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Original poster

Will I regret NOT getting a Phil and Teds?

61 replies

noimnotstressed · 09/03/2009 13:23

I am expecting a baby in July and DD will be 22 months. I've been looking at double buggies and keep coming back to the P&T. But it's so £££!

I like the fact that it's like pushing a single. Not sure what it'll be like with 2, but it felt very light with my DD in the toddler seat.

I'm not sure I like the baby so low down and sort of 'hanging' off the back. It looks pretty squashed in there, but I guess the uterus is a bit squashy!

I looked at a few others and didn't like that they didn't lie completely flat although they said suitable from birth. Tandems felt heavy and side by sides felt wide. The only other contender is maybe the Maclaren twin techno.

I don't want to look back and say I wish I'd just spent the money and got the P&T.

Sorry for the essay, but if you have (had) one do you think they're all they're cracked up to be?

OP posts:
dizzydixies · 09/03/2009 14:16

I couldn't have one as my DD2 was too tall to sit in the seat when it was up ABOVE the lying flat baby - be careful with your heights in that sense as my DD2 was only 2.2 when DD3 was born

silverfrog · 09/03/2009 14:16

must also stress that dd1 is 4.7, so her not fitting in the Vibe is not surprising, really - am just lucky she still fits in the Sport

Bakersman · 09/03/2009 14:16

Yes the straps are fiddly - especially to adjust the size. I ended up doing the shoulder straps or the lap straps only so they could be adjusted to the correct size for each child IYSWIM.

dizzydixies · 09/03/2009 14:17

mothercare stock them both in their larger shops I believe

Original poster
noimnotstressed · 09/03/2009 14:18

Dizzy, my DD was pretty close to the hood, but she hates the hood up on her pram. I wonder if you need the hood up for the raincover?

OP posts:
dizzydixies · 09/03/2009 14:19

we live in Scotland so no danger of us NOT needing it

Original poster
noimnotstressed · 09/03/2009 14:20

yes we are too but I never put the hood up unless it's raining, to keep the rain cover's shape iyswim.

OP posts:
dizzydixies · 09/03/2009 14:21

ah got you, I'm more of the lazy spectrum of mum where the hood gets put up but the cover doesn't

we got a duo easywalker and I love it

Bubbaluv · 09/03/2009 14:48

I had a Maclaren Techno XLR before my Phil & Teds Sport. Maybe it spoilt me, but I think the P&T is a hunk of junk.
Bits fell of in the first day of use. It is heavy, unweildy, difficult to adjust once DS is in (and that's only with one child in it so far - and he's a tiny 18mo), it gets muddy when you fold/unfold it as it all goes on the floor... I could go on.
Hate it!!

sweetkitty · 09/03/2009 15:22

I reckon the height limit for the toddler seat in newborn toddler mode is about 90-92 cms, DD2 was 90cms when DD3 came along and her head just went under the hood, myabe with a cm or two to spare.

I agree that after something like a XLR or any single a P&T will seem big and bulky in comparison but try another double or two like I have and it is a dream to push, you are going to struggle with kerbs etc with any double that does not have big wheels IMVHO, side by sides don't have enough room for a big toddler and the weight ratio makes them awkward and tandems are like pushing trains.

dizzydixies · 09/03/2009 15:23

kitty mine does but then I have the Rolls of side by sides!!

Original poster
noimnotstressed · 09/03/2009 15:33

Where did you get the Easywalker, dizzy? Is it like a mountain buggy?

OP posts:
nicolamumof3 · 09/03/2009 15:34

yes get one, you will be so glad! i refused for a whole year to get a p&t and struggled with other various doubles which weren't quite right. got the p&t and it was a liberation. get it and use it and love it! end of story your children will love it too! Mine did. i sold mine last week and got back nearly all i had spent on it! they have excellent resale too.

dizzydixies · 09/03/2009 15:35

noinnotstressed I got it online sent from abroad as was cheaper than buying online in Britain - there are a couple of spanking brand new ones on ebay just now though, a turquoise one open to offers too

Original poster
noimnotstressed · 09/03/2009 15:37

Do you put it in your car? Is it massive?

Phil and Teds do a side by side too which looks similar, but I've never seen one.

OP posts:
dizzydixies · 09/03/2009 15:39

no I don't use it for the car at all, I use it for the school run and walking the dog - I've a renault grand scenic and am sure it would fit not problem

I don't think its massive but then compared to any single you're always going to think they're big. its a dream to push because of the wheels and my DD2 who is 3 in May but big for her age is very comfortable in it, DD3 just about out the cot and we're going to put the buggy seat on it for her too

have no idea about the P&T side by side I didn't know they did one

nicolamumof3 · 09/03/2009 15:50

it is heavy to lift into car and abit of a pain, mine was my 'walking pushchair' so was rarely folded. they really are a dream to push if you have one you can borrow worth trying. it came into its own for me with two heavy toddlers that i could push with ease all up hill!

sweetkitty · 09/03/2009 15:54

I think the twin Aria put me off side by sides for life, it was so plasticky and flimsy, the shopping basket broke the first week I had it, the cosytoes were too ig for it, DD1 who was a tiny 18 months looked squashed in it and I caught it in a kerb one day adn it tipped, I hated it.

nicolamumof3 · 09/03/2009 15:54

have you seen this?
www.rentabuggy.co.uk/page4.htm you can rent a p&t vibe for a month for £30 plus deposit. could help you decide whether its for you? no sport they only do the vibe tho?

sweetkitty · 09/03/2009 15:55

I agree Nicola great as a walking pram (this is the Sport I'm talking about now lol) but a pain to get in and out the car now DD2 is 3.2y and refusing to get in a pram I am selling mine.

nicolamumof3 · 09/03/2009 15:58

your dd2 must be same age as my ds2 then sweetkitty he was three just after xmas and is walking further now (just v.slowly!)

Sidge · 09/03/2009 15:58

I'm the only person in the world who doesn't like the P&T!

Borrowed a friend's and really didn't like it.

Had a Cosatto Duet Lite which was lovely until toddler got heavier and baby got bigger then I found it so heavy to push and steer.

So I got an Out N About Nipper Double which I adore and still use for days out for DDs 2 and 3 even though they are now 2.5 and 5. Easy peasy to push and steer and not much wider than a single.

sweetkitty · 09/03/2009 16:00

Nicola - DD2 was 3 on 26th Jan, thinks she is 4 1/2 like her sister though, she actually walks great but needs restrained sometimes IYKWIM

nicolamumof3 · 09/03/2009 16:01

lol yes i do know exactly !

dizzydixies · 09/03/2009 16:12

sidge, I don't either, I don't like them being too close to the ground or having no room for shopping or them using the wheels as arm rests - but I make DD2 walk everywhere other than the school run and long walks with the dog

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