Buggy for toddler and newborn, not P&T [long]

[Flowermum]

Hi all,

I'm researching double buggies atm (because I don't want to do housework!). I'm expecting no.2 in November and DD1 will be 2.5yrs. WE don't have a car so have to walk everywhere and I don't think a buggy board will work as she's very flighty and tends to run off.

So far, I've discounted:

1. Mutsy Urban Rider with Duo Seat because only the back wheels swivel and it looks bulky with no basket space.
2. ICandy Pear as I've read reviews that it's really heavy but I still love that it can be a double or single so am open to persuasion.
3. Graco Quattro Duo because DP doesn't fancy it
4. Firstwheels Twin City Elite because it's heavy and wide
5. Mountain Buggy because even though it looks great, the hood goes over both seats so when you have carrycot and toddler seat, the toddler has no hood which is no good for a winter baby!
6. Maclaren Twin Traveller, I already have one for childminding and it's a pain to push with DD and younger kid I mind. Find the side by side cumbersome and will be more so with big DD and tiny baby.
7. Phil&Teds because I used to have one but sold it. It's fine, I just don't love it! Also, DP is VERY tall and used to kick DD when she was fully reclined, meaning he'll kick baby which isn't cool!

OK so I think that's it. So what I'm left with are

1. Jane Powertwin. Looks easy to push, has all air tyres so good for kerbs and bumpy roads. But can the back seat be used from birth? I have a Maxi Cosi car seat which I love so didn't want to have to shell out for another car seat and also I don't like leaving babies in a car seat for extended period of time. And will DD1 fit in the front seat? I believe the foot plate is v small so will her legs be dangling?
2. Kolcraft Contours. Does someone on here have this already? I like how the seats can face front, back or each other but am worried it'd be heavy and cumbersome without air tyres. Also, again, is it suitable from birth?
3. Bumbleride which is lovely, has lovely big tyres, nice colours, looks very cosy but is it too huge looking?
4. Am open to suggestions...

Anyone have any opinions on any of these? Sorry for the length of this post, I'm just obsessed!

Thanks in advance,
Aoife

emmaljunga with toddler seat?

I'm in the same situation as you! Due in July and DD will be 26 months. Mamas & Papas has a new one called the Duette which looks quite good but might be super heavy. I'd want to see it first.

Can you get the bumbleride over here? I'm going to the US next week and was going to have a look at it, the Queen Bee with toddler seat looks just the thing.

Don't get the iCandy pear it is a disaster - too small for a toddler, the carrycot seems to have been tested using a very small doll and it is soooo heavy and difficult to handle. Loads of people have got caught out and are selling on ebay (always used for a few hours until the woman has gone mad and put it on ebay for a big loss).

I have a 2.4 year age gap, no car and manage very well with ds2 in sling and ds1 in Maclaren Quest.

i would prob go for a pram with toddler seat, as a tandem will prob be heavy with a toddler in front.
a powertwin would be your best bet i think if you fancy a tandem as it is prob the easiest to push tandem(from what i have read) but the front seat isnt that big thats why i didnt get one.
the bumbleride one does look nice.
the mamas and papas duette looks nice but i would think it will be quite heavy, but at least with that rather than a toddler seat your DD1 would be able to nap, if she still does?

Hi can you get the contour here in the uk? There will only be 13 months between my dd3 and dc4 and i wanted something rear facing so this would be ideal!

there was one on ebay earlier but it was £249 buy it now,
the seats dont look very big on it though.would be ok for 2 very small siblings i should think

I'm not as into the toddler seat thing as I thought I would be, hadn't even realised it was there till you mentioned it! It just doesn't look very versatile and the baby's legs look a bit squashed.

I was looking at the double version. Found it on Ebay here and with shipping to Ireland (which is where I am) it isn't really that much I don't think for a double of that size.

Thanks MrsFogi for Pear feedback, I suspected as much but I think I just needed someone to say it out loud!

Any other feedback welcome!
A

My CM and I have tried every double on the market between us I think!!!! Powertwin a bit disappointing especially for larger children.

Surprisingly the easiest to push and steer was the graco studio tandem (with the exception of the 3 wheelers)!!!!!!!!! Rear seat goes flat and you can lift the foot bit up and make it more pram like, loads of shopping space etc. Haven't tried out the latest version with the funky handles.

Marco Sky?

what about a nipper/hauck/phil and teds side by side/ 3 wheeler???
personally if you walk lots i would go for a 3 wheeler, much easier to push than a stroller type.

i had the graco stadium duo and also found it GREAT, but i didnt walk that much with it i just used mine if i was up town shopping as it was easier to have ds strapped in so i knew where he was!

I can't believe someone was selling that Kolcraft for £249! It retails in the states for $199 which is £100.35 at the moment. Surely you could find someone to ship it for less than 150 quid?

The kolcraft was being discussed the other day, someone has one and confirmed that the seats are tiny so I think you can discount that - and it's really heavy!

I had a powertwin when dd1 was 2.2 and dd2 newborn, its very easy to push, heavy to lift in and out the car and it was so nice i bought a single jane when dd1 started walking.

Dp has said if i can get one bought and shipped for less than £200 total than we can get one. The seat size isnt so much of a problem with me as dd3 is only tiny. She is 6 months but only wearing 3-6 clothes and weighs 15lbs so i cant see her being huge by the time baby comes.

that bumbleride double looks very similar to the hauck roadster

It is very similar to the Hauck... Slightly nicer design but they seem to have the same look about them. The Hauck is a lot cheaper though! Like, a lot.

Oliviaelanasmum I'd say you could get one and shipped for around £200, they're really not that expensive and the Dollar is very weak at the moment. There's one listed at the moment for $160, but shipping would be a good but on top of that.

Everyone always seems to love the Jane. Expensive though...

I think I'll rule the Kolcraft out so. Where was the thread about it?

Thread about Kolcraft