Manda Girl » Blog Archive » Stroller Delema

When Isaac was born we shopped around a bit for a double stroller. I was soon overwhelmed with the options or lack of options out there. I could not find the perfect stroller and didn’t want to settle so thus… never bought anything.

I managed.

Now that I have another wee one, I find myself really wishing for a double stroller that will accommodate a car seat. I don’t mind carrying Leah in a sling or carrier but never, ever want to wake up a sleeping baby for transferring. And honestly, no matter how comfortable the carrier is, it eventually gets tiring and can be hard to chase a certain toddler around and do other mom duties.

I think my dream stroller is Phil and Teds with the doubles kit. It seems so lovely because it is like 4 strollers in one. A single jogger and a double. It accommodates a car seat as well as infants and toddlers in a few configurations. I have been saving my pennies for two years now and am no where near being able to purchase it. I need to stop my drooling. When comforting myself about not being able to spend that much on a stroller I think about Isaac and that he really wouldn’t want to ride in it until he was super tired anyway.

My next choice was a Sit and Stand. We’ve been debating about this one for a while. The price is right and it would hold all the kids and a car seat. I don’t think it pushes that great and is not that comfortable for everyone but I couldn’t come up with a better option. I worried about the jump board and allowing the kids to come and go as they please but they walk all over me anyway. They might as well be able to have a ride when they are tired of walking and run off when they choose.

But then we went to Babies R Us to purchase it and luckily tried it out first. My car seat is not compatable. I have a Chico Key fit and it’s the only seat on the planet without a notch in it for stoller other than a chico.

That takes me to the Joovy Caboose. It’s just like the Sit and Stand but seems a little bit more compact which is good for pushing but have read complaints about the front seat infringing on the back one. This stroller will hold my Chico car seat. It’s priced a little bit more than the Sit and Stand but the price is still okay. While reading reviews I read about the Joovy Ultralight. Most reviews were raving about it and saying the upgrade was worth it but the price is starting to get out of our range.

This leaves me wondering if the Joovy is the way to go. My friend was telling me that she is just going to get a buggy board of some kind. So then I had to look into that and that just makes me more confused. I only have a old Jeep Jogger that is pretty hammered, gets flats all the time, is really bulky in my trunk and doesn’t safely hold a car seat. So would I need to buy a new single?? Arggg.

I’m at a loss. If you’ve made it through this long boring post… I’m wondering if any of you have experince with any of these strollers? Do you have a double that you love? hate? are dreaming of?

I totally understand! Same situation here. Currently we use a cheapo Fisher Price clearance special that forces us to break every safety law, but it works. We just lay down the back seat and nestle the carseat right into it. No clicks, snaps, or anything. Shhh…don’t tell, but it’s not like I plan on four-wheeling with my little dou.

We have a the elite double sit n stand and the chicco carseat. it works if you use the strap to make sure the carseat isn’t going anywhere. I was able to try my friend’s before purchasing it online because I was worried about the chicco carseat too. It worked well for my two girls. Now my baby is 9 months and she loves riding in the front. I can finally take off the attachment for the carseat and put on the tray with the cupholder. I haven’t transitioned the 2.5 yr old to the sit option yet and she seems content riding in the back of the stroller. I don’t think it’s hard to push, but it’s heavy to lift up into our minivan (which is low to the group mind you). GOod luck with your decision. It’s tough we have twice as many strollers and baby slings than we have children. Thank God for Craigslist!

Someone I know just bought the Kolcraft Contours Options Tandem ($250) and loves it. It is more expensive than the Sit N Stand though. Not sure if it fits with the Chicco carseat.

Phil and teds is awesome. My friend in NY bought hers on Craigs list there. She got a screaming deal. I didn’t know you have a Chico? Is it new? That’s what we have and the missing notch bothers me sometimes. Good luck in the research, double strollers give me a headache. I don’t think I’ll get one any time soon.

We love love love our BOB Revolution. Mostly because you can sit another child on the front foot rest, and we do it often. Good luck in your decision!

I have the Contours® Options® Tandem stroller and I love it. BEST PURCHASE EVER.

http://peace-inthe-storm.blogspot.com/2008/03/i-found-it.html

I got the baby trend sit and stand when I had #3. That stinks that your car seat is not compatible. I got a great 2 person bike traylor/ stroller with a swivvle wheel after Cooper was born. I love that one if I want to go on a jog or long walk with 2 little ones. These days I mostly just take an umbrella stroller wherever I go. I make the other kids walk. Sorry I don’t know about all the other strollers you mentioned. Good luck, though!!

Oh man, as a non-stroller person I’m no help. I am thinking about going to see what kind of jogging strollers kid to kid has…. this mama needs to work of some of this post baby softness.

Send me an email if you get this comment. I have both a Joovy Caboose and the Phil and Teds with doubles kit I am done having babies and I’d be happy to talk to you about making a deal. I LOVE my Phil and Teds stroller. I really never use it. I’d be willing to just give you the Joovy Caboose, or if you really want the Phil and Teds maybe we can make some sort of a deal. I have used the Joovy quite a bit. It is orange and still in really good condition. I’d be happy to bring it to you. Just send me an email and we can talk.

Kerry

I had a sit and stand years ago when my first two were small. The older chilc (3) at the time loved it! It served the purpose until #3 arrived!
Good luck!

I’m a bit late in responding to this – but here’s my 2 bits.

I LOVE the double stroller we bought….or at least the 2nd double stroller we bought.

I had a Joovy sit and stand style stroller and hated it. My 2 year old would just jump off the platform and run off – all.the.time! And if I would strap him in he would scream that it wasn’t comfortable and we had all kinds of issues. I also don’t love ones that are like a mile long because I’d run into all kinds of things when I’d try to turn around.

Then we bought the Combi double stroller and I was in love. It folds up very nicely, fits through doors just fine, does great on walks, Disneyland, etc. I also have a Combi single stroller and it is one of the best purchases I’ve made with my kids. LOVE them!

OOps – here is a link to the Combi Twin Sport: http://www.combistrollers.com/ProductDetails.aspx?CategoryID=1&selection=9&Children=0&productID=783

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