Moms of second babies, did you use a double stroller?

[atpeace]

I am debating getting a double stroller, or at least some kind of attachment for a stroller, for when this baby is born. DD will be 3.5 years old by then, and even though she only occasionally uses a stroller now, I am anxious about her being jealous of the baby being in a stroller and there being no room for her. Also, what if she regresses and wants to get in again?

As an aside: we used all kinds of carriers with her, and plan to do so with the next one, but sometimes a stroller was so very handy, for all the bags and coats and junk we toted around.

[MamaMonica]

Moved to LWAB.

[maddymama]

DD1 was 3 when DD2 was born. We picked up a sit n stand type stroller for super cheap at a yardsale, and have used it a ton. It's great for long, long, long, walks, trips to the zoo, etc. We actually use it most when DD1's friends are over and want to walk to the neighborhood pool or playground, but I forsee us using it more with DD1 as she gets older.
I, too, use tons of carriers, but there are times when a stroller is a necessity.
~maddymama

[*Aimee*]

DS1 was 22 months when DS2 was born. He had no interest in riding in strollers but we needed one to carry our stuff and I usually wore the baby. We did buy a double stroller when I got pregnant with this one (DS2 will be 21 months when he's born) because again, I need room to carry stuff and if we go some place with a lot of walking I want to be able to switch the kids out in case they get tired.

So yes, I've found mine useful.

[Mama Mko]

We used a double stroller for the zoo, theme parks, museums. We still use it sometimes and my kids are 4.5 and 2.5. I used baby carriers a lot for both of them (ergo and mei tai) but the stroller also came in handy.

[annekh23]

I did, but I didn't buy it until I saw that it was needed and my DS was only just turned 2 when DD was born. She turned out to be a much bigger baby than him, so was harder to wear, I actually preferred wearing him in a back carry to her in a front carry past about 6wks. But if he wanted to walk and I put her in the stroller, that was where we came unstuck, he wanted to push which I couldn't manage and it was hard work physically and mentally to get him to walk alongside.

So we got a tandem, found one 2nd hand, we pretty much only used it for walking from home to somewhere close, I'm not a big fan of getting any stroller in and out of a car!

It's hard to weigh up if we'd got a new, all bells and whistles, light weight, easy to fold one if we'd have used it more, it was an older version of the Graco Duo, which seems like a reasonable one anyway, it handled pretty well when in use. Based on how things did progress, I think I would have been disappointed if we'd spent money on a new one, but was thrilled with getting a very good deal on the 2nd hand one. We passed it on when we moved, at which point in time they were 15mths and 3.25, though we seem to be early to ditch strollers type of people, DD1s last ride in the single was barely past her 2nd birthday and with DD2, currently 8mths, we use the stroller less than once a week.

[elmh23]

we got a joovy caboose sit and stand. dd was 27 months when her little brother was born. we used it a lot for the first year and then only on long trips (zoo) for another year or so. now i'm pregnant with number three and invision using it a lot more than i did when i just had the two. ds (who turns 3 a week before my due date) is a runner and will need to have the boundry that he can't leave the stroller or else i'll be running after him all the time.

[tracymom1]

I got a double stroller and only use it for unusually long walks or outings. Though I rarely dig it out, it really comes in handy for some trips. I bought it at the resale shop for a great price. Its a graco - not sure of the make and model, but it is a front -to-back and handles really well.

[sewaneecook]

For me, a double stroller wouldn't get any use. I carry DS2 in a carrier and DS1 either walks or rides in the stroller with the diaper bag. I think it depends on the temperament and age of your first when your 2nd is born.

[tabrizia]

I decided to wait until after DD was born to decide if we needed a double or not. DS was 23 months at the time. I am really glad we waited, we use the single stroller occasionally for things like Disney World and the Zoo, but we have never needed the double, in fact we rarely need the single, though it is nice to have in some situations. DD is almost always worn and DS likes to walk everywhere, and if he isn't walking he wants to be carried too, so a double would have been mostly pointless for us.

[FreeRangeMama]

It really depends on your lifestyle. We walk as many places as possible. I always wore the baby until they were close to a year, but having a place for the older kid/kids as well as library books, groceries, food, coats, etc. has been really handy. If we primarily drove it wouldn't be necessary as we don't use strollers in stores and such (unless we have walked there). I hate hauling strollers in and out of the vehicle and I hate maneuvering them around stores.

Strollers have their place, but it really depends on what you use it for. Short trips and shopping can easily be handled with a baby in a carrier and a toddler walking along. But an hour long trek to the park, library, or store would be difficult to manage without a comfortable place for at least one of them when they get tired (and all the supplies you may need for a day on foot). Figure out what you may use a double stroller for and that will likely give you the answer of whether or not you will need one

[Drummer's Wife]

I have four kids, all 2 yrs apart. I did use a double stroller from time to time after having our 2nd, but I'm not sure I would have needed one if my kids were as far apart as yours. My youngest is now almost 3 (in march) and I could get by just fine w/o a stroller at this point. But I know when you have a baby it def helps at times to keep the older one contained. I would wait until the new one is here, and see how you feel at that point. It might be easiest to use a sling/carrier for baby, and have big sis in the single stroller for times when she doesn't want to walk.

[ElliesMomma]

my DD was also 3.5 when new baby was born. he was born in september, so not really stroller season for long.

i did buy a double stroller, a nice one, at a garage sale over the summer for $40. i'm glad to have it, although we have only used it once!

i'm glad i've got it for trips to the zoo, etc., once spring/summer returns.

to be honest though, so far, i'm finding it a lot easier to babywear him and just hold her hand walking.

we've taken trips to the city via train, alone, just me and the two kids. it was fairly easy with him strapped on in the moby wrap, me holding her hand, and all of our gear in one backpack. it would have been immensely more stressful trying to get on and off the train with a big double stroller in tow.

so if i were you, depending upon what time of year your new baby is born, i'd invest in a quality used double stroller, but i don't think you'd get $150 worth of use out of one.

ps: i wondered the same things, if DD would regress, or really she was more into the stroller before the baby arrived. but now she is really more into playing the part of the big kid, it's so obvious that he is the baby, and she really has, all on her own, grown up so much since his arrival.

HTH!

[MelW]

Mine are just under 3 1/2 years apart, and I didn't have a double stroller. We have a single stroller for occasional longer trips in the early days wore the baby and used the stroller for gear plus my older daughter when she got tired of walking. The first couple of times we tried putting baby in the stroller my oldest complained a little and asked to ride. Once (or twice?) they've ridden together in the single together with the youngest on the oldest's lap. Otherwise if we're using a stroller the baby rides and my older daughter walks or bikes. I can't see it being worth the money and hassle of storage for a double for us with this age spacing.

Mostly we just wear the baby and my daughter walks, especially when we're also walking the dog and I want hands free. At 4, my daughter can walk pretty far, or ride her bike for longer trips. I want her to get more confident on her bike so that by next summer I can run with baby in the stroller and her biking

[marrymeflyfree]

We have a double, sort of. We have the UppaBaby Vista, and also got the Rumbleseat attachment that makes it a double when needed. I love the versatility of it - very often I will wear the new baby and stroll the older one (who is only 20 months and hasn't yet mastered walking while holding a hand)...or I can wear the older one and have the babe in the bassinet that came with it...or stroll both of them if we are off for long distances.

[stacylsc]

We have three kids (6, 5, 2) and I got our double stroller when we had #2....I got the front to back first and HATED it...we had to have baby in the back and the weight distribution made it difficult to handle. I got a double jogger after and LOVE it...and use it constantly...as many have said...I wore the baby (or 2 year old!) and pushed the other(s) and/or just let our baskets of groceries, library books, etc. ride in the other seat. I think it really does depend on your lifestyle, though! My SIL has two children and RARELY uses her stroller as they live in the country and she's not much for long walks. My kids...even up to age 6...like the opportunity to ride from time to time...we live within walking distance of most everything, so we often walk and by the end of errand running he's often tuckered out and wants to just rest...its been nice to have the option. It is also nice if we have a friend along too.

[abharrington]

yes...sometimes. on a regular basis, i use the double friday nights when i take both kids swimming by myself. but, its quite a walk in and we have tons of gear. we also use it when we walk to library, farmers market, grocery store, etc. also for disney world, zoo and anything we will be out all day walking.

if we are in teh car and just running in and out type errands, dd walks and i carry ds. sometimes we bring the little umbrella stroller. so yes....i do use the double stroller. its wonderful when i use it. but its only 3 or 4 days a week...certainly not every day. (i plan to use it tons this spring/summer as we will go on long, all day outings on foot and i will need to pack more food, blankets, etc)