Mums with a two year ish age gap, what did you do for pushchairs/buggys?

[weejenb]

Hi all,

DS1 will be 2 in January, right around the time when DS2 is due, so I'll have a newborn and a toddler. I'm having a hell of a time deciding what to do about a buggy for them.

Currently, I use a Joie Brisk stroller or an iCandy Cherry pushchair for DS1. I've been given a BCMJ double by a family member, but I don't want to use this too often as its difficult to get it in/out of the car. Plus its quite well worn.

I've weighed up all my options and can't decide what to do. I'm not a fan of the Joie stroller and would happily get rid of that altogether. I love my iCandy but its a pain as its not an umbrella fold! So considering getting rid of both and replacing with something like a M+P Armadillo, then having DS1 in that and DS2 in a carrier for six months or so. Then having DS2 in the pushchair and DS1 on a buggy board. The problem is I'm not sure how happy DS2 would be on a buggy board, plus using a buggy board with either the iCandy Cherry or the Armadillo is a bit of a pain as DS2 would have to be over the handle, meaning I'd be standing quite far back when pushing the pram.

I've considered a different type of double buggy, such as the Graco Stadium Duo Tandem, which I really like the look of…the problem with that being I have a very small car (Hyundai i10) with a small boot! I can fit the BCMJ in it (just), the iCandy pushchair fits, and the Joie also fits (can also fit a friends M+P Luna in at the same time if needed!) But I'm not sure if any other type of tandem would fit in it

Plus, we recently bought the Maxi Cosi Cabriofix (again) as we have the adaptors for it to fit onto the iCandy chassis, and I was thinking DS2 could just be clipped onto that with DS1 on a buggy board, but again, not convinced we'd all be comfy travelling this way.

What did those of you with a two year age gap do? I'm really struggling on deciding! Plus don't want to spend hundreds of pounds on something only to not get full use of it!

 

[Tanikins]

Have you looked at the oyster max. Its convertable to a single.

I have a M&P armadillo Nd i dont think a buggy board would work well on it

 

[MumToEva]

I have a 17 month age gap, but I'd definitely recommend getting a tandem that can convert to a single. I used mine well beyond 2, and even now i keep the 2nd seat in place so that my eldest can jump in and out as she pleases (she's coming 3). Mine's a phil and teds - wouldn't recommend it for a small boot, and cause it's quite heavy if you have to lift it in and out often, but what about the oyster max or the icandy cherry. You can get good ones second hand on the likes of gumtree if you keep an eye out, and you could maybe sell the other ones on to help fund it? Plus you can sell it on when you don't need it any more and get some money back that way too.

 

[liz1985]

We have a 2 year age gap. We had the icandy peach. We tried carrying dd a few times and she didn't like it so a double was a must for us really. I wanted one we could also use as a single. Since ds turned 2.5 we only use the icandy as a single, if we need a double we have an umbrella fold maclaren. Dont think a buggy board would work well on a pram with a bar handle.

 

[RachA]

I have a 2 year age gap with mine and I didn't just stick with one system.

I rarely used the car so the ability to get in and out of the car wasn't an issue for me. I had a baby style pram which I used with a buggy board. This was great for shorter outings and DS was fine on it. However if we were out for too long he couldn't nap which was a bit issue.
I also had an obaby tandum which I hated so got rid of after 6 months. We bought it on the basis that we'd convert it to a single but I just hated it. So we sold that and bought an Urban Detour side by side which I loved and used for about 18 months.

I liked the idea of using a buggy for DS and a carrier for DD but I could only do that for short periods of time.

 

[george83]

I have the graco stadium tandem and I think it's great. I have a two and a half year age gap so wanted a tandem that would be big enough for my toddler and that was one of the few that would do. I love it, I've found it such good value for money and I've not really struggled to push it like some of the reviews say. I've never folded it to fit into my car (if we're driving anywhere I make my toddler walk when we get there) but my mum has fiddled around with it and she said it folds a lot smaller than she expected it to so it might be worth finding a stockist and trying it in your car.

 

[randomrach]

I have an 18 month age gap and have the oyster max, I did need it at the time. Don't particularly like it as it's big and heavy. DD is now 26 months and I've swapped the second seat for buggy board, she either wanted to get out or use the second seat to stand on anyway. It's been a few months since she was happy to sit in there. It would depend on your son but I would buy a carrier and a buggy board, I know the joie brisk is suitable from birth but I had one and hated it too, I'd be swapping your brisk and icandy for a different stroller that's suitable from birth.

 

[sethsmummy]

ds3 is due start of january and ds2 will be 2 in March. Iv got the Oyster Max Tandem.

Ill stick some pics in a spoiler so you can see ... please excuse the complete tip of my living room. In it is my almost 5 year old and my almost 2 year old (5 year old is average size of a 2/3 year old)

Spoiler

https://i60.tinypic.com/1z5p4ir.jpg
https://i58.tinypic.com/2u460bb.jpg
https://i60.tinypic.com/2rcokjr.jpg
https://i57.tinypic.com/2ms4gea.jpg
https://i61.tinypic.com/wlvepj.jpg
https://i57.tinypic.com/o86gqo.jpg
https://i58.tinypic.com/15i6hpw.jpg
https://i60.tinypic.com/28k0m79.jpg <-- 2nd seat folded as you can fold the pram with both seats on
https://i60.tinypic.com/2jcd5q1.jpg
https://i57.tinypic.com/34o58is.jpg

The car seat can also go on the bottom but only facing away from you. Id always have it on top though i think so i can see what baby is doing. And you can have the car seat on the chassis by itself. Each seat has its own rain cover. The only downside iv found is the basket will have to be empty to fold it down or it all falls out. Iv got the oyster car seat but you can also use maxi-cosi cabriofix/maxi-cosi pebble/ britax babysafe for oyster and besafe iZi go. xxx

oh and you can access the basket via the front when the 2nd seat is on AND the front seat comes with an integral bug net which is under the footrest in a little zip x

 

[mammy2oaklen]

I will have 21 month age gap between ds2 and dsds3 I've gone for the britax dual tandem I love it so far I mainly went for it as already had a britax with car seat and was a big fan so just got a new one that can be a tandem but also a single. Can't wait to use it now.

 

[katestar53]

My DS2 is due in March & DS1 will be 2.4 years. I did't want to spend loads as wasnt sure how long I will be using it for. Ive gone for a 2nd hand Out'N'About Nipper 360 double. Have read such good reviews on it and it is so light. I'm not a fan of tandem buggies as I feel the one at the bottom looks a bit squashed in & having looked at loads in shops they seem much heavier. My side by side can fit through my standard size front door so see no problems getting out and about.

I'm am wary of using a buggy board yet, my little man is very energetic and I feel he is just that bit too young to understand the concept of one. I don't have a car & live in a city so lots of walking along main roads. I know that he won't stay put on the board for long & I worry for his safety. Im keeping my single Mama & Papa's sola for later on as will get a buggy board when he is older & then sell on the double.