Moms of older kids: how long did LO use the stroller?

hilsy85

We're trying to decide on a stroller, and one of the main factors causing us to lean toward our current first choice (the uppababy vista) is that you can add the rumble seat to use with an older child.

However, if all goes according to plan, we'll have baby #2 when baby #1 is between 2.5 and 3. At that age, will the older child be using the rumble seat (which apparently supports up to 35 lbs I think)? Would a buggy board be sufficient or do they need a place to sit down? We will be doing a lot of walking and not very much time in the car, and I plan for this stroller to be our main one (So I don't want to buy a true side by side double). Thanks!

Edited to change the weight limit on the rumble seat to the correct weight.  

LittleApple

My almost 4 year old occasionally still wants to sit in the stroller. It all depends on the kid really.

I have noticed those that purchased the Uppa Baby Vista with the Rumble seat end up getting a true double because the rumble seat is just too small.

Have you looked at the City Select or the Britax B-Ready? You can add a true second seat to these strollers.

hilsy85

We looked briefly at those, but I like that the uppa baby comes with the bassinet, which we plan to use most of the time for LO when he is small (and use it as a bassinet for sleeping at night as well in the house). I also like the look of the uppa baby better than either of those..but I know they seem to function better as true double strollers. 

Do you think your 4yr old would be happy with a buggy board or is being able to SIT really necessary? I've also seen some kids sitting on buggy boards, lol (not that that's the safest I guess).  

hilsy85

Oops you're right! Only holds up to 35 lbs I'll fix that--thanks! 

gimmietimmies

Depends on the kid. DS used a stroller (Chariot) until he was 7, but he has s/n and mobility issues. DD1 we had a stroller just for her, after 3.5/4 we didn't use it daily, but longer trips we did. She rode in the Chariot at 5 as a stroller when we were on day trips, and nodded off in it towards the end of the day. She wouldn't have fit any "regular" stroller at 4 other than the P&T or the Bob, a buggy board might have been fine (the Lascal was incompatible with our model).

When DD3 was on the way we got the P & T with the double and DD2 rode in it occasionally until 4 ish (probably 4.5, till the end of summer). It was nice to be able to pop the back seat off and on when we needed it (which wasn't often). DD3 is the same way, it's only occasional rides now.

I don't count the Chariot in this, I use it as a bike trailer as well and they've used it longer.

ebp913

I don't know know about how long kids use the stroller but I did want to add something.  We got the Vista for our daughter and we plan to have our kids closer together than you are.  I really thought about getting the B-Ready or City Select but I ended up deciding that I needed to focus on this baby now and worry about the future when it gets here.  I also figure that there will be newer and more awesome strollers on the market when that time comes so I got the Vista and we'll get a double when we need it.  At that time, I can sell the Vista or keep it for when we are only out with 1 child. 

I love the Vista and really love the bassinet.  Even at 7.5 months, we still bring the bassinet to the pool and other places if we think the baby will need to nap.  It's so handy.  Our daughter is pretty short though! 

hilsy85

ebp913:

I don't know know about how long kids use the stroller but I did want to add something.  We got the Vista for our daughter and we plan to have our kids closer together than you are.  I really thought about getting the B-Ready or City Select but I ended up deciding that I needed to focus on this baby now and worry about the future when it gets here.  I also figure that there will be newer and more awesome strollers on the market when that time comes so I got the Vista and we'll get a double when we need it.  At that time, I can sell the Vista or keep it for when we are only out with 1 child. 

I love the Vista and really love the bassinet.  Even at 7.5 months, we still bring the bassinet to the pool and other places if we think the baby will need to nap.  It's so handy.  Our daughter is pretty short though! 

This is really good advice...I feel like I keep trying to think of all possible future scenarios, but I should really just be getting a stroller that fits our lifestyle now and worry about tomorrow tomorrow! Thanks  

monksmama

We just bought the Uppa Baby Vista for our crew.

I bought the rumble seat and the piggy back board too.  I have used it a few times with my guys and so far I really love it!

My 6 y/o is really tiny, I think at his last appt he was still under 40lbs. I stuck him in the rumble seat with my 2.5 y/o in the main seat and they both fit just fine. Considering he is over the weight limit, I won't really let him ride in there, but they both did fit and the stroller still pushed fantastically.

As of now I am using the main seat for my 2.5 y/o and the piggy back board for the 6 y/o. He doesn't use it often, but it is an absolute lifesaver when we are doing the zoo or museum and he has decided he is sick of walking. It is so nice to be able to stick him on the board and just keep moving rather than have to slow down and drag along with him. The piggy board comes with a strap so you can easily clip the board up and out of the way when you don't need it.

Since the main seat goes to 50 lbs, if I ever had the reason to I could also stick the big kid in there and stick the toddler on the rumble seat. When new kid comes, I plan to have her in the car seat adapter, Sam in the rumble seat and J on the board if I ever need to have all three on the go at once. We do trips down to DC fairly often and I really love the idea of one stroller that can easily accommodate everyone and still fit in small spaces and push like a dream.

 I looked long and hard at doubles.

S will be just shy of three when new kid comes. J was 3.5 when S was born and I never missed having a double. I did have a P3 that has a boogie board sort of thing that I used often. S on the other hand, is more adventurous than J ever was and a way to keep him strapped in is never a bad idea. But, I didn't want to commit to this big, bulky, expensive double if he was going to outgrow his running phase and then I would be stuck pushing a double everywhere. The UPV seemed the perfect combo of being able to seat everyone easily and grow with our needs. The piggy back and rumble seat take up little space in the trunk and I can customize the stroller in a snap for who is with me and where we are going.

I also looked at the city select (that pushed like a tank with my two in it) and the britax version (that left the kid in the rumble seat super squished) and in the end it was really a no brainer for us.

iristony

My two year old hates the stroller and rarely stays in it.  We do best with pushing his buggy or trike for walks.  But I am glad I have a stroller for the times we are out and it is near nap time it is great to put him in stroller to nap while we walk around.

bearkatjen

My son is 3.5 and we still use our stroller (Maclaren Triumph) from time to time. If we're going to be out walking a lot, or if I'm expecting a tantrum then it's a must.

HeyJune

My 24 month old would be very upset about rear facing in the stroller, and the only reason we ever use it at this age is if she needs to nap (and since the rumble seat doesn't recline and is always rear facing, it wouldn't work for us at all). 

Just make sure to read the reviews on the rumble seat. A lot of moms don't like it because it is always rear facing, is at a weird angle (not a normal/comfortable seating position), and requires your child to put their feet in the cargo basket.

We are having our kids close together (our first will be 26 months when this one arrives) and have opted to sell our single stroller and use the money toward the double we like best (city mini double). If you love the Vista that much, you could get it to use as a single and sell it to get whatever double meets your needs down the road. 

maybridetobe04

My DD was out of a stroller by 3 years (and really early than that if we weren't vacationing or I wasn't running).  I was going to get Phil and Teds because wanted kids close together but ended up going with Bob (because better for our needs)... well that was one of the 3 strollers that have.  Glad I went with the one that worked for us then because plans didn't work for us having kids close together. 

Jen748

My 3 year old still uses hers at the zoo and neighborhood walks.

srs5624

I'd say buy for your current scenario. If you need to buy a different stroller in the future, you can always sell the first one (provided you treat your stuff well).

Also, something to keep in mind since that seat seems to have a 35 lb weight limit... My kid is 15 months old. He already weighs 30 lbs, is 36" tall and he's built like a badass hockey player. DS came out at 7 lbs 7 oz, 18.5 inches, but he shot up at 4 months and has been well off the growth charts ever since. I was not expecting a big kid. Especially given his peanut stature at birth. Apparently H's and my DNA mixed into a perfect storm.

I doubt he'd fit in that seat now, given his size. There's defiinitely no way he'd fit in it in another 5+ months. Kid grows out of everything well before he "should".  

Buy for your current scenario and re-evauluate in a couple years.

Adventurers

srs5624:

 

Buy for your current scenario and re-evauluate in a couple years.

This.  My 18 month old is 35 lbs.  You can't plan everything, but you can take care of what you do buy so that you resell or trade up later on.  

jolis_petits_bijoux

My just-turned-3 year old is done with the stroller.  The last time he really sat in one is when we took a trip this past january (so he was 2.5) where we did a lot of walking.  At this point, he prefers to walk and he can for short distances.  He can't walk for longer distances, so we need to plan for a stroller/wagon/burley for when we do something active this summer. 

jolis_petits_bijoux

Oh, and my 3 year old is 50lbs.  He has always been off the charts for weight and height, but 32lb is about the 50th %tile for a 3 year old, so if your LO is on the bigger side, the board might not support his/her weight by the time s/he's old enough to use it.