Sit N' Stand Vs. Double Stroller

My daughter turned 3 just after my son was born this summer. We chose the Baby Trend sit and stand that actually has a full seat in back that can detach to turn the stroller into a sit and stand. For some activities, it's better to have a full stroller seat (with a tray) for my older child but for other activites, it's better to have the sit-n-stand option (like for the zoo when she wants to get out of the stroller a lot). The only downside is that it's hard to get to the basket underneath the stroller but that's common with many double strollers...

I am playing devils advocate here. Will a child who is already 2 1/2 (and the baby is not even here yet) really sit in a stroller? I have 2 kids, now college age and, honestly, past the age of 2 we walked and held hands. By the way both my kids are athletes, and perhaps this had something to do with it.

I am currently pregnant with my 4th little one and decided that I am going to get a nice new stroller this year. :-) Our kids are 8, 5, 2... We have been using the same Graco stroller since our 8 yr old was born. But our cat peed on it this year... ewww... No baby will go in it again. :-) So while doing my research on a double stroller that will last longer than 2 yrs I came across these... http://www.walmart.com/Baby-Trend-Stand-Double-Skylar/ip/... . This is the one I will be ordering. Target also has them but theirs is a lighter tan on tan color scheme.
(personal consumer test.... passed)
I am not one to buy stuff sight unseen. Target has them in my area out on display. So me and my 2 yr old went to Target and looked at it. I got it off the shelf and proceeded to give it a good test. It took me about 4 min. with no directions to convert the back seat into the sit/stand option. After I knew how to do it, it only took me about 1 1/2 min to get it torn apart and load the munchkin.
I love the fact that BOTH seats have their own trays. Its tier seating. Infant carseats can snap into BOTH seats easily. You don't NEED the companys seat. They fit Graco and several other brands also.

I actually went down the line and used their display seats to see how they all fit and which ones are easily removed. :-)I did not like the baby trend infant seat since they are rear facing and the release for them would be right up against the seat. If you have a sedan style car it may be a really tight squeeze to get that seat out. Where Graco has the release by the babys head.

Our 2 yr old is 3 in a few months and is tall for his age. He had lots of room both in the front and back seats. It folded easily and stands on its own while folded. I can use it nowwith my 5 yr old and 2 yr old... And in the future until the new baby is older.

The other styles of double strollers have a limited use time unless your kids are little. And the back seat is not as roomy.

It pushes easily and turned the corners around the squished displays smoothly. The wheels are bigger than they usually are so they cruise over cracks more easily.

There are cheaper sit n stands but they are not the tier style and do not have as much room between the seats. Nor do they have the 2 kids trays.

I agree... The side by side ones are not worth it. :-)As your kids get older and bigger having the older/bigger kid in the front of a typical double stroller will make it harder to push and the kids will be squished in the back. Where as with the sit n stand you have more weight in the back which makes it easier to steer and push.

I suggest going to several stores and doing your own tests of the different types.

(added: There are styles that don't have that back seat and are cheaper, but for multi use options (if on a longer trip it gives the option for both kids to nap, etc...)Having that option is worth the extra $.) (If you do get a jogging stroller style of double stroller make sure that the front wheel is not a fixed wheel. That it has its own swivel... Makes it less annoying to push.)

There is a really nice stroller at Babies R Us that can go from a double stroller to a sit N stand. It's light weight, moves and swivels easily and around $170. here is one of the listed colors.

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3012699

Hi H.,
I had a jogging double stroller which I loved. I also had one where they sit behind the other. I HATED it. This was quite a few years ago (about 6). It was SO hard to steer not to mention any crack in the sidewalk was huge. They might make them better now but if not I would def. go for the sit and stand. That one seems more compact. Good luck.
Chris

I have a 2 year old and a 7 months old. I too had the same question. I decided to go with the Baby Trend Sit and Stand stroller. HOWEVER, there are 2 different kinds. One has a full seat on the back part which in time will turn into the stand part of the stroller. However, right now, my son loves to sit in the front seat and the baby is in the back seat! I really do like it and the price was reasonable considering the Joovy stroller or any of the other double strollers.

Just make sure, if you buy it, that you buy the one that has both seats and that the back ones come out.

Hope that helps! AND on a different note, Good luck with 2. What a difference. :-)

I have a sit n' stand and really like it.