Are you buying a Single or Double Stroller?

slorbets

I know we have had a couple of threads on strollers, but nothing addressed this specific issue. I am a FTM and will most likely be having a second baby. I would ideally like to have my babies close in age. Buying a single stroller now may save money...but then I may have to go out and buy a double stroller shortly after. Or I could go ahead and invest in a double stroller now, but may not end up having my babies close in age, and the oldest may no longer need a stroller. For those of you who are FTMs, and planning on having more than 1 baby, did you purchase a single or double stroller? I would also appreciate opinions from the more experienced mamas out there...what do you recommend?

nopegoat

My first 3 kids are all about 2yrs apart.  #3 and #4 are going to be about 1.5yrs apart. I have never used a double stroller. Most of them are big and bulky and would be kind of crazy to use with 1 kiddo.  I use a carrier for the youngest and depending on where we go the next to youngest rides in the stroller or they walk.  We rarely even use the single stroller. 

You can always get a single stroller now and then trade it in or sell it for money towards a double later. 

sbyrnes85

I am a FTM and just bought the Vista Uppababy which will convert to a Double Stroller. That way you can start with a single and convert to a Double if needed without having to buy another stroller down the road!

HoosierTerp

I'm a stm but we are going to get the city select mini. It converts from single to double so I wish I had bought the single the first time around!

mrsllove

We got a britax b-ready. It converts into a double when needed. We LOVE it so far! 

Edited to say I'm a STM. My boys will be 23 months apart.

Racso12

We're leaning towards a travel system for now. And will be revisiting the stroller situation after winter. I initially has the same dilemma between a single or double (FTM) but as someone stated above doubles are big and heavy. 

ach298

My boys are 23 months apart and I never bought a double stroller. I used a SnapnGo for the car seat at first and then got a Baby Trend umbrella stroller when my oldest was about 11-12 months. I didn't want something huge and heavy to lug around. When DS2 came around, I mostly used the Ergo and the umbrella stroller when necessary. 

The only double stroller I've been tempted to buy is a jogging stroller, but I realistically think I wouldnt use it often enough to justify the purchase price. I mostly use the gym which has childcare to work out now. 

jenkeale

I am a STM and I wish I had bought the city select the first time around since my kids will be so close and DD still uses the stroller. I have the mini and I love it so far. I put undecided bc I'm thinking I'll either wear the baby and keep DD in the stroller, or get the glider add on for DD and put baby in the stroller. If those options don't work out, we'll buy a double.

pourmeanothermocktail

FTM mom here, hoping for two close together. We're debating this double from Phil & Ted, it comes with both seats, but it's a convertible single or double, so best of both worlds we're hoping. Expensive, but I want to be able to do a little jogging as well, as this should stop us from having to get a jogging stroller, and a regular one, plus a potential double later.

https://philandteds.com/us/Products/Push/dot#.VuXGQubvl0Q

piratefairy

We'll be converting our Britax B-Ready to a double - Love it. We also love our city mini single - will likely continue to use that for DS (will still be under 2) when I can get away with wearing LO. Going to see how these options work out before considering a more 'traditional' double.

PugsandKisses

I bought a double stroller when I got pregnant with this one. It is a sit and stand one. My first and 2nd like it but it is just so huge!

Get a regular one first. You guy buy a double used. Plus you never know when you will have you 2nd. You may need to push back TTC for a while, or may have issues TTCAS.

lolomommy1

I had a single stroller with my first, sold that one and bought a used double stroller with my second, since they were 23 months apart.  I had the sit and stand double and also a double jogger.  They are big and bulky, but depending on your lifestyle it might be a good option.  We went to Disneyland all the time and used the double a lot for that...also the jogger was important for me as I wanted to run, but it wasnt possible without the double jogger.  You can find strollers for a reasonable price on craigslist or second hand stores.  

deuxbouledogues

We're doing the baby jogger city select so it will transform into two if/when needed. I did see a neat doubles recommendation, the contour options tandem stroller if anyone is looking into a (relatively) inexpensive double. No clue if it's a stellar brand or not. 

slorbets

I was also thinking about the city select stroller as it has the option to have a second seat. Not sure if it is worth the investment if you do not end up needing to use it as a double  (i.e. oldest child no longer uses a stroller).

soberkfell

We got the travel system (including single stroller) for DS - it's the Chicco Key Fit 30. Since we're re-using the bases and infant seat, I wanted to get a double stroller this time around that would fit. I was able to get a like-new one on a local swap & sell for 1/3 the original price. DS will be 27 months when this LO is born, so we'll see if he is up for riding in it. I'll be keeping the single stroller for now for walks when DS is at my mom's during the week. We want to have more kids in the future - possibly closer in age than 2 years apart - so even if the double doesn't work out this time around, I'll be saving it for walks with hopefully future babies. 

PhoebeJune1984

I didn't vote, but our original plan was to have two kids, close in age. So when we had DD, I bought the Britax B-Ready, and my IL's bought the lower seat attachment for a second kid. Well......things didn't go as planned, DD is going to be almost 5 by the time this one comes, and pretty much having a double stroller useless. Meanwhile, every time we wanted to use a stroller, we had to haul around one that was technically a double stroller (but had the second seat removed...it was still as heavy though). I wish that I would have just gone for the City Mini, and upgraded to a double when the time actually came that we would need one. 

foxa319

I wish I had bought a a stroller that would convert to a double stroller first time around! I have the chicco key fit travel system and will need to buy a double as ds will be 12 months when LO is born! Oh well! Live and learn! 

MrsRo731

STM - I had the same dilemma when I was pregnant with DD and I ended up with the Britax B-Agile. While it's one of the lightest around, it was still too big for me. Right now we use an umbrella stroller for DD, which I plan to keep her in while I babywear this new LO.

If it were me, I wouldn't buy a double now. I would wait and see what works for you before making that big of a purchase. You can always upgrade later if you feel you need a double. 

slorbets

This is such a tough decision for me! lol

nopegoat

@slorbets answer these questions for me. 

When you pack for yourself now do you overpack just in case or do you pack just necessities? 

Where do you plan on using the stroller the most? Parks and walks?  Museums?  

Do you plan on baby wearing? 

ETA based on these answers you may never even need a double stroller no matter how many kids you have. 

nopegoat

I have a friend with three boys the same ages as mine and she can't live without a double stroller. I have an umbrella stroller and a carrier for mine. I tend to pack just the essentials. Everything fits in a single backpack.  She brings multiple bags and lots of extras just in case. I'm more of a go to a park where they can run free or for short walks and she is more into the frequent day trips to museums and stuff.  

There isn't a right or wrong answer it really depends on your personality and lifestyle. 

nopegoat

Also I would HIGHLY recommend you go into a store and actually see and test out a double stroller vs a regular one. 

slorbets

@kdm06c

I usually tend to over pack when going places, but nothing overboard. 

I plan to use the stroller most when going for walks. My husband and I usually like to go for a walk for an hour or two every evening  (but who knows how frequently that will happen with babies). I was also thinking that a double stroller would be handy for longer trips like to a museum. 

I would like to try baby wearing, but not sure how I would like it for longer distances.

slorbets

I also went to test out a few strollers with my husband a couple of weeks ago. We both loved how well the city select double stroller handled, and it seems to be a good quality item. We tried a few other strollers, but ultimately liked the city select best. I am just not sure if the extra cost is worth it....

nopegoat

I know my preference is clouding my advice a bit. Ultimately it's your decision but I just can't imagine pushing a big double stroller if I didn't have to.  The savings wouldn't be worth it to me. I would stick with a single stroller than if you need or want a double later trade it in or sell it and get one then.  

PhoebeJune1984

kdm06c said:

I know my preference is clouding my advice a bit. Ultimately it's your decision but I just can't imagine pushing a big double stroller if I didn't have to.  The savings wouldn't be worth it to me. I would stick with a single stroller than if you need or want a double later trade it in or sell it and get one then.  

This. Like I mentioned above, our plan was to have two kids close in age. Then DD was born, and we decided to wait a little longer for kid #2. Well now, that single-to-double stroller in my garage, is collecting dust. Its like a giant thorn in my side. When we did something like a long walk, I used our Chicco Echo, we also brought it along with us when we were traveling for if we needed a stroller because it took up FAR less room in the car than the Britax B-Ready. When we went somewhere like the farmers market, children's museum, things at the expo center, etc....we used the Ergo (we used it up until she was 3.5). Pushing even a single stroller in those types of places, are a nightmare.....I cannot imagine pushing a double. People are stopping right in front of you and you have to wait for other people passing by for a wide enough space for the stroller, people hang out in the middle of walkways and instead of squeezing through, you have to ask them to move so you can get your stroller around, etc. Once DD was walking, it was nice to just have the Ergo hooked on one of us, and when she got tired of walking, we could put her in there (on our back) and she would relax for a bit. Or she would ride the whole time in there. It made it easier to get around people, and when we went to places like the children's museum, we didn't end up pushing an empty stroller the whole time. And it was nice to be hands free all of the time. 

With this kid, its going to be baby-wearing or bust. We will probably only use our double stroller a handful of times, so it totally wasnt worth the money. 

nopegoat

Yes @PhoebeJune1984!  Exactly!  It's a nightmare maneuvering an umbrella stroller through museums and such here.