Travel system with sling or double buggy?

michaels

We had same problem -what we really wanted was travel system where baby could go on at the back facing backwards and toddler could go in front looking forward - found a couple like this but on both toddler had to sit very upright wheras our daughter (21 months) still likes to fall asleep when out and about. Plus the models (such as Lady Jane Powertwin) were large and heavy. In the end we got sidebyside Graco duo sport as it is very light weight (and got second hand from a colleague) but the steering isn't brilliant - I can't understand how come the wheels on a single swivel so easily but on the side by side they are a real pain when you change direction, especially from backwards to forwards

callansdad

I haven't read all of this thread so forgive me if i am repeating anything said previously. My son was 20 months old when i had my daughter. I got a Graco Stadium Duo buggy. I was £80 for it from Kiddicare. It was great for when OH was working and i had loads of shopping to get as the basket is quite big. We had a Graco car seat for my son so we just reused this for our daughter, it clipped straight into the tandem, which is useful when you are going from buggy to car and vice versa. The car seat didn't match the colour of the pram but it didn't matter.

Alleycat

I guess in part it depends on what type of slings you already own! If your boyfriend has to negotiate the bus, I would recommend toddler in the buggy and baby in the sling as if you need to fold it when busy, the toddler can stand and climb on the bus themselves with baby nice and protected and hands free in the sling. I would suggest something like a wrap or Mei Tai that will keep baby close to you rather than a ringsling which can bag a bit if you are having to bend over to fold the buggy and carry it onto the bus.

To be honest, I wouldn't bother with a travel system or if you do, just go for a lightweight one that can have the car seat fixed on as some of the larger ones are just too bulky both for the bus and the car boot.

I would avoid double buggies at all costs as even the more slimline ones still tend to be bulky and awkward. Depending on the type of sling you use, it would probably be suitable for both a toddler and baby so you could interchange when necessary when out and about.

Late last year I took my friend's 2.5 yr old and my 10 month old out into town using the buses and negotiating a rather hilly town centre and took a Mei Tai. I put the toddler in the buggy for the bus journeys and my dd on my front in the carrier. Then when we were in town friend's little one wanted to walk, so I took her out of the buggy and put my dd in. When she got a bit tired on the walk home and dd was asleep in the buggy, I just hoisted friend's dd onto my back. You can even keep a couple of slings in the basket or rucksack depending on where you are going and what you might be doing.

Jo_R_2

There's some really interesting bits of info, and these are exactly what I was after, people's own experiences of using slings and pushchairs with a baby and toddler.

Have checked out the links left, and will be showing these to boyfy to see what he thinks. We're trying to keep an open mind, we have looked in Mothercare and seen a travel system in there boyfy really likes, and we also have seen the Jane Powertwin, though this one is rather pricier than we were anticipating and not sure where locally stocks it as we would definitely want to be trying something out before buying.

I am wanting to make my own slings as well which I am looking forward to and ought to be considerably cheaper than any buggy! :j

bylromarha

You may be able to see a Jane powertwin in Mothercare if you have a large store near you.

Otherwise, let us know what part of the country you're in and maybe we can direct you?

If you're in the Midlands, I can certainly recommend the following for a showroom you can try out a Jane powertwin

http://www.babyequipmentcomplete.co.uk/location.htm

Alleycat

Hi Jo,

Yay!! Another sling enthusiast! I've made a mei tai and am going to make a pouch next. There are some great sites with free patterns such as Jan Andrea. You should have a look at the babywearer site which has a great DIY forum. As long as you have a sewing machine and a bit of time to figure it out, they are really straightforward. A wrap would be even easier as you would just have to hem if necessary.

flea72

bylromarha wrote:

NOT a sling fan though, nor a double buggy fan. A buggy board isn't really an option as DS still falls asleep in the stroller.

you can get a buggy board that has a seat on it, so that they can sit down and have a rest - although they wouldnt be strapped on, its big enough just for a nap, iyswim

i did see someone who had a tag-along type trike attached to their buggy the other day - if i was a toddler, i would think that was well cool. - just did a search its called a strolli rider, fab!

Flea

frostyspice

Hiya Jo_R

I had this problem a couple of years ago! Had my boys 16 months apart. At first I used a sling with the baby and a pushchair for DS1. After a while I found that arms weren't long enough to push pushchair without extreme backache while wearing sling with large baby, so mostly used a second-hand umbrella-fold double buggy. Couldn't cope with that on the buses though, so was confined to small village as had no car when DH was at work. Finally when DS1 was about 2 and a half, used a buggy board for him, attached to a Maclaren Quest for DS2.

And DH would never take more than one child out at a time!

Wouldn't have been without any of the above options, they all worked at the time. Using a sling is definitely easier when the younger one is new, specially on the bus.

You could also try those back carriers for new babe when he/she is old enough to go in one.

Good luck - it's a bit of a logistical nightmare for a while!

bylromarha

Here's the strolli rider if anyone's interested.

http://www.interinnovationsuk.com/swiss-strolli-rider.htm

Thoughts? My initial thoughts: +ve, toddler would love it, innovative and imaginative, help balancing skills: -ve was would it keep bashing into your legs? Also, rain, large storage space needed + the sleeping toddler again rears its ugly head!

katie_jane_2

hi ive got three small kids and i tried buggy board attached to pram when i had my second this worked ok but 2 and 3 were closer together so i bit the bullet and forked out for a jane powertwin its basically a double buggy with a car seat attached.i know theyre cexpensive and up to the birth i wondered if we had done the right thing but god it is ace .its really light compact for a two seater no probs getting in and out of shops plus baby faces me in the car seat whilst im pushing and my toddler is more than happy as she faces baby and thinks shes looking after him.cannot rave enough about this would give up dishwasher and second car before i would get rid of this!!! also they resell well on ebay so when ive done i will flog it on all being well
hope this helps and good luck
kate