Should I Buy a Double Stroller? Which One?

I have 11 year old twins. I had a double wide stroller and I loved it! The downside is that it is double wide and can be a tight fit in some store aisles. That was the only downside, I had equal access to both girls and they had a clear view. I used my stroller for everything, I would cover it in towels and feed them in it, they loved their stroller too and we used it until the wheels fell off.

I have a graco double stroller, but.... if I could do it over agian I would get a sit n' stand..... go for that one! the lightest & can actually hold 3 kids if need me :)

I bought the double stroller & it is so big I can't keep it in the car so, unless we are off to the zoo or something like that it collects dust.Most often I use the umbrella stroller & my sling...our boys are now 2/1/2 & 7 months ( so now ,it is changing again & really baby does the stroller & big bro walks w/ me)That 7 months flew by & I used the double s maybe 3 times????????? I'll keep it for big events ,but I would get a used one & spend the big bucks elsewhere

hello! my two girls are about 27 months apart and we did go with getting a double stroller. i wanted to get a side by side as opposed to getting a front and back style. we have a zooper tango and i commented a while back to another mama's question stating how much we LOVE this stroller. it is pricey but if you research all the features- it is well worth it! another great option is the kolcraft contours tandem. you can reverse the seats and it stears well. both strollers have good reviews too! i find we definately needed the double stroller- especially now that my youngest is getting bigger- and heavier to carry in the sling! good luck and best wishes!

I have a double stroller that I have only taken out on a handful of occassions. I use it mainly for the pool now because the sit/stand portion of the back seat changes into a big basket/bag for all our towels and such.

You just have to figure out what will work best for you. My oldest is very well behaved so to have her walk 99% of the time is fine. And if she wants in the stroller, I just have a sling on hand to put the younger one in if needed.

BTW, my girls are 21 month apart.

I have the Baby Trend Sit and stand stroller. Its amazing. My kids love it. I have a 28 month old and a 2 month old and it works great for us. Its just slightly bigger then my single graco stroller and much smaller then most double strollers. I LOVE IT!!! The best part is I got it at target for only $129. cant beat that. Its also very light weight. I actually went to target and took it off the shelf and gave it a test run and let my two year old try it out to see if she liked it before i bought it!

good luck finding that perfect stroller and good luck and congrats on the baby on the way!

We have the Baby Trend sit-n-stand stroller, where the back seat is a platform (with a good seatbelt) where your child actually faces backwards. We only have our toddler sit on the platform, but eventually you can let them stand up. The front section has an adapter that allows you to put any carseat in it. That part is great for a newborn, and adapts as the child gets older. Also, I really enjoy that I can interact with our oldest while we are walking. He's facing me, but he can still of to the side, etc. Our kids are 2 1/2 years apart,though, so a little more age difference. This stroller is compact and easy to manuever. I got it at Target for about $120. It fits in the trunk of our (small) car and I use it almost every day for something. Good luck!

My boys are also 22 months apart. It is a good investment and they do have side by side strollers. However I would wait until the new baby arrives I know my second child didnt like the carseat or the stroller at first so I put him in a sling. I didnt use the double until my youngest son was atleat 6 months old maybe older.

When my oldest (now 5) and my second child (now 2) was a baby, I had a tandem double stroller. It was OK, but difficult to push, especially with my older child up front (baby carrier in the back.) But once my oldest wanted to walk around more, I just went back to a single stroller. The age difference between my second child and my third child is only 18 months. Once my third child (now 9 months) was able to mostly sit up on his own, I ditched the tandem stroller and got a side-by-side stroller. (... shouldn't put a car seat in the side-by-side, at least, not the one I have) Yeah, it's wider than the tandem, but I can go through all doors and can get around the stores. Aisles are usually the same width as doors, so it's tight but I can do it. Manual doors can be cumbersome, no matter what kind of double stroller you have. I can recline both seats independent of each other, and the side-by-side can turn on a dime, where the tandem cannot. Unfortunately, my side-by-side does not have a basket (I loved the basket in the tandem!) as I chose the side-by-side that is almost like an umbrella stroller so I could save space in the back of the Expedition. Yes, the tandem stroller was BIG! If you have a car, the tandem will be the only thing in your trunk. I have an Expedition and had to make sure that the 60% seat was folded down to accommodate the stroller. The tandem stroller I had was also much heavier than my side-by-side.

As a note, I did use a sling for a little bit with my third child, but I didn't feel natural using it. I just couldn't get it to wrap correctly and always held onto my child with one hand. I know other women who are fantastic with the sling. They are pros at using it, and once they have the baby wrapped in, they push an older child in a single stroller. I do envy them, but as I said, I just couldn't get the hang of the sling- my loss.

I would say get a tandem stroller in the beginning so you can put the carseat in it, then sell it on Craigslist once your baby outgrows the carseat and use that money to offset the cost of a side-by-side (if you will need it at the time. I am out about 8 hours a day, so my 2 YO does get tired of walking and wants to sit down.) (note- my tandem was $150, my side-by-side was $80)

Hi S.,

I have 2 daughters and they're 23 months apart, and I would highly recommend a double stroller. I still use it, and cannot imagine going to the mall/walk or other events without it. I did buy the duo glider by graco, and I liked it, but the kids sit one behind each other (kick each other, pull each other's hair), etc. I thought it was great until I purchased a double jogging stroller. I bought one without the car seat, but it was so much easier to push. When I tried to use the duo glider after I used the jogger, I thought it was a workout just pushing it around. if you're pretty active and will walk/jog/exercise, then I would recommend a jogging stroller, one that you can put a car seat with. I bought mine at walmart.com (instep) with free shipping to the store and I'm happy with it. I wish it had a little bag for snacks/sippies, bottle holder and stuff like that but you can buy those.
Hope this helps.
T..

My kids are 26 months apart. When my little one was on the way I was determined to not buy a double stroller, simply for the cost. So I started working with him prior to the baby's arrival. When we would go to the grocery store or mall, or anywhere else, I would let him walk and taught him to stay with me. It was hard at first, but he learned quickly and we have never had a need for a double stroller. We've even been tto the zoo without one. There are side by side strollers available with the equal opportunity view, but those don't accomodate a carrier so are for when the baby is a little older. Good luck with the new little one!

I have the Baby Trend sit-n-stand stroller and we love it. My oldest is 3.5 and loves to sit on "his" bench in the back. We actually got the one that has the potential to make the back bench a seat with a back that reclines, so that when the baby is older and needs to sleep in the stroller he can have that seat.

My boys are only 13 months apart (1 and 2 yrs old). In the beginning I tried doing a front pack with my infant and my older child in the front of the cart, but it wasn't ideal for me. Honestly, I think different things work better for some women than others. A lot of women love the slings like you mentioned but I never found one that fit right and I really didn't care for my Snugli front pack either.

I have the Graco Quattro Tour Duo. It's excellent for longer trips especially at the mall. Plenty of room for shopping bags, diaper bag, etc. and there are 2 cup holders for you and cup holders for each child seat. It poses a bit of a challenge for dressing rooms and restrooms, but most places you can just use the handicap stall or they have family restrooms. Also it does take up a fair amount of space so you'd want to measure to see if it would fit in your car first. If you want an unobstructed view for both kids, you could look at a side by side stroller but personally I prefer the in-line type. Seems like you'd have a harder time maneuvering a side by side through doorways.

For quicker trips, I usually put my younger son in a Floppy seat in the front of the shopping cart and try to walk with my 2 yr old. That usually doesn't work out so well and I end up letting him ride in the basket-- even though I know you're not supposed to. I only do it for quick in and out trips though.

I hope this helps! Having a second child will no doubt be an adjustment, but you'll find a system that works for you. We all do! =)

Hi,

Yes, yes, yes, the double stroller is worth it. I would have been homebound for the past 2 year with out it. I have two boys, 2 and 3 and my double stroller has made it possible for me to leave the house.
I have tried the side by side but they are too wide for typical stores or outings. It's okay for jogging, walking or outdoor activities but not practical for indoor. I am usually wanting my stroller so I can go to the store, shopping, zoo, etc. and the side by side I was not happy with. I returned it after one day.
The front to back stroller is the best even though, yes, one stares at the others head. The newer ones they make now, the back seat is elevated to help with that issue. I would look into one like that.
I also would check on line stores, like toysrus or target, for customer reviews. Those reviews are very helpful; the customers usually tell all about the stroller (pros, cons) then you can decide which pro and cons you can live with. And trust me, do not buy a stroller without reading customer reviews. Get a stroller with lots of storage and cup holders. Best of luck.

My two youngest are 22 months apart and I faced the same dilemma. When it got to the point that I was going out by myself with them, I bought a side-by-side stroller. Upside: they both see. Downside: very wide and a pain to steer in places like malls. I found myself bagging the double stroller and slinging the baby and pushing the 22 month old in an umbrella stroller while the oldest walked. It was only a matter of a few months before the middle child was big enough to want to walk around anyway. On the other hand, my friend had a front/back double stroller and I borrowed it once--loved it. They could see fine. Put the baby in back, reclined and he'll stare up at you while you make faces. Or get one that handles the infant carrier and then the baby is facing you and will love it!
Hope this helps.

My step sister found me a double umbrella stroller at a garage sale for about 10 bucks. It has totally been worth it. I have a 2.5 yr old and a 1.5 yr old. I do like that it allows both to look around. My eldest aften puts her baby doll in it and does the walking until she gets tired. As for shopping etc. it is a little tough in stores that are really crowed (small isles) but I just get a cart usually. It does fit through doorways but you have to line it up. It works well for walks but nothing to bumpy. a big bonus is that it is light weight and easy to lift into the back of the truck. good luck. try once upon a child etc. they have great prices.

My boys are also 22 months apart. I researched the double stroller issue and decided to go with a side-by-side stroller. I found the Peg Perego Aria online for a great deal (50% off for the 2007 version). It is the only one I found with kid trays. As for quality and comfort it's okay. Good deal for the money, and it fits almost everywhere as it's not too wide.
The Bumbleride Twin was my next choice, but it's quite pricey. Since I didn't know whow much I would use my double I went for the less expensive choice. It turns out I don't use it that much. I still use my single and my Baby BJorn. Good luck.

I have 2 boys 22 months apart and yes I would definitely suggest a double stroller. I am guessing your 18 month old is wanting nothing more than to run! I would NOT suggest a side by side, those quite often will not fit through all doorways. I know it is a pain at times but it is worth it. As far as which one, I am in the dark as my boys are now 7 and 5, but I always had the good old standby, Graco. Even now with my 2 1/2 yr old daughter I still have a Graco. I have found that unless you really abuse it, you can't kill a Graco!

I love the Joovy caboose stand-on stroller. My kids were 3 1/2 years apart though and the older got tired walking but was definitely too big to stick in a stroller. But this stroller lets you put the older child in the back where you can have a choice of letting them stand on a little step or sit on a seat. It even has a buckle that you can strap them into. My favorite part is that it's really not much bigger than a normal stroller. Here is a link if you're interested:

http://www.tinyride.com/Joovy-Caboose-Stroller-P714.aspx

Hi S., Sorry for the late response. I have a 2 year old little boy and babysit for another little boy a few times a week who is 20 months. Because they were so close in age, I wanted a side by side stroller too. We ended up getting the Chicco C0.5 Twin stroller and have LOVED it. It folds up pretty small, not much bigger than our single Maclaren umbrella stroller and isn't terribly heavy either. The boys can see each other and play together sitting side by side, they seem very happy in it. I generally don't have trouble fitting through a standard doorway, although once in a while I'll encounter a narrow one. It's pretty easy to push and steers really smoothly. Both seats recline independantly and have their own sunshade. There are a lot of cool features on this stroller. I also loved that it was really similar to the Maclaren twin stroller but SOOO much cheaper. Hope this helps and congrats on your new baby!!

Kinda depends on where you are needing to go with the stroller..tight turns in stores (narrow turns around people and merchandise) would be awful with a side-by-side stroller. Walks in open areas would be fine.
I am partial to slinging the baby...it helps their development (your movement is stimulating and comforting) and then keeping the older child (maybe too heavy to carry) in the stroller.
As the baby grows heavier, this of course, gets harder to do.
I have seen the newest strollers...where the older child has a sort of bench in the back..and faces back (like a car seat)...can see a view the world past your legs. Better than a bunch a fabric. I even saw one of these in a used store...Once Upon A Child.

Hi, my kids are 23 months apart and I got the JEEP double stroller. I ordered in online so I don't know what stores sell it. I love it. It is not as easy to manuever as a single stroller, but then again you do have almost twice the weight to push around! It is great for walks and workouts if you want to take both the kids and it is a lifesaver when I go to the mall and don't want them running around. I really like the JEEP one because it has all kinds of pockets and compartments, but it is a little big.
Ree

My girls are 21 months apart and the double stroller is worth it. We have the graco dueglider. It's big, but easy to handle and folds easily. We got our money out of it and now with a new baby boy we'll continue to use it.