2nd Time Moms: Need Stroller Advice

jayme88 · October 2010

My son will be just over 3 when baby arrives and I am really having trouble deciding what to do for a double stroller. What are all of you looking at?

My only option that I think I like is https://babytrend.com/strollers_double/SS76047.html

The reasons I like it are b/c my son has the option to sit in the front, while baby is in bucket Graco car seat we still have. Once baby is out of bucket car seat, I can remove the back turn stroller in to a sit and stand. I also like the front to back, vs side to side double stroller.I have gone to a store and tried it out and like the way it moves and how easy it is to fold.

Reasons I am unsure are, how long will my son actually sit in a stroller, and how heavy it is. I really don't want to spend too much money on something that I may use for 6-12 mons..

The price at Target is $169.99. I can live with that price, but not much higher..

TIA!

GHBEA · October 2010

I wish I could help but my youngest is 16 and so much has changed since then.

kpowersw · October 2010

Personally, I skipped the double stroller with our sons. When DS#2 was born DS#1 was only 19 months, but had already had enough of the stroller. He liked to walk everywhere, and would only sit in the stroller if we were going a long distance. On the rare occasion where we did put him in the stroller, I used a sling or the Bjorn for DS#2. DS#2 is the same, so we will still skip the double stroller this time. But if your oldest doesn't mind, it might be worth it.

Then again, even if it is a "waste" you can sell it on Craigslist and probably get most of your money back. Smile

helm74 · October 2010

He probably won't sit in a stroller that much longer. I think both mine quit around the time they were 4. But if it can convert to a sit and stand you will use that much longer. Depending on how tall your son is I can imagine him using that until he's at least 6. Perfect for when he's too tired to walk anymore if you been out for a while.

elle80 · October 2010

So ironic- I just got off the phone with my friend who has 2 kids and she was telling me how much she loves this exact stroller. She really could not say enough good things about it. Her oldest wasn't even 2 yet when the babe was born and she's still using that stroller over a year later (oldest is 2 1/2 now). She said her oldest loves to sit in the back half seat- and it has a strap to keep him in there if she wants to.

Not sure if this helps you much, other to let you know that she is a huge fan of it!

This one is high on my list- I really like a full handle bar and cup holders Wink

armandos_girl · October 2010

We just bought one of these. You can put the baby seat in the front and use the back as a sit-n-stand if that works better.

BabyTrend recommends using the sit-n-stand portion for kids over 2.5, so I would think he would do well with it by age 3. It's not all that heavy - lighter than the Graco double. I can lift it off the ground with one hand, but I need two hands to get it into the trunk of my car.

Also, we found ours practically brand-new on Craigslist for $120. The mom who bought it couldn't get it in her trunk, so she sold it to us. There are a bunch of them on Craigslist for $60-$100, but it is harder to find the kind with two seats. If you're patient and know what you want to spend, you can find one.

jayme88 · October 2010

elle80:
So ironic- I just got off the phone with my friend who has 2 kids and she was telling me how much she loves this exact stroller. She really could not say enough good things about it. Her oldest wasn't even 2 yet when the babe was born and she's still using that stroller over a year later (oldest is 2 1/2 now). She said her oldest loves to sit in the back half seat- and it has a strap to keep him in there if she wants to.

Not sure if this helps you much, other to let you know that she is a huge fan of it!

This one is high on my list- I really like a full handle bar and cup holders

Thanks for the review from your friend... I like those too..

jayme88 · October 2010

armandos_girl:
We just bought one of these. You can put the baby seat in the front and use the back as a sit-n-stand if that works better.
BabyTrend recommends using the sit-n-stand portion for kids over 2.5, so I would think he would do well with it by age 3. It's not all that heavy - lighter than the Graco double. I can lift it off the ground with one hand, but I need two hands to get it into the trunk of my car.
Also, we found ours practically brand-new on Craigslist for $120. The mom who bought it couldn't get it in her trunk, so she sold it to us. There are a bunch of them on Craigslist for $60-$100, but it is harder to find the kind with two seats. If you're patient and know what you want to spend, you can find one.

That was what I found when trying it in the store.. Thanks..

I was going to just get their sit n stand, but I haven't heard many good things about it. I like that is can be a sit n stand, but I am afraid of my son getting off and running from me. Which he already does, and once the baby is here, I can't leave him/her to chase my son. The longer he is buckled in the better. The weight/height req on the seats is 40" and 40lbs. Luckily my son is on the smaller side.

LuKeANdThEbEaN · October 2010

I've been wondering if we should spend the money on one too... DS will be 3 in December and usually prefers to walk but weekend trips and long days I like to have the stroller has an option .. and I'm worried that if he sees the baby being pushed he'll want a ride, too. This stroller is one we're considering.

Alirebco · October 2010

My son will be 3 years and 3 months when the baby is born and I'm not planning to buy a double stroller. I might buy one of those riding boards for the back of our bigger stroller (Vista). He does still ride in the stroller now for long walks but he's in preschool 3 days a week and next year will be in 5 days a week.

If we all take a big walk, he can start out in the stroller and I plan on wearing the baby. Or he can start out walking and I can wear the baby if he wants to ride.

My sister never got a double stroller for her two girls who are 2.5 years apart.

Temp67694062501186 · October 2010

I am taking my SIL's advice and waiting to get a double stroller. Waiting to see if we reallly reallly need one - and then I will get I think either the Phil and Ted or the cheaper new-ish suepr versatile Chicco that works with our infant seat.

SIL has a two year old and a 3 month old - I asked her about double strollers and she said that she rarely went anywhere alone with both kids in the beginning - mall, park, etc. Her husband was usually with her, or she only had one of the kids with her at a time if she was alone. They have been getting by using their original Chicco stroller (they have the same travel system that we have) for the baby and their umbrella stroller for the toddler - but he usually walks anyway. Now that baby #2 is getting bigger, she is getting out more with both of them, but like I said, the toddler usually walks. If they go someplace like the zoo - both parents are there and they each push a stroller.

I do think we may have to end up getting one since I am a SAHM (and SIL is not) and will want to get out much more during the day once I have two LOs to entertain, but I still plan to wait and see if we need to spend the $300 - $500. Ack!

ncbelle · October 2010

I'm probably the wrong person to ask as I never use a stroller with kiddo - I always wear him but...

I'll just wear the newbie and kiddo will walk as he mostly does now. Or if we do the zoo or something and I feel I need a stroller, I wear the newbie and use my jogger for kiddo.

Personally, I think a good wrap or sling would be a better investment as that is something you can get lots of use from (need to be hands free for toddler chasing!) vs. a big stroller you may not use for that long. As much as kiddo walks at not yet two, I can't imagine him being in a stroller much at all at 3.

jayme88 · October 2010

Thanks for all the advice. I was thinking about not getting a double, b/8 I do plan to wear the baby a lot. I have an ergo and 3 slings, but I'm more concerned about walks and store. I am always out and about, and while the baby is little and in bucket car seat, I think a double would be good. I also babysit an 11 month old 2 days a week, and everytime, I use the stroller for the baby, my son throws the biggest fit and I end up carring the baby and pushing my son. I won't be able to do that much longer, and plan on getting the stroller soon.

Nanna · October 2010

We have the double stroller you are considering. My two kiddos are 18 months apart. I SAH and am out and about alone with my boys a ton and have been since the day after #2 was born. We use this stroller a lot but I like it just OK. It's very heavy (especially when both boys are in it) and the extra-long wheel base can make it tricky to steer. The basket underneath is also deceptively small. That being said, it's practical and we've used it in just about every seating combination possible (at first #1 rode up front while I had #2 in the bucket seat in the rear seat facing me and these days #2 rides in the seat up front while #1 uses the bench seat). #1 likes to walk mostly but I'll admit it's awesome for him to have a place to sit once he gets tired (this always seems to happen when we are on the far side of the zoo and it's time to head home!). This is NOT a stroller for going on walks/jogs - I HATE pushing this thing on walks around the neighborhood (I much prefer a jogger for that kind of thing) and it's a beast to push on any kind of surface other than concrete. But, it's great for the mall (much easier to push into stores than a side-by-side) and the zoo and places like that.

We'll keep this stroller for the next baby because the ability to switch up seating based on our needs for the day will be nice (and if I have both seats in it, I can always just wear the baby if my oldest decides he needs to ride).

Since your older child is already 3 (or will be) you might be better served looking at a smaller sit n stand, like the Joovy models. The shorter wheel base actually does make a world of difference in how they steer and handle. There are lots of videos on youtube (I think there's a station called baby stroller depot) that demonstrates a lot of the doubles so you can get a better idea of them in action.

MG7 · October 2010

DS will also be 3 when this baby is born. I was able to find a sit n stand, Baby Trend I think, on craigslist for $35 which is absurdly cheap and it's in really good condition - it was an extra at grandma's house.

I don't think this one is too heavy and it's nice because it's not huge either. We drove DS around it in the yard a few times and he loved trying out all of his different seating options

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