3 wheel strollers with toddler seats

[bigglet]

Does anyone have a 3 wheel stroller with a toddler seat that they could recommend? I have read a lot of reviews on strollers and it seems like the 3 wheel strollers don't seem very safe having a toddler seat because it can easily tip over. Has anyone found this in their experience?

Or.... is there a 4 wheel stroller that can take a toddler seat as well as having the baby behind sitting up? I have the Betini Bidwell (I think that's the model) with the toddler seat but the problem is that it's only good if the baby is lying down behind otherwise it's too squishy having them both sit up.

Instead of having to buy a tandem pram is there a good stroller pram that can have the toddler seat with baby sitting upright behind and is sturdy but lightweight?
Bonus parent tray cupholder would also be a dream bonus!
In the price range of say no more than $500ish..... or am I dreaming?!?! :)

Or... do most of you have more than 1 pram to compensate?

[Shazbutt]

Don't buy the Love-N-Care X-trail.....its great to steer etc, and smooth to push, but there are so many other things that i don't like about it. I won't go into it all, as there is a review on the pram reviews page by someone else, that explains it to a tee. Don't waste $500 on it. There are plenty of others that are better and cheaper.

Sorry i can't recommend those others though :o .....i'm just sticking with the one i have as i won't need it for much longer.

[bigglet]

thanks for that :)

I've also been told that sometimes the pricey ones just aren't worth it either... so any other recommended brands?

Was reading in the Choice magazine about how ther Valco Rebel isn't safe and they had problems with the wheels breaking in the Babylove and Love n Care ones.

I'm thinking of Mothers Choice - it doesn't seem very pricey and haven't heard bad reviews of it (someone said they loved theirs) but haven't been able to find other reviews on that brand.

[k15s]

I have a phil & ted's stroller. I have the older model which is more stable, larger, etc. but the new e3 is pretty good. Difference bewteen these and other types is that the toddler sits at the front and the youger child sits behind. This is more stable with the weight over the back 2 wheels rather than over the front wheel. I put a post somewhere else on here. Will try to find it...

[k15s]

Here 'tis.

"...thought I should write since I LOOOOOOVe my stroller! I have an older style Phil & Ted's which is called a Kiwi Explorer. Not sure if you can get one on ebay or similar but I know you won't get mine!!! If everyone else is as happy as me you won't find one anywhere!

Anyway...
The difference between mine and the new one is (and I'm only quoting people who have used both and told me) the newer version has the toddler seat higher and I don't think is reclines like mine does. This is great! The newer one also has the back seat when in toddler mode very straight so when you change your newborn to the seat rather than the sling thing, he/she may be uncomfortable since it is very straight up the back. I also believe the newer one isn't designed to carry as much weight. When they released the newer model I tried everything to convince my husband to upgrade but after looking closer I love my old one more!
The only thing I would change about the older style, is it has 2 foot brakes (seperate one for each wheel) rather than a long bar at the back. Although my husband has mounted a bike pump there now so the space is used well! The older style also has one other flaw. You use "newborn wings" to make the base flat but if you would like it sloped for when the child is a bit older, these "wings" need to be detached which is not something you'd want to be doing often. Baiscally, you either go flat or make the decision to have it sloped with the option of reclining more if the child is sleeping.

I love the stroller and have put it through absolute torture! I used to deliver catalogues, and would have my 2.5 year old the the main seat, my 8 mth old in the rear seat, a bag attached to the front foot rest FULL of catalogues, and bags hanging off all sides as well! I would then use the sun hood as a writing table to keep track of my catalogue drop! Like I said - torture! This was done sun, wind or rain so it has coped the weather too. The poor thing is rated to take a mix of 35kg with 2 kids, but let me tell you.... it took all that and more! My kids were both so comfy they would both sleep while I did my drop. Also recommend upgrading tyres on any stroller if possible to standard kids bike tyres. Not only is my husband happy since "they look tough!", but the bumpy surface on the tyres make for a not-so-smooth ride which seems to lull my boys to sleep!

Well, raved on for a bit, but I just love my stroller! Only bought a few baby items for our kids, but did lots of research and spend big bucks at the time! (First child cost us over $3000 for the complete set up, but my second cost me $50 for the ultrasound gap! Didn't need anything. Number three..... well, we need a bigger dining room table now....)"