Side by side or tandem buggy? ** CONFUSED! ** HELP PLEASE - ta.

[RUMPEL]

Hi my DD will be 21 months when next baby comes along in July. I went to look at prams yesterday with a nipper or Phil & Ted in mind.

However, the woman in the shop said that side by side were not so good for that age gap and the Phil and Ted creates problems when baby gets to 6 months as baby has to sit upright in the front then and toddly goes in the back.

Now I am totally confused! The Jane Pro looked GARGANTAUN and a nightmare to fold up. She suggested a Graco - however, I found with the Graco single that the back wheels were too close together for my stride and I nearly had a few mishaps by standing on the wheel!!

So - I look to the oracle that is Mumsnetters for help and advice please!!

Oh when I went to look at the Nipper my DS1 hated it as it does not sit very upright. Some people say their toddlers don't mind this but mine hated it and looked like he spent the whole time I was testing it trying to sit more upright. He whined a lot. He loves sitting in the front of the Powertwin. He also liked the First Wheels City Twin (forward or back facing, can have carrycot for newborn and seat unit for toddler).

I have used the Jane powertwin for the last 2yrs 10 months, children 18 months age difference and would recommend it as a good all rounder.

Pros
easy to manoeuvre round town, light to push even with 2 children in, great for walking. Having baby behind toddler stops them prodding, poking etc. and as they get older DC in front can just turn around to talk.

Cons
front seat doesn't recline that far so not so comfy for child to sleep and seat isn't very high so they kind of have to curl up to sleep as they get bigger. You need to take the front hood off when they are toddlers as its so low, raincovers a bit fiddly. Quite big when folded so you need a reasonably big boot and also heavy to lug in and out of car boot.

I love my P&T. DS is now 3.5 and DD is 18 months and I've only just swapped them over to heaviest in front. I like the fact that when DS is at nursery I'm not pushing a one-sided pram to go and get him.

I do, however, find it a bit of a pain to get in and out of the car so when I keep my Pliko in car with buggy board and keep the P&T 'up' at home for walking around village. We only take the P&T out in the car if it's going to be a long day and DS will get tired of the buggy board.

A friend of mine has to take the wheels off her's every time she puts it in the car. She doesn't mind but I would!!

Don't feel sorry for the one in the back - mine would fight for that seat!!