If your kids are 2.5-3 years apart

[Deleted]

... do you get a lot of use out of a double stroller?

Trying to decide if we want to make this investment for the second kiddo, and if so, how nice of one we want to get/how much we want to spend. Our kids will be 6 weeks shy of 3 years apart (DD July 26, 2010, #2 due June 12, 2013).

We use the stroller mostly for neighborhood walks with the dog, going to malls and the zoo, that sort of thing. I imagine we wouldn't really use a double stroller primarily until #2 is 4 months old or so, which puts DD a few months over 3. I wore DD a lot in the Moby and Ergo in the early months and imagine I will do the same with the second.

[Deleted]

My kids are closer in age than that but we were putting DS1 in the stroller a lot last summer (when he was 3, almost 4). We like to go on really long walks and there was no way he could keep up if he was walking too.

As long as we gave him a snack or let him bring a toy or two he was fine with it.

[dcrunnergirl]

This is a great question--our twins and #3 will be about the same spacing as your DD and #2. How much do 3 year olds need to use a stroller?

We're considering getting a triple stroller/something with a jump seat or stand-up board for getting all 3 kids around. I just feel like we'll need something b/c there will be times we do things that are just too far for even 3 year olds to walk, like at the zoo, fairs and festivals, etc.

However, it seems like for both of us, a lot of those times are likely when DHs or other adults are with us (like weekend trips and walks) so maybe you could make do with just getting a cheap single for your DD and using your current single with #2, and we could use our double and our single.

[mommylikestattoos]

I plan on getting a used Sit 'n Stand stroller in the next few weeks, once I have DD. DS will be 4 in April. While he generally doesn't use a stroller anymore, I figure it'll be helpful this spring/summer when we're trying to do day trips to the zoo, etc.

[GailGoldie]

my older son was 2y2mo when the twins were born. We got a stroller that could seat 3 (the Valco trimode twin + joey seat) bc it was important to have a 3rd seat for him that first year... we used it a LOT that year.

then when he was 3+ we started using a ride on board (which i wouldn't have felt safe with before 3).

we also had a big caribiner clip on the side of the stroller we told DS1 it was his "special handle" and he'd hold it when we were walking places if he wasn't riding on the back, etc. So he'd stay right there and not run off.

[elocrates]

Our kids are all about 2.5 years apart. We got a Valco hitch hiker board to attach to the back of our regular stroller (not a valco brand stroller). It works great and saved us the cost (and storage space) of having multiple strollers. We found pushing the sit 'n stand strollers to feel a bit like driving a semi truck. With the board, it is just like pushing our regular stroller but DS1 got to ride too. We plan to use it for DS2/3 once DS3 is in the stroller instead of a carrier. Highly recommend it.

www.valcobaby.com/accessorize-your-stroller.html

[Willis Jackson]

We have a Joovy Caboose and use it for running errands on foot, but we live within walking distance of a lot of stuff so I need to be able to haul crap.

If we're just going for a walk for the sake of walking, I don't bring it because I want DS to get exercise. We don't use it for the zoo because, again, DS wants to run around.

I should add that DS has endless energy. He is not one of those kids who gets tired and wants to be carried/ride in the stroller. He's like a dog.

[Deleted]

Mine are 2.5 years apart and I've never had a need for a double stroller. He walks at the mall and zoo, wherever we've used the single. For walks I would put them both in the wagon if he got tired, but we live in a pretty cold climate so that won't be an issue until this summer.

[littlemermaid]

My kids are 2 years 7 months apart and a double stroller would have been a waste for us. I bought a sit n stand type of stroller and used that a lot.

[6fsn]

Ours are 2.5 years apart exactly. We opted for the Joovy Caboose Ultralight. It's the same width as a regular stroller, but just a bit longer. We were able to put the baby seat in the first few months and transition to using it regularly. At 4 and 2.5 they still use it, but tend to take turns getting in and out of the front and standing in the back and just walking. It's not something I'd take hiking, but for the zoo and the paved paths at the park it works just fine.

[lishie]

My boys are 2.5 years apart. I bought a Phil & reds with a doubles kit a few months before #2 was born. We live in a walkable city neighborhood & walk to go to restaurants & shopping almost every nice weekend. So we've gotten tons of use from our double stroller. If we lived in the burbs it may not have been worth the investment. We almost always put the second seat on. Ds1 often wants to walk to the restaurants for lunch. But often he's too tired to walk the whole way home.

[ijack]

Mine are 3.5 years apart and initially we didn't buy a double, but once #2 was here and riding in a stroller #1 wanted to ride too. We got a sit and stand.

[mmmomof2]

I think this depends on your lifestyle. My girls are almost exactly 2 1/2 years apart. The only time we "need" the double stroller now is at Disneyland or the zoo. Even then DD1 (who is now 3 1/2) would try to walk all day, but then she'd be an exhausted cranky mess. We do walks in our neighborhood along busy streets that I make her ride too, but sometimes she walsk. We bought the pricey double Bob, but it will be in decent enough shape by the time we're done with it that we'll probably get most of our money back. At 2 1/2 she definitely rode in it more often.

[zeewifeandmama]

Mine are three years apart and I initially didnt get one but she went back to wanting to ride so I just recently got a Graco room for two ride and stand stroller. Its working out great

[mollybrown]

My kids are 2y7m apart, and my only regret is that we didn't get a better double stroller. My son is 4 now, and he still likes to ride in the stroller for our evening walks. He doesn't usually stay in the stroller for long at places like the zoo or museum, but it is helpful to have him ride the stroller while we're in the parking lot. It's a crap shoot to some degree, and really just depends on the kid.

I lump sit n' stands and double strollers together. My son can get in and out of the stroller just as easily as a sit n' stand. I picked a stroller that was easy to maneuver. My friends kids are 2 years apart has a sit n' stand, and never uses it because it folds bigger than my double stroller and is hard to steer (her model can also convert to a double stroller). Maneuverability is key to me as the kids get older and heavier.

[knitty]

No, we never got one. I just put the baby in the sling and toddler in the stroller.

[rootbeerfloat]

Mine are 2y10m apart. We didn't get a double stroller, and it was fine. When DD was tiny, I wore her. Also, I'm not a SAHM, so typically when we did family activities, H was with me, so we could take two single strollers (Peg Perego P3 and Chicco C5). The P3 also has a backboard, so the older kid can ride on the back like sit-and-stand, but regular sized... I seriously love it so much, and the kids still use it.

[Deleted]

Thanks! The Valco hitch hiker board looks like a good option if it will attach to my City Mini.

Sounds like the best idea may be to wait and see how much we are truly needing a stroller for DD once #2 is old enough that I don't want to wear him or her anymore (or he/she doesn't want to be worn!). I have pushed the Sit & Stands before and just hate them. Part of me is dying to get a City Select with double stroller attachments, but I know I won't be able to justify the sky-high price tag. Maybe I should have had my kids closer together! Ha!

[mie]

I did get a lot of use with a double stroller. I opted for a Phil and Teds. My H is blind, though, so it wasn't possible to have both parents pushing a single stroller each.

[LauraMoser]

I went back and forth on this too when I was PG with DS. He and DD2 are just over 2 years apart. We haven't gotten a double stroller. And honestly, we don't use the strollers a lot either. Its usually when we go to the mall, which is rare. We did a few weeks ago though and just used an umbrella stroller and the big stroller that is a part of our travel system. As long as there are two people to push the strollers, its not really an issue.

I guess if we would suddenly start going to places without carts a lot more than we do now, then we might consider a double stroller.

[dragonfly08]

My kids are 5 weeks shy of three years apart.

I never had a double stroller, and never regretted that decision. On the rare occasion DD #1 needed to ride (which didn't happen often), I just wore #2 in the Bjorn which she preferred anyway.

[elcjet]

Mine are a little less than 2.5 years apart.....but I use my Sit and Stand a lot when I need to take both of them in public solo. The baby isn't a huge fan of being worn (hates the Moby, not a huge fan of my Boba 3G), so it's easier to keep her in her carseat.....and strapping DS onto the front when I need to get through a busy parking lot or run an errand at the mall is MUCH easier than making him hold my hand. We also love it for the Zoo, since the toddler sometimes gets tired and just wants a ride.

I'm a working mom, so the stroller comes out maybe once or twice a month....if that. But I am glad I have it.

[lizlemon19]

You may have trouble getting your 3 yo to stay in the stroller, and they are bigger and more $$$. We have used a wagon, and sometimes the 4 yo will pull it, and sometimes he will take a ride. We have a big Step 2 wagon that fits two, and will still fit cargo.

[jena]

My first 2 are 2.5y apart and 2 and 3 are 3y apart. Dd1 loved the stroller, so we got the Joovy ultralight and used it a lot for the zoo and around the neighborhood. Before #3 was born I had to tell dd1 how she will not be in the stroller any more... And she's 5.5 now.

We mostly use it for walks to the park, about .5 mile.

Even though I mostly wear the baby, when dd1 was 2.5yo, I needed the stroller so that I could set the infant down and.wrestle the screaming toddler into the stroller and buckle her in. You can buckle kids on the little jump seat on a joovy- this was a sanity saving feature. Ds is not as melodramatic as his big sister, so I haven't used this feature on him.

Sent from my HTCEVOV4G using proboards

[SusanBAnthony]

Mine were 2 years 5 months apart. We had a city mini double and used it a ton. When DD was tiny and mostly in the sling we didn't use it all the time, but we did use it for longer outings. Then once she hit 5 or 6 months, we used it constantly. I just sold it a few months ago for almost as much as we paid for it.

There were a few reasons we got so much use out of it. 1, we walk a ton for both exercise and to get groceries, to the library, other errands within walking distance. So I wanted something easy to push (not a sit n stand or other front to back stroller). And a lot of those errands are longer distance than a 3-4 year old can walk on their own. The only reason we don't still use it with DS who is 5, is that now he rides his bike.

2. I occasionally watch a friend's kid or go to a zoo with a friend or SIL and niece, and it is super nice to have for that stuff.

3. DS has some gross motor delays so he is slower and gets tired more easily than average.

[mswax]

Mine are only 2 years apart, but even now at 4.5 and 2.5 we still use it. I wasn't sure how much we would use it, but I wanted a more "all terrain" stroller anyway, so got the Phil and Ted with the doubles kit. I LOVE how it can go from a single to a double so easily, and have been pleasantly surprised with how much we use it.

I'm trying not to think about what DS1 will do when there is no longer room for him in the stroller...I may just have to boot both the "big kids" out and just use it for the baby

[agrippa]

Mine are almost exactly 2.5 years apart and we never needed a double.

[Deleted]

BFF was in this situation. Got a used cheap double stroller off Craigslist. Says she uses it only a few times a year.

[h]

Mine are 2 years, 8 months apart. We have a Joovy Caboose Ultralight (sit n stand) but not a traditional double. I love the sit n stand for big outings with lots of walking (we are at Disney this week and my 5 yo who would never ride in a traditional stroller has been sitting on the bench seat when he gets tired of working or wants to eat or drink while we are on the move). We have never used it daily or even weekly, but it is great for the zoo, airports, amusement parks, big shopping trips, etc. We have never missed having a traditional double.