Stroller Recommendations Needed
The time has come upon me sooner than I expected. I knew I was going to need a good lightweight double stroller when the baby came, but I figured I could wait until, you know, after the baby was actually born. But the other night I took the kids on an outing, and when I went to pop Rilla into the sling, there was a big old belly in the way. I guess it had been a few weeks since I wore her—I haven’t been out much since the food poisoning nightmare. All of a sudden toddler-wearing is impossible. And because Wonderboy’s developmental disabilities mean he is much more like a two-and-a-half-year-old than a four-and-a-half-year-old, I can’t finesse group outings unless he’s in the stroller. It’s sort of like being six months pregnant with two-year-old twins.
I need a stroller that can contain both twins.
We have an ancient sit-and-stand stroller dating back to our New York days. I have rosy memories of wearing baby Beanie in the sling and pushing Jane and Rose down a steep hill to the little white church at the bottom. I would jog a little and get up some speed, and the tiny girls would hold up their hands and wheeeeee all the way down. (My memories of getting back up the hill after daily Mass are less rosy. Jane’s too, I’ll bet—I always made her walk home. That was one heavy, heavy stroller.)
The sit-and-stand still works and is great for our walks around the neighborhood. But I can’t lift it in and out of the minivan. Pathetic, I know. What can I say? I am a spaghetti-armed weakling.
So: what I’m going to have to find is a double stroller or sit-and-stand that doesn’t weigh very much. And doesn’t cost a fortune. And which can take abuse. Easy-peasy, right?
Any suggestions?
Mamalion says:
If I were doing it all over again, I’d definitely investigate one of the new sit/stand strollers. Particularly with the varying ages of your kids. I’m sure they’ve gotten lighter since the days of the very first Graco double strollers, which I was soooo glad to have.:-) I don’t think I’d like one that slings the baby down underneath the older child. You’ll see what I mean. And if they didn’t kill each other, I would think maybe Wonderboy and Rilla could both sit on the bench together, if the need arose.
On September 11, 2008 at 6:28 am
Margaret says:
I would get a Peg Perego double stroller. We bought one prior to a Europe trip a few years ago and it has held up so well. It is an investment but the durability has been great. Like every other big ticket purchase we have been fortunate enough to make (stokke chairs, learning tower, Peg Perego stroller), we wonder why we waited so long to take the plunge.
On September 11, 2008 at 7:37 am
laura says:
First, CraigsList is your friend! Haunt it and you will undoubtedly find a good deal.
We like our Peg Perego Pliko (we scored an ancient one off CL that still works great). It’s an umbrella stroller with a little extra heft (but still very manageable and packable. It’s not a sit-and-stand per se, but it has a great little “step” on the back that my two year old loves. We don’t have anyone else for the front of the stroller, but my daughter still insists on standing on the back!
It’s an 80 pound weight limit, which is unusual for the lighter weight strollers.
On September 11, 2008 at 7:38 am
Jeanette says:
Well, I was going to recommend the sit and stand until I got to the end of your post. I must say though that there are several new versions of this stroller out there now. You might want to look into some of them.
On September 11, 2008 at 7:53 am
KC says:
I don’t know how heavy it is, but I’ve seen the Joovy sit and stand and I love it!!! If I ever get pregnant and need one of those (not now because my youngest is old enough to walk with us), I’d get one of those.
On September 11, 2008 at 8:08 am
Wendy says:
Double umbrella stroller. Ours was the cheapest possible double stroller 9 years ago. I was sure it would break, but 6 kids later it is still going strong and I can lift it with one arm. Ours is a Century. Doesn’t look fabulous, what with being left out in the rain from time to time…but it will fit a sitting baby and a 6 year old!
On September 11, 2008 at 11:02 am
angela says:
Maclaren.
I totally balked at the price tag when a friend got one, but I eventually wound up with one myself.
It is very lightweight (made of aluminum, I think), and it turns on a dime. With one hand, even–not kidding!
I can collaspe it with one hand, while holding a baby on my hip, and heave it into the back of the van, and the baby on the hip is undisturbed. No kidding.
Maclaren has single and double strollers, in a variety of fabrics. They even have one made of a mesh-like fabric, which is great if you make lots of trips to the beach or sandbox!
Good luck with your search!
On September 11, 2008 at 12:29 pm
Jordin says:
I have found this to be wonderful:
http://www.philandteds.com/nz/index.htm
i have the phil&ted sport… i dont have twins. but they do have a side by side. I know its a little pricy, but so worth it!!!
On September 11, 2008 at 4:08 pm
CarrieZ says:
I’d have to recommend the BabyTrend Sit and Stand from Target. Love mine–just a little bulky in the trunk.
On September 11, 2008 at 4:45 pm
Constance says:
Definitely get a Maclaren! We had a Twin Traveller for our twins and we thought it was great. Easy to push, fits through doorways and aisles, doesn’t take the entire trunk. Maybe you could get one secondhand?
On September 11, 2008 at 6:11 pm
emily says:
I would stalk Craigslist for a Maclaren double (or Peg Perego, but I think Maclarens are lighter). Im serious about the stalking, though, those things go fast. A P&T would be an awesome find, but much more difficult to find for a low price.
There’s also a yahoo strollerswap group where you can get lots of advice and opinions, and often people will post strollers there before they offer them up on craigslist or ebay.
Good luck!
On September 11, 2008 at 6:55 pm
Kristen Laurence says:
It’s already been said, but I’ll repeat it. Once you know the stroller you want, get it from Craigslist! If SD Craigslist doesn’t have it, try OC and I’ll bring it down to you!! 🙂
On September 11, 2008 at 8:54 pm
Blair says:
I have a Peg Perego double side by side and like it alright (not that great for jogging, fast walking, or non-paved roads), but if I was going to make a big investment I’d go with a BOB double stroller. Phil & Ted’s seem to be much-loved too. Happy shopping!
On September 12, 2008 at 12:46 pm
Faith Alterton says:
Ditto on the MacLaren Twin Traveler. We have five boys under six years old and we’ve used ours pretty hard for three years straight and it’s still solid. For a side-by-side it folds amazingly flat and fits through just about every doorway. Cargo baskets gold a ton. Upholstery is durable (and washable). It’s worth the price.
And yes, SD’s craigslist is amazing. You should be able to find a second-hand one on good condition for about $150 there. Sometimes less. Stroller shopping is fun – good luck!
On September 12, 2008 at 6:23 pm
mamacrow says:
well, the lightest stroller on the market is out n about little nippers, they’re three wheelers and there is a side by side tandem model… but not sure if you can get ’em in USA?
On September 14, 2008 at 2:51 pm
Kristie says:
I had a great Peg Perego double stroller. One child stood on the back supports and the other child was in the seat. It fully reclined and folded up completely straight up and down (like an umbrella stroller). It was easy to carry one by the little handle when it was collapsed, even with a baby in the other hand. It was a breeze to steer, much easier than the big long doubles.
(It was interesting in Finland, where in one day in Helsinki I saw more twins than I think I have ever seen, that their strollers were mostly doubles that were side by side, not front and back like ours (unless they were the little sit stand ones like I had).
Kristie
On September 15, 2008 at 2:22 pm
momfuu says:
Good…Thank for the new knowledge.Thank very much.
On May 16, 2009 at 2:05 am