Thoughts on double strollers

Carly79

It is way too early to be worried about this but with garage sale season in full swing it's on my mind. I have an 18 month old who is a good stroller rider. We have a babytrend jogging stroller that works well for us and is a travel system and works with the infant car seat carrier. I asked my DH if he thought we would need a double stroller and he said no, mainly because he thinks you lose maneuverability with them since they take up so much room. I'm torn because my son does so well in it and when we are places like farmer's markets and fairs, if he is hooked in a stroller I don't have to worry about him wandering off. So, any advice from other mom's or lessons learned?  Thanks!!

katesmama0706

I've got my eye on one but have heard a lot of the same complaints about them being big and bulky and awkward. At this point my game plan is stroller for DD and baby wear baby #2. If it turns out baby #2 hates to be worn I guess we'll reevaluate then 

Becid24

I have bought many strollers thru my 3 kids and finally spent the money on a used bob revolutionary double stroller and it was the best decision ever. I used it for 3 years and sold it for the exact amount I bought it used. It fits thru all handicap accessible doors and we used it all the time. It fit fine in the back of my Honda Odyssey and when I sold the double I bought a single bob stroller. I'm hoping to get the car seat attachment so I can use it from the get go with this baby. 

karaelaine1991

I definitely want one!! I am hoping to find one that works with our car seat but haven't had luck yet (but I'm only one week into my search so hopefully by January I'll have some luck!). I understand your husband's point but there are probably going to be circumstances when you're out and about without DH and will want both kids in a stroller.  I'm a SAHM so I know I will! I'm hoping to try baby wearing again but it just didn't click for me with DD so I feel much more comfortable with the double stroller. If it's financially feasible and you have the storage space, maybe get one double stroller and 2 umbrella strollers? 

ElleMF728

My DS1 turned 2 years a week before I had DS2.  My plan was to baby wear LO while my oldest was in the stroller, then have DS2 walk with us or use a sit n stand when the baby was in the stroller.  I regretted my decision and am 100% buying a double this time around.  It can be really, really nice to have them both strapped in to something in certain situations.  2 year olds are notoriously unpredictable, they don't really want to hold hands all the time, they have a tendency to wander etc.  Most of the time, it is totally fine but there have also been numerous occasions when that is difficult.  

At a farmers market you need to be able to give at least some of your attention to the produce which is really hard to do with a 2 year old walking around.  Longer trips become difficult because toddlers are slow and have the attention span of a gnat.  Not to mention, having DS1 walk most of the time has resulted in him WANTING to walk most of the time.  It is a real pain to get him to spend any significant portion of time in his stroller even at the zoo.  

Last, I used to really look forward to long walks when DS1 was a baby.  I could listen to talk radio on my phone and he was really content in his stroller.  That was nearly impossible without a double stroller.  I needed to focus on him walking and he wasn't able to go as far obviously.  Even when LO was in my carrier it was difficult to carry him very far once he got to a certain weight.  

Not buying the double is probably my biggest baby gear regret especially now that I'm going to end up buying one anyone since LO and DS2 will be even closer in age than my first 2.  

emcollins3

Any thoughts on the Baby Jogger City Select? This is our first but as we are hoping to have another, I like that it can function as a single stroller or convert into a double. Planning to register for this and the extra seat, once we get to that point (and yes, googling strollers is a lot more therapeutic than googling all the things that could be going on until we get to our first appointment in two weeks!)  

katesmama0706

@emcollins3 I know someone who used the city select with the extra seat for their twins and lovedddddd it

JLJ2012

I have a 1.5 yo and 3.5 yo. As a SAHM I need my strollers. We use them everyday!  If walking longer distances my 3.5 yo still gets in the stroller, even for walks in our neighborhood.  I have the City Select, and love it, as well as a double jogger, that we use daily for walks in the neighborhood.  Baby wearing in hot summer months was not working for me with my second.  He was red and sweaty in all the carriers I tried. Both are happy in their strollers.  So my advice...Get a double, you will use it.

ThePax89

I'm getting a city select. Waiting until 12 weeks. Then taking the plunge 

Carly79

Awesome, thank you for confirming my thoughts. I too had thought about babywearing but with my son I never got a back carry figured out (once he was big enough) and having him in front of me was difficult for long periods of time. I think this is a great option for some situations but just not convinced it will serve all our purposes Now to start looking at which double strollers are the best. I did see a double where the second seat could be folded up to allow for a standing platform and that may be beneficial. @emcollins3 I agree, stroller shopping is much more therapeutic. I think I've read through most of the 1st and 2nd trimester articles on the Bump so it's time to venture out. I also started looking at diaper bags today because I HATE the one I have currently. I think I will be switching to a backpack style.

julianna88-2

For all three kids I had different strollers.From two to three. I baby wear but I did have a travel system for her(youngest is a girl), than I got the britax b ready. Which you can make that a double stroller. Instead of buying a second seat I just had the britax stroller board. Depends how apart your kids are. This time around I will do the same thing. See if maybe there a universal seat for my toddler to seat on like the board but with a seat.

TinaBelcher

FTM here but I'm having twins- if any other twin moms wander in here I just wanted to share that we're most likely registering for the mountain buggy duet- it's one of the narrowest side by sides, takes two infant seats, and the seats are reconfigurable to lay flat, face forward or backward 

Briala

I know I'm in the minority here but I will not likely be getting a double. I'll just babywear. Tandeming is easy enough with practice or DS can walk or use our stroller. Although it rarely gets used as it is, I have been thinking of getting an umbrella stroller though just in case.

nolemomma14

We currently have a single BOB and I love it. I would like to get the double one, DS will be 2.5 when the new baby is born. DH says he would prefer a front and back one vs the side by side so that's our current debate. DS is getting to the point that he wants to walk a lot more than ride in the stroller. If DH is with us I feel like I can get away with DS walking and wearing number 2. Out by myself though I think I'll definitely want DS in the stroller. 

Anyone have a preference of side by side vs the front and back double strollers??

Carly79

I told my husband I started looking at double strollers today and he looked at me like why? I said I wasn't convinced we don't need one and he says, why not just get an umbrella stroller for DS for when he needs to ride and I asked how I was supposed to push 2 strollers if I'm out by myself He didn't really have a great answer. We have time, we'll keep having the discussion and researching. And on the plus side, if I can find a good price on one at a garage sale it will be less of discussion.

Smiley-1980

My daughter will be 4 when this one is born and I'm still getting a sit and stand stroller.  There are so many times when we are out and she gets tired from walking and wants to ride or be carried and I cannot carry her long at all.  I use to do home daycare and I had a triple sit and stand and I had a 4 yr old that rode on that all the time.

julianna88-2

@nolemomma14  When I nanny before. They had the side by side and also front and back. Honest for me I think the side by side was better because you can see both at the same time. If that make sense. But I think the front and back is easier to fit through doors. At least with one of the twins I nanny for. There mother told me for her the front and back was easier to go through doors. 

emcollins3

Thanks ladies! Sorry this was one of my first posts and I only just today realized where my notifications are. Appreciate all the feedback, particularly on the City Select. Happy shopping (and strolling)! 

sagoon

My son will be 5 when this little one is born, so mostly done with strollers, but I know that if the baby is riding he will want to ride as well.  Does anyone have any good reccs for a sit and stand stroller?  I don't think I'll need a full on double, but having somewhere he can ride on will be a lifesaver.

ElleMF728

@sagoon I have a Joovy and I really like it.  It's easy folding and unfolding but a little long so depending on your car it may be a struggle to get in.  

spano41

We have a currently have a single city select GT.  I'm planning on using it with the bucket seat adapter or baby wearing with toddler in the stroller depending on the situation.  I do think I will probably eventually need a double, I just don't know if I'll need it from day one.   

sldp123

@TinaBelcher thank you for that suggestion,I had briefly researched double strollers and never even saw that option. I now MUST HAVE that stroller but holy sticker shock! Haha. 

laujam31

DS1 and DS2 are 17 months apart.  It was a necessity for us.  DS 1 turned 3 in march and DS 2 will be 2 in september.  We still use it OFTEN.  I won't leave home without it.  Though I have been using the single a little bit more often now.  Letting ds1 walk.  I had a tandem graco and the maneuverability was horrible. It was like a boat.  I have a britax side by side double and I love it  I also have a baby trend double jogger.  But I wish I just got the BOB double  

adorebella

If my son was younger I would absolutely be getting a double stroller, without question. He's 4 and we have still been using his stroller for longer outings like the zoo. I think by next summer he'll be fine but if needed I *might* get a sit and stand stroller. If he was your child's age the double stroller would be happening.

ThePax89

I'm really struggling with "I really want a city select just because I want one" and "I don't know if I really need it". But like PPs said, a sit and stand may not fit in my car.