double buggy or tandem

[susanita]

Hi
I'm expecting nr2 in May when my son will be just over 2 years old. I doubt he'll be able to walk for long periods of time so I'm considering buying a cheapish double buggy or tandem.
I've heard that tandems can be a problem because the heavy child sits in the front and this can make it difficult to go up & down kerbs etc. I'm concerned about a double buggy 'cos of the width and being able to get through doors (and whether my 2 year old will fit nicely in the seat).
Does anyone have experience of one/either/both or could anyone recommend either double buggy or tandem. I know that there are reviews on the site but it's just confused me more.
Thanks

Don't know if this will help but Kidz Kangaroo (sp?) do a 3-wheeler tandem it doesn't look any bigger than a normal 3-wheeler. I think index might sell it, failing that Tiny Tinker in Haywards Heath does (they specialise in double and triple pushchairs). I haven't tried it but it looks like a good idea!

Willum, think you mean Kidz Kargo - ? I've seen this pushchair on the Tescos website, but it was in October/November last year - not sure if they still have it on the site though.

Pamina - someone on UKP General Buy and Sell Forum is desperately trying to get rid of a tandem for £50 or offers. There are usually a few on there around that price, but then you have postage on top (about £10 with parcel2go)

We got a twin (side by side) Graco and ended up buying from Kiddicare as the deal at the time was better than any second hand ones we could find.

HTH!

We used to have a tandem but threw it away in september when we moved because noone seemed to want one, even a free one. It had only been used a few times as well.

Can I just say though to be a bit careful in the beginning. Ds1 was a few days old and dd2 was not even 2, and I took them both out in the pushchair to get dd1. The effort used in having to push down on the handles to get up the kerb caused agaony in my pelvic area, and I couldn't walk properly or push the pushchair for a couple of weeks afterwards. Maybe it was silly of me to go out so soon after giving birth, but I had felt ok , and back to speed, and thought that if I was able to do the laundry after 48 hours then I could take them out.

Hi

I have the same quandry, my second is due when my ds will be 20 Months. We live in the basement of a block of flats so I think that no double buggy will be able to deal with two flights of stairs with two kids.

Therefore I'm looking for a flexible system and am considering a Bertini or Emmalungja with a toddler seat. The idea is that it will be good for two and allow me to use it as a single buggy when ds is walking all the time. Anybody had experience with them, where can I try out a Bertini in the London area or does anyone have one for sale ?

Thanks

I have the Bertini with a toddler seat. Mothercare at Bluewater, Peter Jones and the Lilliput chain of stores stocked them when I bought mine around 18 months ago. The drawbacks are that it is very heavy and very bulky when folded so you need a car with a big boot. The major plus is that the folding action is very easy and it is extremely easy to push and steer. My toddler loved the height of the seat. Personally, I do a lot of very long walks directly from home so I found it invaluable. However, it is quite expensive and I wouldn't have bought it except for the hope that I will have a 3rd baby and therefore get another round of use out of it.

Since then my SIL passed on her mountain buggy three wheeler and I now use that with a buggy board attached. I find this absolutely fantastic but I guess that 20 months may be a bit young.

Bells2 - that does sound exactly what we want as I do a lot of walking and luckily have a large booted car. I'll check out Peter Jones.

Thanks

Cha, the buggy you saw is a Kiwi Explorer. You can find it here: Phil and Ted . Not cheap - I think they are about £250 + count on about UK£50 for postage. But my friend who bought one figured she would be able to sell it on for a good sum, and she loves it as it is so versatile.

Florenceuk - Just checked out the kiwi explorer which also looks fab. Very tempted.

Only concern is as I live down a couple of flights of stairs - how do three wheelers cope with stairs ?

Thanks

Kaz33

3 wheelers are much easier to get up & down stairs than normal pushchairs - much less jarring for the kids. Only time when I've found it fiddly are if stairs are very short (i.e. length of tread) when compared with size of wheels.

Florenceuk - you are a STAR. You have no idea how many hours I have spent surfing the net trying to find that pram... Wow.
Do you know what size it is when it has both kids in? I have a shared entrance hall which fits a 3 wheeler - just. Also, does anyone out there know where I could buy one of these second hand???? Nearly £300 is a lot of loot.

Cha

I have been surfing the web (ebay, loot, upmy street etc...) trying to find a second hand one and no luck. Their website does say that there are stockists in various European countries - but not the UK unfortunately. It might be cheaper to get one imported from Europe than Australia.

Kaz33

Cha, with the second kid in, it is not any wider than a normal three wheeler, because of the way the buggy is constructed. But specifications are probably on the site. Obviously a bit heavier to push though the swivel front wheel helps a lot. The clever thing is that it is very easy to convert back into a single (for days when your toddler is feeling independent) because the second seat just slots into the frame. I think it would be cheaper to import from NZ - I did look into trying to get a 3 wheeler from the Netherlands, but turned out to be cheaper to get it direct from NZ. But because there is no UK distributor I would have thought the chances of finding one second-hand here are small.

Cha

Have found another stockist in Australia -

www.babymall.com.au/explorer

They have a special offer whereby you get the deluxe double buggy with rain covers etc.. in baby blue and post and packaging for $770 Australian dollars. That comes in at under £300, impossible to tell how much as reliant on my credit card exchange rate.

Have ordered mine. So if any problems with delivery etc I'll post here.

Other than that there was an advert on Preloved.co.uk for a second hand buggy Kiwi Explorer buggy.

Kaz33

kaz33 - cheers for that tip, though the Explorer website thingy has the whole screaming lot at more or less the same price - sky blue and all. How soon will your lot deliver? I'm getting really excited about this buggy, thinking of ordering it now even though only 12 weeks pg with No2.... Loathe the 3 wheeler tank I have now (anyone out there who is considering a Quinny Fashion - DON'T DO IT.)
Would be very interested in hearing your reviews once the thing is safely delivered and unpacked, so please keep me posted!

I think the Australians worked out about £20 cheaper according to my currency converter.

The delivery time is roughly 21 days. I too am fed up with my 4 wheel truck, so DS ends up in cheap Maclaren buggy. I'm about 24 weeks but thought I might as well get the new buggy sooner so that we can use it before no.2 arrives.

I'll let you know what I think of it.

If anyone is interested in the Kiwi Explorer we supply directly from the manufacturer in New Zealand (Phil & Ted's). Our business, in Silverdale, New Zealand (www.winkalotts.co.nz) has been selling their buggies for over 5 years and we've been in the nursery business for almost 30 years.
We'd be more than happy to quote any of Phil & Ted's products. We are pricing the Kiwi Explorer Deluxe Double Buggy at NZ$825 right now (including shipping & insurance to the UK). They are running a special package on the baby blue colour with additional components. Lead time is less than 10 business days as we ship New Zealand International Post (air-service).
Phil & Ted's Buggy Company are also promoting the Kiwi Espresso now (its a single buggy only - you can't convert to a double) but its built on the same frame as the Kiwi Explorer. Price to the UK (including shipping/insurance) is NZ$600 for the Kiwi Espresso.
Any questions just email me at [email protected]

Thanks,
Rodney

If anyone is interested in the Kiwi Explorer we supply directly from the manufacturer in New Zealand (Phil & Ted's). Our business, in Silverdale, New Zealand (www.winkalotts.co.nz) has been selling their buggies for over 5 years and we've been in the nursery business for almost 30 years.
We'd be more than happy to quote any of Phil & Ted's products. We are pricing the Kiwi Explorer Deluxe Double Buggy at NZ$825 right now (including shipping & insurance to the UK). They are running a special package on the baby blue colour with additional components. Lead time is less than 10 business days as we ship New Zealand International Post (air-service).
Phil & Ted's Buggy Company are also promoting the Kiwi Espresso now (its a single buggy only - you can't convert to a double) but its built on the same frame as the Kiwi Explorer. Price to the UK (including shipping/insurance) is NZ$600 for the Kiwi Espresso.
Any questions just email me at [email protected]

Thanks,
Rodney

Can any one who has a Kiwi Explorer/knows some one who does, please do a bit of a review on here (GOOD AND BAD BITS!)?

Thank you.

I have just ordered the last baby blue special Kiwi Explorer that Phil&Teds had left. If anyone is interested, I ordered it through Kiwidad, he was very helpfull and can do a great package for you on all the other colours. Should be here in ten days, I can't wait to get rid of my huge 4 wheeler!!!

willum

Mine has just arrived in the country and will be delivered tommorow. Just a warning that you are going to get charged VAT as well at 17.5%. This is collected on delivery by the parcel company.

I'll give you a report after the weekend. Of course I've only got a 19 month old to try it out at the moment. Three months before I'll be able to give you the newborn /toddler review.

Regards

Karen

Kaz and willum - was just about to order mine but I think I will wait on reviews from you two guys! Promise to tell us what it's like....

Hope Kiwidad pays Mumsnet a commission!!