Strollers - question for mom's with/who will have 2 under 3

[heavensearth]

I have a question for all you experienced mama's out there. When our little poppyseed is born, DS will have just turned 2.5 years old. Ive been seeing good deals on double strollers, especially ones with an infant bassinet. What's your take on them? did/you use one? We have an awesome single stroller and we do babywear, but honestly, I have no idea how long kids stay in a stroller.. would a 3.5 year old still use one? (its damn cold here in the winter, so we wouldn't ever be using a stroller outside when DS turns 3).

Would love some insight :)

[love4bob]

I had a regular double stroller since my first two are 19 months apart. Then I kept it when #3 came 14 months after #2. Now that they are getting older I bought a Joovy sit and stand, and I love it! DD3 sits in the front and DD2 sits. All three can fit on it though when DD2 sits and DD1 can stand. DD1 is 3.5, and she likes to walk, but rides on the stroller sometimes too.

[~Katie~]

I ended up getting a double stroller out of desperation after DD was born. I found myself in a scenario of chasing DS down (who was 20 months) while carrying DD who did not want to be worn and needing a place to put all of our stuff, a single stroller just wasn't cutting it. We went to a spray ground a lot that summer while I was solo and DD was a tiny infant, so it gave me a place to set her down so that I could interact with DS without her getting hurt while being worn, and it gave me a place to put snacks/diaper bag/etc. and a place to confine DS too when we needed to get out of a place in a hurry and he was less than eager about it. Even now at 1 and 3 we still use it when we go to the mall because it gives me a place to stash bags and keeps everyone happy because DD isn't so pleased with babywearing anymore. I never used it for grocery shopping because it's easier to put one in the cart and wear the other, but for outings when I needed a place to put DD down it was great. 

It would obviously depend on how well the child does with walking independently but it ended up being a great purchase for us since DS was/is a sprinter and I was having to juggle them on my own so much of the time. It made getting out of the house less daunting for sure. 

Also wanted to add that I have a double jogging stroller as well that was a gift, and it's great when we're doing outdoor activities or walking/jogging. It's way too big to use indoors, though. 

[alyssatuininga]

I've never really used a stroller except my jogger for running. My boys were 2 1/2, 3 and Lij will be almost 3 when this one is born. I expect to baby wear the little and have bigger kid wlak.

[javilu]

I go for rather long (>1hr) walks with my son in his stroller and don't see this ending when newbie arrives.  I like the light(er)ness of the sit and stands, but I think we'll need an actual seat for our long walks.  I will be watching this thread...

[Chloe'sMama]

DDC crashing....

I love my Bob double.  I am a jogger though.   it is the only double we purchased. 

mine are 26 months apart.

[Vanessa]

I've had two sets of kids 2.5 years apart so far. (This next one will be 2.75.) I have a double jogging stroller which is great. When my babies were tiny, I just wore them and pushed the toddler in my Maclaren Volo.

[heavensearth]

Thank you for all the responses! ill have to keep watching this thread :)  We have an amazing Quinny that I can't give up, but ive seen a really nice double on mamabargains a couple times now, I may have to grab it next time its up!

[Novus]

I'll have to watch this thread too, as this question has been on my mind lately.  I have yet to find a stroller I actually like...but I think that with a tiny newborn & an active toddler, it'll probably be a good thing to have around.  I don't know.  I really, really hate our current strollers and the thought of having something even bigger & less maneuverable is just unappealing.

[Smidge]

My kids are 16mo apart and I got a Mountain Buggy Urban Double off Craigslist and use it for exercise.  I babywear one or sometimes both and don't even own a single stroller.  However, now my oldest walks everywhere (3yo) :)

[scheelimama]

My first two were 18 months apart.  We started with an Eddie Bauer traditional front and back double stroller, but wore it out completely after less than a year.  So we purchased a Mountain Buggy Urban Double.  Seriously, it's been one of the best purchases we ever made!  When #3 came along, #2 had just turned 3, and she preferred to ride in it until she was over 4 years old.  Some 3.5 year olds won't want to be in a stroller and some will, I guess it depends on your child's personality.  It was great for me since we often went for long walks or walked to the grocery store.  I could even jog with it even though it's not technically a jogging stroller.  I did exercise with it all the time because my dh was deployed.  My 4.5 year old (at the time) rode her bike alongside us.  Now, my 3 yr old and 11 month old ride in it when we take walks or go to the mall.  It's safer than trying to keep track of a toddler and allows us a place to stash packages.  I'm hoping that my 3 yr old is ready to walk at least by the time the new baby is 5 or 6 months old (she'll be over 4 by then.)  Oh, and we've had the stroller for over 5 years and it's still going strong.  The frame is in excellent condition, the canvas is starting to tear in a few places and we're considering buying new covers (would be around $200 for the seats and hoods) since that still less than buying a cheap jogging stroller.  But it's not vital that we get new covers for it to continue to function.

[mamahen2coop]

I'm going to be watching this.  I was just thinking this today when DS and i were out for a walk.  Is it better to have a side by side or inline? 

I mostly use the stroller for walks/jogs but not running.  I prefer having a running stroller and another one, vs having an all terrain.  I had a Mountain Buggy Urban and it was OK but not great for jogging and not great for quick trips to the mall.  Now I use a Peg Perego Si for mall/dr's office and an In Step jogging stroller for walks. 

Sort of off topic, but Im also wondering how to baby wear 2 babies.  DS will be 23 months when peanut is supposed to get here.  now, I pretty much use an Ergo or a ring sling.  When he was smaller I liked the Moby. 

[Gismobabe]

When my second was born I purchased a Mountain Buggy Urban Double and loved it. My then 2 y.o. DD threw one tamper tantrum after the next and I really needed a place to confine her in subways, playgrounds and so on. She sat in her stroller until 2nd DS was born and she was 3.5 y.o.

[lookatreestar]

only double we bought was the BOB, we do stroller strides and it is my stroller for everything. my older child loves to ride  so yeah at almost 45lbs i needed a stroller that pretty much pushes itself.

[tracymom1]

I am in love with our sit-and-stand stroller.  I know that they are not very popular around here, but I could not live without mine.  It is the perfect balance for my son - he can walk when he wants and sit when he wants without me having to lift him in and out of a buggy.  He is very mindful, though, and I understand how a child that tends to run off would be hard to keep in this stroller.

[maisiedotes]

when DS was born, DD was just turning 2 and we tossed this around for a long time.  We opted for a used double stroller and I was glad because DD preferred to walk. sometimes we just took DS in the ergo and left the stroller home.  Our double stroller was big and a pain to push, but it looks like they have smaller ones. now DS will be 1.5 when thisbaby comes so we may get another used dbl stroller. our last one was pretty old.  BRU has good reviews...

[kriket]

I would think if you are going to be in public an inline would be more convinent. I hate being mowed down by these massive double wide strollers. We usually shop in our strollers, and our farmers market is an old train platform, so not a lot of room.

However, if you are going to be on the bike path or street walking/jogging, Double wide may be easier to control?

I will be watching this thread too, but I think I have my eye on the sit and stand too. I have lots and lots of dreadlocks, and look rediculus back carrying with my hair piled on my head, and DS is "needy" so I will have to have my hands/front free to carry/tackle him.
 

Originally Posted by mamahen2coop 

I'm going to be watching this.  I was just thinking this today when DS and i were out for a walk.  Is it better to have a side by side or inline? 

I mostly use the stroller for walks/jogs but not running.  I prefer having a running stroller and another one, vs having an all terrain.  I had a Mountain Buggy Urban and it was OK but not great for jogging and not great for quick trips to the mall.  Now I use a Peg Perego Si for mall/dr's office and an In Step jogging stroller for walks. 

Sort of off topic, but Im also wondering how to baby wear 2 babies.  DS will be 23 months when peanut is supposed to get here.  now, I pretty much use an Ergo or a ring sling.  When he was smaller I liked the Moby.