Seeking Suggestions for Double Stroller

I have the Sit n Stand:

http://www.target.com/Baby-Trend-Sit-n-Stand-Stroller/dp/...

My kids are about 2 1/2 years apart and this stroller has worked nicely as well as fit my budget for one. It also isn't terribly heavy (some of the doubles are VERY heavy) and fit in the back of my car when I had sedan. It adjusts to fit several different car seats. Storage underneath was really the only tricky bit, but I was able to get some stuff underneath and I tend to overpack anyway. My son loved sitting and sometimes standing in the back and it has grown well with my daughter as she transitioned out of the car seat.

I really like the Joovy Caboose...its a sit n stand. I think you can test it out at Babies R us. I had started out with a Graco Duoglider-which was nice also, because my daughter was only 2 when I had my second, but once she got a little older, she didn't want to sit all the time, so it was just easier to be able to let her get out sometimes-but still have a place for her to sit or stand when she wanted to. It was also a little smaller than the Duoglider...not so long.

Hi L.,

We were in your shoes last year. We purchased a Graco duo-glider double stroller online for about 109- shipped to our door. We love it! There are lots of different prices on them. We have seen them for as much as 200. Be sure to shop around and do your research. The one we got was being discontinued due to its pattern. Turned out to match the pattern on our infant car seat though. The car seat fits in both front and back seats.

Blessings,
L.

Here's a dialogue between me and a mom seeking the same advice about a month ago. Hope you don't mind, I just copied and pasted my answer. Good Luck!

Hi E.!

I've been doing some research about the Bumble Ride twin stroller and saw on a recent post that you have one and love it! I have a 20 month old son and am expecting baby #2 at the beginning of April. How have you liked the Bumble Ride for your new born and toddler? What are the pros and cons you've found?

We tried to take one for a "test drive" today at Galt toys and baby in Northbrook Court. Their web site said they had one to try, but when we got there it was gone! Very frustrating!

How does it handle on walks? Does it fold up well? Do you think I'd have a chance of getting it into the trunk of a VW Jetta? Thanks, in advance, for any advice you have!

I still LOVE it. I test drove the double strollers at Babies 'R' Us, and there's no comparison. I live near a crushed gravel, forest preserve trail and wanted something that would handle well. For me, air tires were a must, but I didn't want to buy a second stroller for the mall and/or sidewalks. I used it a lot to take walks during the summer with my newborn in her Graco carseat. It's plush and comes with many accessories, so I love that too. My kids are now 25 mo. and 7 mo.
If you'd like to test drive one and see if it fits in your car, they usually have one at Little Skye. They have two locations. Here's a link:

http://www.little-skye.com/About_Us.html

I drive a Ford Focus Hatchback, and it fits, but barely. It is big and heavy, but the lightest of similar strollers in the same class and it does fit through doorways. Sometimes you have to remove the cup holder that hangs off the side though. If I had the money, I'd probably buy a double umbrella stroller too, such as a McLaren or Chicco, but I wanted a stroller that had it all, including holding a car seat, and this one does! I still give it 5/5 stars!
I bought mine at www.peppyparents.com on sale with no shipping or tax, but if you talk to the Little Skye owner, I'm sure she'll match the price. Hope I helped. Good luck!

P.S. I know someone who bought the Baby Jogger double, but I didn't like it nearly as much as my own. ;-)

I forgot to mention that my son is over the 95th percentile for height, and he has plenty of headroom. He hit his head on the canopy of other doubles. That's another reason I bought it.

My husband and I just bought a used Peg Perego Duette double stroller, plus 2 infant car seats with bases on Craig's List for $250. (The seller threw the car seats in for free.) The model is a tandam style with reversible seats, which I understand is a very nice feature. (We haven't used it yet b/c our 2nd baby isn't due until the end of April.) I also have a very tall/big toddler -- over 36" tall and around 38 lbs at 20 months. I took him to the store and put him in the Kolcraft Contours model and he was too big for it. The Graco was a little better, but the Peg Perego we ended up buying worked best. So, my advice is to be open to used products -- especially if you are interested in the higher priced brands.

We use the Joovy Caboose and like it. It comes with an extension piece to use with the infant car seat that is easily detachable when the baby is ready to sit on their own. The seats are in line rather than side by side so the same width as a normal stroller and not as long in length as most sit and stand strollers. We think it is very easy to control - even in the tight shopping aisles. The only downside is the small underbasket doesn't hold very much. The upside is it allows your oldest to walk when they want and sit when they need a ride. My oldest was 34 months when the youngest was born.

I LOVE my Bumbleride Twin!

As an alternate, you could sling your baby! We love our Ergo, and you could try that and/or others on at BeByBaby on Roscoe and Lincoln. It's great to have both.

http://www.albeebaby.com/kocooptastin.html

I love this stroller. The storage underneath is perfect. The seats are roomy. There is a cup holder and storage unit for keys/wallet. I do not travel with it though. Since the older one is two, he walks if we go to the store and I bring a single stroller for the baby. But for long walks to the park, it is a wonderful stroller. It is cheaper at Babies R Us.
My older son is now 3 and the baby is 1. They both really like it and the view from either seat is good.

I'm another vote for the Graco DuoGlider. When I purchased ours, I wanted a stroller in which the infant seat would safely fit, so that I didn't have to unbuckle the newborn from the car seat and re-strap him into a stroller while he slept. I also wanted the seating to be front and back (not side by side). Be aware that there used to be two different DuoGliders and one was 10 pounds heavier than the other. You will definitely want the lighter of the two. I've heard there are lighter weight double strollers out there, but I don't think my DuoGlider is very heavy. I think my DuoGlider pattern is ugly (and it is no longer offered!), but it has been an extremely easy, versatile stroller for me to use.

I have the Sit and Stand Deluxe from One Step Ahead and I love, love, love, love this stroller. It's sturdy, easy to manuever and folds well.

Did I mention I love this stroller?? Love it!

skip the double stroller and make your older son walk. Teach him to hold onto the stroller. But really by 2 1/2 kids can walk perfectly fine and safely for long distances if you teach them to do so. Unless you are a person who likes to go jogging with the stroller or who takes three mile long walks, there is no reason for a double stroller if your older child is over 2.

We're expecting in August and my kids will be 22mo apart. So we're in the same boat. Although, we're looking for a side by side because we just don't like tandems (they're too awkward to steer then with 2 kids and stuff in the basket it's too heavy. That's just our opinion. Trying to find one that will be infant carrier compatible was a little difficult to find but we've narrowed it down to two. They are pricey but we don't want a tandem (attachment bar needed):

http://www.bumbleride.com/collection2008/indie-twin.php

http://www.bobgear.com/strollers/stroller_accessories.php...

Hope this helps!
A. R.

There are 3 years in between our daughters and we found the sit and stand stroller to be great! The front has a bar to hold the infant seat and then later can be converted to a regular seat. It is not heavy or ackward either. Good luck!