Shopping for a Double Buggy!

I can't believe I'm thinking about double buggies so soon after buying a single one. Life has a way of keeping us on our toes doesn't it! Well, I do love a bit of research. Particularly baby product related research.

I read what felt like a million reviews on every double buggy and pram on the market. I also stopped numerous Mums on the street who were wheeling the buggies in question to ask them would they recommend their pram. Most said no - that really is the best way to research. I spoke to a woman a few months ago who loved her Phil & Teds Double. She had two toddlers with her and she insisted on taking me through the pros and cons (with a demo)! She was so kind. This led to further exploration into Phil & Teds. Another friend of mine, who has a new baby and a toddler, said she couldn't live without hers. She also told me that some of the models were better than others - issues with brakes on one, no car seat adaptor on another etc.

I had no intention of buying anything until closer to my due date but I found myself in Tony Kealey's today (perusing the changing bag section, as usual). When I was leaving a Phil & Teds Explorer caught my eye as it was on special. I had a little walk around the shop with it and had a play to see how it worked. Damn it was heavy. But after wheeling around every other double buggy/pram in there I concluded that I loved it.

I would hate anything wide. I even find the Quinny gets stuck in doorways (it fits fine but back wheels are chunky). I know many of the doubles are only a tiny bit wider but that just isn't for me. I'm also used to a three-wheeler now. I hated the Gracco one - where one seat is on front of the other - it felt like pushing a bus. It occurred to me that choosing a buggy really is a personal thing.

What finally made me settle on the Explorer was the fact that the care seat can attach to it. For as long as Eve has been in her first size car seat (she still is) I just bring the Quinny base and pop the seat out of the car and into it when I'm in the shops. If I was going for a walk or something I would bring the proper top. Then the sales woman showed me the carry-cot that goes behind the toddler seat. Love this idea. The third thing that made it a done deal was that the seats can be switched around depending on the age of your babies.

According to the website...

Highlights

• Proven off-road dependability in an all new package
• One hand fast fold
• Globally safety certified
• Seat Performance System™
• Takes a double kit (2nd seat) and a car seat all at once!
• Removable seat liner: easy to wash & supreme comfort!
• Foot break (instead of the handle-bar break so many of you warned me about)

I decided to put my Quinny Buzz 3 up for sale on Adverts and put the money towards the double. How sensible am I!

Delighted with myself.

Any experience with double buggies?

Travel Buggy Dilemas

I have a buggy dilemma... story of my life.

Here's my buggy background:

Before my first baby was born I settled on a Quinny Buzz 3 Travel System after much research. I'll follow up shortly with a proper review but let me say for now that it's cosy but it's heavy as a heifer. At the time I had a Fiat 500 - what do you mean there is no chance of fitting a Quinny in a Fiat 500? I can hear you snigger. Yes, I was a silly, naive woman who did lots of research into pushchairs but forgot the small issue of whether said pram would fit in my dear car. Not a chance. Even with the wheels off!

 

Quinny Buzz 3

I arrived at my mums one morning after managing to wedge the base of the Quinny into the back seat right beside Eve's Maxi-cosi, it was indeed cosy in there. When I tried to remove baby and pram base I sat on the curb and burst into tears. My Mammy ushered me to her significantly larger car and drove me to Eurobaby where I bought a Chicco Lite Way Stroller, reduced to €110. I was delighted with myself. I continued to use my Quinny but kept the Chicco in the backseat (even that wouldn't fit in the boot of the Fiat!).

 

Chicco Lite Way

Back to the travel issue. 

We brought it on holiday to Lanzarote last Summer. It was light, easy to get around tight spaces but Eve wasn't comfortable in it. Even with the straps tightened she slid around. The recline is quite good but not flat enough for my liking. One week in to the holiday the front wheels started to stick and lift off the ground on shopping centre and restaurant floors. I was not a happy bunny (there were more issues with this buggy so I'll follow up in detail later). The Chicco now lives in Nana's house.

This year I want to spend my money wisely on a stroller that will do me until I'm done rearing my children. I plan to continue using a pram/pushchair but need a stroller for travel and naps etc. Here are my sticking points:

• No flimsy wheels - I don't want the baby to feel every crack in the path. 
• Manoeuvrability - I want a buggy that glides around confined spaces without me having to resort to a three point turn. 
• Comfort - Properly lined and supportive. Comfy for napping. 
• Full recline and leg extension. 
• Decent sized hood to product from sun wind etc. 

Apparently this is quite a lot to expect from a buggy. But I have been researching like a mad woman.  I came across two that fit the bill. 

Mamas & Papa's Tour

Maclaren Techno XT

I popped into my local store to have a test drive of both. In concluded that the Tour is light and pretty, plenty of space, great for travel. The downside is the wheels didn't feel overly strong and the seat didn't recline all the way. The Maclaren XT was nowhere near as pretty but was incredibly sturdy and robust, as a result it was heavier. It has full recline, leg extension and a decent hood. Both look cosy but all in all the Maclaren seems like a better option for my needs. The Tour is €127 whilst the XT was on sale in Mothercare for €209 (without foot muff). I am also considering a Maclaren XLR which I understand is bigger than the XT.

Any recommendations, thoughts? What buggy did you buy? Do you like it?