Side-by-side or Front & Back Double Stroller

Buy Buy Baby in Downers Grove has every stroller imaginable on display for you to try out. They blow BRU out of the water. I would go there first to try a few out and see what you think. I personally like the front and back even though they're hard to manuver they are much easier to use in public places.

L.,
I have a 6 year-old and a 3 year-old and I am still able to take both of them in my double stroller(Graco duo glider which is front to back). When I go to busy places like zoo, museums, downtown. I like having my kids confined to the stroller...too much opportunity to get lost or run from you in a wagon as one mom suggested). I have never been disappointed in this stroller. The one mom's response about limited vision dosen't make sense because typically the infant will be in the infant carrier and you can pull the canopy up or back on both seats. I bought it when I was prego with #2 and my older son was 3 years old as well. I have been able to use it for three years now. It is a little bit of a tight fit now for my 6 year old, but at least it gives him the opportunity to sit and be shaded by the sun. It is a little bulky I quess, but it is worth it. It does fold down and lock. I also use it everytime we fly somewhere. It is nice to wheel it to the gate, with all of our stuff(carry ons, car seats etc.) and then it is sitting there ready for us when we get off. The weight/bulkiness is well worth it because it really does hold a lot of stuff along with the kids:) This will probably be the last year we are able to use it which bums me out really. When we take the train to go downtown it is so nice because it has a big basket on the bottom and a canopy and tray for both seats(which helps keep them from getting in and out). My kids have both fallen asleep before in it, and I am able to recline both seats so they are comfortable. I cannot imagine going to the "crazy" city without having them confined in a stroller. It does fit a graco compatible infant seat as well. The really nice thing is that the front seat where your three year old would sit has a canopy that can be moved forward to shield her from the sun/wind if she is naping(a feature that I love and am not sure if it is available on many other strollers). I bought mine online somewhere(can't remember) but it was free shipping and the price was comparable to other sites where you had to pay for shipping. I was unable to find it at a store. Good Luck!

I recommend the sit & stand. I got ours at Target for maybe $150. I do not recommend the Graco Duo Glider. My daughter hated it b/c there is such a limited range of vision for the baby in the infant seat. That is a horribly designed stroller.

Hi L.,

I just had my #2 and my son is 3, so I understand your dilemma. Everyone told me that he was too old to sit in a stroller, but I know him better. I did not like the sit'n'stand, not enough room and I couldn't get to the storage basket. It also felt like it was going to fall apart. I ended up with the Graco Quattro Tour. Yes, it's expensive, but I found a great website, www.albeebaby.com, where I saved $100! No shipping charge either! I love all the storage, my son says he's comfortable, there's no bar across the front seat so he can get out when he wants, it is so easy to push and it turns like a dream. I really don;t feel like it's that big at all. Good luck in your search and with your new baby!

I was in the same boat. Son was almost 3 when baby was born. I tried him in the Joovy Ultralight Caboose and the Sit and Stand. He was squished and uncomfortable with the baby car seat attached. Depends on your child's personality. Mine is happy in the Peg Perego Aria Twin 60/40. I guess since he was used to being in the front of the single stroller he's happy in the front of the side by side. It fits the Graco Snug Ride car seat in the wider (60) side despite Peg Perego saying it only accepts their car seat. When the baby is bigger and not using the car seat, he can go in the 40 (smaller) side and my older child can go on the bigger side. We don't use it all the time but it's definitely handy for zoo outings and the airport and malls when I need him strapped in! You can try it out at Babies R Us. Good luck and congrats! (I just had my baby a couple weeks shy of 37, it's not so bad :) ) It does *just* fit through standard doors and is very lightweight and easy to maneuver, I can even push it with one hand.

I guess the big question is how big is your 3 year old. Could you just use a wagon when you go to the zoo and avoid a stroller? Are you really going to be in lots of situations where you need the double stroller?

I had both of these. First I had the front & back double stroller which worked well when there was somebody sleeping. Then when they got older, there was lots of hair pulling, so I got the side by side.

The side by side was great in wide open spaces like the zoo, but truly a pain in stores and other small confined spaces. There did seem to be more legroom for older kids on it.

I never had the sit and stand stroller, but some of my friends swore by it. They didn't use it with an infant, they had a few toddlers.
M.

I would suggest the front & back model. My oldest is four, and we still use our double. With a back and front, you can put the car seat (or baby once he is older)in the back seat and older child in front. She can get in and out by herself as needed. We love our back/front double and could not live without it!!

Hi i am expecting baby #2 in 7 weeks and i have a daughter who will be 4 next week as well and i just purchased a front and back double stroller from a garage sale that was almost brand new. I brought my daughter to different stores and had her sit in all different kinds including the side by side to decide which one i liked the best. I hated the sit and stand because it didn't seem safe. I did not like the side by side strollers as well because my daughter complained there wasn't enough room for her and her legs hung down to the ground and were dragging, and i could not get the stupid thing through a doorway at a store unless it had double doors and someone was nice enough to open a door for me and hold it open. Toys r us and babys r us have demonstration days where you can come in and try any items you want. Or just ask an associate any time at any store for help getting a display model down for you to try. Good luck and i hope you find what you are looking for.

We also used a Gro front and back stroller. It was greta. Our older daughter could open the bar herself to get in and out. The side by side strollers seemed to wide to get around store aisles and when one kid weighs 10 pounds and the other weighes 30 the stroller is off balance making it very hard to push around. We also had the older kid sit in each stroller, get in and out, and I pushed it around the store with her in it.

i love my combi......i never had a problem getting thru doors....its very lightweight for me to take out of the van by myself or put in, it's only 13 pds.....i had no problem with an infant carrier......i still use it for my 2 yr old, 3.5 yr old & 5 yr old......if we go to a restaurant (like at oakbrook mall) it folds in half & can be tucked anywhere...congrats on #2 at 38.....my 4th & last pregnancy was at 35 :)