another pushchair question....

spaghetti_monster

Hi all,
I was reading the recent pushchair thread with interest and wanted to ask for some opinions as I can't really figure out what/if I need to buy something new.

LO is now 16 months old and no.2 will be here in November :j

We currently have a mountain buggy urban jungle. I think you can get a board thing for a child to stand on (but it looks like a scooter, maybe more for an older child, and probably more than 100quid, unless I could find it 2nd hand).

We also have a very cheap chicco umbrella folding buggy, used for short trips. It's not very weatherproof and the hood is broken.

One reason the chicco is quite handy is that we have an Opel Corsa and the mountain buggy doesn't fit in unless the back seat is half down.

We also have a maxi cosi (cabriofix I think) and was wondering about the pushchairs where you can fit one of these on.

I guess it's too much of a stretch to find a pushchair that 2 would fit into and that would also fold up quite compactly???

LO will be 21 months when the new baby comes, so I was wondering about the practicality of him standing on one of these boards.........

Anyway, sorry for the ramble - I think my brain's in a pregnancy fog!
Any tips gratefully received!

kingfisherblue

How often do you use your buggy, and how long for? is it conceivable for your older child to stand on a board for the length of time you will be out? I used to walk everywhere and a board wouldn't have been any use.

If a board will be the type of thing you need, try this site:

http://www.buggyboard.info/ukfr/list.php?lang=en

This page has a few alternatives:

http://www.kiddicare.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?catalogId=10751&categoryId=14604&fcd=true&pageView=&dm=filter&N=63&langId=-1&top_category=14051&parent_category_rn=14051&Ns=Price|1&storeId=10001&rw.cm=Google,ppc,buggy+board+seat&cm_mmc=icrossing-_-Google-_-Exact-_-buggy+board+seat&OVMTC=Exact&site=&creative=13648487533&OVKEY=buggy%20board%20seat&url_id=20009344&adpos=1t1

lolly_896

Phil & Teds was my fav double - i went through many and if you love the Mountain Buggy they are made by the same people.

Fab site wealth of knowledge and tonnes of competitions - http://www.pushchairtrader.co.uk/en/news/exclusive-new-from-philtedsbrthe-navigator-and-the-dot/

Good Luck - Pushchair shopping is a minefield

Waffle_On

Pretty much all double buggies I've seen and had a go with have been either very bulky or cramped for at least one of the children. If you can find a sensible way to avoid it, personally I would!

Can I suggest looking at Buddy Pods? They clip to most single buggies to add an extra seat. At around 2, many toddlers are starting to walk some of the time and this would give you more flexibility.

mishkanorman

I had the same age gap and had a mamas and papas twin aria which in many ways I loved, the seats lay down well so comfy for baby, but are equal so no matter which side they are in. Its not too wide and goes through most doors, folds small and is easy to push,

the downsides are the basket underneath holds next to nothing before it drags on the floor and you notice the difference in weight between babies when pushing on a tougher surface (like grass or gravel) although not too much on flat surfaces.

Trazy

spaghetti_monster wrote: »

Hi all,
I was reading the recent pushchair thread with interest and wanted to ask for some opinions as I can't really figure out what/if I need to buy something new.

LO is now 16 months old and no.2 will be here in November :j

We currently have a mountain buggy urban jungle. I think you can get a board thing for a child to stand on (but it looks like a scooter, maybe more for an older child, and probably more than 100quid, unless I could find it 2nd hand).

We also have a very cheap chicco umbrella folding buggy, used for short trips. It's not very weatherproof and the hood is broken.

One reason the chicco is quite handy is that we have an Opel Corsa and the mountain buggy doesn't fit in unless the back seat is half down.

We also have a maxi cosi (cabriofix I think) and was wondering about the pushchairs where you can fit one of these on.

I guess it's too much of a stretch to find a pushchair that 2 would fit into and that would also fold up quite compactly???

LO will be 21 months when the new baby comes, so I was wondering about the practicality of him standing on one of these boards.........

Anyway, sorry for the ramble - I think my brain's in a pregnancy fog!
Any tips gratefully received!

My Granddaughter is 22 months and a great little walker, I dont think she would be any good at standing still on a buggy board though hth

MX5huggy

An alternative is to carry the new one, in a sling or Babybjorn type carrier. Then the older one will be a bit older and not require the buggy. We have ditched the buggy from 25 months. But don't very oftern have to walk somewhere on strict time table.

spaghetti_monster

Thanks for all the replies! Am now busy looking at all the websites....wow there's a lot of stuff out there!

I guess at the moment the main event where I'd be out walking alone is a round trip to the shops (about 45 mins) or town (hour and a half). We like to go out for longer, but then OH is usually there too and he likes using the baby bjorn (even now with LO almost 12 kilos!)
However, even when LO was quite small, it really did my back in to carry him in the baby bjorn. Maybe also because I'm quite small myself I found it really awkward with bending, picking up stuff etc.

kingfisherblue

spaghetti_monster wrote: »

Thanks for all the replies! Am now busy looking at all the websites....wow there's a lot of stuff out there!

I guess at the moment the main event where I'd be out walking alone is a round trip to the shops (about 45 mins) or town (hour and a half). We like to go out for longer, but then OH is usually there too and he likes using the baby bjorn (even now with LO almost 12 kilos!)
However, even when LO was quite small, it really did my back in to carry him in the baby bjorn. Maybe also because I'm quite small myself I found it really awkward with bending, picking up stuff etc.

Is it fair to expect a young child to stand on a buggy board for so long then? Something that needs to be considered.

Good luck with the new baby and with whatever decision you make x

stiltwalker

Hi - sorry, no help with the pushchair for 2 that folds up small - We have a safety 1st tandem that we nickname 'the tank'. It's fab, does the job and both kids have plenty of room, it was even a reasonable price, but small?? Not a chance. We have an estate so that's ok but it won't go in my parent's Yaris.

But... I know you said you found the baby bjorn awkward but have you considered a fabric wrap sling? I used the Calin bleu one for DD til she was a good 9 months old regularly (including for hill walking) and for DS until he was 6/7 months old regularly (and 9 months occasionally). I was also lifting DD in and out of pushchairs and doing fully supported walking with her for very short distances, like from car park into a building, with DS in the sling (she is disabled and cannot walk independently). Because the fabric is much wider you can spread it across your whole shoulders and it spreads baby's weight much more easily. Both my kids have been 91st centile height and weight and I found carrying them much easier with a wrap than my friend whose little man is a wee 9th centile chap as she used a baby bjorn. Our sure start centre even has a baby wearing club where you can go to get advice and try out different slings (not that I've been so can't recommend personally) so that might be worth a look.

spaghetti_monster

kingfisherblue wrote: »

Is it fair to expect a young child to stand on a buggy board for so long then? Something that needs to be considered.

Yes, I was trying to imagine a nearly-2-year old on something like that and thought it might be OK for a bit. I saw some with a seat, but then there's no straps, and if the weather was bad.....

About slings - I had borrowed one from a friend (the one like a really long scarf), got loads of tips about using it, but unfortunately LO screamed his head off every time I tried to put him in it.
But I'll definitely give it another try - it seemed like the weight was spread a bit better, you could adjust width/position of shoulder straps and position everything a bit higher.