Stroller question

[katiecrna]

I don't have kids yet. My hubby is almost done with residency and the plan is to start having kids, close together in age (if possible of course). My close friends are pregnant so it got me thinking and doing some research on baby things so the question is...
Should I get a stroller that can convert to a double if needed? Or should I slow my role and just get a single. Also do you like double strollers that are wide, or tandem/in line?

[civilspouse]

We have a Phil and Teds inline stroller and I love it. It has some drawbacks but I think they addressed a lot of my issues with their newer models. I think the kind of stroller you want really depends on what you will be using it for. For example I really like air filled tires because sometimes we go on unpacked trails etc but that means you have to keep them pumped up. We got the double from the start because I don't like buying things but after your first you might change your mind about what works for you and want something different for a double. Also there is never a guarantee that the spacing will work out like you planned so you never know. I don't think we will use the double much with the new baby we are expecting because we have a larger gap than I'd originally planned but we did you it for my son and daughter. It's nice to have the option.


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[TulipsAndSunscreen]

I would take it one at a time. You have to trial a lot of baby gear and double strollers or ones that convert are expensive.

I'm a huge BOB fan as a runner and the single you can find on CL for $200 whereas doubles are often $300+ ($350 new for a single and $550 for a double). They are worth every penny for the record.


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[alotofyarn]

I have an Uppababy Vista that I love. Mine is the older model, and I don't really care for how they handle the second seat, but the new model is much improved. Fortunately, my 3yo hates sitting in strollers, so she either walks or rides on the piggyback board. We also got a double umbrella stroller, and honestly we probably should have skipped that, but my mom bought it for us, so we use it occasionally. It really depends on how you see using them. I have 4 strollers and use them all differently.

[OrionGrad]

We started with the single Bob Revolution for Baby #1, then added a Baby Jogger City Mini Double when Baby #2 arrived. Now with Baby #3 on the way I'm wanting to get a Baby Jogger City Select with a kickboard, so all three could ride at once if they wanted to. We still use the Bob on a weekly basis, so I don't regret that purchase, but I do kind of regret the City Mini Double just because the side-by-side is kind of a pain (and DH HATES the plastic tires), and if I would have spent a little more money at the time and gotten the City Select then I wouldn't be buying a third stroller right now. I'm sure I could sell the City Mini Double on CL, but we're keeping it for now because you just never know what's going to work until the baby is here, and even then preferences can change depending on where you're going and what stage all the kids are at.

[TulipsAndSunscreen]

The kickboard just didn't work for us. I actually bought a city mini double so I could use the kick board and ending up selling it when it didn't work out.

I felt like I was always tripping on the kid. And as a short person with a tall oldest child, it felt like I couldn't really push it around her. It was silly.


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[katiecrna]

Anyone have experience with a bugaboo stroller?

[OrionGrad]

The kickboard just didn't work for us. I actually bought a city mini double so I could use the kick board and ending up selling it when it didn't work out.

I felt like I was always tripping on the kid. And as a short person with a tall oldest child, it felt like I couldn't really push it around her. It was silly.


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Does your City Mini have a telescoping handle bar? I've heard kickboards work better on strollers that do, which is why I never got one for our BOB or our City Mini.

[Howfunitis]

I wanted a double stroller when I was pregnant with my first. I bought the City Select (during first year of med school) took it back because both my husband and dad had a BIG SAY in the price tag. I didn't buy a stroller till my first was 19 months and that was only because we went to Disneyland (I didn't know they rented strollers) anywho. Now I have two kids and I want a double stroller bad!! I took care of a lot of kids so I knew what I wanted but now, it's no where near the budget for me to purchase one and I remind him and my dad whenever the issue pops up


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[TulipsAndSunscreen]

Does your City Mini have a telescoping handle bar? I've heard kickboards work better on strollers that do, which is why I never got one for our BOB or our City Mini.

It did not. But even if it did, I don't see how to use it without tripping over the kid. Cause kids are so good at holding perfectly still while you push them.


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[katiecrna]

Do people prefer the side by side double or the inline?

[TulipsAndSunscreen]

Most doubles for running are side by side. They're still able to go thru doors (it's a tight squeeze). Others are inline. I've never had an inline but it seems unwieldy bc it's so long.


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[JDAZ11]

Do people prefer the side by side double or the inline?

I've had both. They're different. Everything depends on you.

When they were small, I did like the tandem. We lived in a city with very narrow side walks. After a while they started kicking each other so much, that it was starting to annoy me. Plus - even my city select was so heavy for in and out of the car (for me - and I may just be a bit of a complicated situation, you may have no issue with it). And took up A LOT of cargo room. It also is huge pain to fly with (you have to basically disassemble it at the gate). So at that point (about when they were a year old) I switched to a double umbrella (uppababy g-link) for the car and travel. I keep the double bob on the foyer, and only put that in the car for things like the zoo (and not even always). My mom also has a double bob that we while we are at her house... the uppababy isn't going to cut it for any sort of workout type jogging or even brisk walking for a long distance.

I honestly have trouble taking them to the mall in either type of stroller. Uppababy umbrella is too wide to maneuver around a crowded store. And city select tandem is too long to make super tight turns. I would never even attempt using the bob on a shopping trip.


We also have a great double radio flyer. (We now live somewhere very flat, wouldn't suggest it anywhere hilly). They make a foldable version that lots of twin parents love. (They didn't sell it - or I didn't notice - when we got ours).


I think you'd be very lucky to get away with one stroller or everything. I also had a joovy roo twin snap stroller that I used at first. Very inexpensive, but we out grew it so fast. It was nice to keep in the car at first so that I could keep the city select out for using around our house though. I am usually so scattered when we try to get ready to leave the house, that always having a stroller in the car is a must for me. (Plus it's not like I have a tiny baby that I can hold the whole time - or a 3yo that can walk somewhat in the direction I want them to go). Not having a stroller for me means not getting out of the car.....


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[OrionGrad]

The City Mini Double (side-by-side) was too wide to roll through any exterior doors in our old house, and we didn't have a garage at the time, so I had to fold it/unfold it every time we wanted to go out. If the baby fell asleep on our walk, I'd have to sit outside with him until he woke up (which meant DS1 had to be outside, too), since I couldn't just roll the stroller back inside. So check the dimensions of your doors before you make any firm choices. The City Mini Double was narrow enough to fit in most standard business doors, just apparently not the doors on our 1920s house.

ETA: My older son was never a kid who liked strollers, so he's been walking alongside us since about 3. But, I like that he can sit in the front triangle part (how do you describe that?) of the BOB for quick trips through crowded areas, going through airports, etc. It's not a real seat or anything, but it works well for us in times when he wants to sit for a bit and we don't want to go through the hassle of bringing the double.

[civilspouse]

The inline Phil & teds has about the same footprint single or double. You just lose the storage underneath. Although I still just shove stuff in there and my kids sit crisscross. Some people say the kid doesn't like the bottom seat because they can't see but my kids always liked riding in the second seat. It does take up some trunk space but I don't think any more than your average full size stroller. We also have a nice umbrella stroller I got for air travel but the Phil and Teds is SO much nicer to push.


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