Baby #2: stroller questions

[rdgove]

DD loves riding in her stroller (City Mini) and shows no signs of giving it up. We were thinking of getting a Joovy Sit n Stand, so we took her to try it out this weekend and she HATED it. She wanted to be in the main seat part and wanted no part of the sit/stand end. So that's out.

We tried a bunch of double strollers and they take up all the room in my trunk (Toyota Corolla), they're heavy and hard to handle, and we liked none of them.

Since DD will be in daycare full time even after the baby is born, I'm starting to feel like we should just get a snap n go for baby #2 and keep the City Mini as well. Since DH or my mom will be with us on the weekends, it will be rare when I have them both by myself and need to put them both in the stroller. Does this make sense?

Will I really regret not getting a double?

[ijack]

How old will your oldest be when the baby is born?

[rdgove]

2.5 years old.

[ijack]

You might want one. DD was 3.5 when our second was born and she didn't really ride in a stroller so we didn't buy a double. However once the baby rode in one she wanted to ride in the same one so we bought a used joovy and use it on a fairly consistent basis (2x a week) and it only cost about $70. We also have a double bike trailer that we use as a stroller when walking around the neighborhood.

[luvmagoldn]

May 14, 2012 14:25:30 GMT -5 rdgove said:

2.5 years old.

I think you can stick with two strollers if you won't need to take them both out by yourself.

Before DS#3, DH and I would often put the twins in single Chicco umbrella strollers when we went out. It was easier to navigate stores and such and we could easily split up while shopping, etc.

I say try it. If down the line you need a different solution you can figure it out then.

[megs193]

If it is in your budget check out the Baby Jogger City Select. That is what we ended up getting. What I like about it is that it is a single stroller that converts (in a matter of seconds) to a double stroller. My son is in preschool 3 days a week so I had no desire to push the sit and stand around when I only had one baby with me. Check out the video from baby gizmo.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=sdeMgSm-xe0

[slug*bug]

That's tough: I couldn't have gotten along easily w/o our double...but my DS wasn't quite 2 when DD was born. I wore her at home or occasionally out, but I loved being able to snap the carseat onto the double without disturbing her if she fell asleep in the car. Otherwise, maybe carrying #2 and having #1 in the stroller would be an option for you.

I don't know what your budget is, but we have a Phil and Teds Explorer with the doubles kit (and we also had the car seat adapter that we used when DD was still in her infant seat.) It's an inline that converts easily, so if we only have one of the kids, we just use it as a single.

We tried it out first to make sure that DS would ride in the rumble seat, and he loved it, which surprised me.

The only downside that I've heard from friends is that the rumble seat isn't great for really tall toddlers, but DS is in the 50% and has no problems.

[mie]

I didn't have a need for a double stroller for #2 when she was little. I would wear her in a sling or wrap while #1 rode in the stroller. We eventually ended up buying a Phil and Teds when #2 was older.

[welshgirl]

We had a 2.5 year age gap, and I'd say that my son was in teh stroller regularly until he started nursery school (so same as day care I suppose) 9 months later. Even after, if we did long distances (like the mile to town), it was really pushing it for him to walk.

BUT, I don't drive most days and walk everywhere. From that 9 month period, I used the bus a bit more when going longer distances, to avoid the double. (We needed to sell it to make more space in our tiny house.)

If you're thinking of 2 strollers, would you really be able to fit both in your trunk? Have you looked at the BJ city mini double?

For me, it was invaluable to have a place to strap both kids into a double, know they couldn't run off (2.5 y is pretty young to listen and obey all the time)... And the storage for 2 change bags, and all hte gear was useful.

[Deleted]

We dont plan on getting a double stroller. DD already hates it and wants to walk.

[sweetnsour]

I never had a double stroller. I have a BoB and my son sits in the front if he really doesn't want to walk. Otherwise we use the Maclaren and one walks or is held and the other run rides.

[bronxgirl]

I think about this a lot and I'm not really sure what we'll do. We also have a single City Mini and a snap n go, but I'll probably be alone with both kids so I'll have to figure something out. I waver between a double city mini, a Contours double stroller (like a cheapy) version of the city select, or a sit n stand. Of course, I first need to get PG for this to be an issue.

[lala]

We got the City Mini Double, they are just 3 years apart. I looked at the city select, but it doesn't seem like a good stroller when the kids are more than 12-18 months apart. I don't think a 3.5 year would fit in there well. Plus, with a bigger kid, I couldn't adjust the seats as much. We travel a decent amount and I knew I wanted both kids to be able to do a full recline to sleep in the stroller. If we hadn't gone to Disney World when DD2 was 3.5 months old, I might not have gotten it - but I am so glad I did. We use it often, DD1 hops in and out and loves resting in it if it's nap time. I don't know if there still are any 2011s out there, but I bough one in November and it was already clearanced. The sit & stands didn't work for me for several reasons - DD1 can't sleep in it, or even do much much stand or sit up right, DD2 couldn't have sat in it until she was sitting upright and it didn't have anywhere near a full recline.

[matildasun]

We have a lightweight stroller that my daughter really likes, after years of being worn. Although I have a double to use in a pinch, a Phil and Teds, I plan on wearing the new baby most of the time and just using the light weight stroller.

[lishie]

May 14, 2012 14:50:57 GMT -5 slug*bug said:

I don't know what your budget is, but we have a Phil and Teds Explorer with the doubles kit (and we also had the car seat adapter that we used when DD was still in her infant seat.) It's an inline that converts easily, so if we only have one of the kids, we just use it as a single.

My son was almost 2.5 when we had DS2. We bought the Phil&Teds before DS2 was born and used it as a single for DS1. I love it and the fact that it's a single or double. We tried the CitySelect as well before making our purchase, and for us the P&T was far superior as far as maneuverability and ease of pushing. We live in an urban area, and the air filled tires and "shocks" are great for pushing around on uneven sidewalks.

A friend of mine who had a P&T years ago (prior to the price increase) was able to sell hers for what she paid for it 3 years after she bought it, and she then bought another in a different color. I'm hoping they continue to hold their value so that when we're ready to sell we can get some of our investment back.

[Mrs.Syntax]

I plan on just keeping my current strollers and not getting a double. I have a Joovy jogging stroller and a snap n go. If I ever need to cart both kids around on my own (which would be rare) I'd just put one kid in the Ergo carrier and use one of the strollers for the other.

[satama]

We have a graco ready to grow because I was not willing to spend a ton on a double we may only use for a short while. It can be used as a sit and stand or a double or you can snap the infant seat in and the older child can sit in the other seat. It is still big and heavy, but a little better than some other doubles I think. Our other strollers are a regular snap and go and a nicer umbrella stroller, so we can use those too depending on what we are doing, or if ds1 wants to walk or if I am week.g the baby.

So far we have only used the big stroller for an outdoor mall and the zoo. Ds1 is almost 29 months and still really likes riding on the stroller for now.

[whereintheworld]

Mine were 19 months apart and I walk a LOT, so a good double stroller was a must. I have the Phil & Ted's Vibe.

At 27 months, DS is already a lot less interested in being contained in the stroller, and it's becoming a bit of a struggle. I like that the P&T's can be a double or a single, so that's an option (instead of a double-wide stroller that is ALWAYS a double stroller).

[katiescarlett]

I waited until DD was born to decide if I'd need a double stroller or not. DD is now 16 months and DS is 3. I got my britax b-ready when DD was about 2 months. I go out with the kids alone often and I need the stroller for sure! This stroller fits fine in my trunk and dh's (Honda Accord and VW Passat).

[rootbeerfloat]

I never had a double. My kids are almost 3 years apart, but DS still rode in the stroller when DD came along. If H was with me (which was most of the time), we'd use both single strollers. Otherwise, I'd wear DD and keep DS in the stroller. Also, our P3 has a backboard, so DS could (and still does occasionally) ride on the back.