Best pram for toddler & newborn?

Hi everyone .. I'm in desperate need of help!

We have just found out that we're expecting number 2 (yaay!) in May and our toddler will then be 22 months old.

I noticed in old posts that most people went for a Phil & Ted's E3 for kids with a bigger age gap (about 2.5 yrs), and a MB double urban for a smaller age gap (about 15 months).

My problem is the age gap between our two will be somewhere in the middle. I have checked out both prams, and while the MB is a bit heavy and a tight fit in our car boot, it seems to be more flexible / easy to steer / better configured for 2. But on the other hand, the Phil & Ted's is much lighter, smaller & cheaper.

There were a few things that really bothered me about the Phil & Ted's. One - the newborn seems to get a bit of a rough deal at the bottom - not a whole lot to look at down there! And there doesn't seem to be much in the way of padding or head/neck support in the insert?! Also, I put my toddler in the front seat to test out the steering and recline, and once the seat is down, there is no way I can clip it back up into an upright position with the toddler still sitting in it.

Does anyone have experience with 2 kids in either of these prams or can suggest another option? The baby store seemed pretty limited....

I'm planning on using the pram for the usual - shopping centres as well as some walking every day.

Thanks very much!
Korina

[Mumma&Bubba(s)]

Hi Korina,
I'm in exactly the same position as you! My second baby is due in May also and our son will be 2 years.

There is very limited stock in the shops and I have found problems with the Phil&Ted's just as you have, and have chosen against the MB double urban as the side by side prams don't fit through most doorways and smaller shop aisles which is a real pain.

I have looked at the Jane Powertwin which looks half decent, but it isn't readily available in AUS - so postage makes it quite dear at around $1000 all up.

I have also looked at the Valco DoubleTake, which is good in theory and the sort of design which I think would be most practical (as both can see, have shade hoods and it is a tandem stlye pram for easier access to shop aisles etc) but it is made of poor quality materials and overall is just not quality enough for my needs - aluminum in my opinion should be the sole composition of the framework.

So I'd really like others imput also, I've done so much internet research my eyes hurt and still haven't found an ideal solution!!

Thanks all, and I hope we can both find what we're looking for Korina!
Take care,
Allyce.

[sweetpea678]

I have not used one my self but have sceen and talked to people with the ABC pram where the toddler seat is on the hood. You can get a two style of toddler seats. one that has a hood and lays back with hight back or a standard upright low back. Maybe google it. I saw one on ebay today for i think about 600 including the standard todler seat.

Hope this helps.

[Mishca]

Hi there

I have a Phil & Ted and have a newborn (9 weeks now) and Toddler who is just 2. The position for newborn in the main seat and Toddler on top position withthe extra attachment does not work for us, Julia's bum was sitting on Tara's legs. Also the safety feature on the toddler seat is not safe enough, it is only attached properly with a red tag on the top secured to the top of the pram, of course its still attached properly at the bottom of the toddler seat to the main pram however when your toddler is wriggling and not wanting to get in the pram and arching their back and whinging the newborn cops it and the toddler seat is not secure enough and wobbles in the position, so I am not using this pram until I can have one child on the bottom and the other in the main seat of the pram. I looked for ages that fits in standard doorway is the Valco Twin Delight, I love it! was $200 but have seen it this week on sale for less at Toys R us for about $159. There was a new pram too I think it is called Peg Pegaro 60/40 but that was $600 which has a bigger seat for toddler and smaller for newborn but is side by side. I looked at other side by side strollers but were all so heavy to manouver or didnt fit in my sedan mazda.

Hope this helps.

Bel
xxx

[Kristin27]

I think you can get the phil and teds in a side by side that isn't as wide as the mountain buggy?

I have the phil and teds but only have one baby at the moment. I'm really happy with it, so easy to drive, fits in all the shops and check outs and is light. HTH.

[mbear]

My younger two are 19mths apart. At the time, we had a three wheeler (mothers choice brand) that had a todd. seat. I really like the three wheelers, despite the safety precautions out there. It worked for us, and didnt cost the earth - about $350 2 and a bit years ago. I did look at the P&T's but DH nearly fell over when he found out the price. And TBH i thought $600+ on a pram was a bit steep.

As our newborn got older, we bought a side by side stroller. Great stroller we use today, has hoods, both seats fully recline, good basket size under each seat.

I guess you have a while to go yet, but have a real good look at the baby shops around, collapse the pram, try it in the boot of your car, get your toddl. to sit in it.....theres nothing worse than a pram that just doesnt DO IT for you......!!! Good luck !

[prama]

hi girls, just wanted to know which one you ended up getting? we've started thinking about a pram for a toddler and newborn too

[JwithJ]

well im hoping to be UTD early next year were gonna get the strider plus is $700 at the moment but its got an online deal where u get the second seat free and it already comes with everything u dont need to buy extras it depends on ur budget etc to wat kind of pram u get but do have a look around online u might find a good deal HTH

[prama]

thanks, hun. 700 is a lot .. will have to shop around..

[Jodi]

We had the Phil & Teds, and my girls are 22 months apart. For us, it worked perfect. I didn't get any of the problems which have been commented on in here. So I guess it works for some, and not for others

[Party-of-five]

prama+ I've been looking at the steelcraft side by side stroller...i think its called the Duo its ment to fit thru standard door ways and you can lay both sides down ummm and i think its around 280-290.

[prama]

thanks girls.

lucy - does the duo do a newborn and toddler side by side?

[Party-of-five]

Prama Steelcraft Duo Twin Stroller Reviews Australia www.britax.com.au i plan on using it for a toddler and newborn.

[prama]

thanks heaps lucy!

[MiniMax]

I have a BabyJogger City Elite and am trying to decide whether to get the toddler seat for it.....DS will be 2.5 when newborn comes around in May. I think the weight range for the toddler seat for it is 15kg....DS is already 14kg! It seems to handle DS and a truck load of shopping though, so might be alright! This is an expensive pram and the toddler seat will mean more $ to add to it.....

If anyone else has other input, I'm happy to read!

[youngmumof3]

i have the lovencare europa and cant fault it i have used it in both newborn toddler and toddler toddler mode ds3 is 6 months and dd is 20 1/2 months ds3 loves laying in newborn mode with the toddler seat on it when he's tired he gets really fussy in toddler mode so put him under dd and he's straght to sleep i got it for $449 plus free toddlerseat and $10 delivery fee online but i really love the look of the strider plus

[Curly]

I have an Adventure Buggy which is a 3 wheeler with the toddler seat up high facing me, kind of shopping trolley style. I think this might be the one a poster above was referring to. I love it and I get lots of admiring looks and comments because people can see DS sitting up high enjoying himself. The position of the toddler seat was the reason we bought it in the first place. I don't like that the baby's view gets blocked by the toddler like with most 3 wheelers.

However, I do hate hefting the Adventure Buggy in and out of the car because with the toddler seat attached it takes up more room, so I have to take the front wheel off the pram to fit it into the boot. This is much easier than removing the toddler seat each time, but still a PITA. (Without the toddler seat it was fine to get into the boot without removing the wheel).

What I have found easier is to keep the 3 wheeler at home for long walks to the park etc and for when I'm out and about at the shops, quick dashes to the doctor, going away for the weekend, I have a little collapsible stroller that lives in the car.

I bought a Childcare stroller from Target that was pretty cheap (on sale for about $100 if memory serves) but does the job nicely and it lays back too so suitable for a newborn (or sleeping child!) I have actually found that once DS and DD were able to sit up and take notice of the world they much preferred the cheap stroller over the expensive pram!

Now that I am expecting Number 3 and there will only be an age gap of 18 months between DD and Number 3, I am going to buy a twin collapsible stroller (ie side by side) which will be much lighter and easier for me to get in and out of the car. And I'll make sure it can lay back.

I won't go for a Childcare stroller again though...we have had issues with the nut and bolt coming loose on the front and the sunshade is a bit of a nuisance to attach. That said, a friend of mine has the same stroller and has had no problems with it and absolutely loves it so maybe mine was just a dodgy one.

I'm eyeing off a Maclaren this time, provided it lays back. That Steelcraft one looks great, just what I am after.