Anyone got any experience of....

[mummynmummy2b]

Hi there,

Just wondering if there is anyone out there who can give me some advice on double pushchairs. I know its early (i'm only 17 weeks with no.2) but i have been looking at double pushchairs as my single is on its last legs and i dont want to fork out for another single to only have to buy a double in a few months!

I Had been looking at the Phil & Teds but they are soooooo expensive! I've also looked at the Obaby XI which won Bronze in the mother and baby awards in 2009 and is also half the price of the P&T. I had pretty much decided to buy that one but then just stumbled across some really crappy reviews so now dont know what to do!!

I really want a tandem 3 wheeler rather than a twin side by side thingy. Grrrrr why is there so much choice!!

Any experience or opinions??

Thank you xx

 

[Mamafy]

I've had both a side-by-side and a tandem and I have to say I preferred the tandem for practability.

I had the Firstwheels city twin (side by side) and although gorgeous to look at it was totally impractical

I then sold it and got a graco stadium duo and preferred that It was heavy to lift and heavy to get up on kerbs but that was the only problem with it x

 

[JJ Mum]

I had a maclaren from birth lightweight stroller (V slim side by side), and it was great, much slimmer than anything out there, I guess they have really improved in size again) since my last baby too. both child could have full lying down room and view to the front - no matter the size and the two shopping baskets were great!!

I had a couple of friends that went for the tandems and they were heavy once the front child got heavier when lifting up on a kerb as you are further back from the front as you push.

I used mine for a 2 year old and baby and again for a 13 month old and a baby

 

[Mervs Mum]

I have an iCandy Pear which is a 4 wheel tandem. I didnt want side by side for getting through doors. TBH I can see me using a sling and single for quite a long time to start with unless I'm going out with OH or planning on walking about lots - like going shopping or out for the day.

 

[Me, My Girls & I]

i've got a mamas and papas sidebyside. tbh i use an umbrella stroller and the sling most at the moment, but thats partly to do with katie's leg sticking so far out to th side you cant get the double thru a lot of doors i couldnt have got a tandem, cos it wouldnt have fitted in my boot, although, i cant get the mamas and papas in the boot, it goes in the front seat and if i go anywhere with someone else, i jsut take 2 prams!

 

[Toonlass]

i'm getting the silvercross pop duo or the maclaren techno (haven't decided yet) i also think i will be using a stroller and a sling most of the time, at least until bubs gets heavy xx

 

[Mervs Mum]

i dont know what the double Techno is like but the single is a cracker

 

[charliebear]

I've used the cossatto duo lite (tandem) with my nephew and AJ in.
Never again! There's only 9 months between them AJ was just under a year and my nephew about 1 1/2.
It was far too heavy, no storage/basket space and the changing bag kept bopping whoever was in the back if laying down on the head! Or if I had it lower it would have been dirty and blocked access to the breaks.

 

[nancy]

I've got a Graco Stadium Duo and I absolutely hate using it so I use my single with a buggy board most of the time. It's heavy to steer because of the long wheel base, hard to get up curbs because older child goes at the front (by the end of my journey I literally have to to jump on my end to get it up curbs because my arms are so tired) and an absolute nightmare if I need to use the bus as it's so huge and bus drivers treat to me like dirt because of it!

My advice would be to try to get a short wheel based tandem if you have to have one and get the lightest one you can afford as when the babies grow it's just going to get harder. If you can get away with a sling then later a buggy board then that's the way forward in my opinion.

 

[amyjayne77]

I had a Phil and Teds and really liked it for practicality, ease of use and it fit in boots well. It's versatile and pretty light i think. Plus, you can get loads for it on ebay when you have finished with it!

Only down sides were being a 3 wheeler it was a bit unstable over rough terrain and when I folded it shut it didn't stay shut (poss me being thick?!) and I had to hold it shut when lifting it in and out of car.

Got to say I would use it again if I needed a double buggy.

 

[Toonlass]

i looked at the phil and ted but i didn't like the idea of the newborn being all hidden away, plus it costs a fortune! xx

 

[mummynmummy2b]

Aaagh really dont know what to do now! The Obaby XI is a short wheel base so is supposedly quite manoverable. I didnt want to get one of the long tandems as i thought they would be difficult to get up and down kerbs etc.

I know what you mean toonlass about the newborn being hidden away but for me this is a bit of a positive as i'm due in September (again!) it means baby will be tucked away and out of the breeze when we're out and about in winter.

I had considered getting just a cheapo stroller and a newborn sling but there is a chance i will have to have a c section, as i ended up with an emergancy one last time, and I therefore wouldnt be able to carry a sling comfortably.

Also I wouldnt want to carry the baby in a sling for a long time and i think that my son will probably need access to a pushchair seat for the next 12 or so months so would need a double at some point anyway.

Right i think ive talked myself into ordering the Obaby (really cant afford th P&T). Thank you for help girlies. Will let you know if its a pile of poo so you cant avoid one xx

 

[Rachiebaby]

I have the Obaby one. I havent used it yet as a double obviously but here is what i found:-

1.....the manouverability isnt great when on uneven pavement...this is when it veers to the left or right (but i think thats because (a) its a three wheeler and (b) its a double - My maclaren stroller can veer when the pavement is didgy but because its light and has four wheels, i dont notice it that much (if that makes sense)

2....its much more spacious than the Phil & Ted

3....make sure you pump up the tyres before you take it out as this affects the manouvreabilty

4....it is quite hard to handle but tbh, i have pushed another tandem before (my friends one) and as they are heavy and big they all arent a walk in the park!

I will update once I have used it as a double.....but tbh, I was only going to use it for going to the park and going somewhere local......i havent tried it in my boot yet (small clio) but I think it will stand in the boot so we will see....