Is the Sit-n-Stand Really All That Important?

My boys are 26 months apart and my baby was born in November, so we were not able to go for walks until he was almost 6 months old. Being able to sit up by that time, it was easy for me to use a double jogging stroller. I don't know where you live or if you would need a stroller right away, but if you can wait until spring, this was my best option.

I have the sit-n-stand and love it! My kids are 20 months apart and it has been the perfect stroller for us. My now 4 year old is very active and it was nice to have something that he could just hop on and off of. I never had to pick him up to get him into his seat and he liked getting to choose whether he sat or stood. I highly recommend it. I've been using it for 4 years and it has been a great stroller.

T.,

I had two boys 20 months apart, and never needed a sit-stand, but my first was a good walker, good listener, and really easy toddler. If he hadn't been so good at walking with me in and out from ECFE and other places, it wouldn't have been so easy to do it with a single stroller. Also, I did have a two seated walking/running stroller which I carted around to the zoo and other places. I usually carried the baby once we were inside using a Bjorn or sling.

When I had my 3rd my older two were 3 and almost 2, and the sit-stand was a lifesaver for me. I used it EVERYDAY moving the 3 of them in and out from school for ECFE, the library, the mall, etc. The car seat clicked in the front, the 2 year old sat in the seat and the 3 year old stood on the standing spot. Then once we were inside, my oldest would usually walk. I bought it used from another Mama-Source mom who saw my post with the same question!

I'd think about what your schedule is like, how often you'll be carting kids in and out from places, the time of year, etc. Because my third was a winter baby, I had to move her in the car seat, so it was really nice to click it into the sit-stand instead of trying to carry the car seat and herd the other two where I needed them to go.

Good luck and congratulations!
Jessica

So, for me, with the 3 kids it was totally worth the $50 I paid for a used one. My Mom was going to buy me a new one as a new baby gift, but finding the used one was equally good in my opinion.

i had both a double stroller and a sit n stand and liked/used both of them. used the double when my girls were smaller and the sit and stand as the older girl grew. my kids are 2 1/2 years apart, so the oldest girl was about 2 1/2 when we used the double and about 3-4 when we used the sit and stand. as she got older, we used the sit and stand for longer walks, trips to zoo, mall and at the aiport. as far as i know, most doubles and accomodate a carseat.

If you buy them used, you can justify the cost of getting both.

My first 2 are 27 months apart and my thoughts were that if he was old enough to stand on the back he was old enough to walk, so I never bought a sit and stand. My Daughter and this baby will be 22 months apart and we will get a normal double stroller because again if she gets old enough that I trust her to stand and while we stroll she is old enough to walk next to the stroller. I won't get one but I know many find them a must have.

I have a sit-n-stand, and I really like it. I'm not sure if your infant seat will fit into it, but I know when I first got the stroller, it said "fits most infant seats" or something like that. Perhaps you can take your seat along and try one at a local Target or some other store that has them?

My older son is almost five and my younger one recently turned 2. It's a really nice option because if we go for a walk of any decent length and try to take the old single stroller I also have, my older one inevitably wants to try to share the little one's seat, or stand on the footrest and get in his way and annoy him after walking for a while and getting tired out.

It is a longer stroller, but I haven't found that to be a real problem if you have sidewalks to walk on. The steering on mine has been really smooth. Again, I would strongly recommend you try one out at the store, along with other brands so you can see how the steering and movements compare.

From a quick look -- it seems you've recieved a lot of good advice from people who are using the Sit and Stand.

We only have one child, but I can say for sure -- that as soon as our son could walk (11 months) he REFUSED to be in a stroller. Last fall we bought him a radio flyer bike with a push handle for us and since then the stroller has remained in the closet -- it even goes with us to the Zoo.

T.,
For an older toddler (like 2) the option to ride or walk is a big one. They love to be in control, and this option gives them a little power. Plus, there is the option for you to strap the little guy into the bench in the back if you need him to ride and he's not compliant. If your older son still enjoys sitting in a seat and doesn't complain about the whole deal, then make sure you get something that has a seat option for now. I'm not exactly sure how the Plus works, but if it has a seat that can be removed, like you said, then that would be perfect for you! Trust me, your boy will want the option to ride or walk eventually! I think the sit and stands are great, personally, and my 2 year old loves the one I got. I found it on Craigslist for a STEAL, but it's not as nice as some of the newer ones. We've tried it out a couple of times, even though his baby brother isn't due until September. He really likes it so far!!

p.s. Yes, it will definitely fit your car seat. They are made to fit all of the major brands.

Love my sit and stand. Its a big unit (like any double stroller) but I get comments/compliments on it whenever I have it out in public. People think its genius how I have my 10 month old in the front and my 4 yr old stands (or sits) on the back. Most times she walks and if I need her close by she just jumps on. I believe the new ones have an attachment that accomodates most common car seats.
I have to say one thing though... I think the Joovy Caboose is a more compact and really cute version of the sit/stand and worth checking out. I don't know if it fits car seats but I saw one at the zoo and wished I would have gotten that one instead because of the size and style.

The sit n stand is great!!! They did not have the model where the sit could be removed to create the bench; we had the regular version and loved it!!!. My son was almost three when we had my daughter and a little big for his age so a traditional double stroller really seemed to "baby" for him. I loved the option that a wiggle worm could sit or stand and get in and out independently. I am pretty sure you can use it with any carseat; it comes with a bar that you attach according to the infant seat you have. I'm pretty sure they had a list of what seats worked with their system. Good luck with the little one and I would highly reccomend the sit n stand stroller you will get more use out of it!!!

I have the regular sit-n-stand and think it's okay. It took the car seat in front, but made the whole thing really long and somewhat hard to steer. It felt like I was driving a banana. My boys are 3 yrs. 2 months apart and the older one loves to run, but likes the option to sit too. Now that the baby is 14 months the front is better but when he was younger I didn't like 1)the cover is skimpy and provided poor sun blocking 2) the seat doesn't recline that much 3)the whole thing is rather long. I wish I spent the money on the Joovy which is the same concept but not so long and hard to drive (esp. on sloped sidewalks). The basket is great, though, as is the tray in front. My older son has no problem hoping in and out. Since your older is younger, I'd probably go with the plus if it offers you two seats since they both might like to nap.

My girls are almost 4 years apart and I constantly use my sit & stand still. I have the one like you are talking about, it has tandem seating (also a spot for a newborn carseat) then converts to a sit & stand. When it is in the S&S position, sometimes my older one walks and my younger one sits there. They both go it and out easily while at the zoo and other places. And if I only have my younger one it isn't that bulky and I can set my shopping bag or purse... on the bench part. I never use my single stroller anymore even if I am only with one kid. I think it is totally worth it! I even had 4 kids on my stroller at the zoo before (for a short time) one in front, 2 on the bench, and one standing, used a lot of my muscled, but it was nice to keep them all together while in a crowded area. Good luck!

I have just now only heard of it... (my kids are 10 and 8)I did look it up online.
I would be afraid to put my kids in this. My kids were both unhooking those plastic seatbelts at 18 months... they were little monkeys, they would try to climb out of anything they were strapped to, and I took my youngest out of his crib and gave him his first bed at around 18 months because he didn't have carpeting in his room and was climbing out of his crib and pack n play in the middle of the night.
I see many good reviews from other Mom's who have it though.

Maybe you could find it in a store where you could put the kids in it and really check it out. That way you could see how your children react.

I agree with most of the other mothers. We have the sit-n-stand and love it. My kids are 20 months apart. Yes the older one is old enough to walk, but then I find it just makes the younger one want to do the same when they aren't quite ready. I like to try to keep them both together in one spot especially for the times that you are mostly using the double stroller. For a walk in the neighborhood you could just use the single stroller and let the older child walk. I do agree with a couple of the mothers as well, when they said the sit-n-stand is not the greatest model to just go for a neighborhood walk with. A Burley (or other similar model) or a side by side jogging stroller would be much better for that. I also have found the sit-n-stand to be sort of difficult to maneuver when there is only one child in the front.

Hope this helps!
K.

My daughter and son are 21 months apart.

We have a single stroller, double stroller, and sit and stand (but not deluxe). I wish I had bought the sit and stand instead of the double stroller for a couple of reasons...1) The double stroller is big, bulky and hard to lug around especially on trips, and 2) my daughter was always trying to get out of the double stroller and walk around but then would get tired and want back in. Even if you have a kid who is a good walker, the sit and stand is great for long walking like at the state fair, zoo, etc.

Hi T. -

What I know about the sit and stand strollers is that one of my friends who has older children HIGHLY recommended it to another friend who has children the same age difference as yours. This friend chose to NOT take the advice and has regretted it since! I hope that helps :)

My daughter was three when we had a newborn and LOVED the sit and stand. She was old enough to hop on and off and sit if she wanted or be a "big girl" and ride. Ours fit our Graco snug ride. One thing...we loved it for the mall, errands etc. BUT didn't love it at all for neighborhood walks. It's long and didn't work well for those types of walks. For outside walks, we invested in a Burley (hooks to the bikes or has a handle for a stroller). Both kids fit in and LOVE it. It was expensive but truly, truly worth every penny. We take it to the park, the zoo, on walks etc. Good luck!

I currently have the sit-n-stand and my three year old loves it. I love having it for going places we have to walk a ways or even going to the playground near by. I have a Graco car seat for my infant and it fits in this stroller just fine. I would recomend this stroller.

I have a single stroller, double stroller, and a sit-n-stand stroller. I LOVE the sit-n-stand stroller as does my 3 year old. It was getting very tedious going to the zoo and getting her in the double stroller, out of the stroller, in and out, in and out -- you get the idea. If they would have had the sit-n-stand plus when I had my second, I definitely would have done that. Good luck with your decision! I don't know if the carseat would fit. You could always take the car seat with you to a store and try it out if they have a floor model?