18mth gap - what pram to buy??

[georgie-o]

I've just found out I'm expecting another bub in Jan 06. My first daughter will be 18mths when the new one arrives. I'm currently using a Bugaboo pram, which I just love and am very sad to see that it won't accomodate the two of them (at least not in the early stages). Can anyone recommend a pram that they have used for two children? What I love about the Bugaboo is the turning circle, the weight and of course it looks great :)

[oscarsmilkbar]

Hi there...
I have a bugaboo and agree on what a fantastic pram it is...my friend is expecting again and they'll be 19months apart. She told me she would be calling the makers of Bugaboo to see if they have a twin pram, or if creating one, what the time frame for Aust delivery would be. She loves it so much!!

My friend just brought a Maclaren twin stroller for about $500 but it looks great and is lightweight too. Another is the peg perego twin stroller. All on Babies Galore website. I don't know too much about them though...I'm still a mum with one!!

good luck with the prams. If my friend hears back I'll let you know.

[draught]

I had the mountain buggy for my first and miss it dreadfully but for two that age I can recommend the Phil and Ted's E3. My two are 20 months apart and it has worked well for us. The beauty of it is that it converts easily back to a single pram when the older child wants to walk etc. There are some things I don't like about it - the straps are fiddly, and the seat doesn't adjust as easily at the mountain buggy, but the set up for a baby and a toddler is worth the inconvenience. The website is www.philandteds.com.

[Moorish]

Hi there,

After a lot of research (I live in Tas and we have like, 2 baby shops), I settled quite happily on the Valco Renegade Duo (tandem pram).

My girls are 19 months apart and we still use it on longer trips even though my kids are 3 1/2 & 22 months old.

The design is great, one seat in front of the other as opposed to side by side. It's about the same length as a 3 wheeler jogger pram but fits 2 kids. The front toddler seat semi reclines, has a foot rest & safety bumper bar, and the back seat fully reclines and has a fabric foot rest that folds down when baby is ready to sit up and watch the world. The back seat sits higher so baby gets a view and both seats have over head hoods with front one detachable.

I think it manouvers just as well as a normal 4 wheeler pram and it folds up only slightly bigger than one - also the handle bar is detachable for easier travelling in the car boot if needed. As my kids got bigger I often put the younger one in the front and the older one (3 1/2) in the back (she loves being higher) and this makes for even easier pushing as it's lighter at the front so easier to turn etc.

I've never had a problem with fitting through isles, doorways or checkouts anywhere as this pram is actually slimmer than 3 & 4 wheelers. My fabric is a nice shade of blue and it's really durable. I think the pram is very stylishly simple in it's design and won't date as quickly as those with odd looking fabrics, features etc.

I got mine for about $265 because I bought it on a Melbourne trip but I batted my eyelashes and smiled sweetly, but you can pick one up for around $300-$350.

(Tip:) Whatever you choose, make sure you shop around, get the sales people to write their best price on the back of the shop business card and see if the next store will beat the price - someone always will and that's how you save money.

Sorry for the length but I can't recommend this one enough.
Hope you'll consider it & good luck
Anna

[RuthK]

My first two are also 18 months apart and I've tried everything.

The tandem prams are fine until the older one gets to 2, then it feels like you're pushing a train as the pram becomes so front heavy.

The side by side, easy to fold up prams are convenient for shopping centres but so hard to push around when they get older and often dont fit in between displays (esp during the sales).

The only pram I found ideal for outside walking is our Baby Jogger (from US, very lightweight but also expensive) which accomodates kiddies until they're 5. The only downside is it is wide and not easy to fit into regular car boots.

If I could do it all again (dont want to dare get another pram though as we've already gone through 5) I'd get a sturdy single jogger, attach the toddler seat until the older one turns about 2 and a half, then put the younger one in the toddler seat, the older one behind, and then once the older one is 3, put a boogy board on the back instead.

I'd love for someone to invent the lightweight, easy to fold up and fit in boot pram that accomodates kiddies til they're 4. They'd make a fortune!