The Great Stroller Debate

The double stroller is worth it. I wish I had gotten one. I probably still should considering baby number 4 is coming. I think Graco is pretty good.
Or you may try www.Onestepahead.com They have lots of good safety rated items.

1 mom found this helpful

My girls are 2 years apart and we purchased a double stroller. We love our Valco stroller (www.valco.com) We actually purchased it on ebay for a bit less, but it was still around $600. However, WORTH EVERY PENNY. Real tires (not the cheap plastic kind), swivel wheels, folds fairly easily and is not too heavy and bulky considering it's a double. Both girls like it too. Good luck!

Oh, but I did keep my single stroller too - for when DD1 gets too old for a stroller.

Hi
Just want to share my experience with strollers. I have 3 children and when I had my second I had a similar dilema. My boys are 2 years apart exactly and I decided to get a double stoller (Maclaren - a side by side). It was very useful and I found even if my then 2 year old wanted to walk then he could but if he got tired I had a seat for him. I also had a sling (which I had with my first child - a maya wrap) and in the early days put the baby in the sling and the 2 year old in the umberella stroller. And the sling waas a must for grocery shopping!!

When I had baby 3 I used the sling alot (I invested in a new one - a hotsling) and found this to be really useful and my 2nd son (20 months at the time) would be in the umbrella stroller and my 1st son (4 years old) walked. I do still use the double stroller now and again (for long days out) but most of the time my boys walk and the baby goes in a single stroller. I do still take the sling along just incase the 28 mth old gets tired then I can carry the baby (8 1/2 mths) in the sling and the other one can go in the stroller. The sling is comfortable for us both for a long time (I can use it to carry my 2 year old) - a great investment!!!

I am planning to take a trip at Christmas on a plane and will probably take the single stroller and a buggy board (a stand up attachment to the stroller) if my 2nd one gets tired.

I hope this helps. If you want to checkout the websites let me know and I can find them for you.
S.

I recently purchased a Joovy Caboose and absolutely love it! I holds two kids. The child sitting in the second seat can sit or stand. My two youngest kids love it. They are almost 3 and 4 1/2. My 4 1/2 year old gets tired sometimes and wants to sit. It is wonderful for the mall, zoo, errands, park, anywhere. It folds up compactly and is easy to assemble and disassemble. Good Luck!

You could always buy a sling. Hold new baby right next to you , that will be his favorite place anyway. My 13 month old still prefers the sling, but of course he was old enough to sit in a basket by 6 or 7 months. I have 1 jogging stroller for exercising, and that really is the only time I use it. We don't have a good zoo here, but if we go out of town, my SIL has one I borrow, or you could rent one. a good sling will run you about 50 dollars, I think it is a great investment.

If your son is almost 3 then you will get good use out of the two seat stroller (see example:http://www.gracobaby.com/catalog/product.aspx?modelNumber.... Don't get double stroller that seats side by side).
Right before my oldest reached 5, he had grown out of it. I do recommend that you keep your single stroller so that when your first son outgrows the double stroller, you'll have the single one for your youngest. My first 2 sons were 14 mos apart and always ran in different directions so I loved mine. I do regret getting rid of my single stroller...I could sure use it now with my 3rd son. Good luck in your decision

My Daughter had her sons 2 1/2 years apart and the double stroller was awesome. It keeps you from going a little nuts while in stores because they get tired and cranky. Her youngest is now 6 and she is about to have a new baby and although she no longer has the 2 seater (due to a house fire) I am sure he would still occasionally want to get in it after a day of shopping in the mall with his mom and me. It also gives you peace of mind that they are both right there together instead of having to keep up with one toddler trying to escape!
I don't have any experience with the sit & stand ones, they just seem like it defeats part of the purpose of a stroller.
But it might do well.
I also like to keep what used to be called a hand holder around so when the older one wants to get out and move they still can get out and move but only about 3 feet out and its attached to your wrist and theirs so it still gives a little freedom without feeling cumbersome to either of you.
Best of luck to you,
C.

I don't have experience with the sit 'n stand strollers, but I agree with the sling idea. How many moms have you seen holding a little one and pushing an empty stroller?? Or wanting to hold their screaming baby but needing both hands to grocery shop? It will make your life easier at home and away. I actually made mine out of an old flannel sheet - cost: $0.00

I'm in the exact same position - DS will be 3 a few months after DS #2 is born. I sold both my Graco single stroller and my jogging stroller and got a Phil & Ted's E3/Sport. It can be a single stroller, a double for an infant and a toddler, or a double for 2 toddlers. If you only have your baby with you, you can get an attachment to snap the carseat right onto the stroller frame. It's a little pricey, but it's the ONLY stroller you need. It's also relatively compact. The sit n stands look good, but I know my toddler wouldn't stay on.

I absolutely loved my graco tandem double stroller (front/back). Evenflo and Graco make similar models so go "test drive them at Babies R Us. It was thin enough to go down store aisles and turned on a dime! I could seatbelt my first in the back and lock in my infant carrier in the front. My hubby deployed a lot back then and I used it all the time in airports when I flew to see my parents with my two girls. It folds flat and fits in the trunk of a sedan (it does take up the whole trunk though) and it fits great in the back of my mini-van standing straight up and down to maximize other hauling capacity. It was large, but I never thought bulky...we even took it to disney and it folded flat enough to take on the tram or buses. My girls are 20 months apart and I don't know what I would have done without it!

I have two boys that are two years apart. I purchased the Sit and Stand stroller from Babies R Us and I love it. Most infant carriers will fit on it for your newborn and the two year old can sit on the little bench or stand. Check it out for yourself. This advice was given to me by another mother.
SRL

We did the same thing! I had boy #2 in dec and my oldest was 2 1/2. We ended up settling for the graco duo. I really liked the contours option stroller, but it was a little pricey. The graco is hard to turn sometimes, but for the most part it's ok. It is a life saver with my active 2 1/2 y/o. It is heavy, but all 2 seaters will be. It also depends on if you want a stroller that will attach with the carseat carrier. The regular 2 seater w/out the carrier attachment are lighter but I opted for the carrier/stroller combo (travel system). It helps while baby is still little and you don't want to wake him to get out of the carseat and into the stroller. Just make sure it will fit in you car before you buy it! After we bought ours we realized it wouldn't fit in the car. We have a ford freestyle, we have to leave the backseat layed down to slide it in, or remove the front tray and canopy/visor for it to fit. But it works for us! Hope this helps!

my boys are 17 mos apart and I debated the same issues. I ended up getting a lightweight tandem stroller for 2. My older boys didn't use it a lot, but when he did, it was a God send! as they got older, I donated the tandem and switched to a single umbrella stroller b/c the older one stopped using the stroller completely. But until then, I'm glad I had the option of pushing 2 at once!

I also recommend the Phil and Teds. I have owned 4 strollers for my 2 kids and this one is by far the most versitile and I have used it the most.
http://www.philandteds.com/nz/sportdouble_07_1.htm
It is expensive, but well worth the $ compared to buying many strollers that you don't like! :)
D.

Here is an idea. Check out the safari two seat wagon from 2step. It looks really cute and might work instead of another stroller.

I would keep the stroller you have and get a Snug-li or infant carrier to keep your newborn close. When you need the stroller for Boy # 2, your toddler can be a helpful big brother and push Baby Brother from time to time, doing some of the lift-and-carry of all the stuff you have to schlep. A recap of a lot of brain research (_Teaching With the Brain in MInd_, SECOND edition) says that one reason kids are struggling more in school than 10 years ago is that they are just not getting enough exercise. They need that three-dimensional experience with the world.

One of the tools that always made a lot of sense to me is the velcro Mommy-and-Me matching wristbands that connect with a 6 foot springy soft coil. I haven't seen one in years, but I can't imagine a better way to make sure Big Brother stays safe.

By the time I had children # 3 and 4, 28 months apart, I had learned that for my family, carrying my kids out on daily errands was not a good use of my time or their energy. I traded off babysitting in the neighborhood co-op or waited until Daddy was home and kids were asleep before I ventured out. Good luck!

We had an Evenflo sit and stand stroller and LOVED it. For the sitting, it had a 3-point harness that I could strap my daughter into so she couldn't make a run for it (which she often did when not strapped in). When we tamed the runner in her, she loved standing in it as well. When my son was an infant, his car seat snapped right into the other seat just like in a travel system. Very cool!

I haven't tried any other double strollers simply because I never found one I really liked. They all seemed so bulky!

I have 2 girls 2 years apart and I really liked my sit-n-stand stroller. Yes, the oldest could jump off, but I wanted her to walk anyway so I wouldn't have as much weight to push. It came in handy when we were at the zoo or the mall or someplace where we needed to cover some ground. Then she got tired and could catch a ride instead of whining. I don't know about the attachments - I bought a new sit-n-stand for about $60. It wasn't terribly lightweight but it was OK.

The sit n stand is great! It has a seatbelt to keep the older child on the seat if you don't want him up running around! My 2 yr old loves it. He says it is his big boy seat. Plus it is super easy to push and has a great parent tray! Hope this helps

B.

Hi M. C:

My daughter was just under 2 1/2 years old when my son was born. I had the same debate going on, and gave in to buying a two seater stroller which was a HUGE mistake. It was cumbersome and literally a pain to push and half the time my daughter wanted to be standing up or running around. I think they were made for TWINS not two different ages because putting my daughter in front made it impossible to stear because of her weight. It was a peg perego duette, one of the top rated strollers. So I sold it on Ebay.

I then bought a Sit n Stand stroller and we absolutely love it. My daughter loves the choice to sit or to stand and has more freedom to move about. It makes shopping at the mall easier and it compacts down nicely. We have even brought through the check point at the airport and boy that made our life so easy. My husband previously had refused to travel with the double stroller because it sheer size but loves this one.

My oldest was 2.5 when we had #2. I bought the Sit-n-stand and also kept my big single stroller. I have no regrets either way. If I go shopping or to Sea World or any big place I take the sit n stand. My now 4yo loves to have somewhere to ride if he chooses. It also has a strap on the back seat. I do still use the single stroller also. After checking ebay and other sites, I bought the sit'n'stand at a web site that offered free shipping. The used strollers were as much as a new one once you pay shipping costs. If you plan on having another child the sit n stand will still be handy as you can put 3 kids on it. Hope this helps.

Hi! I do not have two kids, but I have a couple of friends that are about to have two children between 2 to 2.5 years apart. One of my close friends opted for the Phil & Teds Double Baby Stroller. She does A LOT of research and she gave glowing reviews about this stroller. And she has a very good friend who has one and loves it. Thought I would throw it out there as a suggestion. It has a kit you buy for the second child. It's pricey - but looks super nice!
Good luck!
http://www.babybungalow.com/phtebapr.html

I had the same decision to make when my baby girl was born. I have a 9year old now 5 and fixing to be 2. I decided to go with the sit and stand stroller and I love it. It made my then 3 year old feel big because he wasn't sitting in the actual stroller. The stroller I chose to go with had straps to belt him in if he wanted to sit and also a strap to go acroos the front so as not to fall if he was standing. I still use the stroller now and his is 5. I love my sit and stand stroller

M. C,
I totally understand your debate on the strollers. There are so many out there and chosing that perfect one that won't cost an arm and a leg is not easy. I have two girls who are 18 months apart. When my second came a long, I kept my sturdy one seater as my primary(grocery getter, shopping...) and toted the baby in my baby pack on my front. This worked for a while, but when my little one got older I invested in a double jogger, we are an active family and this was a perfect fit for us. As the girls got older and I became a single mom, the best stroller for us was the jovy sit and stand. I LOVE that stoller. It is easier to keep the toddler in than we think. You are blocking their path of escape so they HAVE to go through you to get out. I wish I had bought a jovy when my youngest was born, the car seat attachment is super easy to use and the stoller is sooo easy to pack, tote and steer.
I hope this helps and you get the "perfect" stoller for your family.
MC, mother of 2 beatufil girls.

I have also been doing my research for the same reason. I have decided the best way to go is the Phil and Ted. You can find it on www.barebabies.com. I ordered my first stroller through them 2 years ago and had no complaints. The Phil and Ted is great as it works as a single stroller or you can add another seat. I have 3 friends all with 2 young kids that own it and have all been very happy. Hope this helps.
S.

My children have almost the exact same age gap, so my husband and I decided to get a double stroller that converts into a sit and stand. So my oldest can either sit in a regular stroller seat, or sit on a jumper seat, or stand. Having the option of the regular stroller seat is helpful because it keeps my son (who also likes to run around) corralled, but when he decides he's tired--and he's more prone to listening to me instead of running away!--he can use the version that lets him sit or stand to get a rest. We also kept the one seater--it was part of a travel system with the car seat--for the times when I'm just out with the baby. I really like the double stroller, but it would be a pain to use that one all the time when I didn't need it. The stroller I got was this one (the double stroller version): http://www.onestepahead.com/catalog/product.jsp?productId.... My son actually likes being in the regular stroller seat right now, becaues the baby is in her car seat facing backwards, so they face each other. My son closes up all the hoods so they're in their own little world.

I have a 2 1/2 yr old and a 3month old. I didn't want to buy a double stroller b/c they are so bulky and hard to manuver. I opted to get a snugli. That way you can put the older one in the stroller and the baby can be strapped to you. I decided that the baby will probably want to be held anyway and I would be left with one kid in a very big stroller, trying to push it and juggle an baby in my arms. When my oldest wants to get out and run around a bit I can put the baby in the stroller and we all get a break. It has really worked out great! And a snugli isnt near as expensive as a new stroller!
Hope it helps!

I love the Graco Duoglider. It beats the sit and stand at first b/c it holds the baby carrier nicely. You can buy it easily on craigslist for around $50 used but in good shape. That is definitely my recommendation. It works well in most situations (i also bought a double jogger on craigslist for off road) but I would keep the single. I sold mine and I wish I still had it.

I have one of the sit and stand strollers by Baby Trend for my younger two boys. I love it. It's light weight. It also came with a bar that you can atach the infant car seat too. I didn't use this cause I got it when my boys were older. It looks very easy to use though. The two boys that I use it for are now 2 and 3. On the stand part it has a seat belt that you and put on them. It has two side pieces and that meets in the middle. The piece that you buckle it to come up between the legs. They are able to still stand if you loose enough. At least they can't go running around. They won't grow out of it so fast. My brother in law actually got me to buy this stroller. They had it for there 4 year old and newborn. I have put my 2 year back there last year when I was out with my sister's little baby. He did fine back there. Hope this helps. Good luck and congrats on the new baby.

I have a Graco Duo Glider and I love it! This is my 2nd one (I bought the 1st when my oldest was 2 and my 2nd one was born and it was worn out from being taken everywhere!) I have 4 kids under 6 and I can honestly say that I couldn't get along (in public) without it.. and I love the Duo Glider (I think it is a perfect combo, heavy duty, not too hard to put up, moderately priced). My 4 year old son sometimes still rides in it, and there are even times I will (against the manufacturers suggestions, I'm sure!) put one on top straddling the umbrella (while I hold on to them) and its very durable. My double stroller has been a lifesaver at the zoo, festivals, the mall, even when we go camping.. I would just plan on your 2.5 year old needing to ride in a stroller at some point. Good Luck!

My two girls are around the same age gap, and my husband teases me about our garage being for stroller parking.
When my youngest was born, I invested in a Sit-n-Stand, and I got a double-jogger at a resale shop, while I kept my single jogger (again, resale), my Metrolite, and an umbrella stroller.
So, what do I use most?
My Ergo baby carrier. :-D

I keep it in my car (it takes up virtually no room), and put the little one in it, for grocery runs, quick trips into the mall, whatever. The older one was/is big enough to walk or calm enough sit in the shopping cart, and the baby (who's now 1 1/2) still likes to be carried, and I can still put the 4-year-old in it on occasion. Besides, it's GREAT for keeping the little one wrangled.

Okay, back to the strollers. . . the Sit-n-Stand - it (I suspect like any of the double-strollers) is pretty bulky and takes up a lot of room in the trunk. The only time I've ever REALLY used it, was when we went to Disney, or any time there will be LOTS of walking. Surprisingly, my older one wanted to sit up front in the "baby seat" (so she could see everything), and my youngest (1 at the time) preferred sitting on the jump seat, facing forward, with her feet in the basket, holding on to the front seat, and "talking" to her sister. I also like it because it has a couple of "handles" just under the push-bar (the stand-up "seatbelt" attaches to these), and they're great for hanging the diaper bag on, if you don't want to shove it in the basket underneath (though the basket is HUGE and can hold a full backpack).

The double-jogger, I use more often, especially for walks around my neighborhood, or trips to the zoo (the Austin zoo has hilly gravel paths, and the jogger is great for the rough terrain). My girls really like sitting side-by-side, so they can "visit". The single jogger will soon find another home.

The Metrolite hangs neatly in the garage, as we've used it on one or two occasions, and I'm not ready to get rid of it, and the little umbrella stroller, I sometimes throw in my car, in case of emergencies.

Whatever the stroller, I highly recommend going to the store to "test drive" anything you're considering purchasing.

Best wishes to you and your family,
M.

I added my second in Septemebr. If I had it to do over again I would get the sit and stand. I borrowed one once and it isn't real easy to run off it. My 3 year old about to be 4 always wants to ride on the stroller. Without a doubt get the sit and stand. I wish I had!

I am having #2 in May and my daughter will be nearly 2 1/2 when he is born, so I've been looking into this myself. I found a sit n stand from Baby Trend that can be either a 2 seater, or a sit n stand. The second seat in the back is removable so that you can make it a sit n stand for things like the zoo (where your older one may want to get off and look at things), but have the second seat for things like the mall (where you want him to stay put). Also, an infant carrier can go in the front. They sell it on WalMart's website and also at Right Start. Just look it up and read about it (I think it's called the Sit N Stand Plus from Baby Trend). It might be the solution that you're looking for. I've decided that is what I'm going to get! Good luck and congrats on the new baby.

I know I just left you a message about your other question but I just had to answer this one as well. My 2 little ones are 1 yr and 8 days apart. Hannah is 2 1/2 and Micah is 1 1/2. I have a double stroller and let me tell you what a blessing it has been. I definatley recommend getting one. Your 2 1/2 yr old is still gonna get tired of walking if you go to the zoo or on a walk and they are so convienint. I recommend a light weight double stroller. I had a jeep double stroller when they were very little and although it was nice to look at, it was extremely hard to push because it was so big and bulky. We recently got a side by side double from a garage sale. If you have a little while before the baby comes I would suggest looking in the paper or at garage sales for a 2nd hand one because they can get expensive. We use ours atleast 3 times a week, going for walks in the neighborhood or on outings to the mall,zoo etc. I would also keep the single that you have for times when your older son feels more independent. he could help you push the baby. I hope i have been helpful. Good luck!!!

D. Mattern
The MOM Team
Raising your income and your rugrats at the same time.
www.formyrugrats.com
"The only thing that counts is faith, expressing itself through love." Galatians 5:6

My daughter was 2 when my son was born. They are now 2 and 4. When I first found out I was pregnant, I looked at all the different strollers out there, too. I decided to go with the sit-n-stand. And I LOVE it!!! I used it 2 days after my son was born and have used it ever since! My daughter liked it because she could stand if she wanted to so she felt like a big girl. It's easy to keep them contained in it also. There is a strap around the back that can keep the older child in. Also, while you are pushing your body blocks the way they get out. Hope this helpful!!

Oh I remember those days all too well! When I had two of my children close together I think we went through a total of three double strollers before they were done with strollers. My personal preference...buy a good double stroller and KEEP the single stroller you have. There will be different occasions where one over the other will be a better stroller to have around.

I have three boys. I should have bought the sit and stand a while ago. I finally purchased one with the recent birth of our third son. I personally think that it is the best stroller ever. The manueverablility is the best of any stroller I have owned. The oldest one can sit or stand...depending upon what Mom says. They can just get up when they want, but you can tell them no and make them sit. Since it isn't conventional....my oldest son loves the back. I hope this helps. I am using it now with the attachments to use it as an infant carrier in the front. I purchased the joovy at Babies R Us.

I have a two and a half year old and a one year old and I have found that Walmart has these harness buddies that go around the toddler like a back pack and look like stuffed animals but they have a tail kind of like a "leash" (for lack of a better word) that you can hold on to. My daughter loves it. We just "put on our backpack" and go. This gives her a little independance without putting her in danger, and lets the baby have the stroller so we didn't have to buy a double.

I would go for the two seater. I had the same debate. I have 2 girls one is 2 and the other now 4 months. I bought the graco quattro duo seater. It is big and a bit heavy, but worth it. It fits into my trunk, I drive a maxima. I still have my single graco that came with the infant carrier that I still use if I go out with the baby. I have the smaller umbrella type stroller that I use when I go out only with the 2 year old. It is nice to have the option to go out with the two of them and not have to chase after a toddler. I use it a lot going to places like the mall, the zoo, etc. I would make the investment and keep the others and then look at it again down the road, as far as a sit and stand or something like that. In the double stoller, my toddler sits in the front and has a snack sup and drink holder and loves riding in it. There is even a basket under her seat just for her stuff. One other thing that I found when I was researching is that you usually have to go with the brand that your infant carrier is, I didn't find much in the way of a generic one that would fit a toddler and an infant carrier. Hope this helps....

My girls are 2.5 years apart & I didn't buy a double stroller at first & really wish that I had. The first time I went out with the kids alone my 2.5 yr old was jealous of the stroller & I had to carry the baby w/ carrier while the older one rode in stroller. I ended up buying a small double stroller, but that still wasn't great because you couldn't use the baby carrier with it. I regret that I didn't go w/ my first instinct & buy the Sit N Stand from Baby Trend. It has really good reviews & I think it would have been the perfect solution.

Congrats on the new baby!