Double Stroller, Yeah or Nay?

Twenty months is still kinda young to not be 'locked & loaded, ' as I say. It could be too much freedom but then agian, she could be the kind who stays right next to the stroller. And right now you might thing she'll stay w/you but that could all change once the baby comes. The stroller one other mom mentioned, if I'm understanding her correctly, is a Phil & Ted's which are VERY pricey. Baby equipment seems to get more & more expensive every year! Maybe a friend has a double stroller you can try out, look in re-sale stores, at Craig's List or on eBay. My girlfriend had a front/back stroller made by Graco & LOVED it. Another friend of mine had the Peg Perago Aria (side by side) & LOVED that. The Peg Perago is pricey, close to $300 new, but I have to say, I liked pushing her's better than my other friend's Graco. The Aria is a smidge narrower than the average side by side but you can still fit an infant seat in it. I've seen the Aria on Craig's List as well as eBay. Hope this helps & good luck!

The stroller we have is called Jane Powertwin Tandem 3 Wheel Double Stroller w/ Swivel front wheel. My first child was 2 years 2 months when our 2nd was born. We were able to keep the newborn in his car seat while in the stroller if preferred. Now the boys are 1 1/2 and 3 1/2, and we still love and use it regularly for most outings. It can also be used for jogging. The negative is the price. It cost around $500, but I'm telling you, it has been so worth it due to how compact, comfortable for all size children. both seats recline, and it's super easy to manuever.
Good luck! L.

My kids are 17 months apart. We bought the Phil & Ted Sport. It isn't meant for running, but I have taken it running. It doesn't flow as nicely as our BOB jogging stroller, but it works. It is a little expensive, around $500, but we like how small it is!

YEAH!

I have a 22 mo. old and a 3 1/2 year old. Believe it or not the 3 1/2 still wants to seat most of the time. I was a stroller junkie until I found my dream stroller. I tried the Graco Double (front to back), the Fisher Price sit and stand and the side by side compact double unbrella stroller. The Graco and the Fisher Price took alot out of me just trying to push it and maneuver. Until, recently my neighbor let my borrow her double stroller so I can take a walk to a park a mile away through a trail near my home. Yippie, I finally was not pushing a stroller it seems it almost pulled me along. It was AWESOME..... I bought one 3 days later and sold my Graco and Fisher Price on craigslist. The stoller is the INSTEP TT double jogging stroller but with the swivel wheel in front. It is some what bulky but I can deal with that I take long walks and love cruising the mall because it's so easy, so great. I kept the (Graco) side by side umbrella stroller for short trips we do. You should go to a store where they carry this stroller so you can give it a spin. Purchased for $180. online the BOB the more expensive version is $500. Good Luck. I'm in stroller heaven....

Hi H.,

My son was 20 months when my second son was born in February. I purchased a double stroller (graco) and find it very useful. I don't jog with it, but I take the boys on walks almost every day. I also use it at the store sometimes, or for outings to the park, etc. My baby didn't really take to the sling/carrier until very recently, so it was good to have a place for him in the stroller. Also, you might find that your daughter becomes more needy when the baby is born, as my son did. A lot of times he wanted to be held, instead of walk. It was a lot easier to put him in the stroller than carry him and push a single stroller. I couldn't find a double stroller I love like I loved my single strollers, but I am glad I have one. The graco that I bought was only $150 and I don't think it's any worse than any others like it on the market. My suggestion is to get one... :)

Hope that helps, and best wishes for you and your family with baby number 2!!!

Hi H.,
If anyone can relate hands-on to your dilemma, it's me. My daughter is 10 months old, and my son turned 2 a month ago. This made the two of them just over 14 months apart at Chloe's birth, and I too did some major extensive double-stroller shopping. My son was only just starting to REALLY walk when the baby was born, so the stroller was necessary.

I had the Graco Quattro Duo, which is a newer model tandem double. I was able to keep the baby in her carrier in the rear seat, while my son sat up front. Yes, it was SUPER big and bulky, so loading/unloading in my Pilot was a pain. However, it made getting around with the 2 of them very convenient.

I have since sold that set because my daughter outgrew her carrier, and I got tired of how heavy the stroller and/or the combo of seat/stroller/ kids was. I recently purchased the Combi Twin Sport 2, which was actually one I was considering in the first place, should've went with my first instinct. I had read product reviews that it was flimsy and had a cheap feel to it, but really, it is a great stroller, and it can also accomodate an infant carrier. I have not taken the stroller on any trails yet, just for walks in the neighborhood, however I also have a single version of the stroller, and used to take my son on trails with it, and it seemed to work just find.

I think it would help to ask yourself how much your daughter is riding in the stroller now, and it will help you gauge at least a little down the road. She is a little older than my son was when our baby girl was born, so you may be able to get away with just a single stroller and sling/front pack for a little while. I've also done this at times when the double was not entirely necessary, however now that the baby is a little older and too heavy for a sling, my double stroller is a life saver. Hope my super-detailed response helps!

Thanks for posing the question. I'm wondering the same thing. If I do go for a double (I have a 2 1/2 year old and another due any day), I decided on the Graco duo-glider LX1. It's the kind with one in front of the other, narrow, lighter than others of it's kind, large basket for carrying things, and the infant carrier can go in either spot (front or back.) It's still pretty long when folded, but I traded that for a different one which was more compact but 9 pounds heavier.
We figured that even if for nothing else--for walks and amusement parks, we would want the double, but the jury's still out.
I'm curious to know everyone else's answers.
S. J.

I don't know what they're called but recently I've been seeing a double stroller that is very compact because the infant seat is behind and below the toddler seat. The whole thing is not much larger than your average regular stroller and seems easy to use.