Bub and toddler..which pram or stroller?

Hi Everyone,

I have a 6 week old and a 20 month old and I still can't decide on what type of pram/stroller I need. Here are my requirements:

DD 20 months hates being in a stroller/pram for long periods so I was thinking the toddler seat option would be better. I don't need to worry about DD 20 months sleeping because she won't. Then in 6 months time when she is able to walk by my side I could just use the pram.

Budget - Well lets just say my DH is a little tight. I reckon I could squeeze $600 max out of him.

Small features: easy to assemble, easy to wheel one handed, good size shopping bag, able to put things in the shopping bag when fully reclined, not too heavy.

My main query is whether or not a pram toddler seat combo is the way to go or should I go for a side by side. I have a very old Childcare side by side and it won't fit down a lot of shopping aisles now through a standard front door.

Suggests would be appreciated.

I love my Phil and Ted's e3. I bought mine off ebay so it wasn't as expensive as in the shops. The only problem is it's hard to get things in the basket when it's fully reclined. It's REALLY light and easy to push. Easy to put up and down. My 19 month old doesn't mind the toddler seat. Hope that helps....

Ive had about 8 prams through my time with my 4 babies and I have to agree with Nik....get a phil and ted you wont regret it!

With Phil and Teds does the toddler seat go underneath? or is that for the baby? I didn't like the idea of the childs feet being in the grocery compartment..or does that not happen?

Thanks by the way:)

have you thought about getting a good stroller say a maclarens and getting a board for on the back? would she happily stand?

hey hun, i recently won a valco runabout with toddy seat on ebay for $90. its in gorgeous knick hardly a mark on it!
maybe see whats available on ebay, that way if it doesnt work 4 u, u havent spent a fortune.
the pram ticks all ur boxes, but the shopping basket is a bit small

AJP - I have a skateboard attachment and both my older girls just love to jump up and down till bub almost falls out and DD2 needs to be restrained because she loves to take off.

Sybie - I hve been looking on ebay but I am a bit scared to buy some thing that I have seen irl. Thanks for the tip I will ook up that pram

I've been wondering the same thing for when our next bubs comes along. A few things to remember, do you go for long walks etc? the board etc are not really good for that. Also you mentioned "walking by your side in 6months".....my DS is 2.5 & still does not always do this, therefore I'd rather he be restrained to say my leaving the pram & running off after him. Also if you go on holidays etc & they get tired you dont really want to have to carry them.
The other thing for me is weight, most double strollers only go up to 16kg or so each side. My DS is already approx 13kg or so. Some double prams are the same. Same goes for the toddler seat, my DS moves about a bit also & I don't like the idea of him making the pram top heavy.
From my research & what I've been told the Phil & Ted's side by side are great...esp if you like to use it for longer walks. I've already got an exp pram so am looking on ebay for that or a Mountain Buggy side by side.

Hi Bekz
I am on the hunt for a mountain buggy atm... but i thinki have diff reqs to you.
I am personally not a Phil and Teds fan... but that's me.. I find them a bit awkward to put down and i dont like the newborn being under the toddler. I do know heaps of ppl who like them though...

Pregagainpan- I not that fussed on the bub being underneath either. I was looking at the Steelcraft take 2. Is the mountain buggy a bit wide?

i borrowed one from a friend in syd (who has twins) and i loved it. it is a bit heavy and big - ie for taking in and out of the car all the time (liek if you were using it every day for shopping etc - but for me I often just ahve one of them or use a pram and a sling for these little trips) - but it takes up to 25kg in each side, one can recline and the other sit up - ok area for shopping etc. It fits through supermarkets and standard doorways (not with a lot of room but i found it ok going in and out of cafes etc). i found it really nice to push and i like the idea of them being sde by side. it also has a little clear section at the top so you can look in and see what they are up to (ie if the toddler is poking the newborn LOL). The only thing i didnt love was that it is hard to hang a nappy bag on the handles bc it is wide (whereas i have a bugaboo and my nappy bag fits nicely over it) - you can get around this with a hook though i guess (or carry less and put it underneath).
My friend also has a double maclaren stroller which is fab too - but not for newborn, prob better when the littlest can sit up if you can wait that long.
I have looked into the MBs quite a bit and it isnt worth getting the 'elite' - the main thing you get is a nice lining - and you can buy nicer ones seperately for the MB urban. there are usually a few 2nd hand ones online in melb and syd (i cant find one here though so may have to convince DH i need a new one).

Preg - I have 2 nappy bags atm, a small one for short trips and a large for the longer trips lol!!! Unfortunately my stroller tips over with the large bag:(

I wouldn't go for a side-by-side as you're then stuck with an empty seat when your older kids decide they don't want to ride in the pram any more. At least with a normal pram, you can just remove the toddler seat when it's no longer required. Just a thought.

My pram (the Baby Jogger City Elite) is fantastic but it's more than you wanted to spend, around $1000.

I have valco runner with toddler seat, it does the job, a bit awkward when walking on slopes as the wheel has to be locked in position or the whole thing tends to tip if both kids are in it. I didnt like the idea of having a child so low in the phil and teds but that was jsut me know a lot of people love them. One problem witht he valco I have is the toddler seat has no sun cover (you can buy one but its more money). The toddler seat doesnt recline but my dd's wont sleep in the pram anyway. Can be tricky to get large items in the basket when it is fully reclined.

I have found it heaps easier to put bubs in my mei tai and dd1 in the pram, or trolley if we are shopping. DD2 loves the mei tai and generally falls asleep in 15mins in it.The new pram has really been a waste of money for us as Ive used it half a dozen times if that. DD2 is getting a bit heavier now so Im using the pram occassionaly or her but dd2 is almost three and is wanting to walk more often than not

I have a Phil and Ted which has been unreal. I can go shopping with the two of them and not worry about fitting down isles and I go walking all the time. I felt the same about the bub in the back, but my boy doesn't seem to mind and my little girl also like to go in it sometimes (she thinks it's fun). Without it I wouldn't get out by myself with them nearly as much. The attachment seat can go under when the bub is old enough or on top for the toddler when the baby is new. The only annoying things I find are the straps to put it up and down, I was spoilt by my beema which is so easy.

I was going to sugest a baby carrier for bub and then todler in pram. I have a 13.5 month old and she rarely goes in the pram as I carry her alot, mainly on my back now but it is great so that I have two hands free to do things with my older kids. She started out on my front when little but still alowed me to do things with the other kids.

We do the sling thing but I'd like the option to be able to put DD3 down if required. Plus I exclusively used the sling with DD2 and now she hates the pram.:wall:

I have a 3yo and 9mo - I think all of the suggestions are great, it really helps to have others perspectives. FWIW - we have the double Mountain Buggy and Maclaren Twin Stroller. I wanted to walk daily so the MB stays up at home and the Maclaren stays in the car. My 3yo walks in fits and starts - her spirit is willing but we do quite big walks so she hops in and out etc. The MB only just squeezes into my boot (Commodore Stationwagon) also and is quite cumbersome but fab to 'drive'. I bought both doubles with the intention of reselling on ebay to recoup some $$ when we were finished as they are both generally in demand. The girls love being side by side and chatting,playing etc. Happy shopping!

We bought Phil and Ted dash as we planned on kids close together!
I have loved phil and ted with only 1 child but I must say takes up lots of boot room so I use it for walking and my stroller lives in boot of car but that will all change when bubba 2 comes along, will be getting toddler seat for Phil and Ted.

My friends who have phil and ted with 2 kids all love it!

Just a note in regards to Phil & Teds with one child being under the other. They DO have a side by side also that takes up to approx 25kg each side.....so great for a long time & if you have long walks etc.

Everyones recommendations are great!!!hmmm decisions, decisions

we have a steelcraft transition (i think thats what its called) around the $360 mark with a toddler seat $90 great pram, 3 wheeler we hardly use the toddler seat though!

AJP - Can I ask why you didn't use the toddler seat much?

Its a bit on the pricey side, but thought I should mention it anyway.

Have you checked out the ABC adventure buggy with toddler seat on top? They also have a reclining newborn toddler seat - so the new baby can face Mum at eye level and lie back - whilst the older child faces outwards underneath. Or you can go for the regular toddler seat up top for the older child, and have the baby sleep in the bottom part. I think this is great as neither childs view is blocked by the other.
Its traditionally a 3 wheeler pram like the mountain buggy, but comes with an optional
4th wheel for extra stability (most people find they dont need it).
So the pram is the width of a single- good for shopping etc - but it is also fabulous for outdoor terrain, and can easily convert into a single pram by removing the toddler seat.
There is a huge basket underneath which has a zippable cover to protect your items.

Just a thought! X