Best pram for public transport with twins?

[Linguaphile]

We just found out we're having twins, and I'm freaking out about how we'll get around! We don't have a car and aren't keen to get one, so I'm wondering what the best pram would be for carting twins around the Kingston/Richmond area in SW London. I've been eyeing the Bugaboo Donkey since I like the side-along style and versatility of the seats, but will it be a nightmare for public transport and shopping? Plus, it seems much thinner than other side-by-side models. The icandy Peach looked nice, but I'm not sure about the style of seating, and it seems like a hassle that the carrycots don't fold down... but then, maybe it's worth putting up with if it's easier to get around?

What is your experience with twin prams on public transport? I see mums with prams on buses all the time around here, but don't know if it will be worse with twins... It's not like I'll be able to easily collapse anything with 2 infants!

Recommendations would be much appreciated.

[DeepRedBetty]

Bumping for you... my twins are now 14 but I well remember this stage! I doubt the buggies around now are the same as the ones I looked at. What I do remember is that I ended up with a side by side which theoretically was meant to have the same footprint as a wheelchair, but in practice was a PITA. In retrospect would have gone for something fore-and-aft.

Make sure it's got good storage for the paraphernalia you need to cart about with you too.

[silverangel]

I had the donkey at first, its great and not as wide as it looks, although I never tried it on a bus! I never had a problem getting through a standard door apart from when the car seat adaptors where on but that won't apply to you. Only thing I would say is I sold it on after a year, you can't fold it with the seat units on and the chassis is huge. I know have a Baby Jogger City Mini Twin, also side by side, its great for this stage (18 months) but I don't think I would have liked it when they were tiny.

[metafarcical]

I have a Mountain Buggy Urban Duo and have never had an issue on the buses. In fact, I'm very near you and only use public transport or walk. The only place I've had a bit of a problem is the Norbiton train station. There is a really big gap at the platform. I just asked for help from someone getting on the train. That said, I mostly walk since we're rarely in a hurry.

Is that big baby shop still there near the Twickenham station? Maybe you could stop by there and test out some buggies. The Mountain Buggy is very heavy. I'm not sure if that's an issue for you.

I can't say enough good things about my buggy. I've taken it on buses to Central London with no problems and the SW Trains to Waterloo have plenty of room.

[Twingirlsrock]

I'm in Teddington and have a City Mini Double. I've had it since they were newborn as it does go flat. You can buy newborn carriers to go in but we didn't, we just bought the foot muff inserts and we found that fine.

I've done bus to Kingston and to twickenham. Can't say it was easy but it's doable. I chose quieter times because otherwise it can be hard to get on and you log jam everyone all ready inside.

Get on at the back double doors as I had the experience in Waterloo of getting stuck half way down and having to ask everyone to back up behind me!

I've also used the train a fair bit and find that totally fine.

There's no doubt you need to think more carefully when it's the double buggy but honestly it's fine. People in general are so adoring and think you're so amazing to have twins and be out ( people are silly) that they can't do enough for you.

[Twingirlsrock]

Actually I've got the baby jogger city mini twin (official name)

[tiggersreturn]

I have an out n about and a double maclaren. Both can technically fit on the bus but whether the bus driver will drive off after one look at you is another matter.... I once waited as 4 buses refused to pick us up despite there being room on them. A number of these experiences have made me very nervous of being time constrained and using buses.

If it was possible something that looks like a single e.g. phil and ted would be better but IMO they're not suitable for twins as one seat is 6 months plus and they're meant to be very heavy with 2 toddlers in. Not including the issue of who gets the cramped seat.

Trains and tube are better as there's no one to stop you getting on once you've got up or down the stairs.

[LaVitaBellissima]

I live fairly near you too

I had an I candy peach and loved it!

[Cornwall73]

Linguaphile have you decided yet? How is your research going?

I'm only just tentatively starting to look at double buggies. Expecting twins in August and, like you I live in London (zone 2) and have no car. We walk/bus/tube everywhere. I know that I won't be using the tube on my own as neither of the stations near us have step free access so will rely on buses.

I really want a BJCM but DH is convinced that an in-line buggy will be better for buses however I am only 5'4'' and I have read that they tend to be heavy and hard to manoeuvre for shorter people.

If anyone has any further ideas they would be gratefully received!!

[ClairesTravellingCircus]

Hello cornwall

If you post in the pushchair section there are some very knowledgeable ladies who have tried every buggy under the sun and will be able to advice you!

[LaVitaBellissima]

Cornwall, I loved my I candy peach, best purchase I made. I can't drive so have spent the last 2 years on buses with it. I am 5ft6 x

[bunnymother]

I live in central London and use the Baby Jogger City Select for my twins, and use it on buses as well as black cabs. The twins are now just over 2 years old and the BJCS has enough space for them, the iCandy twin one was discarded by some of my twin mum friends once their twins were over a year old. Whatever pram you use, maybe see if you can use it in both buses and black cabs? Could be a bit limiting not to ever be able to catch a cab?

[Cornwall73]

Thank you, I have posted on the pushchair thread and getting similar replies but not many people seem to use public transport as much as I do. I think I would find the icandy too heavy and bulky and I really want something that lasts and not that we get rid off after the first year.

[LaVitaBellissima]

I kept the girls in the I candy until they were just over 2, I found it light and really easy to push and manoeuvre. I do think the BJCS looks like a good option though.

[ceeveebee]

I also have an icandy peach for my twins, they are 15 mo now and I think it will last them a long while yet. I and our nanny use it to get on public transport all the time - on Friday I got two buses to and from a playgroup and then a train to and from Clapham Junction (I'm also from Richmond) to meet a friend. And I am 5ft 1 and pretty weedy!

[JohannahTS]

I would defintiley go for the bugaboo donkey. It is soooooo easy to push (literally you could push it with 1 finger!), you've got the option of the way you want your twins to face, carrycots and carseats can be easily used with it. I have a friend who works with me and her twins are now 5 months. She takes the bus for a 20 min journey with both of her twins in the bugaboo to her Mums and then off to work, and the. Picks them up and takes them home on the train so she has no problem using the bugaboo on either. She has said that obviously the train has no steps to get up and down on it so that would be easier! Another great thing about the bugaboo donkey is that is can be easily switched from mono to duo so if 1 twin is acting up or wants to be held, put them in a front carrier/sling and have the other in the stroller!

[HDEE]

I would go for a Phil & Ted Promenade. Its gorgeous for twins and babies can lay flat. It's nice and small too.

[HDEE]

I would go for a Phil & Ted Promenade. Its gorgeous for twins and babies can lay flat. It's nice and small too.

[Cornwall73]

Thank you I'll add those to the list for when we get to have a look at the real thing.

The thing I don't like about the Phil and Ted's is that the child in the lower seat ends up with their feet in the shopping basket (or at least that is what it looks like to me!).

The bugaboo is an interesting suggestion, funny that no-one has offered that one at all up to now in the pushchair thread whenever people ask for twin options. I must say that I have a psychological barrier with bugs. They hit the UK as we were TTC and after 7yrs TTC with multiple losses and cycles of IVF mums pushing bugaboos around me represent some very dark years of my married life!

[LaVitaBellissima]

so happy you are finally getting your family Cornwall the donkey is really new, only launched lat year I think, agree it looks great though!

[Lambethmum]

I don't have twins, but did need a twin pram for two dc 18 months apart - we don't have a car and live in SW London. We went for the Mountain Buggy Duet. It is lighter then the Bugaboo Donkey I think? It is narrow and goes down the aisle of some double and single deckers if you get on at the front, but some have an annoying pole so you need to get on in the middle - you get to know which routes have which kind of bus! I've only used the tube where I could use lifts, but my husband is happy to hold it on escalators. It feels very light to push when walking, but bumping up lots of stairs is a struggle - maybe anything would be!

[lateatwork]

we have he mb duet and live in central london. my twins are 18 months old now and have used this since birth. it is as wide as a standard wheelchair which means that it fits through most doors (ie dont have to open two doors to get in shops etc)... it also fits in the back of a black cab. i dont use the tube, but we use the bus every day. have to get on the back doors. fits with one other single buggy. bus drivers can be funny sometimes... but not always. the donkey is wider so harder to get through some doors. the bjcm is wider too- but folds flatter so better if you need to collapse often (we dont...) hth

[lateatwork]

and i should add.... it is very light to push. easy to do so with one hand (handy if carrying one baby...) basket underneath not huge. seats dont face you (annoying i think)...but baby carry cots do.
i am like you cornwall with the bugs. i find bugaboo users tend to mill about in groups. i have often wondered what the collective noun lots of bugaboo's would be...

[Linguaphile]

Wow, sorry I haven't responded sooner! I actually didn't think many people would reply (newbie here)... This is great! Cornwall, I'm due in September but will probably have them in August, so it sounds like we're in similar places with pregnancy. After reading and doing some research, I'm leaning a bit toward the bugaboo, just because when I saw it in John Lewis it was so lightweight and easy to push around! They have most twin models (City Select, Mountain Duo, Uppababy, iCandy, etc) at the Kingston branch, so it was good to look and see everything in person. We live up a flight of stairs, so lightweight is key for me. I think it would be a real struggle getting a heavy buggy upstairs after being out! Also, when I looked at the iCandy, the basket underneath didn't seem easily accessible.

I still really like the twin model as opposed to tandem, even though it's wider, so the bugaboo is good as it's one of the thinnest twins on the market. Last and final selling point is that it seems dead useful in mono mode with that basket for shopping paraphanelia. I can see myself strapping on one baby and just using the mono mode when I'm out on transport.

I dunno, though. So many choices! More opinions welcome!

[Cornwall73]

Hi Linguaphile glad you are a step closer to choosing. I agree that you need lightweight options given that you don't live on the first floor. I have not been brave enough to go to a shop yet and keep my research very virtual. Doubt we will do much until after the 20 wk scan anyway. I am just too nervous of bad news (I don't have a good track record with pg!). I still have my heart set on a BJCM ESP after meeting a friend with a single one today but its has also dawned on me how big a double one will be! I am very tempted by the MB duet too, nice and narrow which is a factor for my hallway which is 74 cm at the narrowest point.

Can I ask what you are going to do about a car seat? It's only something I can ask mainly public transport people! We are members of a car club which we only use about four/five times per year and hire a car when we go away for two weekends a year. We were planning to purchase a fixed car seat to use from birth after a few mths given that we won't be going anywhere in the near future. However my friend said that the hospital will not allow us to leave without a car seat. We were planning on bringing the buggy into hospital and getting into a black cab. Is this okay? How are you planning to get home? We have no relatives near us to collect us.

[Cornwall73]

Sorry mean't to also say thank you for all your suggestions ladies. It has certainly helped me build a long list!