Double Stroller - Elgin,IL

I have a 3 year old who is 40 inches tall and 40 pounds a nd a new baby due in 3 weeks. The only 2 strollers that by big guy fit into was the Jovvy caboose and the baby jogger side by side. I wanted something where my big guy could actually sit down and take a nap if needed. My 3 year old did not fit into the bob he is too tall the front and back doubles have could not carry enough weight to make them worth while. While some people say you do not need a double I know that my big guy can not make through ohare on his own or on a trip so I really wanted something he would feel comfotable in too! I hope this helps. I have been researching double strollers for over 6 months!!

I have an almost 3 year old and a 2 month old. I got the Baby Trend Sit-n-Stand Double. Right now I have my baby in his carseat in the back and my daughter in the front. The model I got can have a regular stroller seat in the back or the jump seat/platform for when my daughter doesn't want to ride anymore. My Graco snugride infant seat fits in either position, which is nice. I absolutely love the stroller. There's trays with cup holders for both kids and for parent. The basket underneath has great storage - you just have to reach in from the side instead of the back. It's relatively lightweight, folds down to a reasonable size, and steers just fine. It got it at Target for $180.

My favorite stroller by far is the Joovy Ultralite - it has the seat in front for the baby and a platform and seat in back for the toddler to eiter sit or stand. This stroller is lighter then my single Graco, incredibly easy to handle, and folds nicely. My kids are 2 years apart and I originally bought the Peg double, but even then my 2 year old wasn't interested in sitting in it. The Joovy is great, my now 3 year old can sit down, or walk as she pleases and I don't have to attempt to manuveur a gigantic double! (BTW, if you are interested in this stroller be sure to get the Ultralite version, it's much lighter and worth the extra $).

We had a front and back one. The side side sounds great in theory---but it doesn't fit thru aisles in stores at all and pushing two kids of such different weights side by side is a nightmare. We tried the kids out in several before we bought. I pushed them around the store so I had an idea. We got an Evenflo. I loved it---even more than our single stroller.

I have 2 year old twins, and after trying front-and-back (and feeling like I was in a different zip code from the front one), and side-by-sides that never fit through the doorways and took up three-quarters of the trunk space in our mini-van, we ended up with a different option -- two regular $18 umbrella strollers clipped together with $20 stroller clips from babies r us. There's a learning curve on pushing it, since the front wheels can bump and sometimes have to be nudged around, but it collapses down to almost no space in the car, and if we have two adults, we can just take the clips off (they are very easy to work) and have two umbrella strollers. Best of all, faced with a narrow door, it's possible to push one stroller in ahead of the other, or take the strollers apart completely, making it a very flexible system. Good luck!

City Mini, Baby Jogger Double - LOVE IT!!! It was a more expensive than some to the inexpensive models, but it is way worth it!! It pushes so easy and fits through all doors that I have tried to go through. I have been shopping in a mall up and down clothes isles with it. I am so glad that I spent the money on it and didn't waste money on a stroller I didn't like. BuyBuy Baby has them if you want to look and test it out. Good Luck!
Also, take your kids to the store and try them out with the kids in them. Even if that means that the store staff needs to take something off the stroller to let you use it. It really made it easy to decide which strollers we didn't want and what worked so very nice!! Pushing two kids around is a lot of weight and some of the strollers are very very hard to push.

My girlfriend with twins warned me against side-by-side strollers, so I purchased the front/back Graco DuoGlider and I loved it. However, since your firstborn is almost 3, I would strongly recommend a sit-and-stand stroller, giving your 3 year the option of walking when she wants and sitting when she needs to. She'll enjoy having some freedom, in comparison to the baby!

I have a side by side (combi- I forgot the brand since I bought it at a garage sale) and a front to back. Side by side sounds great but even though they do fit through most doors, the wheel gets stuck and then you are like a car trying to fit into a small parking spot. Then it doesn't allow them to sit straight up so they try to pull themselves up and get frustrated. I found a peg perago (spelling?) front to back and I like it much better. My kids like to sit straight up and this allows them to do so. The wheels are nice and smoothing riding. I bought mine at a garage sale. Look on craigslist/ebay

i love my combi.....i have used it on 3 kids....my youngest is 2 & oldest is 5 & we still get lots of use out of it....and yes it fits thru doorways no problem, theres a couple inches so not a whole lot of room......but i started out with a front/back but it caused problems with who gets to sit in front....& i didnt like how the jeep fit in the car, no room for other stuff, & the weight was heavy (i am petite) the combi is amazing it literally folds in half & its very lightweight....good luck

Oh, the perfect stroller.....Don't think it exists. ;-)
I have been in search of it and found that you need more than one to meet all your needs...outdoor, travel, shopping, etc.
I have a combi twin and a joovy sit and stand. I like them both. I usually like the sit n stand for the indoor stuff, like the mall, because it is easier to get thru isles and my son can get in and out (there are straps in the back if you don't want your older one to run out at whim.
The combi is great for travel b/c it is super light and when folded you can carry over your shoulder with a strap. The seats recline for napping and you can fit your infant seat in it. The manufacturer states only the combi seat fits, but my graco fit, maybe not to the standards of what the manufacturer can say, but that seat was not going anywhere.
The draw back is that the combi has little to poor accessible storage and no trays or cup holders.
The closest thing I found to the perfect stroller to fit my needs was the Double City Mini. Last year, it did not have the option of holding the infant seat. Now it does. I am so bummed b/c I thought that one was great for everything, even jogging. I ran to someone in the mall that had one and they loved it. You can test one out at Buy Buy Baby in Downers Grove.
BTW, don't let the not fitting b/w the isles at a department store be a deal breaker for the side by side. It rarely has been a problem, b/c how often do you really shop like that with the kids. Those strollers fit thru all standard door ways.
Hope this helps.
Good luck and I hope this helps.

We have the sit-n-stand for my 3 yr. old & 10 mo. old. I first got the Graco double stroller. I hated it & so did my baby. She had no visibility, it was just designed poorly. So, we bought the sit-n-stand & both kids love it! My son feels like a big kid sitting on the little seat or standing. It could be easier to steer, but can't they all?

T.
www.mydiaperbabycakes.com

D.,
I have the Peg Perego Aria side by side and LOVE it! And yes it does fit through doorways and aisles in the malls/stores. It has plenty of storage but only 1 cup holder. The seats are 40/60 (or something like that) so one side is larger to accommodate a car seat and the other seat is a bit smaller for the older child. Since it is Peg Perego's "umbrella" stroller it is very light weight. We have the Peg Perego Centro (single stroller) and they weigh the same (love both strollers!). I personally find the extra money you may spend for a Peg is well worth it. While researching this stroller I found several on Craig's list.
Good luck!

Hi D. -

I have the BOB Doulie. I love it! It is side by side and I have not had any problems with it fitting thru doors. It is great for indoor or outdoor! I think that the only downfall is the drink holders. It is not included with the stroller and the one they make for it isn't that great.

Good Luck.

R.

I've had both the front/back and side by side. I prefer the side by side a lot better. I didn't like pushing such a long stroller, I prefer the wider one. And double strollers can only be as wide as a wheelchair. And buildings are designed to fit wheelchairs so you don't have to worry about it not fitting through doorways. And with the side by side, the storage underneath is great - nice and big.

I have 3 y.o. and 4 m.o. too! Funny! Anyway, I opted for the tandem stroller rather than side-by-side. Side-by-sides are hard to fit through doorways, and going through clothes racks and the mall, impossible! I have the Graco Quattro Duo and love it. A ton of storage, cupholders for all, easy manueverability, folds up just a smidge bigger than my single, and not too heavy. I think it's great. Big decision, good luck!