Double Stroller? - Wahpeton,ND

I bought a Phil and Ted sport when I had my daughter. Today we used the jump seat with my 13 week old. It is such a great and clever stroller. I love it. You don't use a car seat attachment. Instead, the seat collapses into a bassinet, and then the toddler jump seat goes above it. Very cool. Fits in the trunk of my civic, if you can believe that, very tiny foot print.

My son was 2 when my daughter was born and although your daughter is a bit older she's probably not ready to be cast out of the stroller. Kids can get tired and you'll be stuck. I considered my double stroller my lifeline when I was out and needed to be handsfree. I got a mountain buggy double which I love because it's great for grass, beach as well as malls and streets. It has an infant seat attachment I used with my Graco snugride - but most strollers do offer the same option. The mountain buggy also has an option for a bassinet on one side that can be removed and carried inside etc. Once the infant is sitting up you can just use the seat. It's awesome. All that aside, there are some other options for a toddler...you can get a sit and stand...so she can stand behind the seat in front of you. You can buy a sit and stand or just but the stand attachment from One Step Ahead - its $80 I think - and attaches to any stroller. Also you can use a baby carrier and let you daughter sit in the stroller you have, but that may get hard after a while.

I guess me advice is to figure out which option is right for you...but definitely have a way for your daughter to ride because there will be times when she won't want to walk or will be too tired or even under the weather and you'll need a way to get around.

I had a great double stroller, but I still hated it. They are so huge (hard to put in the trunk, hard to navigate in stores).

I have a better suggestion than a double stroller. Since my daughter turned 3, we ditched the double stroller and used a regular stroller with a Buggy Board. It is a "board" on wheels that attaches to the back of any stroller (you can even switch between your regular stroller and an umbrella stroller). Your 3 year old can either stand on it or sit sideways on it (while holding the stroller for balance). It's great because 3 year olds don't really want to sit in a stroller for long periods. They usually would rather walk. With the Buggy Board, though, they have the option of riding when they get tired or when you need better control of them. My daughter absolutely loves hers, and everytime we are out, numerous people stop us and say, "Wow. That's great. Where did you get it? I wish I'd had one for my kids."

The brand is Lascal, and you can get it at Buy Buy Baby on Hall Road in Utica or you can order one online. They run about $90 (less than a double stroller!).

If you do get one, make sure you get the right one. There are two models depending on the set-up of the bars on the back of your stroller. I just took my stroller in to the store and had an employee attach it for me there to make sure it was right.

I bought a double stroller and HATED it - too big and bulky. The Buggy board would be a good alternative or the Sit and Stand. At 3 1/2 she really will like to walk. I'd actually wait and see before you buy anything.

It's great to have a double stroller, but we have two boys (18 mo apart) and we don't one and have made do just fine - some ideas, use a cheap wagon and that works great as a double stroller, you can even put a carseat in it if it isn't the kind that has seats in it. Also, we have a really solid stroller that reclines and sometimes we put both boys in it sitting one in front of the other, and you can also get two umbrella strollers and a little clip thing that hooks them together so one person can push them both but then it can separate and it definitely is easier to transport and takes up less space than a double stroller. So, it's nice but not necessary for those budget conscious!

Hi M.,
Congratulations on your upcoming birth! I hope it goes smoothly. We have a 3 1/2 year old daughter and a 14 month old boy. We have a Graco DuoGlider stroller and have really enjoyed it. Like most of the Graco models, the Graco car seat snaps into the stroller when they are little. We didn't use that function very much, but we use it a lot now. There are plenty of times when my daughter wants to walk, but if we have a long walk ahead of us she usually tires out and wants to ride eventually so it has been really handy. The basket on the bottom is big so it holds quite a bit (my neighbor actually used hers to walk to the grocery store and put a few bags in the bottom). I think having the two kids seated together actually keeps them entertained a little bit too so for us it has been a good purchase. Good luck to you as you make your decision!

I suggest this to anyone who asks about a double stroller. Joovey. I love mine so much. I bought the ultralite one and it's the best money I've spent. My daughter who is 4.5 (and a runner) sits in the back while my son (1.5) sits in the front. Daughter can stand if she wants and it's got nifty bars to hold on to. Best of all it's not much larger than a normal stroller so it fits in doors and easy to shop with. Also it's only 21 lbs. Let me tell ya those 50 lb stollers plus 2 kids just about breaks my back to lug around. Good luck!

Get a sit and stand or a Joovy Caboose... they are both great alternative strollers where the big kid can sit down or jump on and off when you need them to (parking lots or times when you are in a hurry). I love mine and seriously couldn't live without it... and btw... my girls are spaced exacly as your kids are.

What about a sit and stand stroller? Some carseats fit onto strollers.
S.

My boys were both totally done with strollers by 3. It was actually a struggle to get them to sit in one at 2 1/2 or even 2. The only time we use a stroller now, for our 2 1/2, is at events where it's unsafe for him to be out and walking if he were to let go of our hands. That said, evaluate your daughter's willingness to walk. That's MY experience, but my boys are runners and would rather be out than anything else. I have a friend who went to the state fair with her 5 1/2 year old daughter for two hours and her daughter wouldn't walk from ride to ride. Evaluate whether it's worth a fight (if there will be one) and if not, I'd recommend the sit and stand--a neighbor has it and it works well for their daughter who mostly walks with mom and dad, but sometimes gets tired.

My older daughter was 3.5 years when our second daughter was born. Maybe your daughter will be different, but there was no way my daughter was going to ride in a stroller. According to her, "strollers are for babies." Part of it was just that she's an active kid who has never enjoyed a stroller and part of it was being the big sister/trying to differentiate herself from the baby. She walks everywhere we go or she rides her tricycle or scooter around the neighborhood.

Another option to consider for walks around the neighborhood is to put the baby in the stroller and let your older daughter walk. Bring along your baby carrier. If your older daughter gets too tired (but don't 3 year olds have endless energy any way?), put her in the stroller and carry the baby in the carrier.

Good luck! I think 3.5 years is the perfect space between kids. We haven't had any jealousy issues and my older daughter is actually helpful. She's good at entertaining the baby, running to get diapers, etc.

I had this same question when my second was born except mine were only 22 months apart so there wasn't a question as to if I was need a double stroller it was what kind. The best advice I can give you especially with an older child is to go with a baby trends sit-n-stand double stroller that way it grows with your family. We really like ours, and there are universal with most car seats I know our evenflo and graco carrier works with it. Good luck!