Which pram?

[<3 Mumofthreetobe <3]

I am currently 26wks pregnant with bub 2. My daughter will be 20mths when bub arrives. I am looking at new prams (as DD won't be old enough to walk everywhere if we go out and the pram we currently have isn't suitable for two kids).

I have already bought a 2nd hand Baby Love limo style pram. When I saw it, it was too good to pass on (paid $100 when they retail for about $300). I always had the intention that if I didn't like it, I would sell it and would easily get my money back on it (there is nothing wrong with it - was still under warranty when I bought it and also came with tray, hood & rain cover).

I have since seen a 2nd hand Steelcraft Strider tandem pram for sale for $450 (when then retail around the $700 mark). The only thing wrong with it is the top seats foot rest has snapped off but can be easily sent back to the manufacturer to be repaired for a small fee. Seller reckons she never bothered as it didn't affect the use of the pram. This comes with both seats, UV mesh cover, rain cover & accessory bag for drinks.

I mentioned it to DH, but he is all like 'we've got a pram to use' blah blah blah... but I am thinking that you see so many of these striders around they must be pretty good (plus I am the one who uses it the most).

What have been your experiences with tandem or limo style prams? Which would you recommend?

TIA

[Beach Mama]

My DD. was 17 mths when DS was born and we have a Phil and teds sport - I still use it now and they are 4.5 and 3! Love it!!!!

[~ Mylitta ~]

We got a standard tandem pram (both kids facing forward, one in front of the other) when I had DD. I hated it. It got used only a handful of times because it was so un-usable for us. DD hated not being able to see me, so she would scream and I would have to pick her up. Then with her out of the pram I would have to try and push it with my heavier DS sitting in the front seat because most of those prams require the heavier child in the front. Int he end I would just take the single pram for DS and carry DD in the Ergo carrier.

That had to change once I fell pregnant again and my belly bump started to make it uncomfortable to carry DD in the Ergo anymore. I did lots and lots of research into a new pram because with 3 under 3 I knew I would need a really good pram. I spoke to a bunch of friends with tandem prams and I have 4 friends that all swear by the exact same pram. It's the City Select Baby Jogger pram. I looked into it and liked the look of it, so a few months back we bought one and it has been probably the BEST baby-related purchase I've ever made. The seats can go on in any direction so you can have both facing you, both facing forward, one forward and one backward etc... And you can use it with capsule attachments or bassinets if you want. I think the normal seat says the child should be a few months old before using it, but I used it with DD from birth and it was perfectly fine. The seats can recline just as much as our single pram which said it was ok to use from birth. I actually like the Baby Jogger more than our single pram, and so I use the Baby Jogger as a single from time to time as well as you can use it with just one seat on it as well.

Gosh, I could probably keep going on and on about how much I love it but I should stop typing, lol. I get comments about it every time I take it out. Even today I had 3 people comment on how good it looked in the space of less than 2 hours at the shopping center. It's a bit more pricey than some prams out there (about $1000 with both seats) but I've found it was well and truly worth the cost ♥

[Lisa]

I have 2 prams. A side by side pram - mountain buggy urban jungle - and a one behind the other - Phil & Teds Vibe.
I love the both for different reasons. The MB one is fantastic for when we go on walks or generally doing outdoor stuff. The P&T pram is brilliant for indoor stuff like shopping centers, restaurants etc.

If you can afford to have 2 prams, do it! You might find you prefer one more than the other and you could simply just sell the less favoured one.


(Sent from my phone, so I apologise if it makes no sense.)

[HotI]

I will have a similar age gap between my two kids. I found a Valco runabout deluxe pram with a toddler seat on e-bay that i will be using for my two. I also have a couple of carriers that i can wear either bub in if that works better. My DD doesn't sleep in a pram, so the toddler seat is fine for her. It wouldn't work if you wanted your both kids to be able to lie down at same time.

I love the look of the City Select Baby Jogger pram but can't justify the money at this stage.

[courts&munchkins]

I have recently bought a baby jogger city mini double. I love love love it. I have never been a pram person but I love this one. Fits through a standard door, easy peasy to fold, very light, has massive sunshades, folds down small. I love it.

[LuluHB]

I've had every variation - phl and ted, side by side (cheapo steelcraft), one in front of the other babylove, side by side valco and double city jogger mini. Valco and city jogger the only way to go for me - valco for walks and city jogger for shopping.

[Amaunet]

I have a "love n care Twingo" and love it. It's a side by side but fits standard door and only tiny bit wider than strider. Each seat can face forward or back

[Taurean]

We upgraded from the Baby Jogger City Elite to the City Select for all the fabulous reasons mentioned by PPs

DD2 arrived on Sunday so we'll get to give it a proper test run later this week I know we won't be disappointed with it though.

[FabFiona]

I have an 18 month gap between my boys. I love my side by side baby jogger city mini double. I use it mainly for walking.

When at the shops I use my Bugaboo Bee which we had from first child with a Lascal skateboard. My oldest surprised me by not running away at all and he really enjoys it.

[*EJ*]

I'm just going to add to the Phil & Teds (Sport) positives even though i know it wasn't an option for you.

I bought one when i had DS2 (DS1 was 25 months old) and it has been the best pram. Honestly prior to having my own i wasn't a fan of them only for their looks really but when looking at double prams it was about as much as i was prepareed to spend and still feel like i'm getting decent quality.

So for the boys it was fantastic, i could lay DS2 down and have DS1 travel on top then later on swap them around to whatever suited best. So it was great for 2.

BUT i now have another little one and still it has been the best pram, (when DD actually would travel in the pram which is a whole other story ) there has been many times when i have had all three on the pram. DS1 sitting on the foot rest, DD in the main section of the pram and DS2 in the back. The pram handles this way better than I do Good workout though So it's been a great pram in that sense also.

Not sure if you're looking that far into the future but just thought i'd point out those few things that i've found since having my P&T's. DS1 is almost 5 and still sits down occasionally, DS2 is 3 early next year and loves to sit in the back section where he can get out easily when he pleases and DD is really quite happy in the main section as long as we're on the move.

Good luck and all the best for the new arrival