then put the children in and quickly fold it down (as you can on the other buggies I've had), you have to put the children in then put it on.

I had a iCandy apple to begin with with ds but I absolutely hated it. Really heavy, cumbersome, akward to manoeuvre and bulky. I have now got a P&T and I absolutely love it. I often look after my firends 3.5yo and have ds 19mo in bottom seat. I ave never had any problems at all

Thanks everyone. Re: the P&T. Can the child in the lower seat get there fingers caught in the wheels? What do you with your bags, etc as there doesnt seem to be anywhere to hang them. What happens once the youngest wants to start looking about and gets fed up of the baby bit underneath? Do you out them in the front and move the toddler to the underneath? Last question: Do any of you find the one underneath gets frustarted with not being able to see in front.

AW- The ABC toddler seat has a rain cover apparently but I havent found a website showing it so dont know what it looks like.

Thanks again

Hi micegg - I have a P&T and have definately had a love/hate relationship with it.
Hated the newborn part I felt she couldn't see anything apart from me upside down. Liked the cocoon so I didn't have to disturb her when she was sleeping. She outgrew this part of the buggy at around 4.5months. Put her in the back seat at first and hated it. Now she sits in the front and the toddler sits in the back. He normally puts his head to the side to see and I put mud guards on the wheels so he wouldn't touch them.
There really isn't anywhere to put your shopping. There is a new P & T coming onto the market next year Jan (I think) the shopping basket looks more accessible. Sorry for the ramble - hope this helps.

P&T Sport version has mudguards as standard now so no worries about trapped fingers. Plus the toddler seat reclines so fine for babies from around 4.5mths (I used the headhugger from our carseat)

You can pick up a pannier (one is enough) either on Mumsnet or Ebay for less than £15 for shopping

Have P&T. bought it when DD 14 months and DS newborn

Loved it til DS 4 months then hated it as he and DD always seemed to fall asleep when out and about but DS could not maintain head position as seat did not adjust.

I started loving it again when DS 8 months

he is now 22 months and use it every day - DD now walks 75% of time so toddler seat is a jump in and out as requird seat

BTW I think the seating issue I had has been resolved in the lastest model.

Would Your DD not manage a seat to go/buggy board and wrist strap to stop her running off. Although I love my P&T it was expensive and I wish I had bought a decent single and used a sling for DS initially and a Buggyboard for DD later - Would this be an option for you?

another vote for the P&T. I tried the sling + buggy option but it was no fun running after my eldest with the baby strapped to me.

I bought a P&T this afternoon! Went and had a look at the icandy pear and P&T. The seats in the icandy Pear were way too small to last and it was very heavy. Got the P&T as they had a good deal which included everything. Took DD out today and so far so good. I can see the shortcomings but I havent yet found a perfect double buggy so its the nearest I can get to my needs. The woman in the shop said the toddler should always be in front which means when baby outgrows the carrycot section they are supposed to go in the back. I probably wont do this as it doesnt sound so good to me. I suspect (or hope) DD will be a easier to control by then as she will be nearly 3 so hopefully she can just hop in and out of the back. The lack of shopping bag space is also a problem when both seats are attached but given the age gap I dont think it will be a problem for too long. I did think about the buggy board option but my DD runs away from me and hates wrist straps. This may change but probably not in the near future. I also thought about the sling option but didnt fancy chasing DD with a baby attached to me. I am making her sound a nightmare. Shes really very good apart from the running away habit!

One more thing. I bought the most recent model and it comes with mud guards.