Double stroller a necessity?

Tator86

Well the title says it all, I'm looking at the city mini double deal on Albee baby right now and I know it wouldn't be good for navigating the small clothing racks at the mall or whatnot, but for walks and parades and all the other events when carrying a little one doesn't seem very realistic, would you consider it a necessity?

MammaBear81

A double stroller is a necessity for us, some people prefer to baby wear and use a single stroller.  It just depends on your lifestyle.  We do have a tandem double (ceity select) but we were also given an aria twin and I use that sometimes when we are at an amusement park, or any wide open space!

kcisthebombdotcom

It all depends on how much you like babywearing and how far yours apart.

Personally, I;ve only used my double stroller a handful of times, so I havent really needed it yet. I generally wear the baby and push DS in the single. However, when DD is a little older I will probably stop wearing her and start putting her in the stroller more. Since mine are only 12+ months apart, they both will need a stroller for quite some time to come so I think it's a good investment.

mayowife

I'm just speculating because I won't have 2u2 for 5 more days, but.... yes I think it is. It does heavily depend on the age difference between your children. My children will be 15.5 months apart and DS can walk, but we don't allow him to walk when we're out.

We have the City Mini single and double. I wasn't able to wear DS as much as I would have liked to. I don't want to be forced to wear DD while I'm pushing DS in a single. 

I think the CM is a good choice because it's a sturdy, smooth ride, but still light enough and easy enough to fold up to always have in your car and ready to go.  Also, it steers nicely when only one child is in it (in case your older child insists on walking sometimes).

alli&pat

As others have said, it really depends on you and your lifestyle.  For us, yes, it's a necessity.  Ours gets daily use - whether at the playground, out and about, or on walks.  I do wear DD quite a bit but I find myself taking the double stroller, popping both kids in, and putting my Moby in the basket so that I have the option of having DD in the stroller or wearing her.  I love my BJ City Mini double. 

sweetpea2003

It is for me.  I have two - a tandem and a side by side.  The tandem (Baby Jogger City Select) stays in my car and the side-by-side (BOB Duallie) is in our garage and I use it for my daily 3-4 mile walk, going to the library, etc.

My husband is in the military so I don't usually have him with me to share baby wrangling duties when we are out and about.  A long walk is sometimes the only chance I get to clear my head.  Wearing my son isn't always an option (I do have an Ergo that I use regularly, but it isn't practical 100% of the time for me).  My double strollers give me more freedom.

Good luck with your choice!

JoannaJes

We rarely use our double. That being said, mine are 20 months apart, and DS is good at walking...he rarely tries to bolt. I also wear DD a lot in the Ergo. If I do use a single stroller, it's to put DD in it, and let DS walk.

Megan.10.06

It'll really depend on you and your kids.  My second isn't here yet, but I can already tell you it is for us.  I do plan on wearing Owen a lot, but I always want to have the infant seat with me so I have somewhere to put him down.  Cole is the definition of a runner - so he MUST be in a stroller at all times.  The kid has no fear and will take off in a heartbeat! 

maramarrie

It's a necessity for me, though in the last 6 months we had a lot more of a need to leave DD in her infant carrier while strolling with DS. Now that the weather is nicer I do wear her more often and can get by with the single; or I can let him walk or wear him while DD is in the single. That works for certain situations, but I can't imagine it working well for every trip out of the house. There are times when I need a place to put BOTH kids at the same time - like if I want to try on shoes, clothes, etc. So even though DS is interested in walking sometimes, he still wants to ride as well, and the double is a necessity for us.

I have a SBS double and love it. I don't feel like a tandem is any easier to maneuver through stores unless you're always driving a straight line. My SBS maneuvers a LOT easier than a tandem and is only about 5" wider than most singles and tandems. I have issues in certain stores, but I knew that when I bought it and didn't expect anything different. I had trouble in those stores with a single, so I knew a double SBS would be tough. The main stores I have trouble in are Gymboree, OshKosh, Pier 1, and World Market. Usually I can get through the main aisles and can't drive around individual racks and displays, but I can always keep the kids close and in sight while I walk over to look at something nearby.

mlf625

The first six months or so, no.  After that, absolutely.  When DD was still tiny I wore her and pushed DS in the single, but as she grew the double stroller became a necessity.  They're 14 months and 2 1/2 now and I can't fathom not having the double for outings.  DD is too big for me to wear and DS can't yet be trusted on the loose for more than a few minutes here and there when we shop, get through an airport, go to the zoo, etc.

roundtheworldgirl

Like pp said, it depends on your lifestyle.  It is absolutely a necessity for us.  We live in a big city and walk nearly every day (I only drive on the weekends).  DD2, like DD1, isn't a huge fan of being worn, much to my sadness.  It would be so much easier to pop her in the Moby or the Ergo and put DD1 in the umbrella stroller, but since she screams most of the time, I save this configuration for short walks of under 15 minutes.  The rest of the time, we use our P&T Explorer and it's terrific.

flgator

For us, yes. I use ours all the time.  I like having them "contained" when it's just me.  Plus, it's great for going somewhere where there is a lot of walking b/c DS#1 is still young.  Sometimes he'll walk and sometimes he'll want to rest a little bit.