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.
Prams.... doubting I made the right choice..
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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.
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