Despatches from a mother who started late (and is running to catch up)

Double trouble

Can anyone reading this blog advise on double buggies? I'm thinking of buying this fellow (the Nipper Double 360, pictured left) but I'd welcome any comments on what's worked well for other people. It's a contentious area. People spend as much on buggies nowadays as they would on a second-hand car. They've become a status symbol by which new parents define themselves. I'll never dare show my face at playground again if I don't get this decision right. And it's a tricky area; views on double buggies seems to divide like the Red Sea.

The main political fault lines are between people who favour:

a) double decker buggies (Phil and Ted) that stack one kid on top of the other.

and those who insist on the superior benefits of:

b) side-by-side models (like the Nipper 360).

It's a bit like the difference between people who like eating olives - and those who can't stand them. There's no middle ground. You have to belong to one camp or the other. You either like them, or you don't. Superficially, you know it shouldn't matter, but deep down you can't help forming judgements about a person on the basis of things like their taste in olives and double buggies.

Personally, I'm not keen on the Phil and Ted approach. There, I've said it. A paediatrician friend warned me she'd treated lots of children who got their hands stuck in the wheels of double-decker models. She's seen gruesome things, that girl. Also, she has four kids of her own. So knows a thing or two about twin buggies.

Plus, I can't imagine it does much for sibling harmony if one child spends her formative years in the lower bunk. The view ahead an outline of older child's backside.

But then, the side-by-sides aren't the solution to everything either. I can remember years of petty bickering with my sister (thirteen - yes, just thirteen - months' age difference between us) in one of them.

I've also become horribly superstitious. When we do decide on a buggy I'm going to ask the pram company to send the chosen vehicle to my mum's. Until the baby arrives. Still can't believe this is happening. Despite the kicks in my stomach as I type. Felt this same way with Beanie. Was only when the midwife wheeled a plastic cot into the delivery room it sank in properly - my God, there was going to be a baby. Now I look back at the years before she arrived, and think, "Where was she then? Who was looking after her if she wasn't with me?"

Posted 16 June 2008 11:49

Kit Out and about

Comments

bushra said:

i don't like those phil and ted ones either, you've got the one in the lower bunk all cooped up unable to see what is going on around them. if i had to choose it would be the side by side ones, despite the risk of bickering. good luck with the steering though.

(ps there's a link to my new blog in those fields).

Posted 16 June 2008 16:25

Helen said:

Maybe best thing is to get one with power-assisted steering.

Posted 16 June 2008 16:49

Vanessa said:

I'll ask parents in the shop but based on what I've observed (and we see a LOT of buggies!) I think the side by sides are better for the reasons you've already mentioned. Also, because you're tall you might find walking awkward if you have a lower bunk beneath the other seat. I found this a problem when we had a pram but when M graduated to a pushchair I could stride out properly at last.

Mind you, that was 2000 and although that's not that long ago, to get the lightweight 3 wheeler that I wanted I had to order it from America as the only one in the UK was the Landrover one. Now in just a few years 3 wheelers have become as common as 4 wheelers.

Posted 16 June 2008 18:23

Helen said:

Crikey, do Landrover seriously do a buggy? Only problem for us is baby unlikely to be hunting/shooting/fishing type - what with her dad being vegetarian and me a paid-up townie from birth. Next those tank makers - Vickers? - will bring out a buggy.

Posted 16 June 2008 19:18

Expat Mum said:

The lower deck looks positively claustrophobic on the models I've seen. Plus you have to consider that you're going to have to do an awful lot of bending to get a wee one in and out.

Posted 17 June 2008 01:06

Helen said:

I am tall, no longer as supple as in more youthful days and constantly tired - so bending would be difficult.

Posted 17 June 2008 10:09

bushra said:

a landrover buggy? i have a hauck one with Jeep stamped all over it...

Posted 17 June 2008 10:40

bushra said:

a landrover buggy? i have a hauck one with Jeep stamped all over it...

Posted 17 June 2008 10:40

Helen said:

I want one with an outboard motor. Good for all the hills round our way.

Posted 17 June 2008 12:47

Joyfulgirl said:

I don't like the idea of the baby being so hidden behind the older sibling either. But the other side-by-side alternative would surely be a nightmare to navigate around the city-I know that I can hardly manage a single buggy without bumping off doors and things in shops. How about one where the rear seat is at the same, or slightly higher level, than the front one, like the Graco Stadium Duo Tandem or Gracco Stadium Duo Tandem Pushchairs on the mothercare site? They don't quite look as funky as the others though so you might not get any style kudos in the playground.

Posted 17 June 2008 14:11

Helen said:

Problem with Graco Duo model is you need arm strength of Russian weightlifter to push down on handle and manoeuvre buggy up onto kerbs. Also, all the weight is out front, making it hard to handle. Tried similar style in Lewis's and felt bit out of control.

Have invested in pink wrist straps to connect me to whichever buggy we choose.

Posted 17 June 2008 15:13

Catherine said:

If Beanie is 2 wouldn't you be better with a single buggy and a buggy board. My back is so bad I couldn't manage a buggy at all so as soon as C was 2 it was ditched and we went everywhere on reins. Slowly. But if you can manage single buggy wouldn't a buggy board give you buggy style speed, manoeverability, clear vision for both kids, and no side by side bickering. You can also make Beanie get off to pick things up that baby throws out! Save you bending.

Posted 17 June 2008 21:52

Helen said:

Wondered about this approach - also in its favour is that we could put baby in sling for first few months. But have fear of buggy boards - that toddler might fall off. Is good idea what you say - seems a waste to spend small fortune on twin buggy we use only for six months.

Posted 17 June 2008 22:22

Helen said:

PS - friend tells me Phil and Ted have improved safety in newer models, and have wheel guards to keep small fingers out of spokes.

Posted 17 June 2008 22:23

Tasha said:

I'm not keen on the double-deckers either. The first time I saw one I thought 'Wow, that will actually get in and out of shops' which is something that side-by-sides have difficulty with, but after a little thought, realised that the new baby was stuck hidden away not able to see the world or her mum. One of the few things that was important to me was having baby facing me for first 6 months or so, so I can babble at her.

I would suggest a buggie board, too and, yes, sling/carrier of some kind for baby at first would work. Rosemary (almost 2 now) walks most places these days and we only really use the buggy when we have a lot of shopping to do and need to use it hang bags on! The only problem with buggie board is if Beanie is likely to need to go to sleep in the buggy. If you had one where a baby seat slots on top of an ordinary push chair, then you could, if necessary, take baby seat off and put Beanie in the pushchair and find a bench to sit on!

Rosemary also rides on my shoulders quite a lot, which would work while pushing a buggy - I find it much easier than hip-carrying or any other kind of carrying.

And you could always get one of those huge toddler-carrying backpack things and put Beanie in there, while pushing baby.

Blimey, it's complicated this mothering lark, isn't it?!

Posted 18 June 2008 17:20

Helen said:

Thanks, that is useful, Tasha. Husband and I decided last night to wait as long as possible before buying double buggy, see if we can avoid altogether, after reading everyone's comments.

Every week daughter walks a little further. Is big investment in buggy. And I'm not keen on hiding baby away in lower deck. Think we might manage with existing buggies/sling and new board.

Husband might cope with backpack and pushing baby - but you have to be strong for those big backpacks. I am weakling. Pregnancy has sapped strength.

Yes, mothering complicated. This bit expensive too!

Posted 18 June 2008 17:29

beta mum said:

The double deckers weren't around when I had my second (now 7) so I bought a one-in-front-of-the-other model (second hand - I've never cared about dark, disapproving looks in the park).

It did get through narrow doors more easily than the side-by-sides, but I had to almost swing from the handle to get the thing up pavements with a lumpy great 2-year old sitting in the front.

I didn't use it for long, and often used the Wilkinet plus single buggy for ease of movement.

They're a bit like Moses baskets - useful for a very short time, so don't spend too much on them.

Posted 19 June 2008 22:15

Alex said:

I absolutely agree with and support the buggyboard option. Our little guys are 27 months apart and that was the option we used. I liked the closeness with my older son (you can't get much closer than parent and buggy-board-surfer), particularly as his world had just been turned upside down with the new arrival.

I a not saying it was always successful, eg when the kids somehow managed to tip the whole pram including contents of my shopping basket infront of unapproving eyes of people that have never had children (and never were kids themselves, it seems). But then they have a knack of unhinging my best laid plans so that is not necessarily a score against the buggyboard.

Good luck. My sister is just buying ahead of number one babe and I am trying to work out how we survived the minefield of baby what-to-buys. We did buy one of those stupid nappy wrapper bins, mind you, so I suppose we didn't gauge oursleves past all of the mines.

Posted 19 June 2008 22:38

Joyfulgirl said:

I didn't think of the weight issue - I wouldn't be able to move the thing either and I definitely wouldn't have the strength to have the toddler on my back or in a sling. I think I would be petrified of a buggy board with my boy of 2 but I don't know much about them either - I just know he would most likely jump off and run off at high speed and I would have to abandon baby to run after him. Sorry-I'm no help at all.

Posted 20 June 2008 09:11

Helen said:

Beta Mum, thanks for Wilkinet tip; they look more comfortable than Baby Bjorn. Might try and hold off on buying double buggy, or go the eBay route.

Alex, think we might experiment with buggy board. We have embarrassing times in supermarkets too - and I hate getting looks from people, when what I need is some help. Are those nappy wrapper bins really no good? I've had my eye on one for about three years now....

Joyfulgirl, I'm a bit scared of buggy boards too, but might give them a try. And your comments are consistently helpful and kind. Is wonderful that you take the time to share your experiences here.

Posted 20 June 2008 09:56

Lindsay said:

Another option is a buggy pod. My friend has one of these as she had to solve the buggy dilemma of 2 year old plus newborn twins! That was quite a conundrum! In the end she went for a one in front of the other model and a buggy pod. It's a flip down seat with an extra wheel that attaches onto the side of your existing buggy. Then when it's not in use it totally folds away. Her two year old loves it too.

Posted 23 June 2008 14:37

VT said:

Hi Helen, totally understand why you're not keen on the double deckers. However, we have a Phil & Ted's and one reason it is great is that it can easily be converted into a single buggy if necessary. Elder child, C, was in it as a single before J came along. They were both in it together for a while (J slept in the carry cot) and now J is in it on his own. Though sometimes C jumps into the under carriage which she actually loves. Sorry if this confuses you even more... Mind you the Nipper looks pretty good too...

Posted 26 June 2008 15:19

Helen said:

Ah, now that is useful to know, VT, because the ages of our children are very close indeed. We are still delaying, no decision made. Planning to see how things work out nearer the time.

Posted 26 June 2008 16:10