Having two babies is not only twice as much fun (and work) but it is at least double the trouble when choosing a buggy. The market narrows to a slim gap and the choices are not only limited but expensive and scary- most double buggies are by their very nature big and bulky and a young “mum about town’s” absolute nightmare.
Let me do my best to help you choose the right buggy for you with my pick of the bunch on double buggies for different uses, prices and parenting.
Let us begin with twins. Trickiest of the lot this one- you need a buggy that will sustain both little ones from tiny to tot without compromising on either babies comfort OR your own!
For newborn twins the icandy peach blossom (see bottom of blog for image or check out their website for all the combinations) is a winner. Light, compact, stylish and really easy to store (almost the size of a single) it really cannot be faulted as a newborn pram. I have not used or seen anything that compares to it as a luxury city buggy the width and length being remarkably slight... Other brands such as the City Select’s equivalent has a MUCH longer frame that is incredibly difficult and heavy to move- you know the kind where you have to put all your weight on the handle bar to get up the curb- The peach blossom goes up and down curbs with minimal effort and everything about it is really rather dreamy. The crib attachments are comfortable and can double up as beds for the first few months or two car seats can fit on in an incredibly compact way and you can have both babies facing you (also great for car journeys and general traveling as you only need the car seats and small frame.)... So it sounds faultless... Well it almost is... until the babies reach the seat attachment stage. I suppose it is inevitable due to its excellent compactness but baby number two is rather relegated to the bottom seat and I do worry for her comfort as there is not much room between the seats at all... One constantly wants to check that her toes aren’t being squished by baby number one on top!
Having said that the icandy peach blossom is a remarkable buy AND although it is rather pricey (coming second in line in the price list at up to £1000) it is a really great investment for all families due to its versatility.
For a baby and toddler combination I cannot fault the icandy peach blossom buy it when you have your first baby (as the icandy peach) and simply upgrade to the peach blossom if you have a second. With toddler on the front and baby snug at the back (facing you in the car seat or cosy in the crib attachment) it maintains its slender size and ticks a lot of boxes. Once baby number one has outgrown the buggy simply remove the (very easy to clip in out) attachment and you are back to a single stroller- really ideal- (especially if toddler is at nursery etc sometimes so you only have baby with you some of the time). Although it is very expensive you get a lot for your money because this one buggy really will fit all.
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| Phil and Ted's |
Moving on then to another baby and toddler combination buggy that we love. The phil and teds range came up with a fantastic idea several years ago now that changes their three wheeler buggy from a duo to a single and back again in a series of ingenious ways. From birth to school this buggy fits all. A cross country buggy (although many people use them all the time in towns and cities too) that like the icandy can accommodate a baby and a toddler, two toddlers, a toddler and a child or just one or the other as and when you need it it is incredibly versatile. With a flat baby section at the back, car seat option on top and two toddler seat options...top or bottom there is something for everyone. They are very reasonably priced at around £450 and they last and last. Compact in size and easily to move about with these buggies have been a huge hit and not without reason.
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| Mountain Buggy Duo |
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| Maclaren Techno |
Another side by side option, and by far the cheapest, is the Maclaren Twin Techno or Twin Triumph. These are city prams and the Techno still offers the luxury of other brands while coming in at a much kinder to the wallet £280. It offers individually reclining seats, separate rain hoods and two roomy shopping baskets (although hard to get to when baby lies down) suitable from birth these buggies are affordable but very reliable and highly thought of. The handles are comfortable and the width is still narrow enough to fit through most doors (even though it looks like a tight squeeze it fits through most very easily), light and fantastic for traveling with every baby household needs a Maclaren!
Last then is Bugaboo Donkey (see bottom of blog for image), already featured on the blog last week it will be on the market in the next few months and is the style lovers answer to a double buggy. A large price tag of over £1200 will put many people off but the Donkey does offer a great deal for the money. The narrowest luxury side by side buggy it offers great comfort for side by side riders and parents alike, it changes easily from a duo to a mono and back again and offers great storage at the side if you want it. There are lots of options to suit all needs and I am sure it will prove its worth over the next few months, perhaps too early to be spending that sort of money before it is out on the open market but we will look forward to hearing from test drivers soon. If the world loves it as much as the chameleon and bee then we will certainly get to see a few on the streets before we buy!
Don't be put off by these prices if they seem out of reach... if you aren't happy with your buggy but cannot justify a new one then a) sell it... and b) look into buying your new one on ebay... or alike, lots of buggies get sold after very little use because they do not suit everyone, a buggy must be tailored to your own needs and is a very personal and very important purchase!
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