Looking for Best Double Stroller for Infant and 2 Year Old

Hi C.,

I have a 2 year old (27 mo) and a 4 month old. I drive a sedan rather than an SUV or mini-van, so I wanted a compact, lightweight double stroller. I considered the Phil & Ted's stroller, but it is very expensive and I don't think we do enough neighborhood walking to justify the cost. Mostly we needed it for weekend trips to the zoo, park outings and for keeping the kids together in the airport, etc. We had a Maclaren stroller for my son, so I considered the double version of this. I decided the side-by-side configuration was a bit cumbersome (besides, it can not accommodate a car seat). We finally settled on the Joovy Caboose Ultralight. It's similar to the sit 'n stand mentioned by another poster, but a bit shorter. I have found that it is super easy to manuever (even one-handed,and especially compared to other tandem strollers I tried) and my 2 yr old loves to jump on and off of his "choo choo" stroller, giving him freedom to explore while the infant snoozes in his carseat. There are a couple of minor drawbacks that I see as temporary: (1) The folded length of the stroller is long when the car seat adapter is attached, making it a little tricky to wedge into our trunk. Fortunately, the adapter comes off very easily if you'd rather not play Jenga. (2) When using the car seat adapter, the front seat needs to be in it's rear-most position, which means my 2 year old doesn't have as much back/head room when fully seated in the back (this crunching is a drawback of the "ultralight" model only). Most of the time this is not an issue for us because my 2yr old prefers to stand on the back. Both of these minor issues will completely disappear when the baby is done with his infant carseat (not much longer now!). I am using a Graco infant carseat, but the Joovy Caboose is compatible with a number of different carseats if you have something lighter. I believe you can check compatibility on their website. So - for our purposes, this stroller has been the perfect match for our family. Happy gear shopping!

Here's my response to a similar request not long ago:
I love my Vallco Tri Mode Twin... it's a side-by-side that fits through standard doorways... I roll it right through my front door. It maneuvers like a dream even one-handed and can spin a 360 in place. It can accomodate an infant seat and if you have a 3rd child there's an add-on seat for the front even. I know another mom with the twin version and it's the only stroller she has (it lives in her car)... she loves it. I also know a MaMa who opted for the singleton TriMode and bought the "jump seat" for her toddler... she hates how hard it is to maneuver stacked with two kids and wishes she'd gone with the side-by side. I did tons of research and in-store test drives and fell in love with the TriMode Twin. Yes, it's very pricey but with all the walking we've done I wouldn't trade it for the world. Even my husband talks it up to folks expecting their 2nd baby and he wasn't originally thrilled to be plunking down so much for a stroller! On the Phil & Ted's I couldn't get past the idea that one kiddo wouldn't have much to see and would be taking up that teeny little basket for their grubby shoes. The best add-on I've had for my stroller was a clip-on cup holder by BabyJogger... it's self-leveling and can be attached to the center bar so it won't be in the way. The TriMode Twin has plenty of storage and you won't get tired pushing it... the true tires really make a difference. The sunshades go all the way down to the bumper bar so your kiddos will never be blinded by the sun or blown away.

And to add now that it's raining... the rain covers zip into the sunshades and go all the way over the footplate so you're precious little ones won't get wet while you're blowing off MaMa steam in the rain :P If it's a short errand I'd rather walk in the rain than have to take two kiddos in and out of the car... this way they get in at home and out at home!

I love our Joovy Sit and Stand. It can be a bit difficult to steer, but it isn't wide like many other double strollers. I got the extra light one and we have been really happy with it:-)

Try to find a store that let's you test drive the strollers on the sidewalk before purchase. You will be better able to tell how it handles surfaces, curbs, etc. I know of many back east, but I'm new to the West Coast. I have the Phil&Ted Vibe and would not reccomend it if you drive often. It's a much better walking stroller because it's not so easy to fold and cumbersome to load. Also it does not work with an infant car seat, the infant must lie flat in the bassinet position. Lovely to push though, you don't feel a thing.

hi C., i have a 3 month old and a 17 month old and my phil and ted's stroller sport is AMAZING! it's easy to drive and even easier to put parts together.

with 2 babies i don't have the energy or time to fiddle with a stroller and this stroller is the answer to my prayers.

good luck and congratulations!

You might want to try a "Joovy"
This is the kind where your 2 year old can be strapped in sitting or can stand on the platform (when he/she gets a little bigger)
My kids are two years apart and I had a similar one (BabyTrend Sit and Stand)
It was great but a little hard to steer.
Phil and Ted is a popular option too
This is the one that looks like a jogger and the second seat is under the first...
Apparently kids love climbing in by them selves.

The best double stroller out there is the Phil and Teds stroller. It is made for jogging and the mall. It is fantastice because it is really sturdy and if you only have one kid with you you can use it as a single because it is a tandem stroller. All the Phil and Teds strollers do work with the infant seats you just need the attachment it's about $40 and well worth it.I have had mine for 4 years and it still works great! My kids are 6 and 4 now and we still use it on long walks or trips! Expensive but the best money that I spent! I did buy a double stroller side by side graco from Target and it was the same weight and broke 2 x's. I would really spend the money on an awesome double, or you can always check craigslist. I see some great postings for the Phil and Teds and they always go fast. They also have great accesories for infants! Check it out!

if you are looking for lightweight & easy to fold... combi makes a good side by side double stroller. they are more pricey than graco, but not as much as peg perego. i have a friend who has used hers for several years (she has 4 kids & bought it with #2) and still swears by it.

I think the best quality and lightest weight double strollers are jogging strollers. Since they are made for a possible bumpy ride they provide shocks a smooth ride for the little ones and because they will be pushed for long distance at speed they are typically light weight and very easy to turn. They also have a higher handle bar so it is better on your back. Be sure to look for one with a swivel front wheel. I like B.O.B or baby jogger brands. They are super easy to fold and have universal car seat adaptors. If you want the front and back seating I like the new model Phil and Ted's brand. It has a great bassinet in the rear for the infant that later provides a seat. It does not have a car seat adaptor.

Good luck!

C.,

I to was looking for a double stroller as I am about to have my second child as well. I purchased the Sit and Stand Deluxe stroller from the website One Step Ahead. It is a double stroller that is compatible with most Carseat Carriers, then turns into a sit and stand stroller when your older child is ready. I actually just recieved mine yesterday and am pretty pleased. Most double strollers will be somewhat on the heavier side. It is easy to push and has rubber wheels, not the foam like most strollers. It is worth a look.

I love my Baby Trend Double Sit N Stand Stroller. It's at Target for $169.99. You can use it with the most car seats -I used a Graco car seat and now I use an Evenflo carseat. It's super light weight, turns on a dime, works fine while shopping. I use it all the time and highly recommend it. I think it's great that my two year old can sit reclined or stand and sit on the bench. Most of the time he stands and uses the bench, but when he's tired I put on the recliner chair for him to kick back. We've traveled with it etc. and like the versatility.

The best lightweight double stroller would be the Baby Jogger City mini double. It has large seats, a very generous canopies and the easiest fold on the market.

check it out on www.letsgostrolling.com