Is a Double Stroller a Must Have When Having a Second Child?

I would have rather put my eye out before trying to haul around a double stroller. I guess it depends where you're trying to use it, mall with no crowded foot traffic? but I have three kids all 2 years apart and never came close to wanting one. They seem like bulky nightmares.

I guess that depends on what you would use it for.

Zoo, Museums etc.. perhaps.

Walks to the park?

We got a sit n stand, my son was 6 weeks shy of 3 when my daughter was born and we did not need it. I think we used it about 5 times total.

For the first 6 months, or more, you can "wear" the new baby in a bojrn and skip the double stroller. If there is an occasion that you need one, you can always rent one. Then you first will be 4 they will not do the stoller unless completly exhausted.

The other option , we boght a bike trailer that seats two and doubles as a stoller.. that is what we use for camping and biking. Zoo we just use the single .. or the wagon.

With a three year age difference I say no. With a two year age difference, maybe. A baby carrier and single stroller will work in most any circumstance. For us, even at a theme park we found we put baby to nap in the Ergo and then sister got a rest in the stroller. Otherwise, big sis walks, as she prefers to do anyways. I didn't buy one and I don't regret it at all.

I would say to go for a sit n stand.

My kids were same gap and never used one. Oldest was too big for a stroller at that age. He was active too but we had no problems. Once the little one could hold head up well, we used a 2 seater Burley bike trailer that converted to a stroller if we went somewhere that it was needed (State Fair, Mall, etc). Dual purpose, lighweight and the kids loved it!

My older son was three when my younger son was born, and by the age of three my older son was long done with sitting in a stroller. My younger son was also done with stroller before he was three. There was the odd time when I would have liked to have had a Sit-n-Stand stroller with a bench for the older child, like when we were going to the zoo for the day or taking a really long walk, but I did fine without. If you do get something I would suggest the Sit-n-Stand or even a bike trailer/jogging stroller.

I had one which was light and really easy to use. It was a Phil and Ted's. it was fantastic. My children were much closer in age than yours though, and if I were you I'd look at the stand and ride platforms.

When I only had two kids, my boys were 2 years and 4 months apart. I did find the need on a few occasions to have a double stroller. But I bought mine used on Craigslist. And I bought an Eddie Bauer that was more compact. It was the front/back not side/side version. The side/side version seems way too crazy wide to maneuver. With your older child being 3.5, I would definitely buy used because he may not stay in a stroller for too much longer.

I don't think you need it, but see if there is a glider board that you can attach to your single stroller. We have one for my daughter who was 3 when my boys were born. I wouldn't trade it for the world. She can walk when she wants, which is most of the time, but if she is tired or doesn't want to walk, she just stands and rides in the back. It saves us a lot of heartache from listening to the I'm tired complaining, and if we are in a hurry, she can hop on and we can go. It was perfect when we were at an amusement park all day. By the end of the night, she was just too tired to walk everywhere, but we could keep going with our trip and have her ride.

My kids were the same spacing, and I did not get one, or wish I had. My 3.5 year old loved to walk everywhere, he didn't want to be in a stroller at that age. So why make him? I let him walk and only pushed the baby.

My double stroller was so bulky I referred to it as my smart car :). It was awful to push, I hated it, I used it a handful of times. So I would say read reviews and get something light, my friend has one of those sit n stand ones and it looks awesome. With a 3.5 yr old I'd say you probably only need it fir a trip to the zoo etc, so maybe look for a used one.

It depends. My son (very active) was just turning 3 when his little sister was born. We never got a double stroller. It would have been a waste. My son didn't spend much time in strollers by that age. He was walking at 10 1/2 months and trying to keep him strapped in ANY stroller from about age 1 on was a struggle. Often not worth the fight.

I did better with him carrying him partway, then requiring hand holding, or letting him sit in the bottom of the grocery cart or whatever. If you spend a lot of time going to amusement parks and things like that, I can see where it might be useful, but they normally have them for rent, so you wouldn't have to purchase one of your own.

If you have a child who enjoys riding in a stroller and is very comfortable with that, naps in it or whatever, then maybe it would be worth having. Our son wasn't like that at all. I just reused all his stroller items (car seat, stroller, umbrella stroller, etc) with our daughter.

I used my double stroller until the older kiddo was 5ish. Her little brother was in the back and she was in the front.

I used the double stroller at Walmart if I was going to get just a few items, I took it to the fair, used it to take the kids to the free lunch program, etc....

I used the heck out of it then passed it down to my daughter. She uses it at the Myriad Gardens almost every day when she and a couple of her friends take the kids for a walk. She puts her 3 year old in the front and one of her friends puts her kiddo in the back.

It had cup holders and a change drawer/section with a lid.

When I only had one kiddo I put them in the front once they could sit up independently. I used the back seat for groceries and the basket on the bottom. When we went to eat at the school I put one tray on top of the part by my hands where the canopy was and then I'd carry one tray. It was super easy to just toss the milk and juices and fruit in the basket on the bottom.

I had the kids contained, if they had a temper tantrum too bad, they still did not get out of the stroller.

When you use a shopping cart you end up filling the basket with the groceries and don't have room for either kiddo. With a double stroller you have plenty of room since you have the top of the stroller and the basket on the bottom.

not sure if you need one with that age gap but i just wanted to say that i had a combi side by side and it is very lightweight and compact. i'm very petite and had no problem lifting it and putting it in my full size conversion van. it also folds in half and if we are at a mall restaurant, we could fold it and slide it under the table very easily. taking it to disney was awesome too.

I wouldn't say it's a must. On the other hand, I'd extend feelers to friends and neighbors who might have one to lend you, if you decide it would be a good thing to borrow.

The only time I actually needed a double stroller was when my younger son was born. His closest sibling was sixteen months old and had decided to walk only about a week before he arrived. My uncle sent a nice check, and I immediately purchased a two-child stroller with it. I was so thankful! After a year - maybe a year and a half - I passed it on to another mama who needed it. I might have passed it on earlier, but that back space was handy for packages when my daughter didn't need to be in it any more.

Mine will be almost 3 and a half when baby number 2 is born. I'm going to get one of those baby carriers/baby slings and try to "wear" the baby for as long as possible. By the time I will really need the stroller, I'm hoping that kiddo 1 is closer to 4. That's my plan at least :)

My son was 2 months shy of 4 when his brother was born. I got a Joovy caboose (stroller with a small bench seat behind the main seat for second child) which I love. My daughter plays travel soccer and there is a lot of walking to and from fields several times/week. Having it is definitely worth it to me. My son is now five and we still use it at least weekly.

Because your older one is getting to the age that a stroller is not mandatory anymore, you don't have to have it, but one of the smaller double strollers that just have a little bench seat in back for your older one would probably be a good idea.

Probably not necessary, but I love mine. It is heavy and bulky and takes up a lot of room. I am 5ft tall and weight 112 lbs and I can manage it, but it is not easy. However we are now using it with our third child. All three can actually fit into it, of course then it is too heavy for me to push.

Not at 3.5. I needed mine because I had a 2 year old when the baby was born but I did not need the stroller for long.

I only have one but he was out of the stroller completely at 18 months and he was not an early walker. Walking is good for kids. I think your son is old enough to be done with the stroller now - wouldn't wait until the baby is born. If you do, your son might view the baby as displacing him from the stroller.

The last time we used the stroller at 18 months was for the airport. My son was very able to do the zoo and museums at this age. By 3 I can't imagine he would have agreed to sit in one.

Ditto what Jane said. Mine are the same age gap that your kids are. Stick with the single stroller and get a good carrier. I love my Ergo.

We didn't. Our oldest was just shy of 3yo when our 2nd arrived. A 3.5 yo can walk. And with some single jogging strollers, they could even sit on the front edge if necessary.

I had one. It was a heavy pain in the butt, and I used it maybe 15-20 times total. For the most part, I used a shopping cart at stores, or rented a stroller at zoos, malls, etc. I made my older son walk a lot. It wore him out.

My kids are 3 years apart, almost to the day. We didn't get a double stroller. Sometimes I wish we had one, but it just wasn't practical for us, and we got through. I used a carrier for the little one when she was small. As she got bigger, my plan was to get a buggy board for the big one, but we never got around to it. For long walks, we were usually out as a family, so we bought a snap and go for our car seat which gave us 2 strollers to push. We still do this occasionally. My kids are now almost 5 and 2, and I'm glad we didn't spend the money on a stroller, but I really need a back massage!

My kiddos are 18 months and 2 days apart, so I had to have one! I had c-sections, so without it I couldn't have gone anywhere without it. I have a graco dualglider and it is great. But, as my oldest is now almost 4, she rarely needs one. Just once in a while...so, I have been trying to decide if I should trade for a sit and stand or just give up the double idea all together. My youngest doesn't really need the stroller because he LOVES to run, which is why I need it. It really helps with containment.

So, to answer your question, there are some things to consider...

1. will you need it to get around with the new baby and the older one?
2. How much does the older child use a stroller?
3. Would a sit and stand be good enough?
4. Will the stroller I have work ok if the older kid walks? or do I need more storage?

I have to say that the extra storage is huge in the stroller I have, and that is a huge plus! Good luck deciding and congrats on the new baby.

there will be times you will need it.. the zoo.. fairs.. malls... anytime you need to get both kids someplace keeping them contained and safe..

now if your 3 year old is well behaved and listens well.. he might be able to walk nicely next to the stroller.. but if the 3 year old has a tantrum and refuses to walk or cooperate.. a double stroller is a lifesaver..

you might get a sit and stand .. good for kids about 3 years apart..

With your older child being so much older, I would say no. If they are less than 2.5 yrs apart I would say probably. My first 2 were just over 2 yrs. apart and we got one that held an infant carseat or a younger baby in front, and in the back there was another seat for an older toddler that could be used as a redular seat, or a "jump seat" that could be used for a quick break. They also make an even simpler version that has a little bench in the back that can just be stood on for a break for tired legs. Depends on your needs, but with your oldest being pre-school aged and active, I would go for one with the simple seat on the back if you need one at all. My 2nd was almost 3 and 1/2 when my youngest was born, and on a few occasions, we would just put the baby in the bjorn and the 3 year old in an umbrella stroller.... another option.

Nope. My oldest two are 22 months apart and the middle and youngest are 23 months apart. We never had more than one stroller at a time. The only time they used a "stroller" together was at Disney when they were 2, 4, and 6.

Not essential. Our son was three when his sister was born and by then he wasn't much interested in riding in a stroller anymore because he was a "big boy" preschooler. We did fine without a double stroller.

My daughter was born when my son was just shy of 3. We never had a double stroller and never felt like we needed one. I think you could pass it up. I bet if you got one you would use for maybe a few months and then never use it again.

Considering the age difference and how old your first child will be when the baby needs a stroller.........I'm sure there would be days you wish you had one, but I also think they would be few and far between.

Probably not necessary. Why not wait and see? If you really feel you need one you can always get it later.

No, it is not a must have.

I have 2 kids. About 4 years apart.
When I had my 2nd child, my son, I did not get a double stroller. I used my daughter's stroller for him. Too.
By that time, my daughter was about 4 years old, and did NOT need a stroller at that age. She walked & did not want to be in a stroller nor needed to be.

Double strollers, are not necessary when kids are of that age spread.

All Toddlers are active.
That does not mean you need a double stroller.

No, it's not necessary. Put the baby in a stroller and have your 3.5 year old ride his push bike or scooter or bike with training wheels or tricycle when you walk. Or just have him hold on to the handle of the stroller when he walks next to you. Make that be the strict rule.

Updated

No, it's not necessary. Put the baby in a stroller and have your 3.5 year old ride his push bike or scooter or bike with training wheels or tricycle when you walk. Or just have him hold on to the handle of the stroller when he walks next to you. Make that be the strict rule.