Seeking Input Re: Need for a Double Stroller with a 3 Year Old and Newborn

I labored over this question! my son was 2.6 when baby was born, and then we went into winter so i thought a double would be silly, and now that spring is here he is almost 3, and we even got out with it quite a bit this winter- we went for the sit and stand ultralight joovy- it was the most expensive but I wanted the best one if we werent' going to get a double, and it makes a HUGE difference when travelling... I highly, highly recommend it, my nearly 3 year old rides in it all the time and when he is tired or unruly, he sits and I can still strap him in, its perfect and if you have an active 3 year old I think you'll love it!

I have a double stroller... now that my children are 1 1/2 & 2 1/2, I don't use it much anymore. They both love to walk. If you decide to buy one, I'd be happy to sell you mine. It's very similar to this one: http://www.kolcraft.com/product.aspx?id=80&shopby=cat... .

I'd be happy to sell it to any interested mom... we are asking $45.

- Sorry to hijack the postings. Just hoping I can help.

Kolcraft Contour. Versatile, stadium seating, can hold a car seta, then go to a regular seat, collapses pretty well. Seats can face each other or away depending on the kids' moods.

hi...
i had baby #2 when my oldest was 19 months and i loved having a double stroller, still do and they are ages 1& almost 3...it makes going for walks possible which is great in the nicer weather. it also makes things like going to the zoo, mall, park easier. it's tough carrying that bucket and trying to hold the hand of a younger one. the one i bought (graco) was able to fit my bucket when the baby was younger, but now the front seat holds 40 lbs and the back 50...so they should be able to use it for some time to come. my oldest actually likes to ride in the stroller especially when his younger brother is. the drawbacks, they are all really heavy and take up lots of room in the trunk.

My kids are 22 months apart & we got the convertible double stroller that turns into a sit & stand from one step ahead. We love it! My son (almost 3) still sits in the stroller (to my surprise)so we haven't converted it yet. The stroller is not that much heavier or cumbersome than our single stroller & is easy to maneuver.

I would definitely go with a sit and stand. Your 3 year old will love sitting backwards and standing and being the "big" sister. The Joovy has an adapter for all infant seat carriers. I used to have my infant in there with my older two boys standing in the back. It worked awesome!!

Congratulations and good luck with everything!

H. Z. (SAHM 5 1/2, 4 1/2 and 19 month old boys)

I have to tell you that I purchased the Bob Revolution stroller/jogger when my son was 9 months----man do I wish I had that from the word go! From what I hear the baby adapter is very easy and conforms to most baby carriers---as for the other details that you are looking for, the bob would be perfect. We did the beach several times last year and it was perfect----right over the sand like it was nothing!!! Try doing that with those plastic wheels---you'll be there all day! As for reclining, it reclines pefectly and my son takes naps in the stroller all the time---esp. in the mall and yes, I do take the stroller with me everywhere and have had no problems. I see plenty of moms pushing the double with zero effort so to me, its worth every penney. It also holds up to 70 pounds on the single side! If money is an issue, try looking on Craigslist.com/your city to find a well kept used one and I bet you'll find tons. Good luck!

I have seen sit and stand strollers that have a small seat if your 3 year old gets tired. My son hated to be in a stroller at that age and that stroller might give your 3 year old the option of getting out and walking if she wants a little easier.

When my son was born in May '07 my daughter was 15 mo. We didn't bother with a double stroller. I wore my newborn in a sling or front carrier and pushed the stroller. I didn't have to wake him when we were done with the stroller.
Our second summer with two I switched to the Ergo carrier, and took turns wearing a kid on my back and pushing the other. Great exercise, plus the kids love seeing things from higher up.
This summer I am going to get a double stoller because my kids now weigh 25 - 30 lbs each. My 3 year old isn't the best listener (easy disttracted- she is 3 afterall) and I would be incredibly nervous walking her near traffic if I couldn't hold her hand, and you can't do that when pushing a stroller.
One last thought, a single stroller and a sling take up alot less space in the car and foyer.

hello E.!!!
i had never considered getting a double stroller. then a friend of mine gave me 1 that she was no longer using. WOW!!! i dont know how i ever lived without it. for things like going to the dr's office with 2 little ones, walking home after a busy day at the park, going to the flea market---it has been a life saver. i have the style that reclines in the back and my younger daughter (3) loves it. the only thing i dont care for is how bulky it is. i know there is an umbrella-type that is much lighter and folds up more compact, but i believe those only come in the side-by-side style, and they dont offer very much support for back new little babies.

hope this helps!!!
Cindy

Hi,

My kids are almost the exact same distance apart (they are now almost 4 and almost 7, born in May and June). I loved having the Joovy Caboose stroller; the footprint is smaller than a standard double stroller and if we went anywhere that involved a great deal of walking (the zoo, etc.), my son would inevitably want to sit for a while. He didn't seem to care about the reclining part.

Good luck!

B.

Hi E.,

I have two girls ages 4 1/2 and 20 months. My oldest was a small 3 year old when her sister was born and I too debated over the same issue you are having. I ending up getting a double stroller, mostly for walks around our neighborhood. I still have it, it is like brand new. I have used it a few times going to mall, but now they are both bigger and it is getting harder to push both of them. I will tell you the front and back stroller is much easier to go in the store with because of it being so much more narrow then the other stroller I have. I like the space under the seats too.

If I was to do it again, I would buy a used one. I tried to buy a used one, but I could not find one I really liked. The graco model I have is a newer one with the green print on it. I would check craigslist too.

Good luck to you and what an exciting time it will be.

K.
Mom for two amazing little girls ages 4 1/2 and 20 months. I work full time out of the house.

HI E.,
My daughter was 3y.2m. when my son was born. I think deciding on a double stroller depends on your use of one. Are you a walker or is this just for the mall? We were given a sit and stand and it has been a really good thing. My daughter liked that she can jump in and out. Also, if she seemed tired we could put my son in his car seat and attach him to the big kid seat and put her in the soft seat. I'm a walker, so this stroller isn't the best for long walks and I just bought a nice double jogger (my son is 10 months now). Before this - if I knew ahead of time that we would be taking a long walk (on a unpaved trail)I would take our bigger all terrain stroller for my 3y.o. and would wear the baby in a sling and now that he is bigger on my back. I generally have found that with 2 it's much easier to wear the younger baby then deal with strollers for shorter outings or short walks.
I would suggest wearing your baby until you figure out your needs and start watching craigslist
Congratulations and good luck!

How big is your oldest strollers only have weight limits. I don't really see the need for one. Get a light weight stroller that holds a high weight and when your oldest gets tired but the baby in a sling/carrier and the oldest in the stroller. Besides carrying a baby helps you burn the pregnancy weight faster than pushing a stroller. Others seem to think its not possible to hold a childs hand and push a stroller but I hold my 2 year old's hand and push the shopping cart all the time. Its great excerise for him and it tires him out so he will nap.

It is best to have a double stroller when going out for more than half an hour. It doesn't take any more effort to put up a double stroller rather than a single stroller. Then you have it when your oldest gets tired, overwhelmed, pitches a fit, tries to go in a different direction, ect.
You can always let her walk if and when you want her to.
Its best to:

have it and not need it
than:
NOT have it and need it.

hope this helped

My kids are 9 and 12 but I had a Graco-side-by-side and a double InStep jogging stroller. Believe it or not, until last summer my petite youngest daughter would occasionally still sit while I took a long walk to a store and then put the goods in the extra seat on the way back. The Graco one was great for the mall: a side-by-side allows both seats to recline for individual naps (front to back does not allow the front one to recline far if I recall correctly). The huge basket underneath was also fabulous and it was easier to maneuver than a long stroller (although occasionally an isle would be too narrow but it fit all standard doors). The jogger I used daily for my walks to drop the older one off at preschool while the younger one napped (we had to go over a dirt road to get to the school). My kids loved to sit in the stroller and come for long walks with mom (hour+) maybe because I started right before lunch and gave them a divided Rubbermaid bowl with 3 different snacks and then they would get tired after lunch and either sleep or just look around. I know others whose kids hated the stroller and would climb out at the first chance. So I guess it depends on your usage, your terrain, and your kids temperament. Like most moms, you will probably own between 2-5 strollers (umbrella, single that holds the baby carrier, double for the mall, jogging double and I started with a wonderful single Emaljunga for the cobbled streets in Boston and the dirt road near my house. I would have loved a sit-and-stand once my oldest was maybe 5 but I could not see buying yet another one.
May your labor be short and your happiness long!

I agree with the others, I would get one. My kids are also 3 years apart, and we have the Joovy Caboose. They are now 4 and 1 and it was a lifesaver last year. While my older son walks 90% of the time, it's been great for the mall or a park/zoo, etc. where he just gets plain tired and can hop on the back for a ride. He thinks it's cool to stand on it to ride, or will sit on the seat for longer durations- highly recommend.