I have two strollers - a side by side one and a front/back (tandem?) one...my children are 2.5 and 5.5 months old...which one do you find is better for kids this age? I hardly ever take the stroller to Target/Wal-Mart/the mall because I just go without the kids. It would be used most often when going to the zoo (2x a year) the mall (1-2x a year) and for walks out in the country on backroads (which I think the tandem one is best for this).
By the time I take them out again in the stroller, my son will not need to be in his infant seat so I'm just trying to find the one that is the easiest, lightest, and best for siblings (good for them to be side by side or front/back?).
We have the Peg Perego Aria Twin and have been very happy with it. Although it is a side by side, we never had trouble going through doors or maneuvering through stores. We had a tandem when they were little but once they got bigger, we preferred the side by side. Good luck
Front to back for sure. It'll fit better through doors, hallways and at the mall you won't take up the entire isle.
For walks in the country - I'd recommend a stroller with big wheels for going over rocks and muddy spots.
For the zoo - Depending on the terrain, probably the stroller with the big wheels.
You also want something that isn't too heavy, your kids are heavy enough without adding a heavy stroller to that. And you want something that's easy to manuever.
I have to admit, I have yet to find the perfect stroller. *sigh* But wheels, weight, and manuevering were always the big issues for me. And making it fit in the car. Good luck!
We have the Sit-N-Stand that you can purchase from Target (I think) or maybe even Walmart and we love it. We have taken it to Florida twice and it folds easily, fits onto airplanes, into cars, etc. very easily. My daughter had just turned 3 when we got it and went on the first FL vacation (baby was 3 months) and she loved the ability and freedom to get on and off when she wanted to look at something. Toys R Us also sells one. It seems to be a little shorter (front to back) so it's easier to maneuver but it doesn't seem to have as much room for the big kid to sit back or the little one to lay down.
I have a Graco Quattro Duo and it's too heavy and bulky. It was good on outside roads, but with kids in it was almost 100lbs - lots to push around our HILLY neighborhood. It was too big to navigate in the mall. If I had to do it over, I'd do a side by side. Can the baby/infant seat go into the side by side?
I prefer a side by side or an inline single with a toddler seat (like the uppababy or Phil & Teds) for my kids and they are the same age difference as yours.
If you are going to use the strolle ron backroads you definitely want something with air filled tires and the tandems are all plastic tires I believe.
Check out a Valco Trimode double, Mountain Buggy, Baby Jogger City Elite or a BOB Doulie - I think those would be your best options.
We bought the side-by-side jogging stroller (In-step, Step 2) and I would do it again! My main reason for wanting the side-by-side was so that both kids could see everything @ the same time. :-) My kids are the same age difference as yours. We never had a problem with getting through doors or around with it. It folds for more compact storage. We used it on a trip to Atlanta, went to the zoo (via bus) and the aquarium, I had no space issues. Plus the air-filled tires have to make for a more comfortable ride!
Good luck! J.
