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

Bear, if you go down the posting it route remember to get it sent as a gift, so you don't get stuck for the vat!

Hi FlorenceUK, no I don't think it was that one, we are pretty sure it was a 3-wheeler. Nice, though looks a bit top-heavy (wouldn't fancy negotiating our kerbs with a heavy tot on top). Will just have to keep looking out for it I guess! Will let you know if we find out more.

Dannie, thanks for the advice, we may go for a buggy board.

Joanie

There is a European (German?) brand Trends for Kids (TFK) which does a 3 wheeler to which you can add a "Sulky" seat which bolts onto the frame behind the main pushchair seat. Incidently you can also buy a small swivel wheel for front and adaptors to bolt 2 together and make a double which you can split again later.(see www.buggy.de)

Thanks for reminding me Willum - will do.

Hi has anyone seen a double level pushchair like my fiance? Apparently it is the size of a normal pushchair with another seat for a smaller child where the shopping basket would go. I've looked on net but no joy, please let me know if you even know the make of it thanx.

Benni if you have a look further down this thread, you'll find discussion of/links to a buggy like the one you describe.

Bennie - it's prob the Kiwi Explorer which as Florenceuk say is disscussed on this thread. In fact I think thats about all we discuss now. General opinion is it's the bee's knees!!

Well, its time for the Kiwi Explorer newborn wings review.

DS2 loves it, I put him in the child carrier, slot it in the back of the buggy and he curls up and falls asleep. He feels much more cosseted, secure and enclosed than in our old traditional pram ( which he doesn't like ).

Its easy to slot the child carrier in and out of the back of the pram. I placed a blanket in the bottom of the child carrier so that it is a bit softer than the mattress they supply. Once the child carrier is in there are fastenings so that it is secure. It bucketed down with rain today and the rain cover kept both boys dry.

You pass people in the playgroup and its a bit like having a secret, a baby hidden away that no one knows about.

Everyone I've met has been very impressed with our flash new pram.

Cons, the space is quite limited - so not sure how many months it will be usable for, but then of course we move on to the second seat.

I bumped both boys down the stairs to my flat today - it was hard work with their combined weight and having to be very careful because DS2 was underneath. Because of the weight I was a little worried about losing control, so in future I think DS1 will have to walk up and down the stairs.

Having the newborn wings limits the storage space below the buggy, but that is inevitable.

But overall I love the newborn section, much to my suprise it is great.

that's good to hear kaz33, looking forward to seeing it!

Kaz33 - do you have a link to a website where they have piccies of the kiwi explorer you are describing? Where did you get yours from and how much was it?

LucieB, I'm sure the links are all further down in the thread. You can get them either from the people that make them (www.babybuggy.co.nz) or from kiwidad - link below I think.

I think the total cost is around £400 including duty etc

There's a new one for $275 buy-it-now on eBay. In the US but cheaper than getting it from down under.

Think that is probably the standard single, by the time you buy the additional double/newborn bits the price adds up.

I'm jealous of the new version of the kiwi explorer! I got mine a couple of years ago & it now looks so much flasher! Anyway, need to order spare part anyway, so tempted to get the bacpac while I'm at it. They do 2, the nursery bacpack & the bacpack x or something like that. Does anyone have either of these that they can give me a quick review, they don't seem to give a description on the site, thanks

Kaz 33 - glad to hear you like it. I also liked the newborn attachment - again - I'm jealous as the carrycot thingy didn't exist in my day! Wonder if it fits the old model - maybe I could go crazy & get that too?

Monkey - ours is the standard back pack. It is a rectangle shape with a zip across the top and a small pocket on the front. Inside there is an open topped liner stiched to the back to make an area that can be used for wet things etc (we use it for the changing mat and nappies etc (the mat comes with it)) The rest to the inside is one big space which hold loads. It has mesh straps which un-clip at the bottom so you can attach it to the buggy, it also has d-rings at the top which you attach to clips which hang from the buggy via short straps. Don't know any thing about the other one sorry.

Anyone thinking of paying £400 don't do it speak to Kiwidad first! My package cost about £308 I think. It was cheaper because of the colour but he did offer me a different colour for not much more.

Kaz33 - glad you like it. I got the baby bit out at the week end to see what it was like and I could not get the carrier in an out without sqaushing it! Dh siad he thought it would be easier when we came to use it for real and thank goodness you have just proved him right.

Monkey, the child carrier is great - as it makes it really easy to get DS2 in and out of the pram - just slot him in.

Ooh, I'm even more jealous - 'phone the company (yup, in NZ - hope dh doesn't find out! put it down to hormones!) and it doesn't fit my old model! boo hoo! Wish I'd never looked at this thread. Want a new pushchair now!

About the rucksac - determined to buy something for the poor deprived baby (well, me really), what are the clips like that it comes with? Can you acurately describe them & how it attaches to pushchiar? Ta

What age do children still want to sit in a buggy till? Our dd is coming up to 2 and loves walking, we are wondering if it is worth us getting a double buggy?

HarrassedDad, we had similar dilemma. DD was 21 months when ds was born and I really wasn't sure whether to get a double buggy or not. DD loves walking but I've found there are certain situations when it's really handy to have the double buggy, at least if you have it you've got the option of whether the older one walks or rides. It's also useful in and around shops when you want to keep the older child "under control" if you know what I mean We went for a Kingswood tandem and it's been really good, not too heavy, good value for money and you can get it through shop doorways etc etc. We still have dd's single buggy so also have the option of using that too.
Hope this helps.

H dad I would avoid it if your lifestyle can cope. We had a two year gap and then got one second hand and only used it twice. Unless you do a lot of walking or its summer when the baby is due I would not get one

If she likes walking maybe you could make do with a buggy board? All kids differ - my cousin would have stayed in his buggy till he was 10 if it hadn't collapsed. MY elder ds aged 2 .5 still liked sitting in pushchair, but we basically evicted him (wicked) but he still gets tired, so he rides on a buggy board.

I think you need to ask if this love of walking is a recent phase? When is next child due? How much walking do you do? How much is dd capable of? Will you be prepared to carry her ( we definitely weren't).

The age gap between mine is 2 and 2 months. I use my double buggy most days as I find that DS can't always walk there and back everywhere I ,and as someone else said it is useful for controlling him when shopping (even just the threat sometimes).
I went for a double 3 wheeler in the end - its made by out and about. The seats are big compared to other side by side buggys and its not too wide - there have only been one or two shops with tiny doors I couldn't get in. Basically I found if a wheelchair can access a door then I probably can too. Its very light and fantastically easy to push - the snag is it was expensive - about 270 pounds. But if i use it loads then it was worth it

I couldn't have done without my double, but then mine were 17.5 months appart! But even when older ds was capable of walking, he often was too tired/grumpy/we were in a hurry and a dawdling toddler was too diff - loads of reasons. The good thing about the Kiwi explores (or rather 1 of them) is that it can convert back to a single when you no longer need the double.

monkey I have now seen a kiwi explorer in the flesh (courtesy kaz33, thanks) and just have a quick question - how long is the newborn bit useful for? I remember with ds by about 3 months he wouldn't have been happy just lying down and being expected to go to sleep, but at this stage wouldn't a baby still be too young for the toddler seat? What age did you find ds2 was ready for the toddler seat?