We are expecting our 2nd child and I've started looking at double strollers. I definitely know what features I want in a double stroller, but wanted to know what brands you recommend or don't recommend. Our daughter will be 2 when the new baby arrives. Price is not really an issue, as we are willing to spend quite a bit to get a great stroller. So far, I've been comparing Bumbleride's Indy Twin and BabyJogger's City Mini or Elite, but am open to others. Thank you!
We definitely want/need:
side-by-side design
able to fit through standard doorway
the ability to snap an infant carrier into the stroller
swivel wheels
one-hand fold
a snack tray for each child
compact fold to fit upright in the back of an SUV
Thank you for everyone who read my post and responded with suggestions that fit my requirements. I've been looking at the BOB Revolution 12" and at the Baby Jogger City Mini. With a few calls to the companies about how the infant carriers/belly bars/snack trays function, we've decided to go with the BOB. Baby Jogger cannot use the infant carrier on one side and a snack tray on the other side, only one or the other, and they're super behind their orders for their accessories and can't fill the orders currently. The BOB Revolution 12" fulfills all our requrements and looks like a great stroller. Thank you to everyone who helped!
We've been really happy with our BOB. It doesn't have snack trays but you may be able to buy them, we just never looked into it.
I should add we don't live in the city so that may make a difference but it's great on all terrain for trailing walking or whatever else you may want to do.
BOB strollers are the best! The snack tray (which is also the infant attachment) is extra. So is a drink holder for you.
Other than that, it has everything you are asking for.
Our son was the same age as your daughter will be when our new little guy came along and it has been wonderful. Roomy, good visor coverage, easy to push. The tires are not plastic and is good on off road.
We got ours through REI and they assembled it for us, which is awesome!
I LOVE my city mini double stroller by baby jogger. It's pretty light compared to most of the double strollers, folds up small and easy, and fits through a standard doorway. My son was 28 months when my second son was born and he was and still is VERY active. I knew the sit and stand wouldn't work for me b/c he needed to be strapped into a stroller. I did two things to make this stroller work for me. First, I bought a car seat replacement clip and added it to the stroller harness so it created a 5-point harness for my 2 year old--otherwise he was squirming out of the straps. Second, I purchased the belly bar. This was a lot cheaper than the car seat adapter and works great for strolling around stores (I wouldn't suggest jogging with it like that). I secure my youngest son's car seat to the stroller/belly bar by pulling the straps up from the back of the stroller seat and wrapping them into the seatbelt grooves of the car seat. Make sure the stroller straps are tight and the car seat stays in place. I liked this option better for my 2 year old as well. With the infant carrier adapter, the other seat can't have a snack tray and a snack tray was essential for keeping my 2 year old at bay while we were shopping :) The other thing I do is put a kidopotamus snuggli in the baby's seat and he can lay down or sit up very comfortably. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me. I searched high and low for the right double stroller and I'm really happy with my purchase. I looked at the city elite and thought it was just too big. It was a lot heavier and didn't fold up as compactly as the mini (when the mini is folded, I can fit it behind the third row seat of my suv, I couldn't fit the elite). I noticed last time I was in buy buy baby that baby jogger has come out with another double stroller - the elite. Looked really nice. Super pricey and a lot heavier than the mini, but definitely seemed to have a lot more options. Congratulations on your growing family and good luck!
My sister has a BOB stroller and I can't say enough good about it, especially compared to the Graco I used for my kiddos. I can push it with one finger through gravel! And my 4-year-old can push it easily. My sister uses it to jog and for everything else. It's a great all around stroller that seats two and folds up easily. She bought hers on craigslist so it wasn't as expensive as they normally are.
I have two boys, one that is 26 months and the other is 5 months. I bought the City Mini, and love it! I have only really used at the mall, and around downtown in Flagstaff but it fits through standard doors and is really easy to manage. I also have a Nissan Murano, and it fits easily in the trunk, and I still have extra room. It is really easy to fold, and unfold and I have been using it since my second little guy was born. The only thing I do not like about it, is it is really hard to get in the bottom basket while the boys are in the stroller (almost impossible)!! All in all I wouldn't change it, I really like it. Good luck.
I have had my share of double strollers over the years and I HATE my side by side. Yes, it fits through doorways, just barely, but forget shopping with it in stores like Kohls, or any other store where you have to leave the main aisle to look at things. I was constantly getting snagged on clothes, racks, and tables. I really would reccomend the tandem style stroller. I LOVE my graco quattro tour duo, the front seat is nice and big for the older child, and when the child is bigger its a much easier in and out. I kinda wished I had looked into the sit and stand stroller that converst from a 2 seater to a sit and stand. I could really use that style now with my kids getting a bit older.
I noticed that you want a side-by-side...consider the front /back style. Even with the front/back one I had, I sometimes had a hard time getting through the aisles at stores while shopping. Just because you can get in the door doesn't mean you can get through an aisle. When you are at Target, the mall, Kohl's, etc. check out how much room is in between the aisles of clothes before making a decision. Congrats on your upcoming arrival!
