Double buugy dilema!Please give me your advice.....

[nobodysfool]

I have a 3 year old (13kg) and am expecting another baby in Jan.
I need to find a double buggy that can take them both as we do a lot of walikng and shopping.
I think i would prefer a tandem style so it's easier to get in and out of doorways but are there any side by side designs that fit through doorways?
I would like to have a travel system set up if possible so when the baby is asleep i can take them out of the car without disturbing them by putting them in the buggy.
I really don't know what make or design to go for,can you help?
Any help or advice would be great.

I would wait until nearer the time. I had a 17mth age gap and bought a Mountain Buggy. I loved it, but my DS2 hated being in the buggy until he was 6mths or so. He was in a sling permanently until then (from 2 days post section, slinging isn't a problem at all after a section...all you're doing is carrying your baby as per what is 'allowed'!).

We then used the MB for 7/8 mths, but it was hopeless for round the local shops etc and I only once put it in the car it was so heavy. For those kind of occasions I used my McLaren plus buggyboard.

Eventually I bought a P&T when DS2 was, erm, 13mths and that is what I use now (DS1 nearly 3...DS2 18mths). But DS1 walks mostly.

I wouldn't shell out for anything massively expensive until you know what kind of babe you get! If you get one like DS2 you won't be going for 2 hour walks unless your new baby is in a sling!

x

I agree a good wraparound sling is fab. If you take a lightweight buggy with you, you can put baby down in it when you get to park or whatever, if you want to.

I agree in getting the little boy to walk more, but I can totally understand, also, when you've been out for the day, everybody''s tired and your three yr old wants to go on your shoulders and you have baby in sling or pram. I've been there myself and it's very hard- esp. if the baby is crying in the pram because you keep stopping and they want to be moving... arrrgh!Not sure a buggy board would cut it in that situation. Maybe it would.

I have a P&T for 4 wo DD3 and 2 1/2yo DD2 I spent ages looking at double buggy solutions and it seemed like the best one. DD2 is a good walker but when I have her and 4yo DD1 by myself it is too much hence the P&T also means I can have it as a single as well which I like. I reckon by next Spring I won't need it as DD2 will be 3 and walking all the time but until then it's fine. We had a day out recently and DD1 and 2 spent the day swapping who went in the front.

I have a Jane Powertwin

here

My DS is nearly 3 but has a heart condition so can't walk anywhere far without his oxygen levels dropping resulting in him being a nightmare. Its a nice pram but it is heavy with both of them in, I tend not to go very far on my own with both tbh

doesn't the jane powertwin have a rather critical upper weight limit?

Maybe the design has changed now, but we were advised against it because it can give way if you exceed the limit.

God I'm going to go and do some work, I sound like a right harbinger of doom, here

I would not use a double if you can avoid it. I have a 2 yr old and 7 month old twins and if I am going for a walk longer than I think my DS1 can or will handle I take the sling so when he gets tired I can put him in the buggy (Powertwin) and carry DD. Means you don't have to carry the whole time.

No experience of slings after c-section but I know a fair few ladies on our post natal thread did use slings a lot after theirs.

Also, you will not, I imagine, be doing a two hour walk so soon after your c-section, so by the time you might be am sure a sling would be fine.

If you do want a double, I have the Powertwin and do love it. I love being able to fit through doorways and my own front door. We looked at Nipper and DS1 hated it as he couldn't sit upright.

I think its max 45 lb in each seat but don't quote me.

Yes I had a look, 20kg. I think the one we looked at was 15kg- it was a couple of years ago, so that would be fine, wouldn't it.

Mine were only 16months or so apart, but DS is a big lad.

P&T

Nipper is a bit wider than a Mountain Buggy and can have doorway ishoos.

Pretty much all doubles weigh between 11-15kgs that is from a Maclaren to the mountain buggy with seats not carrycots so weight wise isn't that great but compactness/carryability/hauling up stairs etc might be.

We have travelled abroad with the P&T in it's travel bag with no ishoos and the children 5.5m & 18m interchange between seats

Yes, i do comply with heavier child in top seat - there's no way dd1 would fit in the rear seat, she's a big girl.

The doubes seat is the seat with the lower weight restriction, so it shouldn't be a problem for the OP. If her 3 year old is 13kg now, then will fit in doubles seat when used on top (and dd1 fitted well there, when dd2 was born. She must have been at least 1m tall at that point).

then, once new baby is 5/6 months old, then the rear seat goes on underneath with the lighter baby in it, and iirc, the main seat has a 25kg weight limit.

so it really is a buggy that lasts ofr ages.

Dizzy where did you get it??? I want one (i think) but can only find one single on eaby and the rest are from American websites.

It does look great, i really want a double that can fit in the front door, have a car seat on it and a carrycot as mine tend to be tummy sleepers that only settle in a pram. The icandy is on my list too but i prefer the side by side. I just really need it to fit through my front door! Essential to be able to come in and out the house from the school run with the baby sleeping in the pram.

from Holland they sent it within 3 days and I LOVE LOVE LOVE it

there are a couple of shops in london but they're really expensive and its cheaper to get it sent over from there - more colour options too - we got red and its lovely

the icandy is REALLY heavy and I didn't like the fact that the seats HAVE to be facing the same way so if toddler wants to see out then baby has to be facing away too iyswim?

here largeG&T

hth

Thank you Dizzy!!! That site is fabulous!

I have just worked out it will cost £587, may have to work on dh for that... It looks great though.

I need to measure my front door space too, please let it fit!

agree with carry in a sling. We did with our second and never used a buggy full stop for him. he is now 3 and either walks or will have a carry in the sling. easy

I think th P&T and the sling are the best options by far.

Kiddicare.com are now selling the easywalker - they have them in store too

Haven't read whole thread so apologies for any repetition, but:

Phil and Ted's are excellent. You can put 6month+ in front seat when toddler active - so functions as single pram. When toddler been awkward/tired, you can put baby in back and toddler in front. I end up putting baby in front, toddler rides on foot rest and a whole pile of shopping sits in the back!

You can get through all doorways, go on most terrains. I was worried about shortness of toddler seat, when hammock bit down, but needn't have worried.

I know some say encourage your toddler to walk, (and you can get alternative ride on attachments), but when a toddler doesn't want to walk, you've generally got a battle on your hands; so a double buggy is a total godsend, because you can strap them in(eventually!) and carry on. It allows my toddler to rest - so less ratty and me to get speedily from A to B. Brilliant inventions!

Also, with side by side double buggy - is it a pain steering it, if toddler gets out and the weight is uneven? Never had one, so don't know for sure. Doorways must be a nightmare - hence why i didn't contemplate one. Good luck with search.

im just about to buy a p&t after numerous other doubles so hope I like it...now just have to find one at the best price!

Hi Dizzy - just wondered if you knew which shops in London stock the easy walker so that I could go and have a look at it in the flesh....and then buy from kiddicare!

I got my p and t from kiddicare. good service and got a free travel cot with it.

DO NOT BUY FROM TWO LEFT FEET! THEY ARE SHOCKING. I talk from bitter experience. I actually got them put onto Watchdog - smiles with great pride. [power to the people emoticon] They had tonnes of complaints about them.