Question on prams!

[Briannabear]

Hi everyone!!
Just wanted to know what you all did once your second child was born as far as prams go.
Reason I ask is Ive had mixed opinions from people on whether to get a tandem pram or not.

My baby will be 22 months old when our second bub is born, and living in Brisbane we have large shopping centres that Im regularly at. There's too many people everywhere to just let my DD run around at the shops.
She is walking (and has been for a few months) but she wont hold my hand or stay with me.

At what age did you stop putting your baby in the pram or stroller?
If you do use a tandem pram, which one do you have? Could you please tell me the pros and cons?
Are there any good compact ones?

And last but not least... have any of you got the Jeep tandem pram, and if so are you happy with it?

Sorry for all the questions, it just gets so confusing!!:ecomcity:
Thanks in advance!! :thumbsup:

[draught]

Hey Becca
My two are 20 months apart - and DD1 is now 3 but still hops into the pram for walks or when she is tired at the shops, so yes - a toddler seat is a good option. I say this rather than a tandem pram as my opinion is that the tandems are a bit big, especially if you only have one in it sometimes.

We went with the PHil and Ted's E3 - which I post about a lot on here so I have cheated and cut and pasted from a previous post:

I have two who are 20 months apart and I bought a Phil and Ted's E3 pram (www.philandteds.com.au). There are some features that I don't like about it when compared to the mountain buggy I originally owned, but for a set up for two I cannot fault it.

The baby gets to lie down flat, the toddler sits where they would normally sit - so they have shade and can fall asleep in the pram if they need to. It is the size of a single pram so doesn't take up more room and is easy to manouvre, and if only have one with you then the pram adapts very easily to being a single pram.

Once baby is old enough to sit up then the toddler seat goes underneath and you still have a pram the size of a single. My DD1 is 3 and very tall, and she still rides happily in either the front or back seat. The back seat slips off very easily if only one is to go in the pram.

The main things I don't like about it are the harness set up and the soft fabric over the front wheel (a cranky toddler jamming their feet down acts like a brake on the wheel).

And to help with what other people have said re the same question check out this link http://www.bubhub.com.au/community/forums/showthread.php?t=11742

[Briannabear]

Thanks Theresa!
Will read the thread!!
I like the Phil and Ted prams but Im not sure If I want to spend quite that much though.

[Mamaduke]

I bought one of those side by side prams when I had Lucas and we probably used it about half a dozen times, but Jesse was 2 and a half when Lucas was born.
The big problem I had with the side by side pram was that I just couldn't get out of certain doors! I remember having to find a sliding door at certain places just to get in and out and even though it was extremely easy to steer and push it still was very bulky.
I later sold this pram on ebay...it still looked almost brand new.
Wouldn't it be nice if we could 'test drive' our prams for a couple of days before committing to buy like we do our cars?:rolleyes:
BTW my friend has a tandem pram (one in the front, one in the back) and she loves it...I'll find out the brand and model if you'd like...she thinks it's great when she goes to the supermarket for a few things because if her older child is walking with her she puts the basket in the front for the groceries and then the baby cannot get to them (unlike the side by side version).

[Elfin]

My daughter stopped going in the pram at 3.5. She is not far off 4 now and can walk a long way. My daughters are 15 months apart and I went for a stretch limo type of pram and just loved it. It steered really well and I could get through small spaces in shopping centres and carparks. Suited us really well. Mine is a Graco brand. The only con I have about it, is the harness clasp is a bit snappy and hurts like hell if you finger gets in the way.

[wattle]

I have the same question. :D I had a look the other day, and it's all pretty confusing.

Has anyone had trouble with a toddler seat on a single pram causing too much weight at the front and it tipping over?

I have a mountain buggy too, and it's a real bummer that it doesn't take a toddler seat. I'm still considering the e3.

[tickle]

Is this a silly thought or does anyone else have a problem with one child always being to the back, IYKWIM. With nothing to look at etc etc. I don't want to go with anything with a toddler seat as I need something that my DS can sleep in as he still has one or two day sleeps.
Just a thought.

[Refresh]

I would put Brianna in the pram and carry the bub in a sling:D

[tickle]

This was my first thought too Ffrenchie but did you find that carrying them in a sling for long periods when they got a bit heavier became a bit much?

[draught]

I have the same question. :D I had a look the other day, and it's all pretty confusing.

Has anyone had trouble with a toddler seat on a single pram causing too much weight at the front and it tipping over?

I have a mountain buggy too, and it's a real bummer that it doesn't take a toddler seat. I'm still considering the e3.

THe E3 toddler seat doesn't cause overbalancing as it is positioned within the normal frame of the pram - so they get sheltered etc and are still in a sufficiently laid back position that they can snooze. (HL - if you want to borrow ours for a few days and test O out in it you are welcome - there are a few days a week when we don't use it at the moment.)

Once there they are both sitting up and there is one "behind" - we have had no dramas - they both happily sit in the front or back seat.

[Briannabear]

I would put Brianna in the pram and carry the bub in a sling:D
I did think that! I like the idea of a toddler seat attached to a pram, but they look unstable to me. Has anyone else found that or are they quite secure?

And Mamaduke I am interested in the brand of your friends pram! There's so many out there I dont want to be stuck with a dud!

:thumbsup:

[Mamaduke]

Will give her a call today...

[Elfin]

Happy Lady my tandem had an adjustable back seat so the child can sit up when ready. They can look out the sides pretty well so they do get to see what is going on. I would sometimes swap them around when my youngest was able to sit up well. They thought this fun, no problems doing this at all.

[Peaceangels]

My two are 15mths apart and we have used a McClaren side by side stroller since DS2 was born.

Very compact, lightweight and easy to put up and down - can highly recommend it. Only drawback is you have to use the disabled aisles at supermarkets etc. as that's the only aisle you will fit down.

I bought it from a friend for $180 and it was money well spent.

[~Chick79~]

My two are 15mths apart and we have used a McClaren side by side stroller since DS2 was born.

Very compact, lightweight and easy to put up and down - can highly recommend it. Only drawback is you have to use the disabled aisles at supermarkets etc. as that's the only aisle you will fit down.

I bought it from a friend for $180 and it was money well spent.


I too have a stroller that I will be using as both seats recline for when my older DS falls asleep (he will only be 14mths when bub #2 arrives)....

As for going down the disabled isle only - I have to do this with my single jogger now anyway!

We were considering buying a twin jogger but really can't justify spending the hundreds of dollars on one when I have a practically brand new stroller.... Still while we were looking at the idea we were looking at a steelcraft twin jogger...

I don't like the idea of toddler seats or tandems as then the child at the back has nothing to look at except the seat in front.... just my opinion....

[Baby Girl]

I bought a second hand double pram (one seat in front of the other). DD1 was 2 1/2 when DD2 was born and I don't use it all that often but find it is good as DD1 still falls asleep in the pram if we have a big day out shopping or out at the zoo or easter show or something, the toddler seats generally aren't that high at the back so it gets a bit uncomfy for her. I also try to go for a walk a couple of nights a week (try being the operative word!!) and it is easier to do when DD1 is in the pram rather than walking.

So I don't use it all that often but I do use it regularly - IYKWIM! I intend to sell it once I am done with it which won't be long as DD1 is quite happy to walk most of the time now. I also kept my single jogger so I will still have a big pram big enough for either of them and I also have a smaller stroller for quick outings when DD1 can walk. I do find that I take DD1 in the stroller and put DD2 in the baby bjorn a lot if I am just running around quickly (as in not a whole day out). The only problem with that is DD2 is getting heavier!! I would have kept using the single for DD2 and the stroller for DD1 except it is not unusual for me to be out with them bnoth on my own so the double has been very handy in that respect!!

[Oscar's mum]

I like the Phil and Ted E3, but you probably already read that on the link that Draught posted!:D ;)

[yummmmy_mummy]

i dont know if uve seen them and ur daughter might be a little to young for it yet but they have a platform type thing that attaches to the back of ur normal pram for the older child to stand on

[yum-mum]

We were going to buy the P&T tandem but was told that the child in the back can get their hand caught in the back wheel, because the child is so low down. So that stopped us buying that.
We bought a Bacino Sherpa which is good, unfortunately we never got much use out of it due to our DD refusing chauffeur driven travel, lol. Wanting to walk ALL the time and by the time she tires out we're ready to go home. (Yes I'm selling it but you're in Brissy, :crying:) (we now have a single jogger for our 2nd bub.)
I don't think any of the tandem joggers can really be called 'compact' but some are a bit better than others. I never tried out the jeep sorry.
For my money the tandems are far better than the side by sides.

[Briannabear]

Thanks everyone for your replies! Will keep investigating! :thumbsup: