Parenting Forums

Posted: 29 October 2007 at 9:01am | IP Logged

Mroning! I had several options when I had my boys! A friend lent me her double pram, which should've had "wide load" printed front back and sides!!! It was so big couldnt use it on most pavements round here!! I was childminding before getting pg with the boys so had a one in front of the other. It was good for getting in and out of places coz it was only the width of a normal pushchair, but to get it up kirbs, it required my entire body weight, which was considerably less than it is now!!! I did manage to get Meg in front and both boys in the back for a while as they were so small!! But when they got bigger I found it better to Carry Jamie in a pouch, and put other two in pushchair.

I also had a Graco side by side which was good for winter because it was nicely padded and had nice large baskets underneath(which is a must coz you need to take loads of bits with you!!) it folded flat and was quite big even folded, but ok if you have an estate car!! Then when the boys were big enough I had a McClaren umbrella folding side by side. It was fab. really light to carry, folded small, but didnt offer much protection from the elements even though it had a rain cover, and if asked which buggy was more comfy to sit in I'm sure the boys wouldnt have picked this one!! But I found it best for speed!!

Hope that gives you some idea, although the buggys have updated an awfull lot since I had my boys 7 1/2 years ago!!

Jain xxx

Posted: 29 October 2007 at 11:51am | IP Logged

I have the graco tandem and im going to get a side by side in a few weeks.. i really dont like the tandem.. like others have said, its like weight lifting when going up curbs, and its a nightmare to turn..

Posted: 29 October 2007 at 6:00pm | IP Logged

When Noah was born I had a one in front of the other style and it was awful. Hated absolutely everything about it. And I THINK that a lot of these are not suitable for two newborns anyway as one seat is always a little raised. Noah was only 15 months old when Joe was born, and I got the Mothercare urban detour twin side by side one and I LOVED it. It was actually the best pushchair that I've ever used, my favourite from all doubles and singles, and I was a little disappointed when Noah no longer needed to be in there as I hated my single buggy but couldn't justify buying the single version of the urban detour one.

It is suitable for newborns both sides, and you get the cosy toes and a rain cover thrown in. The only drawback is that it doesn't fold very small, but it isn't too bad, and the side wheels pop off with just one button, which makes it smaller. I found that I could get through most doors quite easily, and if I couldn't quite do it, then I just popped one of the wheels off to reduce the width, went through the door and clicked it back on again. It was very easy.

A lady at Joe's playgroup had twins about 6 months ago and she got one of those 3 wheeled ones where one is underneath where the shopping basket usually is, and the other is practically on top of them. She said it was good while they were tiny, but she can no longer use it as it's too cramped for the one underneath and whoever is in the back gets the hump as there is literally no view. She also said it was very bumpy for that one when on uneven ground and she was always worried about them bumping on the floor. And there is no shopping space at all. She now has the same one I used to have and says she wishes she'd got one of these originally.

Go to Mothercare or somewhere and try out various ones to see what you think. Good luck!