Tandem Pushchairs - Which have you tried?

Fiolondon

Hi

I am expecting baby No.2 in January and have started researching transport now to avoid making any expensive mistakes. I realise that it will be impossible to get a perfect buggy and that some compromise will be required, so I am keen to try out as many types as possible.

We need:
- a lightweight buggy for a 2 year old and newborn
- easy steering as it will be mostly used on town pavements for walking trips.
- a tandem set up to get into a narrow hallway
- reasonably compact fold to get into car boot when required.
- long seats to suit tall baby/toddler
- some shopping basket space
- would be nice if it could be steered single handed

We have tried and rejected the following:
- All types of Phil & Ted (and similar copies) as the seats are too short for my tall toddler with 6 months to go.
- Obaby - too heavy and long makes steering impossible on pavement.
- ICandy - seats too close together for tall toddler when in double mode.
- A sling for the newborn and old pushchair for the toddler - I didn't have the strength for this first time around so I don't expect it to suddenly be easier/possible this time!

Possibles we have tried that are still in contention:
- Safety First Duodeal - basic and good price but steering could be difficult as children get bigger and heavier.
- Baby Jogger City Select - great seats and good bassinet, but eyewatering price and heavy/difficult to bump up kerbs.
- Mothercare Hoxton - good set up, but slightly less easy to steer than the Safety First and £50 more expensive.
- Buggy board on back of our current pushchair - not sure about this as he will only be 2 and am worried he will run into road if not strapped down!

I am keen to hear about the Jane, Graco, Cosatto or the Combi (esp lightweight Caterpillar) offerings. Especially where I could see them and try them out in the North East London area, or within an hour or so travel.

Otherwise which have you tried and why have you liked/disliked?

Thanks in advance!
Fiona

lloydlf

I know you say that you've tried the P&T and the seats too short but I honestly find that hard to believe as I have one and my very tall three year olds will still fit in it. My girls are both at the very top of the centile charts for height too so very tall. Their knees are bet obviously but they both still fit and are happy to ride in it when I let them. I'm a very mean mummy and have had them walking pretty much full time since my youngest was born six months ago so they were just 2.5 if not a little younger and they've managed just fine.

money_saving_diva

Look at/try the In 'n out 360 - its great.

Edit: Its a side by side double though - sorry - just read you want a tandem - but still have a look!

[Deleted User]

I had the Jane and used it from eldest being 15m with a newborn for a year on from there. Then son walked everywhere for over a year, then this summer we've hit a stumbling block with trips/journeys being longer and all day now daughter has dropped her day nap. So to make our lives easier all round i got a inside buggy like mentioned above off freegle and i love it much more than the jane powertwin we had. I'm often saying, i wish we had it from the beginning, no need to worry about leg room, double basket size and just generally i prefer it more.

bylromarha

I did a nearly 2 year old and a newborn on a Maclaren and a buggy board. 2 yr old never ran off and loved helping to steer his sister,

We did try out tandems and had the Marco Sky as the pram we would buy if the buggy board didn't work. This was 4 years ago, so not sure what the pram is like now.

ab7167

I have the out'n about nipper 360 - but the single version for a 2 year old and a newborn. It's very easy to push one handed so I can keep hold of DD's hand if she is walking, when she is tired she just perches on the front for a ride. Not an official use of the nipper, but it works really well. As baby is getting bigger (now 6months) there is less room on the front for her as that is where his feet have to go, but she will be 3 in December and will be walking a lot more. Just keep the front tyre well pumped up! Bargain at £185 new, and I think it will take a buggy board although I don't use one. Just a mean Mummy who makes the children walk...

jcr16

i had the stadium duo. it was a tandem one in front of other.

my dd was 19 m when my ds was born. he was born in the july. and tbh i didn't really need it for the first few month's as my dd wanted to walk and in the warmer weather she could. but in winter it was fab as could snuggle them both in. i prob used it for a max of about 6 months.

i was easy to navigate , but i had had sections and although i'm very lucky and suffered virtulally no pain after birth. but as my dd got older sitting in the front trying to get it up some kerbs did give a bit of discomfort.

however the stadium duo had a good shopping basket, the raincover fitted well. the cozy toes fitted well. it did fold out easy and was lightweight to put in and out of a car boot.

pigpen

I wouldn't consider a tandem at all unless you are rather taller than 5ft 3.. I almost killed myself trying to get a tandem containing a skinny little 2 year old and a 5lb newborn up a kerb!!

The BILL and Teds.. I loathe them anyway.. little fingers are far too close to wheels.. can you imagine if you ran throgh dog poo!! :eek: or LO put fingers in the spokes while moving.. :eek: I saw fingers on wheels just last week and rather loudly pointed it out to OH that was why I'd not have one!.. poor baby in the shopping basket!

I have had the emmaljunga with toddler seat and used the toddler seat for a 4 year old a few times while my 2 year old walked and the littlest was in the pram part. They have excellent suspension and manoevrability.

Bertini bidwell I LOVE LOVE LOVE with the toddler seat.. currently on my third.. had to buy a new one when I had the baby as I had sold my last one yeas ago! .. toddler seats are available and I have one from my last child secreed in the loft!

fernliebee

I desperately wanted to avoid getting any sort of double buggy as it is such a complicated process and they all look bulky and hard to manoeuvre. My DD was 2, 2 weeks before DD2 was born. We have coped so far absolutely fine (though I stopped using the buggy with DD as soon as I found out I was pregnant in prep.) We have a buggy board but have never got round to attaching it. I either sling DD2 and hold DD hand, or put DD2 in the maclaren and DD2 walks next to me. Bit of a faff in shops as she wants to touch things but it is a learning curve for her, and she will get there. I personally don't like them, but what about a wrist strap/ reins for your toddler along with a buggy board? Only you know your LO though and how able he would be to cope without a buggy.

pinkclouds

Fiolondon wrote: »

- Buggy board on back of our current pushchair - not sure about this as he will only be 2 and am worried he will run into road if not strapped down!

Our kids are 20 months apart. Tried a buggy board without success. Toddler did find it an amusing novelty and was willing to "play" with it but refused to remain standing on it for more than a few minutes at a time. She found it too tiring and would try to hop off without warning.

I know you've discounted it but what we use are slings and an Obaby twin (side by side) stroller. It fits through all external/shop doors and I can take it up/down an escalator with the same ease as my single stroller. We have tried and abandoned: buggy board, buggypod, reins (i.e. doing without stroller for toddler). We also tested the P&T style strollers in store but neither child was wiling to stay in the back seat.

I don't think any strollers are much different at steering/pushing once fully loaded with kids and/or "luggage" so I'd recommend that you base your final consideration on the walking capability of your elder child and how good they are at remaining glued to your side when out and about. It is truly backbreaking to manage a baby, a tired toddler who doesn't want to walk, the usual baby gear and (possibly) shopping bags too. Both my kids were walking at 11 months but, even now, I don't expect and can't rely on them walking for long or at a brisk pace. Thank goodness for internet shopping! Seriously, whatever you do, get a double stroller - any double stroller!

mumofthreemonkies83

Hey

I have the Graco tour duo quattro http://www.mothercare.com/Graco-Quattro-Tour-Duo-Orbit/dp/B003H75GDO?_encoding=UTF8& , my boys are 17 months apart and its been a godsend.
Its quite heavy but still easy to push and get up and down kerbs.
The boys love choosing who goes in front and who in back now and the main selling point for me was that it can take two baby seats ( obviously I only needed one but I had a choice to put baby in the front and toddler in the back seat which lies flat whereas front seat only reclines so far)

It is bulky though even when folded.Its the same length and width when folded but its very deep iygwim so you need pretty good boot space.It fitted *just* in our ford focus but meant we had no room for shopping
Fortunately when going to the supermarket we only ever needed a single with buggy board

Theyre expensive too at £280 ish but I got mine on a market, ex display at £150 :money:

Id definitely buy again although im done having babies :rotfl:

HTH
Mumof4 xx