Double Stroller for 2 young kids - Do I need a double stroller?

Hi D.,

I have not read any of the responses yet...I am assuming you have tons. Here is my 2 cents...at 2 1/2 kids still get tired. So it is nice to have an alternative. What I used when I had my third was a Joovy sit and stand. I LOVED it! Plus the older two could both squeeze in there together if they were both too tired to walk. It fits a baby carrier with an adapter that comes with the unit. My first two were only 14 months apart...so I had the double graco for every day use and the double jogger for hikes...both were used beyond recognition.

Good luck!!

H. Z. (SAHM 5, almost 4 and 14 1/2 month old boys)

my kids are 23 months apart.... my daughter is on/off about being in the stroller.... but i feel she's too young yet for a sit n stand.... so i bought a used duo glider off of craigslist to start with - didn't want to pay for a brand new one if i was only going to use it for a few months.... and there are ton on there... just check everyday and youc an find some that are virtually brand new.

in the spring when my son will be out of the carrier and my daughter will be 2.5 we're planning on getting a sit n stand plus. The "Plus" version means that the standing part also has Full stroller seat w/ 5 point harness, recline and canopy. I figure if she's in a mood that she wants to ride we can put the full second seat in... if she's in a mood to walk, she wan walk and have the option to stand or sit on the second bench seat.

the sit n stand plus is like 25 lbs....where teh duo glider is like 40lbs.... so it is definately lighter too... the only reason why we didnt' get it now is b/c to use the sit n stand w/ a carrier the carrier has to be in the front seat and the older child in the back seat. and i wanted the carrier in the second seat - closer to me, and my daughter in teh front seat so she could see everything and get in and out a little easier.

My oldest was 22 months old when my youngest arrived (they are now 3 and 15 months), so she was just starting to want to walk everywhere and not be in the stroller. I didn't buy a double stroller for stores, malls, etc. because of that, but in hindsight, I wish I had! It was tough with the oldest because she was only 2 and got tired from too much walking, plus, she was into the running away from me phase - very stressful with a newborn on top of it! I think you should first figure out your needs. I am a full-time working mom (I'm a teacher), so I knew my needs for a double stroller for stores and stuff were limited, simply because if we are all out together it's only one day a weekend or on vacation. I ended up buying a double BOB jog stroller because I needed it not only for walks, but for the summer when I'm off. It was a godsend this past summer since the baby is older and we were always at the water park, other parks, etc. It is pretty wide, so it's not great for stores, but my oldest is now at the point where she can walk responsibly, so I just put my baby in the Maclaren umbrella stroller. I guess I am suggesting you do get a double indoor stroller, at least for the first few months until your oldest is just a little older! Then when your baby gets older you can reassess your needs. You can even buy a used one off craigslist or at a consignment store since you might not be using it a ton. I hope this helps!!

I would try to get a sit and stand stroller. There's a bench in back to sit on and a platform to stand on for the older shild and you can put the infant seat in it. I bought one used at a consignment store. My son was 3 when my daughter was born and he we actually only used it a few times. He just wanted to walk. How much do you use it now and when is the baby due? A couple of things to consider are that if th e baby is born in the winter you really won't be outside much and going to the mall with 2 kids is a lot different than going with one.
I know a few other people who regret buying the double stroller because they just never used it that much. With my son we went out all the time for walks or shopping but by 2.5 - 3 years he didn't want to be in the stroller. If I need to go out shopping now I do it when my husband is home or when my son is in school.

My two kids are 22 months apart, and I got the Phil & Teds sport that is sort of a double decker front-to-back design. I really like having it for going on walks. My kids both like riding in it and it handles rough terrain really well and can be maneuvered with one hand. It's sort of heavy and doesn't collapse very small, so I only take it in the car when I plan to walk a lot - and it's perfect for that. I have an ergo baby carrier I use most of the time for the baby (it can be used as a backpack) and sometimes I take my single stroller and the ergo over the Phil & Teds. Where your son doesn't like being in his stroller, you might be better off getting an ergo carrier (yes I have a strong bias towards this particular baby carrier) and just bring it with the stroller to put the baby in if your toddler needs to ride for a bit. My toddler rides in the ergo sometimes as a backpack (she only weighs 23lbs but it can hold up to 40lbs if you want to carry a child that heavy) and she really likes that.

Congratulations and good luck with your second baby!

Hi D.! My son was the same way, but he was only 14 months when our first daugter came. We started with a front-to-back stroller where the baby seat could go in front or back. We put the baby in the front so he could look at her and tickle her feet. We then got the side-by-side when she could sit up, its great for runnin and is much smoother, but much to wide to get through tight spaces like the mall. Hope all is well with your pregnancy!

Hi D.,

my son is 26 months older than my daughter, who is 6.5 months now. We do not have a double stroller, and we do not miss it.

I carry my daughter in a scarf and my son walks, rides his Laufrad (like a bicycle but no paddles, you push with your feet) or sits in our jog-stroller (rare). I think i will carry her until she is ca. 1.5 years, if things go like with my son.

One thing i wish i had is a "kiddie board", which is like a skateboard thing to stand on which is attached to teh stroller. This way my son could stand between my arms, while i push her in the stroller, if she gets too big to carry.

good luck!
D.

My oldest was 2 1/2 when my second was born and we bought a double stroller b/c he used to love sitting in it. However I can count how many times we have used it! If you think that you might need a little something bigger I would look into the Sit/Stand stollers. I wish that I purchased one of those. That way he can get on and off easily and you still have room for two!
Good luck!
A.

Hi D.,

One of the problems, I found with the side by side strollers when one child is significantly heavier than the other is the weight imbalance throws off the front end making it a little awkward to push.

It depends on what you will use the stroller for. If you are seriously into jogging for excercise and will be taking your little one with you than I say invest in the double jogger. Your 2 1/2 year old will be able to ride until about age 5.

If you simply need a stroller for the mall. I say go for the lightest weight double stroller with the smallest profile to make it easier to manipulate around the tight spaces in stores and easier to get in and out of your car.

As much as your 2 1/2 year old likes to walk there will be times when he is tired or uncooperative when you will want the convenience of a seat for him. I've seen some new strollers that have a sling like seat which is behind and somewhat under the main seat. This seat can be used for a newborn while the bigger child sits in the main seat. As the baby grows he/she will graduate to the main seat and the older child will walk more. Then the sling could be used for storage. I must say I found it difficult to stay home all day with two preschoolers (my girls were 21 months apart) especially in the winter. So we frequently took trips to the mall to have lunch or just to walk around when the weather was bad. This kind of stroller seems like a nice compromise. That way you won't be stuck with a bulky stroller as your older child grows up. And let me tell you, my girls are 7 and 9 now and there are still times when I wish I had a stroller to carry the coats, bags etc.

This stroller I am referring to, (sorry I'm out of the carriage years and I'm not sure of the name) also has front swivel wheels making it more maneuverable and rubber tires (though not as large as jogger) making it a good hybrid for most surfaces indoors and out.

I can say I purchased the sit to stand and found it bulky and difficult to maneuver. Best Wishes.

J. L.

I second the comment about the Phil & Ted's. Expensive (almost $500) but totally worth it. My kids are 2-1/2 years apart. Handles really well in the city, in stores, and even on grass. We love it!

We originally wanted a sit-and-stand, but it wouldn't fit in our trunk!

Good luck! Christy Y

I wouldn't get one. My guys are now 3.5 and want to walk/run everywhere and do it very well. At 2.5 they also wanted to walk everywhere but got tired still so we often had to carry them. We used a wagon sometimes which they loved. The stroller they hated ever since they could walk. By the age of 3 they stopped needing the wagon or having us carry them. So since you are so close I wouldn't waist your money. But then again it is all personality based. I know 5 year old that want to be in strollers. A good compromise would be those stand on strollers where the older child can stand on the back while the younger one is in the carrier. Good luck with your decision and congrats on the new baby!
E.

My boys are 14 months apart and I have gone through 2 double stroller, a front and back and a side by side and they were both awful to maneuver. Last week I just got a Baby Trend Sit & Stand and its wonderful, much easier to handle and the sit and stand part is a great option for the older child. Good luck.

For the money, I say Joovy sit and stand -- I had the same situation as you and my now 3 year old doesn't always take well to sitting anymore. She loves that she can stand while I push, and can get out if she wants to. I bought it off of Craig's list, too, saving us tons of money (and since I didn't know if my first would like it, it was worth getting it used!).

When the baby was little, I used it all the time. Now that he's 10 months and my older one is 3 years 4 mos old, she prefers to walk and I typically use the single stroller unless it's a mall trip.

Good luck,
L.

Hi D.,

Did you ever consider a stoller with a stand space for the older child? I myself had the double front to back stroller with convertible seats (face front or back) my oldest childe liked this bcs she was able to face her brother and be a proud big sister. However I too found I used it minimally. I wish I had bought a stroller with the stand in the back. This may be a good idea where your son doesn't like to sit.
Good luck, I hope you find something to suit you and your childrens needs.
L.