PLEASE HELP Having tandem buggy choosing nightmare!

stickylizard

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Hi girls

Just wondered if you could help me. I have spent all morning on Google, Amazon, Ebay, Gumtree, Netmums, Boots, Kiddicare etc looking at the market for tandem buggies or strollers or pushchairs, whatever you wanna call them. And I am at a total loss, every time I think I have found something good, I look at the reviews and change my mind!

So I have a daughter who just turned 2 last week and a son who will be 1 on the 30th of this month. My daughter is average for her age but my son is teeny on the 0.4th centile despite best efforts to fatten him up! I am also almost 21 weeks pregnant with my third child.

I started off with a Cosatto Snap side by side but I sold it because it wouldn't fit through shop doors and my daughter kept messing with Toby, stealing his socks, hat, blanket etc.

I then bought a second hand Phil&Teds 3 wheeler, which on first impression I was pleased with. However, I had to get rid of the damn thing because all 3 of the wheels were getting punctures all the time!! And I live in the city, just used the buggy to get to play groups and the shops etc, no rough terrain but those wheels were so crap. Also my changing bag was only a couple of inches above my son's head at the back. And the basket dragged on the kerb every time we went up one.

After getting rid of that in desperation needing just A buggy, I bought a really cheap MacClaren side by side which was fine because it was lightweight and it just about fit through doors... However the reason it was a steal was because it came without hoods or a raincover, so it was actually useless in this current never ending British winter we seem to be having!

So THEN a family friend bought me another side by side, a Mothercare Xoob2, I would rather he'd have bought me a second hand tandem buggy but he was insistent that umbrella fold side by siders are much better as that's what he had with his kids (25 years ago!!), and as he was paying out of his own pocket I didn't argue... I hate it. If I'd known I was going to end up with it I'd have kept the Cosatto which was more stylish and actually fit both kids - this Mothercare one has pathetically short straps so they aren't long enough to even go over my son's shoulders. Both kids just have the straps around their waists which is not ideal. And it doesn't fit through doors and barely fits onto a bus!

So with another baby on the way, I will need a double buggy for Ella and Toby and will wear the new little one, then when Ella is walking most places I will use the buggy for Toby and the new baby and take the sling in case Ella needs a rest.

I do NOT want a side by side! And I do not want inflatable wheels. I looked on Ebay initially and found a Cosatto Duet Lite for £25 which would actually be posted (there are none in my area) for £20 but it's reviews are terrible.

Same for the Mothercare Hoxton, The Obaby Xi, the Caterpillar etc.

Tearing my hair out by this point, I now THINK I am torn between between a Hauck Duett and a Britax B-Dual. I'm pretty pissed that the only buggies that seem in vast availablility second hand are Phil&Teds because I don't want those stupid bloody flat tyres. The B-Dual seems slightly better (more room for the lower child and still able to use the basket) but it is very tall (I am 5'4") and has inflatable tyres - but no reviews say anything bad about flat tyres. The Hauck Duett has 4 hard wheels but apparently with the upper seat parent facing lying flat it gives the lower child feet in it's face... But then I doubt I'd be lying it flat because I won't be using it with a new born. And I'm not bothered about it being parent facing.

Argh. I need a good, functional, practical double buggy. I don't care how big it folds because I have a huge porch holding currently 2 singles and 2 doubles and I'll be selling the Mothercare Xoob2 to raise funds. I also don't have a car and my Dad has a Volvo estate so it fitting in the boot is not an issue.

So sorry this is so long but PLEASE HELP ME I'm stuck. Looks as though I'll have to buy a new one as well so it needs to be a keeper as I don't have much money. Any recommendations welcome!

Thanks in advance xxx
 
I have the baby city jogger select n its fab. expensive but totally worth it
 
I have the graco stadium duo. It's lightweight, easy to push, got a big shopping basket and easy to put up and down. Only downside is the baby seat isn't parent facing but I can still see him through a little window in the hood. I bought this for £50 secondhand and would really recommend.

Eta - no problems with the straps and it is a very secure buggy.
 
Have you tried using slime in the airtyres: https://www.kiddicare.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/productdisplay0_10751_-1_14257_10001. It seems to get a lot of good reviews for stopping punctures
 
The Jogger looks nice but I really can't afford that! Thank you though :flower:

I have the graco stadium duo. It's lightweight, easy to push, got a big shopping basket and easy to put up and down. Only downside is the baby seat isn't parent facing but I can still see him through a little window in the hood. I bought this for £50 secondhand and would really recommend.

Eta - no problems with the straps and it is a very secure buggy.

Thank you for the recommendation, I have looked at some reviews and a product video and it does look lovely, I like the huge basket and they fact it has hard wheels. However it does look very long. I will be using it on the bus quite a lot - how do you find it's length?
xxx
 
Yes it is quite long. I don't know how it compares to others but I did think it was long when I first got it. I haven't used it on the bus yet but it's been no problem anywhere else though, e.g. in supermarket aisles etc. Also if you have the back seat upright instead of flat it takes quite a bit of length off.
 
Thank you all. Am going to Babies R Us and Mothercare today to try a couple, if I don't like them there's a Hauck, Britax and Graco on ebay so will have to choose! Xxx
 
Have you considered the Mountain Buggy Duet? It is the narrowest side by side on the market and will definitely fit through shop windows at only 63cm or 25inches wide. I swear by this thing, it is so easy to steer! It isn't cheap but maybe try ebay?
 

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