Do I Need a Stroller for Two?

[IAMommy]

Our second baby is due in the spring, just before our DS turns 2. Do others recommend a double stroller? I normally am in to babywearing, but I can't wear two at the same time due to ligament problems and I am sure there are times when I won't want to wear either child. I just don't want to spend money on something we may not need, but if it will be a good purchase, then I'm for it.

Thanks in advance for your input!

15.7" of snow here!

[Boot]

I would just wait and see. You can always get one later if it starts to not work with the two of them. I plan to wear my new baby and push DS in the stroller if necessary. But there will be nearly 3 years between them and DS hardly uses the stroller even now so you can take what I say with a pinch of salt.

[Vancouver Mommy]

It really depends on your lifestyle. We had no car when my youngest was born, we walked everywhere everyday all year long, did our groceries on foot, etc. Not having a stroller wasn't an option since my dd was still too young to walk long distances.

[tabrizia]

It really depends. We had DD about a month before DS turned two. We decided to wait on a double stroller, since I tend to baby wear a lot and DS wasn't even using the stroller we had that much anyways. DD is now 9 months old, and we don't need a double stroller, DD is still worn, but when she is put in a stroller DS is happy to walk, or go up on my back. We have yet to see the need to get a double stroller, a single stroller works fine for us, in fact 90% of the time we don't even bring a stroller along, I put DD up on my back and DS just walks.

[just_lily]

I would get something like a Phil and Ted stroller that has a jumpseat attachment for a second kid. Then you can use the stroller for both kids when you need to, and still have a really nice single stroller when you don't. Plus it is way more compact that an actual double stroller.

But I am also jonesing for a Phil and Ted, and am looking for any excuse to get one!

[elmh23]

Dd was 27 months old when ds was born and I don't babywear (makes me dizzy.) We bought a Joovy Caboose Sit N Stand. She could sit when she wanted to and get up and walk when she wanted to, so it worked well for us. But she wasn't a bolter! If you have one of those, you might want something you can strap him in to.

Wait for the babe to be born and see how it goes. I knew I would need something, so we bought ours beforehand, but if you feel like there is the possibility that you won't need it, then wait. If you live near any store that sells double strollers, you could easily just swing by when you really needed it.

[*Aimee*]

My boys are 22 months apart and I did have a double stroller. It was mostly for long trips (like the zoo) or when we had to carry a lot of stuff. You can take the seats off the stroller I have so a lot of time we had one seat on and used the rest for storage. I'm having another baby when DS2 is about 21 months so I'll get plenty of use out of it.

[Chryseis]

We're in much the same boat. Baby #3 is coming along about 3 months before my son turns 2. We didn't have this problem last time as there was a bit more spacing between 1 and 2. I also often wear my son, but there are definitely times and places in which having a stroller is useful. I went ahead and got a used Joovy Caboose (just today, in fact). I love the Sit & Stand and I feel like it gives me more options without being a giant double stroller. I think it will be great for longer outings. We probably won't use it for all that long, so I'm very happy that I was able to get it used for a great price. I'll feel far less guilty about not using it all the time and for a long time than I would have if I'd bought it new.

[buttercups.nest]

With my daughter I had the stroller/car seat combo. When she was about 9months old I was babysitting a 10month old, so I got a double stroller. So as soon as I got pregnant I was panicking thinking what was I going to do.

In th beginning I was going to get a sit n' stand. The more and more I thought about it though it didn't quite make sense. 'If I really want to wear my baby why do I need a stroller?' was my thought. We ended up buying a $100 umbrella and it gets used but its not big and bulky in our van, and I don't feel guilty about not using it. By the time my little one is ready to use the stroller, the older one won't have any interest in it is my thought.

My daughter is also 2 but she is also independent. I didn't wear her, whether or not that has made a difference I don't know. So that was something else that came into play when deciding. Also, a lot of the places we go in town have carts or buggies. The mall has these car karts you push around while the kids drive. All the grocery stores have buggies.

Good luck!

[daytripper75]

I liked having a double. I bought a Graco secondhand and it worked out great. I also loved having a Peg Perego Aria that has a place for a child to stand on the back.

[BetsyS]

My first son was 23 months old when #2 was born. He was also a runner, which didn't improve until he was almost 3. In public, for his own safety, I had to have tabs on him every second. He had to be in a stroller, in a buggy (like at the grocery store), or holding my hand. Every second. Or he would bolt like a crazy person.

I used a sling for the little baby and a stroller for the bigger one until the baby was around 4 months old. Then, I splurged on a double. It worked great for us. We used it heavily for about 7 months.

And then, my 3 year old got a little sense in his head, and he started being able to walk again without bolting. So, now, we're back to him walking and the little one (who is 17 months old) in the single.

[OkiMom]

My first was 22 months when we had our second. I didn't get a double stroller until I was taking an international trip when my oldest was 34 months and my baby was 11 months. For going through the airport it was a lifesaver since I was able to put my carryons on the stroller and wear the baby. Now that my back is spasming again (I have back problems) its a lifesaver since its really hard to wear the baby when my back is hurting so bad.

[Tizzy]

DS1 was a runner and 18 months old when his brother came along. We have a single stroller, not quite an umbrella but not a full size. MIL thought for sure we'd need a double and bought us a Peg Perego fancy thing. It was gorgeous, really...but I couldn't even fit it in my car - seriously! It was quite the ordeal to meet the person I sold it to (with MIL's consent, she understood it wasn't going to work for us).

So I kept an eye open for a smaller double but never got around to buying one. I always wore one or the other child if we really needed the stroller.
Mind you, we live on a farm and don't do much walking for errands or what have you.
I did pick up a bike trailer that converts to a stroller, we used it once as a stroller at a large outdoor function which worked well. It folds up really flat and neatly in the trunk of our tiny Kia Now DS1 isn't a runner and DS2 sticks around really close so I see no need for a double stroller, even with #3 coming in the spring.

[SuzyLee]

We will be getting a double. They will be 2.5 years apart. We like to go on longer walks for exercise, adn DS gets out and walks for a little bit, but no way can he go on a 45 minute walk at a good pace!

I doubt we will use it all the time, but for us it is worth having for the times we do need it. I will babywear some of the time, but not always. And there will likely be times that I need to be able to strap both kids in and have them immobilized so DS isn't darting in traffic and such!

[IAMommy]

Hmm, it seems like most of the time it's not necessary to have a double. We have a bike trailer/jogger that is a double, but it's not practical to take to stores. Maybe we'll look for a second-hand one after a while, it doesn't sound like it will be used for a huge amount of time, and I'm not planning to have a third child. My DS is a runner, so if I want to go someplace that doesn't have carts, I have to have a way to corral him, so we'll stick with his rarely-used umbrella as long as we can.

Thanks for the input - it has made this decision much eaiser!

[etsdtm99]

26 mo apart, single stroller, wore the baby.. now at 3.5, and 18 mo they still take turns in the stroller and walking/being worn .. double stroller would have been a total waste of $$ for us

[RunAround]

My kids are 22 months apart. We didn't buy a double stroller before my second son was born, but ended up getting a double "urban" jogger when he was about 2 months. Almost 3 years later, we are still using the "fancy" stroller, but I'm really glad we waited until after baby 2 was born. (I was oh, so sure we wouldn't need one with my mad babywearing skillz. Baby boy had other ideas! )

I've done the single stroller plus wearing a kid thing, only it was not my youngest being worn. So, I'd be pushing my youngest and wearing the "big" kid on my back. But, this only worked when my youngest was old enough to be in the umbrella stroller.

Do you have a friend who might be able to loan you one to try?

[Anglyn]

I love my double stroller! When my youngest was born I used it for busy places where I needed to contain the kids, like a busy mall where I didn't my runner to escape me, I wore the baby and pushed the two older kids.

Now, there are times we take the stroller and the kids dont even sit in it, I use it for the stuff, lol! We like to go to outdoor festivals and stuff like that. I end up carrying three kids worth of crap: drinks, food, souvieners, toys they brought, twigs and rocks, everything...so I use it for that. I also carry blankets in it. That way we can stop and rest anywhere, just throw a blanket on the ground....

I priced some very expensive double strollers, but I bough one from walmart for just under $100

[MichelleAnnette]

My kids are 27 months apart and I have a double jogger. I got it after the younger one was born. We decided to wait and see if we would want one and not buy one while I was pregnant. I have only ever used a stroller for walking/jogging, though. I've literally never put it in the car. I love having the double jogger so I can walk/jog, but I don't need it for anything else.

[GAjenn]

My DD will be 22 months when DS arrives and we are getting a Double Bob Revolution with a car seat attachment. I LOVE my single Bob.