Transport/coping 1 Newborn + 2 Year Old

mine are 18 months apart...oldest is 28 months, youngest 9.5 months. I used a sling a LOT. I had a Maya Wrap Ring sling, and also got a HotSling. both have great aspects. If you are looking for a sling, the Sling Station in McKinney will let you come in by appt. and try stuff on and they help you find one that works.
I actually also have a BoB Revolution. I put my 6 week old in it and he was fine!! it made getting out and exercising easy. I know they have an adapter that you can put the infant seat in on one side, but i never spent the money on it. it really wasn't as bad as i thought.
Grocery shopping or shopping in general i put my older one in the basket and had the baby in the sling...now they are older, i usually put the baby in the seat and let the older one stand in the basket...probably not the safest, but oh well.

One nice stroller is the Phil & Ted's. It has an attachment for the carrycot to go underneath and the toddler sits up front. As they grow there is a seat on the bottom and one on top so they can both sit. It's expensive but not $900 as far as I know. My 2 kids are closer to 3 yrs apart so we used the sit-n-stand.

I have been researching this as well. I have a 14 mo old and am due with another one in May. There is no way the regular sit and stands would work at first. Below is a link to a sit and stand Plus. If you click on the 3rd image underneath the main image, you will see that you can put an infant car seat in the front and the older child has the stroller seat in the back. Then, as your children grow this stroller can be converted to the regular sit and stands. It costs a little bit more than the regular sit and stands but they are far from being $900.

http://www.babytrend.com/strollers_double/7556PLUS.html

It's really not that bad. When I had my last child, I also had a 17 mo. old and a 3 1/2 yr. old. I have the Graco double stroller that came with the baby carseat that attaches to the stroller also. My kids are now 6, 4 & 2 1/2 so we are just finally at the point where we are ready to sell our double stroller. I think it was around $200 or so and we got a ton of use out of it! I would put the two big ones in that and the baby in the Baby Bjorn when I had all 3. When it was just the two little ones, I put the baby carrier in the back of the stroller and the other child in the front. By the time I hit 2 weeks post partum, we were all up and out running around again. Congrats!

My girls are 15 months apart. They are now 2.5 and 1.5ish. I won't lie, those first few months are tough! I put my little one in a moby wrap every where we went and then my little one walked or i pushed her in a stroller. In addition to the $, most people I know that have a two year old and a newborn don't like having them in the same stroller because the 2 year old bothers the little one. AND, by April, your little guy might not want to be in the stroller anyway.

Moby wraps look intimidating but really aren't once you get the hang of it. I would strap mine on before we left, then put the little on in as soon as we got somewhere, then get the big sister out. I also wore it around the house a lot so I could still participate with the older one and not feel like I was always just leaving the baby on the floor somewhere! Good luck! Feel free to pm if you have any other questions. It is exhausting, but so much fun too!

I have a 27 month old and I'm having my new baby in 3 weeks. I looked at a lot of double strollers several months ago. I bought the Kolcraft Contours stroller at Babies R Us, it was under $200 with a 15%off coupon. I got it b/c both seats can be removed and face different direction (both forward or rear facing, face each other). The back seat can be removed to put an attatchment on so you can put the infant car seat on the stroller. Or the seats are also good for newborns if you'd rather do that. I like that it has so many options! It is big and bulky, but I love it so far (I've tried it out a few times)!

You can look at the Babies R Us website and see it, or other double strollers. There are lots of options out there. Congrats on the new baby:)

Hey R.!

My babies are 1 year and 12 days apart in age, and it has been a wonderful experience! For transportation we purchased the Peg 60/40 and a Peg carseat and it was a life saver! I love the stroller and it allowed for quick loading and unloading thanks to the snap in feature of the carseat. However, when I went grocery shopping, I needed more space in the cart and my oldest was still too little to use anything but a regular shopping cart. So I found a sling that I LOVED, put my youngest in it, the oldest in the seat, and groceries in the basket. By having the sling and the double stroller I opened up more options for the three of us. Due to expenses and my own preferences, we never put either of them in a MDO program (though I am involved in a mom's group). We go almost everywhere together and have since day one. They are now 28 months and 16 months and we're loving it!

Good luck and enjoy!

I don't think you need much coordination to work a wrap & a stroller. Infact, my wrap was a lifesaver! I don't know how I would have gotten out anywhere with my three girls if I didn't have it. I had the Moby Wrap, which was previously suggested. Not at all difficult to use, once you practice a couple of times. Both my husband (from the UK himself :)) & I were able to wear it comfortably with our youngest two when we were out & at home. I was able to wrap it on myself in the parking lot, slip the baby in & then get my two year old out.

We never did MDO, but I do try to do the big shops when my husband is home to keep a kid or two (or three :) ).

Good luck!

My 3 kiddos are all 2 years a part (4, 2, and 4 months)...so there's always been a time where I needed a stroller for the baby and toddler. My double stroller (Duo Glider by Graco) holds an infant carseat as well as a regular seat for the toddler. I've found it very handy when taking trips to mall, arboretum, etc. But sometimes when grocery shopping I will have 2 year old in cart and baby in Baby Bjorn or sling. That way there's still room for groceries. Also the carts with the 'cars' on front are great too. That way the carseat fits in the top part of cart, while your toddler is still restrained and there's room for groceries :)

There are other strollers out there as well...like the Sit N Stand, but make sure you're looking at one that holds an infant carrier (carseat) otherwise your baby can't use it until able to sit up without support.

As far as dealing with 2 kiddos under 2....just take one day at a time. As tired as you might be, try to spend one-on-one time with your 2 year old while baby is napping. That REALLY meant a lot to my kids and still does!!! Also, try to include your son in diaper changes, bath time, etc. That way he feels important and like a big brother :)

Best of luck to you!!!

place one of those tube type things that form around a baby inside the stroller. maybe there's a stroller that has the carrier attachment too... good luck.

I had three the oldest being 4, 12 month old and a newborn.
I used a double stroller and a sling. I am not the most coordinated. I did not do MDO because right after the third child was born my husband left me so thing were tight. I managed to stay home with my kids and not work outside of the home. When the three got older I used a wagon with a trailer for when we went to the zoo ect. I also used a jogging stroller for when we went to outdoor festivals it was easier for me to push. It is hard to get out with little ones but very do able. Good luck with every thing.

Hi R.! Sit and stand strollers will accept most infant carseats. When I was pregnant with my second, I just took my infant seat to Babies R Us and tested it to see if it would fit in the Sit and Stand ... and it did! That's what we've been using. I also strongly recommend that you find a good baby carrier. I didn't use a baby carrier much with my first, but when you've got a newborn and a two year-old its a must! I like the moby wrap. Its not nearly as complicated as it looks, and its very comfortable and secure for both you and baby. Somebody mentioned using the moby in the house, as well, and I did too, especially in the early months, and now again that the baby is teething.

I was also really worried about how difficult it would be to have a two-year-old and an infant, but it really hasn't been that hard! In fact, in many ways I think its made me a better mom, because I'm stricter with and expect more from my two-year-old than I did before. I don't put my older one in Mother's Day Out (yet, we'll put him in part-time preschool when he turns three). (Of course if that helps you, use it!) We just do everything together, all three of us. The only other thing I would suggest is a schedule. A flexible schedule really eases my two-year-olds anxiety, and help me know I'm meeting both kids needs. We've had different schedules as Josh, the baby, has grown, but for each transition (e.g. from 2.5 hour feedings to 3 hour feedings, etc.) I just sat down and figured how how to most sanely merge the infant feedings and naps with the family schedule. Good luck! It probably won't be quite as hard as you think!

Hi, R.. I had the same issues with a 14 mos old and a newborn. So, I did some extensive research and found the Kolcraft Contours Tandem stroller. It runs between $210 and $240 depending on where you purchase it. I purchased my stroller from BabysRUS at $219. It has been well worth the money. The size is a little daunting, but it allows me to place the carrier (not the same brand) for the little guy in the back while the big boy sits in front in his own chair. Soon, the little one will be able to sit in a chair like his big brother and I will have the option of facing their chairs in or out. (Accessories are included.) It also comes with a large basket on the bottom that we can load up while shopping. I have gotten so many inquiries about the stroller, I am wondering if I need to be a spokesperson! Hope this helps!

Target used to have a double stroller with two seats - check to see if they still sell them. The rear seat can be used with an infant carrier, so the stroller will last you for years. It only costs about $75. Our kids are 15 months apart and it worked out great for us. Even when the older one didn't need the stroller, we still used it. That second seat and the basket under are great for shopping bags and leaves one hand free to hold onto the older child. The seats also recline pretty far - great when the older one is tired of walking.

Mine are 19 mos. apart (now 2 and 8 mos) and the Sit and Stand is awesome and does work right from the beginning. I just snapped my existing car seat in (Graco brand) and we were off! It accepts most carriers, try it out! Now that he is older and can sit up in it, I love it even more. It is so compact for a stroller that holds two children compared to the others (I had a Graco double and returned it-too bulky and heavy). The wraps are great too!

I have boys that are 19 months apart. (now 6 months & 25 months) I used a Moby wrap (a friend made for me) and pushed the toddler in a single stroller or shopping cart. I would also recommend having an over the shoulder sling (like a Hotsling or Maya wrap) if you are in a hurry.

My youngest was born at the end of April. He would get hot in the sling sometimes. You might want to keep that in mind to help you decide on what you want to get.

I've also put the baby's carseat in the main part of the shopping cart & the toddler in the child seat for stores like Target or Walmart. I don't have a double stroller yet, but I was thinking of getting one now the younger one is starting to sit up. I didn't want to get one designed mainly around a newborn & infant carseat, since I don't go out that much by myself. I have 2 strollers & usually have someone else with me if we go to a mall or park.

It's a lot of work to take them both by myself, so I try to wait until my husband can go too. I expected it to be a lot harder having 2 under 2, but it wasn't too bad. The first 3 months were the toughest, but they went by so fast. Try to rest when they both nap. That was harder with having 2. Now that they are getting a little older, they are starting to play together & we're having more fun. It seems more daunting right now, but your oldest will be at a different stage when the baby is born. My older child did not have jealousy until after I went back to work. Then he started pinching, throwing toys, etc since he wasn't getting as much of my attention. At first he was kissing my belly & the baby. Most of the time he has been sweet & sometimes too lovey to the little one.

Another bit of advise, be careful where you leave the baby with the toddler around if you have to set the baby down to go to the bathroom or something. I always take the toddler with me or make sure the baby is safely out of reach. The toddler will sometimes try to throw or drop toys on the baby if I put the baby in the pack n play. The older child might try to pick up the baby or be too lovey & hurt the baby if he's in a bouncy seat, swing or on the floor.

Enjoy your time when they are little. This time it seems the youngest is growing up even faster than my first did.

It's tough, but it's doable. I have an 8 month old and a 2 year old so I remember when I brought them home how scared I was. I used a sling/Bjorn with a single stroller for the first 3 months or so, because it's easier to maneuver the stroller, and the baby is still pretty light. Then, I did end up breaking down and getting a Peg side by side 60/40 split double stroller. One side is bigger to accommodate a car seat while the other is a little smaller for your toddler. Once the baby is big enough, you switch them to the smaller side and put the toddler in the big side. Some people prefer the front/back style so it just depends. I found the front/back double stroller too large to fit in my trunk or nothing else would fit with it in the trunk. Good luck, and you can do it!

Mine are 2 years apart and we were able to snap our Graco Snugride carseat into a Sit and Stand so we could use it from the start. I believe most of the Sit and Stand's have this capability (and ours was only $150). Good luck!