Strollers, Nap Mats, etc. . .

[MrsK]

Ok, since the cat is out of the bag (at least on iMSN) time to ask for product advise. Can anyone recommend a lightweight double stroller that will work for a toddler and an infant and is compatiable with a Graco Snugride 32 infant carseat? They all look so heavy! I already struggle with our Graco 32 travel system/stroller.

Also, when BabyK moves up to the toddler room at day care, they nap on these little cots. The teacher told me to bring him 2 blankets (one to line the cot, one to cover him) and a pillow. But I'm thinking that a nap mat like this http://www.amazon.com/Olive-Kids-Rid...WHG,B003XPVCRY may be better. Does anyone have any experience with these? I'm looking for something sturdy, washable, and comfortable.

[HouseofWool]

I have no advice about the travel systems because mine are so far apart that I never needed one.

As for the daycare request. I really would just bring in the blankets and pillow. they will be teaching him to do it himself and if the nap mat is too heavy it will be hard for him. With the separate items he can make mulitple trips from his cubby to set up his cot.

Congrats on your new addition. I purchased the Trend Sit n stand stroller. They have several different types. It worked and still work wonderfully. Our two younger children are less then two years apart and this stroller was a life saver. I like it a lot better then the regular double strollers just for the fact that it was easier to control and lighter. Some can be so heavy, my sister in law had a regular double stroller for her two boys and after trying mine she went out and bought one on craigslist.
Well, good luck.

[MrsK]

Jason's mom, My kids will be 18 months apart. Will the older baby be big enough for the sit & stand?

Kris, As for the nap mats, looks like most of them weigh about 2 lbs. Do you still think multiple pieces is better? (I'm thinking about us too. At drop off on Mondays we'll be loaded down with a toddler, an infant in an infant carseat, blankets for each of them, bottles for the baby, etc. The less we have/more our toddler can carry himself the better.

[HouseofWool]

I used to stick all of Caleb's stuff in a tot-sized back pack for drop off on mondays and pick up on fridays. Only 1 thing to handle and sometimes he would want to wear the back pack himself. I am all about pushing (age appropriate) independence.

I don't think it really matters either way - ask the teacher if she has a strong aversion to the sleeping bag type things.

[ides]

Can you bring the blankets once & leave them there except to switch them out once & awhile for washing along with a change of clothes & diapers? This would hopefully limit the amout of stuff you have to slog daily. I have no suggestions on the stroller.

[Meenah]

I would use the cots they have, they may want all of the kids to have the same setup to avoid whining!!!!

[DCJenn]

Do exactly what the teachers want- they have a master plan, I'm sure.

J.

[SuzySunshine]

I have an older version of this stroller. http://philandteds.com/productsus/pushus/explorerus

When R was an infant I could put his car seat in the front (it was a Graco) and put A in the back, she was 22 months when R was born. Now I can put either one in either seat because they weigh about the same, you're supposed to put the heavier child in the front.

There are SO many double strollers, I know your location doesn't have a lot of choices but if you can find a boutique type store that carries all of the doubles I would go try them out. I'm really happy with the one I have but may have chosen something else if I could have played with some of the others.

With the twins, I got a Graco DuoGlide because it would hold two Graco carseats. I would have loved something nicer, but the truth is that it has been an a great stroller. Lots of room in the bottom for snacks, diaper bags, clothes changes. Kids can drop toys & it catches them. The twins have both slept in the back with the seat fully reclined, with the baby in the front in a carseat. We still have it and have been known to fit all four kids in it for short stretches. It's narrow enough to fit between clothing store racks. Yes, I have had super crazy shopping trips, and this stroller made it doable. As for weight... I'm a weakling, and I can fold it & lift it into the back of our van.

Check folded dimensions of whatever you get, BTW, to be sure it will fit in your vehicle.

If I had an infant and a toddler, I would have loved something like the Phil&Ted's. Versatility for growing babies/toddlers/walkers is great.

I also considered some of the Peg Perego options, but we didn't want to spend the money back then.

No advice on the nap mat...

Jason's mom, My kids will be 18 months apart. Will the older baby be big enough for the sit & stand?

Kris, As for the nap mats, looks like most of them weigh about 2 lbs. Do you still think multiple pieces is better? (I'm thinking about us too. At drop off on Mondays we'll be loaded down with a toddler, an infant in an infant carseat, blankets for each of them, bottles for the baby, etc. The less we have/more our toddler can carry himself the better.

I don't see why not. They usually have a little strap to buckle your kids in in the back. I say Usually because we got one on Craigslist and it was kinda broken. Our middle kid was 20 months when our baby was born. And now when we go to the zoo or something like that when my now 3 year old is tried of walking he just either comes and sits down on the little chair or will stand while i push.

[MrsK]

Do exactly what the teachers want- they have a master plan, I'm sure.

J.

I would use the cots they have, they may want all of the kids to have the same setup to avoid whining!!!!

Can you bring the blankets once & leave them there except to switch them out once & awhile for washing along with a change of clothes & diapers? This would hopefully limit the amout of stuff you have to slog daily. I have no suggestions on the stroller.

The plan is to use the cots and to do as the teachers have asked. The teachers have asked us to provide our own bedding to put in the cot which must contain at least sheets/blankets for over and under the child and a pillow if we want. My question is more along the lines of whether these nap mats are any good, are they convenient, or if they pill and fall apart in the wash. Does it matter if we get an $18 nap mat or do we need to get one of the pricier ones? We are required to take home the bedding every Friday for cleaning and return it on Monday. (We'll have to do this for the infant too for whom we send 2 blankets that are used for bedding, swaddling, etc.).

[Phoebe]

DD used to use a crib sheet and a blanket on the cots when she was younger. Last year our preschool started offering nap mats for sale. Ours looks a lot like the one in your picture. The cost was $27. It wears and washes well. I wash it weekly.

[Michele]

I didn't read everything, but I opted not for a sit and stand bc I knew that D wouldn't stay put unless he was strapped down....so I went with a full double. Mine isn't light and i don't know if it accommodates an infant seat, but it does recline flat for an infant. Valco twin ex is what I have.