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Original poster

Are icandy pears worth the money?

68 replies

mersmam · 18/01/2009 18:56

After agonizing over double buggies I've more or less decided on an icandy pear but am still at the cost.
This is my 4th (and prob last) baby and I love the idea of having both children facing me, and converting it to a single where the toddler can face me... so I'm thinking it is worth it.
Can anyone share some honest opinions (reassuring or otherwise) before I make the plunge and splurge the cash??

OP posts:
KnickersOnMaHead · 18/01/2009 19:25

Message withdrawn

EyeballsintheSky · 18/01/2009 19:29

I don't have one and have only one DC so my input will be useless...but...

I bought an Apple with the intention of converting it when the need arose. I saw a Pear in the wild last month and stopped its driver to interrogate her about it. She loved it, had a toddler of about 20 months and a newish baby and she raved about it. I had a good look round it and still love it.

I know this is of no use but it might keep you occupied till someone useful comes along

KnickersOnMaHead · 18/01/2009 19:34

Message withdrawn

Original poster
mersmam · 18/01/2009 19:45

Thanks eyeballs - that gives me further justification to splurge .
I generally walk everywhere I need to go so the folding down thing doesn't bother me.

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Geepers · 18/01/2009 19:55

Heavy, awkward, heavy, tiny seats, heavy, no leg room for baby in back, oh, did I mention HEAVY?

I have only used the Pear with newborn twins but it just isn't roomy enough for larger toddlers, and the baby in teh back can't see anything but the front of his sibling's seat, and there is very little leg room.

Original poster
mersmam · 18/01/2009 20:44

Oh dear! Do you think it is heavier than other double buggies Geepers? They're all pretty bad that way in my experience.
I'm planning only to use the back seat for a small baby - but one of my worries is the size of the other seat as I'll be using it for my (very lazy!) 25 month old.
Is there another kind of double that you would recommend Geepers?

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gemprincess · 18/01/2009 21:01

I have one, It has been ok, but it really is hard work. I have 4 children and have had other doubles.It depends alot on what you are using it for. My ds is now 10 months and i am going to sell it. I would reccomend if you are walking alot, but not if like me, you are in and out the car.Hope that makes sense.

nicolamumof3 · 18/01/2009 21:23

no not all doubles are heavy, i've had a few, but have again heard that the pear is v.heavy from friends, just look big as well when out and about. i was converted to a p&t in the summer after a year of resisting and i wish i'd had one from the outset. so easy to push, does feel light, even with my three year old and 18m old in!

Original poster
mersmam · 19/01/2009 10:10

Thanks for these responses. Why is it hard work gemprincess? Is it the weight? I will be using it for a newborn and 25 month old, and I'd like to use it as a double for maybe seven or eight months (when they'll be 33 months and eight months). Then I want to convert it to a single where the eight month can face me.
I really want a buggy that faces me as I push my toddler around all the time though and just forget he's there - we're both daydreaming in our own little worlds when I'd love to be talking to him
I will just be using it for when we walk - which is a lot (school runs etc.
Have had a Jane Powertwin for my previous children which I didn't like - it was too unstable being a three wheeler and a bit shoddily made (I thought) for the price.
I did consider a Phil and Ted, but as far as I'm aware the toddler can't face you (?) and that is really what I want.
As far as I can see the icandy pear is the only option that has what I want (children face me and can convert to a single).
Have seen a couple that are available abroad:
ABC buggies from New Zealand www.abcbuggy.co.nz/ - but am a bit worried about the safety of these as they're not tested in the UK
and Kolcraft contours tandem from America www.amazon.com/Contours-Options-Tandem-Stroller-Ruby/dp/B001GKJ6GM/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=baby-pr oducts&qid=1232359705&sr=8-1 - was very tempted by this as the price is good even with shipping but I get the feeling that it might turn out to be enormous and v. heavy!
... but I am reluctant to buy without seeing them first anyway.

As you can see I'm a double buggy freak!! I really don't want to spend all that money and regret it though...

Thanks for everyone's help so far - any more comments or suggestions would be highly appreciated!

OP posts:
nicolamumof3 · 19/01/2009 10:35

it is a minefield, hence why i went through 5 doubles in 18m and finally settled on my p&t but no they can't rear face. i tried to have my baby in pram and old ds2 in a single buggy when hubby was arround or got ds to walk so could rear face. good luck!

Original poster
mersmam · 19/01/2009 10:45

Thanks nicola... why can't they just invent the perfect double buggy eh??

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nicolamumof3 · 19/01/2009 10:48

i know they make so many wonderful single ones its so hard to choose, as you don't know whether they are right for you til you've used them. best thing is if you have a friend with a double then you can try it out. thats what convinced me with my p&t in the end.

gemprincess · 19/01/2009 11:01

hi mersman, its a nightmare in my case because its so heavy and i am in and out the car alot. One other thing, my 2 year old is tiny and we have had it since she was 19 months, We would now need to buy the larger hood if we were keeping it as her head is touching it. This is a common problem and you can buy these, or so the shop assistant tells me! I have the Jane and the silver cross pop duo, Still cant find the perfect double.
Nicolamum3: what is the phil and ted like for getting in and out the car? Not sure of other options. Have considered a single with board but think that maybe harder.

nicolamumof3 · 19/01/2009 11:24

i don't drive, p&ts are heavy tho to lift and collapse. think if you are in car alot best option is an umbrealla fold like the pop duo or maclaren, but these become so hard to push with toddlers wish is why i ditched mine when ds2 was 2.5 and ds3 was one for the p&t. but it would drive me mad collapsing p&t for car every day!

Original poster
mersmam · 19/01/2009 13:06

I'm wondering if buying the icandy apple plus the conversion kit to make it a double will give my toddler more headroom... any ideas on this? Also any ideas if it's much more expensive to do it this way?

OP posts:
pootlebug · 19/01/2009 22:30

Personally I wouldn't worry too much on the safety aspect of the ABC. They meet stringent New Zealand and Australia safety standards. I'm not sure exactly what it is in the UK standards that they don't meet (tried to see a copy of the standard but it's about £100 to do so!) but Aus and NZ are hardly behind on safety in general so I can't believe it is a problem.
Not being able to test one out properly isn't ideal though.

Original poster
mersmam · 20/01/2009 12:42

I probably agree Pootlebug, it's just that DH thinks the ABC's look a bit unsafe and top heavy on the photos... my toddler is quite a heavy little chap and I really do not want him landing on my newborn's head...
Do you have an ABC? I'm interested to hear more about them.
Of course the big downside for me if that they're still not rear facing if you're just pushing one child.

OP posts:
naomi83 · 20/01/2009 14:19

if you want lightweight double that folds easily but pushes nicely my friends rave about the baby jogger city mini. If you want one that's gorge to push (big wheels) but cheaper than mountain buggy, baby jogger also does one called city series double i think, which pushes more nicely than phil and ted's and takes a carrycot, but still narrow enough for most doorways

wontbepreggersagain · 20/01/2009 15:36

I have a pear- love it BUT only to bung cabrios on for the convenience of a twin travel system- never use it as a proper buggy/pram- did use the carrycots in the first few weeks a couple of times but got fed up with the whole pram origami to fit it all in the car.
I wouldn't be without it though

Original poster
mersmam · 20/01/2009 15:37

Thanks Naomi, they look great... unfortunately I need a tandem rather than a side by side, as everyday I'll be pushing it through the narrow door of dd2's nursery (a single only just fits through) and down the almost as narrow corridor to dd1's playground. Will also need to get it through shop doorways etc...
I would much prefer a side by side as there are some great ones, but it's just not practical in my case

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Original poster
mersmam · 20/01/2009 15:40

thanks wontbepreggers! How would you rate it to use for a toddler and newborn given that I'll never need to fold it (I walk everywhere)? Does it feel safe with a baby in the bottom seat?

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wontbepreggersagain · 20/01/2009 15:52

i sometimes have one dtd and dd1 (2) in it and it feels ok- its heavy to lift but nice to push- if you don't have to fold it then you're laughing!

i like the pear and the fact that it is interchangable between single and double really easily.

hth

Original poster
mersmam · 20/01/2009 15:56

Helps a lot wontbepreggers - thanks! I have renewed faith in the pear

OP posts:
pootlebug · 21/01/2009 08:35

I don't have an ABC but it's probably top of my list of possibles at the moment. I met a girl with one a few weeks back and she loved it. Didn't look unstable in the flesh. Although my elder one will only be 16 months and is fairly little, so I guess maybe less of an issue for me.

Original poster
mersmam · 21/01/2009 10:31

Yes i must admit the ABCs look great... I just wish they could be rear facing

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