Need Advice/opinions on Good Double Strollers for Kids 2 Years Apart

My boys are 23 months apart and I have been using the combi side by side stroller. I like it because it is only 20 lbs and can fit through the metal detector at the airport. We travel to see family quite a bit. It is nice that it is so lightweight and portable. The disadvantage is that the seats don't sit upright as much as I would like and the baskets underneath are not very big. I have a diaper bag that has a long strap that loops over the handle that I can store more things in for trips to the airport. The stroller is 300 dollars but has not gotten worn yet and I got it new on ebay for 200 dollars. I am hoping that I can sell it later and get back some of my money. I definately could not have used the sit and stand stroller. Most of them say the child has to be 2 1/2 to start using it and my son is the type that wants to sit in the stroller. You can also hook the infant seat on this stroller but is mostly meant for the Combi infant seat. Good luck for whatever you decide.

We had this same problem with kids 22 months apart. We ended up getting a used Graco Duoglider at first (you can get one from an individual or a resale shop between $40-$80). It was the most practical because it would hold the infant carrier and had a seat for our toddler, who thought it was neat to be "up front" while the baby rode in the back. Once the baby could sit up ok (around 5 or 6 months) we bought a nice side-by-side lightweight stroller. We got the Inglesina Twin Swift and love it. It is narrow enough to fit through a standard doorway, has a decent storage basket, seats recline independently, and it folds up small. Only complaint is that the canopies were a little goofy, so we took them off and never used them. They may have corrected the problem by now.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000E9T8XW?smid=A2TJOXM72OZW61&a...

We originally set out to get the MacLaren Twin Traveller because I'd heard great reviews, and we LOVE our Maclaren single umbrella stroller, but it cost around $100 more than the Inglesina!

We absolutely LOVE our Sit-n-Stand double stroller. It gave our oldest a "choice" on how to travel - and regardless he was in the stroller with the baby. I think we ordered it from One Step Ahead (magazine/web), but you can find around town I've been told.

Good luck,
D.

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I use a Combi side by side stroller and LOVE it. its one hand useable easy to turn and light weight and folds compactly with a shoulder strap. My 2 youngest are now 3 and 16 months and they still love it and its still working great. my oldest is nearly 5. we tried the sit and stand but my 2 (now 3) year old would not stay in the stand part and I had to keep chasing him around it just was not worth it...

good luck, ps a great place to buy it is on EBAY!

A.

My boys are 22 months apart. I had both the Graco Duoglider and the Sit and Stand and both were perfect at different points in their lives. We had the Graco when my youngest was an infant and the oldest was still little. Once my youngest could sit up and my oldest wanted a little more freedom I bought the sit and stand. I buy a lot of items used at consignment sales (google divine consign for a big one in this area). You can also get them on Craig's list or consignment stores. I'd rather have a used item that works exactly for my kids stage in life than try to make due with what I have. BTW, I also had a Schwinn double and single jog stroller and a single Peg Perego stroller. . . . as our needs changed I changed strollers. I also have sold them at consignment and on Craig's list so the incremental cash outlay when you buy good quality used and sell used to have exactly what you need is pretty minimal!

I have the Chico side by side...I bought it at Baby USA. I liked it because they could sit next to each other and actually see each other. Other than getting through tight doors, it's really great. I think it's easier to maneuver and easier to push with a side by side. Also, it folds up smaller in the car.

I found a great one on One Step Ahead's website. It is pictured as a sit n stand but they also sell it as a double stroller that converts to a sit n stand when your child is old enough. It is really cute but I the only draw back I saw was accessing the storage underneath.

I have the Graco tandem, and it can be rather cumbersome due to its size. However, I like it much better than I think I would have liked the side-by-side stroller, which is just too wide to fit through small spaces or even through a crowded mall.
I know moms who have an infant and a 2-yr-old and do just fine w/the sit 'n stand. But, you know your oldest best, and if you don't think he'll do well with it, then I'd go w/the tandem.

I am not sure how much help this will, but I will let you know my experiences. My girls are 17 months apart. I started out with a tandem so I could utilize the infant carrier. I bought a Cosco one from Target-- about $100 dollars. After awhile though, my older daughter's legs were too long and would get caught in the wheels. At that point, I bought a side-by-side one. THat worked very well-- much better access to storage. As the girls continued to get older, they would touch each other and drive each other (and me!) crazy! I bought it 2nd hand though and was pleased with the purchase. This spring, I bought a Fisher Price Sit & Stand at Big Lots. I am really pretty happy with it. The cup holder tray (I am thrilled to once again have a cup holder tray!) falls off when I collapse it, and the storage access is not easy if both children are in the stroller, but it does solve my problem of "touching" each other and allows my now 4 year old a bit more of a "big girl" feel in the stroller. In total, I think I have spent $240 on all 3. I am glad that I bought less expensive ones so that when we were ready for a change I did not feel so guilty purchasing yet another stroller. I just felt that my needs continued to evolve as they got older. Not sure if this will be of help to you or not, but just wanted to share my experiences.
Congratulations to you!
A.

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I asked the very same question right before I had my second child, these were the responses I got. I chose to purchase a used Graco Duoglider. I did not think my son would be mature enough to handle the sit and stand style, too much freedom. I did not like the idea of the side by side, it's hard enough with them being single wide and shopping I decided the double wide would be even harder. Also the Duoglider is similiar to the stroller I already had and I figured he would be more likley to cooperate with something familiar than new. He still likes to have his snacks and cup too while out and this makes it easy. I have had no problems with the new stroller and have found it easy to use, all the double strollers are gonna be heavy so I just consider that part of it. Good luck and hope this helps!