Double Stroller Advice - Aurora,IL

I am expecting #2 in August and have been doing my homework. You may want to add a few more specifics to your request to help narrow down the advice. There are SOOOO many now it is overwhelming. I had the Maclaren Twin Techno when I watched another toddler along with my son. It was fine for indoor walking but stinky on sidewalks. I sold that one and now that I don't watch him and have my next one due I began to search again. This time I am going for the Baby Jogger City Mini. It is similar to the other, huge, "jogger" type strollers. I liked it because it only weighs 26lbs, seems smaller (I am only 5'3), folds in one easy step, and moves nicely. It doesn't, however, have air tires, a car seat attachment (although it is for newborn up), and the basket is so-so. But is perfect for all my other needs so that is what I am doing. I have heard that you should do side by side for different aged kids and tandem for twins, but that is just what I have heard. The best bet is to narrow down your priorities and then go check them out. You can go to Babies R Us, Galt Toys, and Lazar's and test out SEVERAL different brands. Good luck.

I can't tell you about side-by-side versus front-back but I can tell you that I love my BOB Revolution double stroller. It is so easy to manuever and light. I wouldn't buy anything else. I got a new one on e-bay for $400 last year. Congrats on your upcoming new arrival!

As a mom of twins that has had a side by side stroller---don't get one. They are SO hard to get around stores and in/out of doors. They are good for like the zoo and stuff like that, but can still be a hassle there. I have a graco duo glide front/back stroller and I also have the Baby Trend sit n stand deluxe-I have a 2y/o and a 1 y/o...it comes with an attachment cradle thing so you can put the infant carrier on this stroller from the beginning. Hope that helps-Good luck

I have a 3yr old and an 8 month old. We have the Joovy ultralight and I LOVE IT!! I used to have a double jogger, which was great for outside but a nightmare inside (so wide), also my 3yr old was practically leaning over into her sisters seat....I think those are best for kids the same age. I sold it. I bought the Joovy after much research and I used it last month a trip to Disney and we have been to the zoo 3 times and we love it. It takes a car seat, also now my little one sits in the front and the 3yr old has somewhere to sit if she gets tired of walking or if I need her to sit because it is too crowded..etc. We decided by going to babies r us and testing some out.

Hi G.,

I went back and forth on the double stroller issue for months before deciding upon the plain 'ol Graco DuoGlider. Personally, I think mine is ugly, but it has definitely been most practical. As my girlfriend with twins told me, even though the American Disability Act mandates that businesses have doors and bathroom stalls (etc.) through which a wheelchair can fit (which are about the same size as the side-by-sides), it doesn't mean that the side-by-side strollers can fit through the store aisles!

Without a doubt, the best feature of the DuoGlider was that I could safely insert the infant carrier (straight from the car). The MacClaren models (sold at the time when I was looking) did not have this feature -- and I did not want to unstrap a sleeping infant from his carrier and re-strap him into a stroller.

However, if my child had been 3 yrs old like yours, I would have seriously considered a sit-n-stand stroller instead of the DuoGlider. But my firstborn was only 15 months old when baby 2 arrived, so getting her to stand in one place without falling would not have been possible!

Best of luck!

I own a stroller fitness company and do stroller consultations and seminars for moms. Since your boys are older, I wouldn't purchase a "double" stroller at all. Chances are your 3 year old isn't going to spend a whole lot of time in the stroller, but you want to have something for them to hop on if necessary. There are many "attachments" that can be purchased to hook on and off a single stroller that your son can stand on off the back. Check out www.totsonthego.com, they have many different options. That way you won't be pushing a huge double stroller around with only one child in it.
If you do decide you want to go with the double option, contact me. I have hundreds of moms in my fitness programs and I know a bunch of them have doubles that they want to get rid of (one in particular has a Graco still in the box).

I have a 5, 3 and 3 month old and I have two double strollers. One is a right start double side by side jogging stoller. The other is a graco tandem. I must say that the jogging strollers are not recommended for children under 6 months because they aren't supportive enough. That being said, if you want to purchase a jogger then I suggest using a baby bjorn until he/she is old enough to be in the jogger. The joggers will last a little longer due to the max weight being more than the tandems. Hope that helps. Good luck. Oh, and look for a jogger that has a swivel wheel it's much easier than having to pick up the front end to turn a corner.
-J.