Seeking Advice About Double Stroller

Updated on December 02, 2009
A.R. asks from Madison, WI
19 answers

I am due to have my 2nd child in June 2010. At that time my son will be 2 years, 3 months old. We are debating about getting a double stroller. The reason I'm asking so soon is because a friend of mine is selling hers, it's a Baby Jogger. She paid $550 for it and would sell it to us for about $250. If we don't take it she's gonna post on Craigslist. I should add that we have a Burley stroller that we will definitely use that once the baby gets a little older.
We definitely take a lot of walks in our neighborhood, but my son is at a stage right now where he does not like to stay in the stroller and I'm just wondering if this will change.
So, I'm wondering what people's experience has been with kids approximately these ages and double strollers. Did you get a lot of use out of it? Is it worth buying? Any other brands/styles that you would recommend?

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K.C.

answers from Rochester on

I also have the Joovy ultralight and I love it! My kids are 19.5 months apart. My two year old loved to "help" push the stroller for awhile, and now he prefers to stand. It's great to be able to give him options. It also is very lightweight. : )

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A.K.

answers from Chicago on

We got a sit n stand that when you put the seat on is a double. Its really nice. Only about 160$ new. My almost 3 yer old still loves to ride so I'm glad we didnt get just the sit n stand. Its by baby trend and gets great reviews at Target.com.

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J.L.

answers from Davenport on

I have a double stroller and as bulky as it is, it is SO helpful to be able to buckle my 2 yr old in when I know I can't chase him or it's not safe for him to be roaming. I have a "horsey backpack" that I use for him when he's walking that I got at walmart, that buckles around his chest and has a "tail" or leash if you want to call it if I need to be holding onto him. I'll have him wear it and will tuck the tail into the pocket on the back, and if I need to grab it to keep him close it's easy to snatch up and really helps with the safety issues.

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S.B.

answers from Minneapolis on

Hi,
I would look into a sit and stand stroller. This will give your son the freedom to get out and walk or climb back in and ride when he gets tired. I started out w/ a regular Graco double stroller when we had #2 and I hated it. It was so big and my nearly 3 yr old DD was already too big for it. So we sold that and got a Joovy Caboose sit and stand and we LOVE it. We now have 3 kids, our youngest ones are 1 and 3, and they love riding in it. My 3 yr old can still fit in the front seat if she wants and my 1.5 yr old can now sit on the back part (there's still a harness/seat belt back there for when the child is seated.) My 6 yr old can stand or sit in the back if she gets tired too. It's easy to fold up and throw in the back of our van and it's not as long and cumbersome as a regular double stroller.
HTH! GL w/ baby #2!

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T.H.

answers from Minneapolis on

Honestly the only reason that we used our double stroller so much is because we were places where we wanted our son somewhat restrained (that sounds so bad). He likes to just take off and so when we would go for a walk, go to the zoo, sporting events, or even the mall.

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C.L.

answers from Cedar Rapids on

My girls are 22ish months apart and I got a front to back double stroller that was like a semi truck! I hated it and now it resides in the rafters of our garage. Whenever we go somewhere that they both need to ride we take our radio flier. When the baby was in her carset I just put the carseat in the wagon. I also occasionally would put the carseat/carrier in the travel system stroller, and if the older one got tired I'd have her sit close to the handle with her legs spread over the carseat. (if you can visualize that) While I realize neither of those options are SUPER safe, I wouldn't drop that much money on a double stroller personally. If you need the big one in a stroller, put the baby in a sling. Once, the baby is too big for the sling, he or she will be big enough for a wagon :)

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A.C.

answers from Minneapolis on

Alison,
I had the exact same gap between my two children and the same concern. My eldest didn't want to be in her single stroller, ever. And we didn't want to waste money on another accessory that would collect dust in our garage. But about six months after our baby was born, that all changed. Our eldest was more aware of her tired legs (if you can believe it, would get bored with walking) and she wanted to ride in a stroller like her baby sister. Our eldest is now four and we still use our double stroller.

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J.L.

answers from Minneapolis on

'

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M.G.

answers from Green Bay on

Hi,
We also have a Joovy Ultralight and couldn't live without it! We take it everywhere and I love how lightweight it is--although it takes up some space in the trunk, it is easy to fold up and unfold and not difficult to negotiate in and out of the trunk. I think it was totally worth the money (and when your baby is born, there is a universal attachment that a baby car seat can sit in so everyone can go on walks safely). Our 3.5 year old loves the option of sitting, standing or pushing (oh, and walking, which doesn't happen very often).

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C.O.

answers from Minneapolis on

My 2nd was also 27 months when our third was born and we bought a Graco Quattro Tour Duo. I LOVE it!!! It doesn't get used a ton, but it sure is handy when we need it. I don't regret buying it at all.

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T.C.

answers from Lincoln on

I would say by that age the older one can walk...My two year old wants nothing to do with the stroller, and I think it is good excercise for him anyway. When my two girls were younger, I did by a double stroller. My older girl was 17months at the time my other daughter was born. We never took it anywhere because it was too bulky, and I think we only used it about 10 times around our neighborhood. By the time my oldest was two, I invested in a wagon to take us farther, and use that for my youngest now, if I am in a hurry to school in the morning, otherwise we walk... So in my opinion, I would stick with the single stroller, and save yourself some $$$.

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T.A.

answers from Minneapolis on

I have a 3-1/2 y.o daughter and a 11 month old son. We bought a Phil and Teds stroller. Not cheap, but it has been great for walks (esp long walks), and folds up pretty nicely too. I like it b/c it is a tandum and we can get through any door. It is light and easy to manuver. I really like it! I was a little concerned about what to get when we were looking too, but my daughter does great in it and so does my son. Check out the web site phil&teds.com (I think-or just google it)Good luck

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E.M.

answers from Des Moines on

i am not a big fan of spending tons of money so i waited for garage sales and grabbed up a double stroller for 20 dollars. it si pretty bulky but it sold for almost 200 brand new i have used it a few times with my son and his friend and they liked it. it is good for going around but is rather large to take places. if you aren't sure then don't drop a bunch of money on one. wait until the baby is older and you will have plenty of time to find one cheap that way if you don't like it you aren't out much money

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B.M.

answers from Minneapolis on

We have a Baby Jogger City Series. Our kids are 2 years and 8 months apart. We lived in Chicago when we had our second so we got a TON of use out of it living in a mostly walking neighborhood. However, since moving here two months ago, we use it less, but it is still invaluable to have as an option for the zoo, the mall, we even had to use it for Halloween since my son wasn't too energetic (sick come to find out the next day). They are now almost 5 and 2 and 3 months. If it is a Baby Jogger City Series I would go for it. They are super expensive and ride like a dream. So much better than back to back and it is just good to have the option. That is my two cents.

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E.B.

answers from Duluth on

At that point, we were done with strollers for both our kids. My "baby" is the same age as yours, and the ONLY thing we use a stroller for is taking big brother to the bus stop in the morning, and that's only because he hates going outside in the cold and would rather watch Curious George in the morning--but he can't stay home alone. Otherwise, he walks, and if he can't, we do sometimes use a backpack for rough terrain. Also...consider that it is winter (close enough) and you probably are not using the stroller nearly as much as in the spring and summer. Your oldest will be even older by the time baby arrives, and even more inclined to walk on his own. Finally, use your own judgment--I have a friend who borrowed a stroller for her 5 1/2 year old to use at the State Fair because she couldn't walk around the fair for two hours; personally, I thought that was ridiculous--my 2 year old could walk around the fair that long! But, that's just the difference between our kids--I have high energy kids that want to do it themselves, her daughter is more cautious and less physical. Where does your son fit into that spectrum?

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J.R.

answers from Davenport on

I would say buy your friend's - my daugher was that same age when I had my son, and we LOVE our Baby Jogger City Classic double - it is a side by side, a little easier to manuver on walks, and still narrow to fit through a standard door ( just barely, but it does). It glides along like a dreama dn is so easy to turn - we also had an in-line 2-seater, a Jeep stroller, but it was so har dot push and to steer. The baby jogger seats lean way far back and the canopies are great and come WAY down keeping the sun and wind off the kids really well. My daughter also likes to walk with me instead of being in the stroller, sometimes, but the stroller still steers well with only one side loaded with a kid...it is nice to have to take to festivals and stuff, where she can't beout walking yet, too, and to put her in to get moving a little faster, so mommy gets some real exercise, rather than walking at a 3 year olds pace.

You are getting a good deal at $250 - I would go for it if I were you.

Jessie

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B.B.

answers from Madison on

I had the same problem. I bought the Joovy Caboose Ultralight. It's a sit-n-stand that only 21 lbs. and a dream. It cost me $250 but worth every penny. My oldest (now 4) can sit when she want or help my push. Best part is I get a double stroller without all the bulkiness.

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L.G.

answers from Minneapolis on

I also have the Phil and Ted's stroller. Even though it was expensive, it has been totally worth the money! It is extremely versatile and allows you to use as a single stroller or for both kids. It is not a heavy stroller and doesn't take up a ton of room in your trunk. I absolutely love this stroller and would buy another one in a heartbeat!

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M.W.

answers from St. Cloud on

We have a 4 1/2 year old and a 2 year old. This last summer we purchased a used side by side Jeep stroller. They were always arguing about who got to ride in the stroller so this fixed the problem!

I've heard the sit and stands are great too. But they really like sitting next to each other. This way there is no fighting about who gets the front, or whatever. The seats are the SAME!

We also have a double jogging stroller that we keep at my parents house in town for walks. The kids love it. This way they can jump in and out and walk partways and ride when they get tired, etc. Again, this is also a side by side. They LOVE it! And it pushes SOOOOOO nice!

I definitely suggest getting a double stroller of some sort. If you like walks, go with a jogging one. But for shopping you will need to find something more compact...... We bought our jogger used for $60 (don't know what it cost new....) and our Jeep side by side for $35 used (this runs like $80 or $90 new at Toys R Us but definitely does NOT push as smooth as the jogger.)

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