Large, easy to handle double stroller?

[Patsfan7]

We have been browsing double strollers because we are due with number two in a few months. The strollers that we have come into contact with don't seem to have all the ammenities that we are looking for, and wanted to know if anyone had any suggestions on good ones.

We would like one that is easy to control, and is large enough for our daughter (who is presently 35 pounds and 38 inches tall and looks squished in many of the double strollers already, never mind over the next year or two as she grows). Preferably would like it to hold the car seat for the infant, and have a snack/drink tray for kids and parents alike. I have been told that the side by side ones are much easier to manuver, but I have not seen one that will hold an infant car seat. Are there any, or are there any front to back ones that are easy too? I know I am asking alot, but if anyone has seen anything that may fit the bill, could you share your experience? Thank you in advance.

 

[TinkBoo&ElliesMum]

Side by sides are much easier to use, especially with an older and heavier child. Belle is 36 pounds and 40 inches, we briefly had a Peg Perego Tender XL but it was nearly impossible to push with her in the front seat and she was squished in the back seat. The Peg Perego Duette would provide more room and will take an infant seat (only the Peg Perego seat). Gracos doubles will take a car seat and so will the Evenflo, but neither of them will hold an older child comfortably, at least they didn't hold mine! I had a Combi twin savvy and was able to sit our graco seat in it and it was stable. We ended up buying a Phil and Teds Kiwi e3 with doubles kit, it has a basinet area for the baby and a snap on seat for the older child. It can be used as a single or a double. The snap on seat can also be used for the baby when they get older. It's really three strollers in one. It folds flat, it's a jogger though, but the front wheel swivels. Here are my girls in it at the Magic Kingom:

I think you're going to be hard pressed to find a double stroller with all the features you're looking for, so I'd pick and choose which ones are really important and go from there. Having one that will fit an infant seat and older/larger child is going to be the biggest challenge I bet! I know we had that problem.

Good luck!

 

[hipmaman]

In general the side-by-side strollers are easier to manuever because the weight are near to you, while the tandem/in-line strollers are harder to steer/push because the heavier child is at the front and further away from the pusher. Hovever, there are hybrid tandem strollers that is actually a single stroller but with the option of adding a seat for a toddler to convert to a 'double' stroller. These are made easy to manuever too.

On the other hand, the side-by-side must be just wide enough to accomodate 2 seats but narrow enough to fit through a door way. For this reason, you don't really see carseat usable with sbs strollers.

I don't know what kind of price range you are considering, but there are some great double out there that you can consider.

If you do a search on Mountain Buggy, Kiwi (or the company's name is Phil and Ted's Most Excellent Buggy), ABC, Valco, Peg Perego, etc. you'll find there are quite a few models to consider. These can be more expensive than the run-of-the-mill strollers at stores like BRU but they are 'quality' and have high resale values.

Hope that helps.

 

[mjmcca]

I have gone through 3 double strollers. We had the Eddie Bauer tandem http://www.babyage.com/product_details.aspx?productid=10166&cp=gogl7284

The model we had could not accomodate an infant seat the current model can.It also allows you to reverse the front seat so that the children can face one another. The only problem was the weight limit is 40lbs. DS exceeded that early in my ownership. Eventually using it with him being overweight took its toll and i got a Jeep Wagoneer Tandem.http://www.babyage.com/SearchResult...chfor=jeep+stroller&brandsearch=n&cp=gogl8991


This one had a lot of storage space with 2 side bags.This stroller also saw a lot of wear and my DS is a large boy.


I went looking for a stroller that would accomodate a larger amount of weight and would be easy to fold since i was planning on taking it to Disney and wanted to try the bus system. Impossible with the tandems.


I decided on the Maclaren Rally Twin . http://www.babyage.com/SearchResult...1&searchfor=Maclaren+rally+twin&brandsearch=n

I really like it so far and wish i had spent the money on this one earlier. Maclaren also has another twin model with a few more features you may be interested in with a newborn.

 

[JennsBabySky]

I second the vote for the Phil and Teds E3 with doubles. I love mine!! There are two different ways for the double stroller attachment to attach. The second seat (for the older child) attaches to the front of the stroller with the back of the seat totally down (like a bassinet). Great for babies with an older sibling. When both are older and want to look out, the second seat is now attached behind the upright stroller seat (second seat basically "elongates" the basket). This is great for when you will only need a double stroller occasionally and also want to fit through doorways and have great steering.

I've tried tons of double strollers and the "perfect" one is not out there. I prefer side by sides over tandems for steering. But I find side by sides to be too wide for comfortable use. Also, the Maclarens fold the best and have the best steering, but they are not very plush and they don't have a napper bar. For a while I used the inglesina twin jet. It is on the wide side, but super plush and comfy with large hoods. Unofficially, it can accomodate an infant seat. I also have the Valco Twin Rounabout. I love this for walks and Disneyland, but has a bulky fold so it might be hard to use on WDW transportation. For a jogging style stroller, it is relatively narrow (a real plus). Even though I haven't found the perfect stroller for me, the E3 is as close as I have come. I take it to Disneyland all the time and everyone wants to know where to get one because it works out so well there.

For reference, my little ones are almost 5 (skinny, but tall) and just turned 1.

Hope this helps,
Jennifer

 

[2PrincessesRmine]

I just checked out this stroller (Phil and Teds E3 ) and it seems very strange to me. I can't imagine that either of my children would sit in that bottom seat. The concept seems great, but I just don't see it happening. The perfect stroller DOES NOT exist. Trust me I've been looking. I currently have the Eddie Bauer Stadium Seating All Terrain Tandem Stroller
I do like it. It's definitely big. And it has some issues, but it seems like it might be an option for "patsfan7" - it has all the qualities that you are looking for - as for being easy to control - just be sure to put the baby in the front. Good Luck!

 

[Brina]

with my twins I loved the MacClaren - we had a model that is no longer in production (and mommy brian is preventing my remembering the name). Hoever, I have heard that with two children of very differnt size that a sbs can be awkward to steer. This is just something I heard from others, not something I have experienced myself.

 

[JennsBabySky]

I just checked out this stroller (Phil and Teds E3 ) and it seems very strange to me. I can't imagine that either of my children would sit in that bottom seat. The concept seems great, but I just don't see it happening./QUOTE]

I TOTALLY thought the same thing. It just looked weird and I could not see either child wanting the backseat. Well, I saw one parked at Disneyland one day and it didn't look so weird. After months of thinking about it, I finally bought it. We love it! The kids both want to sit in the back (it is the seat of choice). Apparently, that is super common! I usually put my tall, but lightweight daughter in the back. She likes to be able to sit in the stroller, but because of the height, she can get in and out by herself. It has harness straps, but since she is almost 5 and very well behaved, I don't buckle her in (actually, I'd prefer she walked, but with the baby riding, so does she).

Good luck,
Jennifer

 

[Patsfan7]

Thank you all for so many GREAT suggestions! I have a little while to make a decision, but I am glad to have all of you to give me pro's and con's I may not have otherwise thought of.

 

[HenryMom]

Check out the "Places to Go: Strollers" forum at the Baby Bargains website.
Here's the link: http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/dcboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=14

It's a great resource & really helped me when I was looking for a double. We ended up getting a Mountain Buggy, which I love!

Good luck!

~HenryMom

 

[NotUrsula]

The Stroller board at IVillage is also excellent; there are a lot of stroller collectors there, including the now-famous StrollerQueen: http://messageboards.ivillage.com/iv-ppstrollers

No stroller comes on the market anywhere in the WORLD that that group doesn't dissect in every way possible. Ask a question there and you will get the most thorough answer you could hope for.

 

[Katd52]

TinkBoo&ElliesMum,
We also have the Kiwi E3 and I can't decide if I should bring it to WDW next week. I have a 2.5 yo ds and a 7 month old dd who would be riding in it. How was it at WDW? Did you take the busses and if so how easy was it to fold up and bring on and off? At this point I'm planning on taking 2 singles. An Ingesina Zippy for the baby and I just bought an Inglesina Swift yesterday for my 2.5 yo but I may reconsider.I really haven't used my E3 too much in doubles mode since my dd is so young and I didn't care for the newborn configuration much.
Thanks!

 

[TinkBoo&ElliesMum]

TinkBoo&ElliesMum,
We also have the Kiwi E3 and I can't decide if I should bring it to WDW next week. I have a 2.5 yo ds and a 7 month old dd who would be riding in it. How was it at WDW? Did you take the busses and if so how easy was it to fold up and bring on and off? At this point I'm planning on taking 2 singles. An Ingesina Zippy for the baby and I just bought an Inglesina Swift yesterday for my 2.5 yo but I may reconsider.I really haven't used my E3 too much in doubles mode since my dd is so young and I didn't care for the newborn configuration much.
Thanks!

We LOVED it at WDW, my almost 3 year old could ride when she wanted, and when she wasn't (which was often) we put the baby in the main seat. We didn't take it on the bus, with three kids we figured it was easier to use the free parking we got for staying on site and park the car. We did take it on the ferry/boats and the monorail without problems though! It was a fabulous stroller to have with us though, it didn't take up huge amounts of room, but both girls were comfortable. We have the pannier bags so we used those to bring in gatorade and snacks for the kids on one side and the other side was loaded with diapers and wipes. DH decided after our second day that he totally loved the stroller and I was to never ever get rid of it!

 

[misslauri]

I hate double strollers. I cried when I had to shop for one. But, I found this alternative, which does pretty well. It's a sit and stand stroller, with a normal stroller seat in the front, and a, well, for lack of better words, "jump seat and platform" on the back. My 7 month old sits happily in the stroller seat, and my 3 year old walks along. When she's tired, she either climbs into the jump seat or stands on the platform. Makes getting her on and off rides so much easier! It is a little tough to fold, give yourself some extra time b4 that WDW bus shows up, but pushing it is a breeze. I think it can accomodate infant seats, but I'm not 100% sure, I just used my Baby Bjorn when my son was that little.

Here is the amazon link, I can't find a normal info page on it...

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/t.../103-6285977-2883032?v=glance&s=baby&n=542436