Arlo will be 2.5 years old when his little sibling arrives. Although I can’t see a need for him to use a buggy on an every day basis, at the moment we are still finding that it comes in very handy on the odd occasions that we are out all day, going for a long walk, or needing somewhere to keep him ‘contained’ whilst I am attempting to do something which requires a bit of concentration and not needing to check every two minutes that he hasn’t run off, ie, at the shopping centre.
I have niggling worries about booting Arlo out of his pushchair permanently when Baby Number 2 arrives. If we are out and I need to stop to feed the baby, how can I make sure that Arlo won’t run off mid-feed? What if we attempt to walk somewhere but he gets tired/throws a tantrum, refuses to walk and I end up having to carry him and push the buggy? I know a lot of people use buggy boards, but this doesn’t really solve any of my worries. He might refuse to stand on the buggy board, and he can still run away.
Over the past month I’ve been encouraging Arlo to walk more and have tested the water with not taking a buggy on small trips. “Problem solved!” I thought after a trip round the supermarket, post office, and various other shops, where Arlo was good as gold holding my hand and closely following my instructions with no signs of tiring. Then I took him to Croydon where he asked to be carried 80% of the time and refused to stand on the escalator without being carried. Things like this are going to become impossible for me if I’ve also got a baby in a buggy to deal with.
People have also suggested that I could sling the baby and stick Arlo in the buggy if a tantrum or tiredness strikes. But our current pushchair (the Bugaboo Cameleon) has a seat that is only suitable from 6 months up, so this won’t be an option for the early months when the baby would be in the carrycot attachment. Although I love babywearing, I would like to use a sling because we want to, and not because it’s the only option – I don’t want the hassle of precariously trying to remove a sleeping baby from the sling when we get home, nor do I want to disturb a sleeping baby with a buggy to sling transfer because Arlo is playing up. Of course, my only baby experience is with Arlo, and I know things might well be different this time round, but attempting these manoeuvres with a sleeping Arlo would have been playing with fire. If he fell asleep in that buggy, he needed to stay in that buggy, or it was game over for nap time.
With all of this in mind, selling our Bugaboo for a double buggy seemed like an appealing option. My requirements for a double buggy are really not that complicated (or so I think!):
Must haves:
Must fit Maxi Cosi Cabriofix car seat
Main seat can be used from birth
Not air-filled tyres
Fold with seat/s attached
Bonuses:
Can fit through our front door
Parent facing option for baby
But have I been able to find the perfect double buggy that fits all of my requirements? Here are the pushchairs I’ve considered in my search:
Baby Jogger City Select
This has been my favourite ever since I started looking into doubles back in March 2012 when I thought I was going to have a smaller age gap between children than the one we will now have. The seat configurations for baby and toddler are superior to most doubles (which only really offer baby underneath the main seat unless you want a very squashed toddler or a baby getting repetitively kicked by an older sibling). A changing bag can hang neatly from the handlebars without being in danger of swinging into your baby’s head, or changing bag banging against your legs if you have the baby in lie-flat position, like with most inline doubles. It has a smaller fold than most inline doubles. For these reasons it was my longtime favourite, but then I went and saw it in a shop. The thing is humongous. Even in single pushchair mode (which we will be upgrading to as soon as Arlo is comfortably walking everywhere), the frame is longer than most. And the seat unit can’t be used from birth, which in single mode leaves me with a pushchair that’s as inflexible as my current one, and in double mode needs a carrycot attachment which makes the pushchair even bulkier and leaves Arlo with less seating options. I still think this pushchair is the best option if you have a smaller age gap between children, but for a 2.5 year old who will be using it for 6 or so months, it seems an extreme measure to buy such a beast of a pushchair, plus the carrycot attachment, etc.
Britax B-Dual
With that in mind, the Britax B Dual was starting to look like my new favourite. Whilst I initially didn’t want a double where the baby seat sits in the undercarriage of the buggy below the main seat, I’ve changed my mind after seeing how much more compact these type of pushchairs are. There are lots of different configurations to this pushchair, but as with most pushchairs that offer a wide range of configurations, there are actually only a few that I can see working with a baby and a toddler. Arlo would ride in the top seat, and the baby would be in the bottom seat in a soft carrier, or in the carseat. As a single pushchair, the baby could ride parent-facing as there is a lie-flat option on the main seat (Yes!!). Another major bonus is that the pushchair folds with both seats on. I’ve heard it is a very bulky fold, but it would be fine in the boot of my car or in the understairs cupboard, and after faffing with the Bugaboo Cameleon (which doesn’t fold with the seat on), I am really excited at the thought of a buggy that folds in one piece. It’s a great price for a double buggy, but it does have some downsides. There is no footrest on the main seat – Fine for a baby, not so great for an older toddler. Arlo’s legs would be dangling, and if he shifts forward in the seat (which he often does), he has no way of pushing himself back. I’ve seen photos of older toddlers in this seat and they don’t look particularly comfortable as a result of the lack of footrest. This is a massive downside to me. Another negative is just how wide this pushchair is. The width from wheel to wheel is a whopping 70cms, making my Bugaboo’s 57cm look very compact indeed. A buggy with a 70cm width would not fit through my front door, which makes for an impractical single pushchair and also makes me think “Why go for this tandem option when it still wont fit through my door? – I could get a side-by-side that folds more compactly and just have it live in the car boot”.
Phil and Teds
Ah, the double that everyone in London seems to have. Arlo and I tried out the two newer models, the Dot and the Navigator. Although I love the compact size of the Dot, when in newborn configuration Arlo needs to use the second seat, which we found really small. The hoods (on both pushchairs) didn’t extend high enough, so Arlo is already a bit too tall for the seat. The Explorer might be a better fit for us, but we’ve yet to try one out as all nearby shops are only stocking the newer models now. I think Phil and Teds make for great doubles, but as a single pushchair (as it would mostly be used after the first 6 months and Arlo is three), they are unnecessarily big. And I’m really reluctant to exchange my lovely, small Bugaboo with its wonderful parent-facing option for a pushchair that is forward-facing only.
Buggypod
This is a seat with a wheel that attaches to the side of your single buggy. I love the idea of this in theory. Arlo could hop on and off as and when he got tired, and when he’s walking, the seat folds neatly to the side of the buggy, giving me the ease of manoeuvring my single pushchair as normal. At £130, plus £50 for the Bugaboo conversion kit (!), it’s quite a daunting price for something I’ve been unable to try out in person (can’t find anywhere that has these to test out), nor can I find many comprehensive reviews online. Considering you could easily buy a cheap or second-hand double buggy for this price, I’d really like to know how this seat handles and how secure it feels, particularly with an older (heavier) child using it.
Buggyboard with seat
Something like the Revelo kid-sit might be more successful with Arlo, and there is still the option to stand as well as sit. My issue with buggy boards is just how bloody expensive they are for a piece of plastic which I know I’m probably going to have to begrudgingly buy at some point anyway whilst Arlo is transitioning from buggy to walking everywhere, regardless of whether I buy a double buggy or not. (If it ends up revolutionising my life, I take back everything I said).
Side by sides:
Originally I wasn’t looking at side-by-sides, as they definitely won’t fit through my front door, nor do they provide any option to use as a single pushchair once Arlo outgrows the need for a buggy. I wouldn’t want to sell my single pushchair in exchange for a double, as I know we will be reverting back to single pushchair mode at some point during the baby’s first year. But side-by sides tend to be cheaper than full-on tandem travel system options, and so I’ve started to wonder if maybe there is a way I can keep our Bugaboo and save up for a second-hand side-by-side on Ebay, just to ease my anxiety about not having any double buggy option at all.
I ruled out the Maclaren Techo XT as soon as I put Arlo in one. The seats are too narrow. He complained straight away of being squashed. The Britax B-Agile and the Baby Jogger City Mini doubles are both much roomier, although I’m slightly more drawn to the Baby Jogger as it’s compatible with our existing car seat (the Maxi Cosi Cabriofix).
So, have I come to any conclusions? To tell the truth, I am finding it really hard to assess our needs until the baby is here. It might all be easier than I am expecting. And after trying out all these double buggies and finding that none of them seem like the perfect double, I am slowly coming round to the idea of seeing how we go with our Bugaboo and a buggy board for Arlo. I have discussed the whole buggy situation with Sam (who, of course, reckons I’m over-thinking the whole thing and would rather we spent absolutely no money at all on other options – “Why cant we just use what we’ve got?!”), and we have agreed to make do with our Bugaboo.
But we have also agreed that at the first sign of trouble, the first trip where I end up carrying a screaming Arlo whilst pushing a buggy, the first sign that I’m starting to avoid getting out and about because of not having a seating option for Arlo, I am allowed to panic-buy a double buggy without feeling guilty about it.
Sounds like a good compromise to me.
20 comments
I’m a fan of the buggy board with seat 🙂 seems a great solution. Have you thought of a toddler size soft structured carrier to do back carries with Arlo for when he refuses to walk? Or a Graco pushchair where the seats are one infront of the other?
I have an SSC but have come to the end of my time wearing Arlo. Will have it in the bottom of the buggy anyway as I’ll be using it for the baby, so in an emergency situation I could use it for Arlo. The Graco buggies don’t fit many of my buggy criteria (no parent facing option, doesn’t convert to a single buggy), but I have been looking out to see if I can find one for us to try in a shop.
My little boy was 2yrs5mths when his little sister came along and like you I was a bit scared of the buggy board idea. I couldn’t imagine that he wouldn’t just hop off whenever he felt like it, in shops, by roads etc. In the end I got a wrist strap for back up and explained I would have to use it if he didn’t stay on the ‘skateboard’ but I never needed to use it in the end. I always took out the buggy board and the sling and the 1st mth my little girl was in the sling and by the time I used the buggy board regularly my boy was that little bit older and actually surprised me about how good he was about the board and walking. Sounds like you’re doing the right thing waiting to see if you need a double buggy when the time comes.
I think sometimes there is too much choice and none of them are perfect. In honesty, I would love one of every single option. There are times I only want a single, but we don’t have the room to have that available and the double too. There are times when I wouldn’t be without my double (those busy trips out where you need the toddler contained) but they are big and take a bit of getting used to.
We have a side by side baby jogger and Britax, and I have to say that the baby jogger wins it for me. But only slightly. There isn’t much in it really, I just prefer it for build quality, materials and drivability.
If I were you, I’d go with what your planning…..Just see how you go decide once the baby is here. Then you’ll know better what will work for you. X
Thanks Lucy. I remember you saying on Twitter about the Baby Jogger and the Britax – will bear that in mind seeing as they are the same price.
As you’re aware, I exclusively sling Oliver and Isabel walks everywhere (and the thought of a double buggy makes me shudder). Anyway, it never occurred to me while I was pregnant with O that I would need somewhere to contain Izz or that she would run off while I was feeding the baby. I’m not sure if that’s a personality difference (between Izz & Arlo I mean) or what? Just to reassure you on that score… it’s not happened yet 😀 *touch wood*
That’s a good point. He’s generally quite placid and has only tried to run off once or twice in his lifetime so far. Think I’m just worrying that he’s going to start pushing boundaries and become a nightmare when the baby arrives, but I’m probably making a big deal of nothing!
We have a 13 month old and TTC number two so will be interested to see what you chose in the end. I like the look of the buggy board with seat but not sure how well that would work in practice. We currently have an Icandy peach as a single so maybe the double version of that might be a good option? Or the bugaboo double if you’ve been happy with it as a single. I do like the look of the baby jogger double, they seem to have lots of different options. I always find bestbuggy.co.uk useful,,, they compare tandems on there as well.
I will let you know how I get on! Icandy and Bugaboo doubles are both way out of our price range so I’ve not really considered either as an option. Plus, the Donkey doesn’t look like the most convenient of folds (I think you have to remove the carrycot and the seat to fold).
Oh and just wanted to add thank you for your reviews of the britax 2 way elite. We have ended up buying that after seeing your reviews. Have you found any easier ways to get on with the straps because I find them sooooo fiddly.
Ah, that’s great. I hope you like it! As far as the straps go, I don’t really have any tips, I still find them quite fiddly. But I do find that I have better luck if I remember to make sure everything is straight/not twisted/in the right place before I put Arlo in the seat – I can usually buckle him in faster that way.
We went Phil & Teds and have an older explorer – downside is you need to fill the wheels with green gunk but otherwise perfect – yes get a sling but there are times when you need to be able to strap both in and it does do everything really well (we spent a lot of time shopping around)
p.s. have a used but loved one with most of the bits that is looking for a new home…
I will be in your position in December, LO will be 2.5 when the baby arrives, so read your post with interest. Have you considered the Bugaboo Donkey? I’m thinking of getting one second hand – I like the fact that the seats can be parent facing?
I didn’t consider the Donkey, mainly due to price, but I also don’t think it would be the best match for our needs – seats don’t fold with the unit, wouldn’t fit through our door in double mode, etc. But they do have their plus points too. 3 weeks in with a new baby and so far we are getting by with the buggy board, but we’ve not had to do many long walks yet.
I was exactly in the same position when i was expecting my second daughter, My first was very happy to walk, more from the age of 2 it was a struggle to keep her in her pushchair, she would run everywhere for very long walks, it was getting really hard towards the end of the pregnancy as i could not keep up with her. i saw that as a sign that i should not be worried once baby had arrived. Baby arrived on the 22nd of march 2012, my daughter was exactly 2 years and 5 months old. Pretty much soon after baby was born, Big sister would not want to walk at all and ask for the pushchair which was fine because i had baby in a babybjorn carrier, which was okay i guess, for the first 4 months, then it was a little more difficult as baby was getting heavier. When baby got to 6 months old i would not go out as much or if i was it was for very short walk, by then big sister still would not want to walk and sometimes would even want to be carried like baby was. I thought of a board but did not go for it just because i found it to be far too expensive for what it really was…. I decided to go for a Phil and teds sports, at one point in London it seamed like everyone had one. Once the girls are in we go for very long walks, it’s really easy to manoeuvre you can do it with one hand, we’ve had it now for about 9 months and getting from one point to the other is not a problem anymore, my eldest goes in and out of the back seat whenever she feels like walking or resting. the girls are now 15 months and 3 years and 8 months, and i still rely on the pushchair, Big sister goes to nursery in the morning and gets really tired sometimes, i have tried going out and about with only the one seat leaving the other at home but it blew up in my face as i ended up carrying one or the other. There are things i don’t like about the pushchair but it does not concern getting about but coming back home….. It can’t be folded with the second seat fixed at the back, it takes a huge amount of space that i don’t have, and it’s too heavy to get up and down a flight of stairs so i keep it in the boot of the car, then i guess if you have a big enough entrance to your house/flat and don’t have to get up a stair case it’s fine. I took the tube once nearly tripped over getting on and off the escalators, so never done it again. but to use locally i can’t fault it.
Thanks for the comment. You’ve described a lot of the problems I am worried we might face without a double pushchair. So far the buggy board is going well, although it does have it’s disadvantages and I don’t know if I would want to use it throughout winter – we are lucky that it’s summer at the moment so my son isn’t getting too cold or wet on the board.
I am in the same situation at the mo. 21month old Harvey and 3 week old Sebastian. In the end we bought the Phil and Ted Navigator. Great concept but not really practical for my situation at the mo.
When using the double kit on front the seat doesn’t recline so when Harvey is napping his head is slumped forward or to the side which looks really uncomfortable. Sebastian is 56cm long and just fits in the baby lie flat part. I don’t see him lasting 6 months as they say it can! It is also a pain to get him in and out of the back.
Looked at larger Phil and Teds (Classic) but second seat doesn’t recline. But I heard the second seat for the DASH reclines and it will fit the Classic (If you can get hold of one that is). Apparently it is the same chassis as the Navigator but is lighter and cheaper! So have no idea why I didn’t get it. LOL. Might have to relook at the Classic.
I would say if I didn’t get the navigator I would go for the Oyster Max double. I have the Oyster single and I love it! Only thing for me about the Oyster Max is the bottom seat does not recline much. So same issue of slumping but the seats look much more comfortable.
I am still on the look out for the perfect toddler / baby double/tandem stroller. I don’t think it exists.
When you find the perfect stroller let me know!!!!
I have the same concerns about the bottom seat not reclining much on the Oyster and the Phil & Teds. That was the one feature I didn’t like about the Oyster Max. At the moment, we are getting by OK with a buggy board, although probably not ideal for a 21 month old.
I am in the absolutely identical situation/ predicament as you were when you wrote this post. My baby is due mid September and my son will be 2.5 years old. I use the car all the time but also like to pop out walking so need the security of a double of some sort. I too have looked at the exact same buggies as you did back in 2013 and am finding it tricky. I think (think!!) the baby jogger city select is the one I should go for (although I like the idea I can get the britax b dual brand new including car seat for same price as second hand baby jogger). Friends recommended a sling but read a terrible article about hip displacement using a sling for long periods of time and would be scared in case I fell etc – especially if we have a cold icy winter. Which buggy did you end up getting? Look forward I hearing from you!! E xxx
Hello. I actually didn’t buy one in the end, we persevered with the buggy board, which worked out OK, but if I had the budget I would have sprung for a Babystyle Oyster double, especially with a winter baby (Rory was summer so using a buggy board with 2.5 year old Arlo seemed a lot easier in better weather. In winter I actually bought a second hand double umbrella fold pushchair for £10, it was useful to have for the odd trip out, but even then I found I didn’t use it loads as it was quite heavy to push with a 3 year old and a 6 month old in it! Here’s the post I wrote on buggy boards if you are interested in reading more about that: https://sorry-about-the-mess.co.uk/2013/10/17/buggy-board-double-buggy-pros-cons-buggy-board/