Ok, Here I am about to clock over to the "large" family group. Not that I really think 4 is large but anyway.
I have a Jog stroller with a toddler seat. Have had it since Glenn was a bub so about 4 years. Its been great.
BUT its a pain in the butt to get in & out of my Kia. I have to remove the toddler seat, front wheel & make sure the back of the main seat is up before I can fold it. Once its all in I have very little room for anything else in the ****y little space my "people mover" provides.
So It hasn't been used for about a year.
I just bought on ebay a side by side stroller that will probably take up just as much room I the car but will be a simple fold & unfold action to use. Not a 5 minutes dismantle & reassemble each time I use it.
I was also justifying a new pram by the fact the jog is 4 yrs old & has had some weather beating over the last 12 months as its on the verandah.
So I pulled out my jog & started cleaning it up to list on ebay. Now I am thinking its not that bad, it still looks ok.
So what I want to know is how have other managed & with what?
My original plan was just keep Isla in her current pram & bub in the sling. Which chances are I will do a fair bit either way. But when its hot & when bubs is getting bigger etc I already know how awkward it can get.
Yes Isla is (well will be) 2 when bub comes. But she is a runner. so I need to be able to tie her down lol. Glenn is 4 & reasonably sensible goes off with the pixies now & then but he isn't a wanderer & holds on to the pram etc.
I think isla would enjoy sitting next to the bubby as she is rather bubby obsessed (what 2 yr old girl isn't!). I worry having her up in the toddler seat as she is not only a runner but also a climber. The shoulder straps on the toddler seat aren't fantastic & I know she would be able to get them out & be standing in the seat the moment I have my back turned & hands full with a baby.
I always just used a skateboard for the back of the pram when my first three were smaller and that worked cause none of them were bolters or anything like that. But anyway, I would go for the side by side one because they are a bit safer too - I've seen those jogger ones with the toddler seat tip over quite a bit. As for the space, I assume you're like me and do all the shopping etc when you have the least amount of kids with you? If you do you can always fold some of the seats away in the very back to give yourself more room for shopping. We only have our 3rd row of seats up when we are all going somewhere, otherwise we have no space left either. You could possibly still use the jogger if you go for a walk or something like that. I have a big steelcraft pram that I use outside a lot when I go for a walk or stuff like that because the wheels are bigger and much better for that than the stroller.
FJ - i have a p&t and basically bought for compactability.
HOwever i think the side by sides will definately entertain for longer BOTH children as they will be able to see what is going on!
I am not sure how 2 toddlers int he P&T will go, so i think you have made a good choice to try the other type
Perhaps just hang onto the old pram until bub is a toddler and see how each fair out?
I did think of getting a P&T but again the problem I have with the 3 wheelers (with big wheels) is I need to remove the front wheel to compact enough fold to fit i the back of the kia.
I seriously have about a foot to work with. I can't push the seats to far forward as then Isla & glenn will be kicking & pulling on the teather straps of the carseats in front of them.
I can't put them in the middle row as then bubs will have to be in the back & thats just to far away for comfort when they are NB's. Having Evan in the middle row will mean I can fold his seat forward to get to the others to do up buckles as he is on a booster seat that I can move easily enough.
Well I sold something on ebay so I feel ok if the side by side is a flop as I didn't have to pay for it with money I didn't have. It was only $85 & its new so I can't complain too much. I would probably get that back on ebay anyway if I don't like it.
I have 3 preschoolers still 4yo, 2yo and a 3month old. I use atm a mountain buggy with the adjustable handle (my hubby is very tall) with a skateboard on the back (we don't kick it) and I have my baby in a Jazsling (bought off ebay) and its works great. I have never tipped my buggy and always find it more stable with the front wheel locked. I love the mountain buggies as they never die - this is my 2nd but only cos my dh ran over the first one, but my first one I had for 5 kids and since 1995. I did trial a double buggy for a while but found them more hassle than what they are worth, hope this helps.
I have the phil and ted and the wheels just clip off. Jesse is now 2 also and there is no chance im letting him out of the pram.. its hard enough getting him back in once ive done a nappy change. I really like the phil and ted because of the size of it.. but it is a PITA to get Keira out of the baby section. I cant wait until i can put her in the seat on the back. TBH.. id just do what is going to be easiest. If you go into alot of narrow shops then do the toddler seat.. otherwise just do the side by side.
The wheels on my jog just clip on & off also but its still a pain in the butt.
I pick up the side by side tomorrow so I will have a play around & see how I go before listing the jog.
I made a pouch sling (like the Jazsling) only last night LOL, I also have one I made that is the same as teh HAB & also a clip on Mei tie so Im not short on slings at least LOL. Not short on prams either just deciding which to keep LOL
We have a 3 wheeler with todd. seat, and a side by side stroller. My younger two are 19 months apart, so DD#2 was only 19 months when Sam was born. I loved the three wheeler for when baby was newborn....she could lie down, sleep, whilst DD#2 could have a good look around. I do know what you mean about climbers etc,but seriously, how long are you going to be out with all your chlildren? I found quick ducks into the shops the three wheeler worked fine. I also loved the three wheeler (as unsafe as some people think) as it was easier to steer. Im one of those people that carrys 28 shopping bags on my arms, coffee in hand and handbag, all whilst pushing a pram - i loved the three wheeler for that, it was doeable.
As DD#3 got older (6mths) she wanted to look around, no longer would lay in the three wheeler. We had the side by side anyway, so we started using that. Does the job, seats recline etc if they do wanna sleep. But i dont think its as easy to steer.
I would hang onto exactly what youve got and see how you go.....
My main concern with Isla & the todd seat is she is very likely to get out of the straps & try standing up or climbing out when I have my hands full.
Also, I don't live local to any shops so no quick ducking in & out for me unfortunately, when I go down it will be a big trip. At least a couple of hours anyway.
Only Evan is at school & Glenn attends preschool 1 day a week & given whats available to me in the way of preschool we can't afford to increase his days as its not covered under the child care rebate thingy, I am paying full price. Its only $25 a day but & only runs 2 days a week but I can't afford $50 a week. Or the fuel it would cost to take him else where.
But Glenn isn't really the problem.
Isla & baby.... The side by side has a fully reclining seats so bub would be flat on his side. The jog also reclines to almost flat but having the todd seat on front makes it hard to get to bub ( i know as Glenn was a bub when we got it & Evan was the 2 yr old up top.)
God, just dawned on me how fun shopping for food will be LOL. I can plan that on preschool days so I am down to 2 kids with me but far out!
Hey FJ maybe you just need to get a bigger car lol. Then you could use what ever pram you wanted. I have seriously looked at getting a Toyota Commuter Bus lol. Take out the back seats and I would have heaps of room for the pram and groceries and whatever else the kids want to take as well as seats for everyone.
I have just bought a new pram too and it is a Love N Care uni coupe stroller with a toddler seat. 4 wheels for stability but it is a bit bulkier than what I wanted. Hopefully DD won't be in the toddler seat for too long and then I can just buy a cheap stroller.
LOL at the bigger car. Might just have to make do with what we have. It already the Bigger car that we bought when Isla came along.
I bought a side by side of ebay that is actually really light, fits behind the seats well & is easy to push, has a reversable handle etc. Im pretty happy with it.
As Ive told ya Ive got the valco side by side witht he small wheels which I am over the moon about. It folds down small...yes it is still abit large inthe back of the car, but I now use an occy strap to strap it up and I can fit a weeks of grociers in the boot with the pram in it.
i bought the side by side because I had a limo style pram which was good, just to bulky to put in the back of the kia. Ive also put my back 2 seats forward to give me more boot room. both kids love the side by side and when Vy gets tired whilst out she can just climb in and rest.
Kmart had them on sale this week for $159 (and I know yours was sold out) but I bought it form my local baby store for $200 and Belle also bought one from baby buntings for the same price.
All this stress just before Mr Bean is due and all...woman woman woman
I love my side by side stroller, age gap is 2 years too. Only problems i have are some shops with small aisles and breakables ie "Thingz" but i rarely go to places like that anyway. I use mine more for quick food shopping - where i just use the disabled aisle - legally they have to have one open, and also walking around the neighbourhood, its smooth and easy to push and super quick to fold up.
My toddler really likes being next to the baby, i think you'll be happy with this kind of pram, i hope you can fit it in your boot. We have a station wagon which i don't really like but at least i can fit both this stroller and a single for days when i use the carrier and have the toddler in the single.
I have a Phil & Ted and it was unstable for Julia (2years) to be in the top toddler seat and Tara (newborn) to be in the bottom main seat, also Julia was squashing TAra's legs, so I went and bought a side by side stroller, spent ages looking for them. Got the Valco twin delight like Maz at Toys R Us for $199 now $159 but hey money still well spent, love love it, its great, folds down great in the boot and we have a small car mazda 3 sedan. Mine sits flat and I can fit shopping on top and also down one side of the boot. The girls love looking at each other too. What stroller did you get.?
Prams.... doubting I made the right choice..
Reply With QuoteIf you do you can always fold some of the seats away in the very back to give yourself more room for shopping. We only have our 3rd row of seats up when we are all going somewhere, otherwise we have no space left either. You could possibly still use the jogger if you go for a walk or something like that. I have a big steelcraft pram that I use outside a lot when I go for a walk or stuff like that because the wheels are bigger and much better for that than the stroller.
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