Double Strollers/travel Systems

I have 13 month old twins and have a Valco double stroller. It has been nice and does lay flat for sleeping. Unfortuneately, you can not put more than 1 infant carrier on at a time. I used a snap and go stroller frame for when they were infants. It works with most carriers and is very light weight. Good luck and congrats. Feel free to contact me if you need advise on anything else. It's wonderful!

Hello and congratulations! I have spent hours looking at, test driving, folding and checking out every stroller I think there is. The one that I found I loved was the peg perego. It is super light and so easy to push and steer. It doesnt have the fancy cup holders but you can buy the ones that snap on and it would work just fine. There are so many out there that look so nice, I liked the graco duo but my gosh it is way too heavy. Take some time and really check them out, but dont lift them! Keep those babies safe! Good luck

You might take a look at the the Kolcraft Contours Options Tandem (Here is a link to it at Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/Kolcraft-Contours-Options-Tandem-St...)

This is the one I am considering for my 3yo and the new guy coming in Sept. It's quite versatile... the kids can face each other, both face back, both face front, or face opposite. The car seat adapter is universal and you'd simply need to purchase an extra since it comes with one. It's reasonably priced, too. I just spoke with a mom of twins that I saw at Disneyland with one and she said she absolutely loved it. The downfalls with this system are time: You need to remove the adapters/seats before putting it into the car (they are super easy to remove, though) and space: This is going to be the case with any double, I'd suggest measuring your storage area in the CRV and taking the tape measure when you shop so you're not just guesstimating. Good luck!

1st of all Congratulations!! I too have twins that were born in December (2005). I have so much I could tell you that it can be overwhelming. I'll keep it (reasonably) brief and you can message me if you want any more info.
Stroller: When in the carriers, I would do a double snap-n-go. It is light weight and easy to move around. When out of the carriers I recommend the Twin Saavy Combi. It also is light weight and it has little trays (which the MacLaren doesn't) that can be a life saver when Cheerios are in the picture.

In general I would recommend 2 of everything (swings, bouncers, excersaucers, gear, Boppy pillows etc.). I found that I needed it.

Doctors: If you don't have someone you are 100% comfortable with, I highly recommend Dr. Marc Zepeda in Orange. He got me to 38 weeks with my twins and he is very conservative and cautious which you need with multiples. He's a Christian and VERY experienced. We loved him. I think the number is ###-###-####.

Take it WAY easy your entire pregnancy but especially from the 22ish week mark or if you begin having any issues.

Good luck!

First, realize that you will end up buying several different strollers for different stages of your child(ren)s stroller years. Do NOT buy a double travel system! They are huge, heavy, and you will not want to lift the beast out of your trunk every time you go somewhere. Instead, get a double snap and go type, that takes infant carseats. These are the lightest things you can have in the beginning, and will fit in your CRV. When you are done with the infant seat stage, move into a lightweight double, side by sides are the smallest and easiest to maneuver. Trust me, I own the baby resale store on Friars and I have seen and heard every day for years what works and what doesn't!
Congratulations on your double blessing!

I have twins in the family, me not blessed w/double birth but 6 single ones. I could not recommend more the Baby jogger city stroller, double. It is light weight, fold pretty flat, seats lay down, alot of seats don't go down far enough to "rest". Steers super easy w/one hand, pushes so nice! The only thing I do not know is the ability for 2 car seats. I do know you can do one. It is a side/side, but it fits in doors, my front door or the mall. In most isles and is not hard to manoeuvre! I have had more than my share of strollers and by far the BEST all the way around was this one!! The handle adjusts for short(me) or tall(hubby), even the kids like pushing it(they fight over it) mine are from 16m-3y apart. I use it on the mountain trails or the city mall. It cleans easliy just wipe it out, I have even hosed it out!
As for other things. Bundle Me...not sure where you live, but the Bundle Me lite, is good everywhere. You do not need other blankets that fall off and get dirty on the ground and you don't know it till the tire is tangled! There is the infant and toddler size, you might ask for two of each...and then there is the original (heavier) depends if you live where it is COLD!! Also easier to pull out and wash then taking apart the car seat, when there is an accident or they don't like their lunch and it comes up w/out warning.
Help...ask for it, see if someone is willing to come over for 2 hours a week for a month or so...you WILL need it. (be nice to get a couple different people for a couple different days) Even if it is just to be "normal" for a short time. .up to about 6months it is very exhausting(mentally, emotionally, physically,) then they start to be more fun and not so exhausting! This way you can even go out shopping w/someone and enjoy it!
sleep positioners, helps keep them on their side, and kinda hugs them, helps them "rest" a bit better. In my observations they tend to sleep better in the same crib..but again only observations I do not have them. Also the sleepers that wrap them, mine only worked for the first month or so...but it was a big difference, they wrap them tight, comes w/velcro tabs to keep them, I used extra large flannel receiving blankets, home made, 3ft x 3ft....great for EVERYTHING...and they do not out grow it...they thin out after 100's of washings, but they all still love them and they are so soft.
Some kind of wrap or carrier, then you can still get some things done (not that you should be doing it, but you will want to) and carry one, hopefully the other is sleeping:) Keep in mind if it bothers you to carry a backpack or something on your neck. I had to carry my back pack w/1 strap, 2 tend to put too much weight on my neck if not positioned right and makes me nauseous...same thing w/some carriers. Also, read on them, as not all good for short people! I returned some because of that(have NO waist). I believe the Moby or similar is good for all sizes, and grows w/baby. Don't need additional pieces for small vs large.
Mattress protector if you don't already have one, for the crib.I have used the ones for "potty training" they go on top and come off w/out sheets etc getting wet..and wash easy!! and they are good once out of the crib in a bed! or your bed waiting for the big day...water break! ;)
I used porta crib for naps(two story) and when outside to keep them off the ground but safe and can see the world still. also when traveling for their bed. Use to it at home so no change when in a strange place it was their 2nd bed! and folds up to NOTHING, so it is easy to put away when company comes over, and travels well.
When you decide on doing things a certain way, be open to change...the babies may not go with you on your decision and want it different...but it is OKAY! Congratulations on your NEW ARRIVALS to be!! get lots of rest now!

Congrats on the twin pregnancy! We are having twins in Aug. and from everything that I have read, most parents prefer the 'snap & go' frames for the first several months because they are so much lighter and easy to use. We found a used one in great condition on Craigslist for only $40. Most double strollers wont allow you to attach two car seats, so you have to be unstrapping and then strapping in again the little ones, where as with the snap & go you can just take the car seat off of the base and snap it in to the frame without disturbing the babies.

We also got the MacLaren double stroller that is side by side for when they are older. It seems fairly easy to maneuver and fits through regular doorways (with some effort).

I can't speak from experience yet, but this is what we are going with based on recommendations from others who have been there. Good luck!

-M.

I would suggest a diaper service for when you are at home with the babies. It is the one thing that I did when my twins were born that really made a difference for me. I used a stroller that had them facing each other, they kept each other busy that way and it was slimmer than others. When we got home from the hospital I kept a quilt on the floor in the living room and we lived there or in the bedroom on a water bed that was on the floor. DOn't expect much else besides baby stuff for the first few months. If you breast feed they will take up your entire day. Sleep when they do, you'll need it. I also took showers and had them in the bathroom with me. I would strip them down and put them in their seats taking one at a time into the shower with me. Make sure the bathroom is warm and keep it quick and bath time is solved. If you have help it is different, but I was on my own and this worked great for me.

There was a queen bed in the room with the cribs and I would get the first one and nurse him at night, then wake the second one and nurse him. I slept with them for a while and nursed them again when it got near morning. You will be taught the double football feeding position I am sure, but you may feel like all you do is nurse, change, clean and nurse some more. I had a sling type carrier and was usually carrying one around with me. Give yourself up to baby for the first 4 to 5 months and don't worry about a lot of other things. They are the most important things you will have going for quite a while. Ask for some relief so you can get a bubble bath in every now and then.

I don't have twins but my girls are 1 year apart. As far as a double stroller, you should get the BOB duallie revolution. I think that is the correct name. It is on the high end price wise but don't waste your time and money with other strollers. I had the Macleran and did not like it. It is worth it, you will have it for years to come. I agree with a snap and go for when they are in the infant seat. A friend has twins and she says that most of her twin group has this stroller as well. Very exciting, enjoy it!!!!

Congratulations on your twins to be. I also have
twins and the best stroller when they are born is
the Baby Trend Double Snap N Go. At the time 2 years
ago it could only be ordered online at BRU but I
think I saw it in the store recently. Until they
out grow their infant car seats you can use this
frame. You will LOVE it. Take a sleeping baby out of
the car in their car seat and pop it into the frame and
off you go. It is very light weight and also easy to
push. I was sad the day I could no longer use mine.
Best of luck to you.

T.

I had the Graco duoglider and it was too heavy for me to get in and out of our Pilot and difficult to steer. (Maybe all double strollers are, I'm not sure.) My boys are 15 months apart and we ended up just putting my youngest in a baby sling while we put our older one in a single stroller.

When our twins were still in baby carriers, we used a Baby Trend Double Snap-N-Go. It is basically just a frame with a basket underneath. It can take just about any car seat carrier. You just snap them on, one in front of the other. It's very convenient for when they are small and still sleeping all the time. We used that for as long as we possibly could. Once the babies were out of the baby carriers, we switched to a Maclaren side by side double umbrella stroller. We love it, and 4 years later are still using it. It can go through any standard door, and turns completely around in place. The seats can each hold up to 55 pounds, which is about twice that of normal umbrella strollers. This is important, because with twins, you end up using a stroller for a LOT longer than you do with a singleton. Another suggestion I would make is to NOT buy a Boppy pillow. It is impossible to nurse 2 babies at once on such a small pillow. And believe me, you will want to figure out a way to feed them both at once. Otherwise you will never get off the couch. I bought a pillow called the EZ-2-Nurse Twins nursing pillow. It comes around you in a big square, and the foam is angled to hold the babies in the perfect football hold position so that they can both nurse at once. It also has a strap that clicks in place behind your back to hold the pillow in place, and comes with a small back support pillow that keeps you comfortably in the perfect position to nurse without hurting your lower back. It isn't cheap, but it is probably the best purchase I made for a twin birth. If you are eligible for WIC, they will let you borrow a hospital grade pump for free for the first year. It helps a lot to pump when you can. It keeps your milk supply up, and helps you have milk in the freezer for those times when you have to run one baby to the doctor but not the other, or when you need a sanity check without the babies. Congratulations on your double blessing! Twins are a blast!