Talk to me about the phil and ted please.

[iMum]

Is it any good? I am due in October/November and by then my ds will be 2.
We went and had a look at one the other day but I wasnt overlly taken with it tho dh was.
Ive always had prams where baby faces me so this is a bit different I guess.

Honest opinions please.

Message withdrawn

Well, I have a phil and teds E3 version 2. It is a very versatile buggy. I have a 20 month gap between my two. I have used it since birth of DD1, and it has really come into its own since my DD2 has been able to sit up.

You can use panier bags to overcome the small storage issue.

I think it's size is something to think about. We have a Ford Mondeo, so it isn't an issue for us. We either put it on it's side in the corner of the boot if in single mode, with the second seat removed, or collapse it complete with second seat, and remove the rear wheel nearest the front of the boot (simple tent-peg type removal). But we do have a huge boot for a saloon/hatch car.

I am now noticing the weight of my two girls, but I think you would notice 45lbs up a hill in any double buggy.

Being able to fix the front wheel optionally is a real bonus. I had a friend with a three wheeler, who really struggled to steer her buggy in soft ground, etc, but the P&T is no problem.

When the 2nd child is a newborn, you can also attach your car seat to the top of the bumper bar, and put DC1 in the rear seat. Just make sure that you have something heavy in the seating area to counter balance.

We like ours, and wouldn't be without it. It is terrific for the preschool run. I love the way I can go into regular shops without having to worry about my buggy.

I have a P&T Sport & a 2 year gap
A side by side double would not fit in my hallway
It works well for newborn & toddler and then for 2 toddlers

I had one but the main problem I had with it was the lack of recline on the bottom seat. My ds2 was too big to lie underneath before he was ready to sit up properly (I know there is now a recline on the bottom seat but it still wouldn't have been enough for me). When ds2 was tiny and we were using the cocoon though I really liked it other than the fact it was beavy to push. Sold it in the end and bought a double out n a bout nipper which I absolutely loved, only possible problem with it was that the seats never sat completely upright.

I am now due in sept (last baby!) with a 2 year old and despite loving the nipper, am planning on blowing the budget on either a double mountain buggy with carrycot or a duowalker with carrycot.

I have mixed views about it. I use mine with 2.1 and 4 month old dcs.

Good points:

1. Fantastic wheels. Great for proper off-road walking. Copes far better with bumpy, muddy paths and long grass than my Jane single pushchair ever did. Have had some punctures, but that is par for the course with off-road use, I think.
2. Narrower than side-by-side. I wouldn't be able to get in the shops of my nearest town with a side-by-side.

Bad points:

1. Build quality is poor. The fabric is fraying in parts already (only had it for 4 months). Feels shoddily built, IMO.
2. Heavy to lift in and out of car boots. You can remove the wheels, but you wouldn't want to do so if they're muddy.
3. PITA to fold and unfold.
4. Minimal shopping basket (none when you swap the seats round at 6 months+, I think). Doesn't bother me though, as I don't use it much for shopping. You can get pannier bags if needed.
5. Newborns outgrow the base bit before they are ready for the seats to swap over. My ds2 is starting to get very disgruntled with his travelling arrangements, and he looks squashed and uncomfortable.
6. Hood and raincover don't fit over the head of a toddler in the top seat, when the seats are arranged in the first position (and I have a very short 2 year old). Mini-raincover for the newborn is quite good though.

If I were buying again, I'd probably still get it just because it is the only one that met my off-road needs, but if I was mainly using it around towns then I wouldn't.

agree with muffin about the folding and lifting
I don't drive so it doesn't matter to me

the recline on the doubles seat is good but only useful for short toddlers - my 2 year old was too tall