Seeking Stroller Advice

My kids are now 7, 5 & 3 and are 20 and 21 months apart respectively. I personally liked the Mountain Buggy Urban Double. It was heavy, but I could take both younger kids in the front seats and I had a Kiddy Board attached to the rear axle so my oldest could ride when he got tired. The Mountain Buggy has attachments to you can clip on infant car seats too. They are extra and the whole set up is expensive, but it retains it's value. I had paid over $400 for mine in 2004 and sold it for $250 this year. I really got my use out of it with all three kids. I did my research to find a good stroller. Back then, it was harder to find this stroller from New Zealand. Below are the sources I used:

The best source for the latest greatest strollers is:
http://www.strollerqueen.com/

This lady was stroller obsessed when she had kids and is now an expert who keeps up with all the latest. She even has a system where she "test drives" strollers to determine control, terrain and storage among others. There's also a yahoo group:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Strollersandbeyond/?v=1&amp...

This group collectively has the most real life experience with strollers and can also help with advice.

Hi H.,

I am in the process of doing the same research you are please let me know where you find the best deals.

We have a two and a half year old little boy and are expecting twins most likely in May as well.

Thanks so much
R.'

Good afternoon! Congrats on your exciting news!! I have a friend who had twins and she learned that the side by side were the worst...we could never go shopping or anything without having trouble pushing it thru the store! They do have a back to back where the babies can see each other and then the back has a stand up area for an older child. It was awesome when she finally got that one!!!

H. Bush
Chunky Monkey Photography

Check out www.pamom.org. You can join for free until your twins are 3 months old. You can shop for strollers etc. from other twin moms with the online ads. You can get great advice from other similar moms.

I don't have your answer, but feel your pain. My first set of twins were 3 when my 2nd set were born.

Congrats on your twins! My boys are now 4 and I remember looking at lots of strollers. We just ended up with a graco tandom one that went with our infant carriers. It worked fine. I also ended up getting a jeep side by side lightweight stroller when they got out of their infant carriers. They were kicking eachother too much in the tandem one. The side by side was alot lighter and easier than the bigger one. Just make sure whatever you buy fits through doors. That was my only problem when I was looking. So many were too wide and there are a ton of places you need to fit through a single door. Also a big underneath basket is a must! I also signed up for a magazine/website that was so helpful when the boys were babies. www.twinsmagazine.com.
Good luck! We were shocked too about the boys (I have a 8 year old daughter too) but now its so fun to watch them together...when they arent fighting! ; )
I live in flower mound so if you ever need anything feel free to pm me!

H.,

My oldest son was 13 months when my twin boys were born. I am not a Mom, but a Dad who managed to survive this as well.
We bought an inline carriage, rather than a side by side, as a lot of aisles in places are really difficult to manuever a side by side. My one year old would hang on to the handle with his feet on the rack underneath, and he thought that was a very cool way to travel.
I never tried a 3 seater.
It has been years, but I think ours was a Graco.
The only problem we ever had was the one riding in back sometimes would use the head of the one in front as a target.
Twins are awesome, and you will be amazed at how much pure joy you are going to have from them.
People with 2 kids close together will tell you it is the same as having twins. It is not.
Good luck. I am envious.

I don't have advice on specific brands, however if your oldest will be 2 when you have the twins I would highly recommend a triple stroller! I don't have multiples, but I am a foster parent and very often have found myself with 3 under the age of 3 and I would have gone crazy without one! Another option is to have the double stroller and carry one in a front carrier. But I much prefer the triple stroller.
Congratulations!!

Hi H.,

Congratulations on your twins! Our BB twins were a complete shock to us as well and we had no idea how we would do it but we've survived. Our boys are 11 months old now. We also have an 8 year old boy who is a wonderful big brother and huge help to me. I registered for the Contours Tandem stroller and we received that for Christmas. Another one of my friends also sent us a Maclaren side-by-side stroller. I use the side-by-side stroller a lot more often because it's light weight and easier to manage. But I do love the Contours Tandem for most other occassions. If at all feasible, I would recommend having both kinds of strollers. The Contours is so adjustable (we usually have the boys facing each other since they enjoy each others' company - at the moment). Also, if you choose the Contours Tandem the only stores in metroplex that sell them are the Baby Depot (Burlington Coat Factory) either in Richardson or I think there's one in Grapevine. Target, Babies R Us, and I think even Wal-Mart offer it online only. I do remember seeing 1 or 2 triple strollers on www.craigslist.com. They are not common and I never saw one in a store.

If you need someone to talk to, advice about anything, or even want to come check out my strollers... don't hesitate to email me ____@____.com. I have some great books you can read too!

Good luck,
S.

You should also check out www.ndmotc.org. We have a HUGE semi-annual sale twice a year, with the next one end of March/early April. If you know what you want you can get amazing prices at the sale, or ask on the message board before then. AND you can sell your items in the sale once you're done with them.

I would look at a double side-by-side with one of the attachments that an older child stands on. It attaches to the back of the stroller. For me tandems were hard to push around, and almost impossible on a street because you can't pop up the front wheels to get up onto a curb.

Good luck! Multiples are fun. :)

Hi H....I am here whenever you need a friend. I have a 26 month old little lady and my TRIPLETS are 9 months old. I know that right know you are wondering how will you do this...but you will get thru it. Family is a great support and friends are the best second. But whenever you need someone to talk to or advice of something to buy let me know...this is my personal email and I will help answer any questions or even if you need a mommy time out. A good friend of mine has twin girls so together I think we can answer any questions....just remember that life will get easier and routines are your friend...and congrats

R. ____@____.com

H.-
Congrats on your double blessing! twins are a blast! I have a 6 year old, 3 year old and 6 month twins. All boys. I know what it is like to expect one but get two instead. Like you I wanted to know what the best stroller would be and got the advice of all the mother's of mulitiples that I could find. I highly suggest you get hooked up already with a mothers of multiples group. They are free while you are pregnant and are a good resource. They have books that you can read for free, the always have an understanding ear, and they have garage sales. This is one of the best places to find your stroller.

My best friend had twins 7 years ago and I remember trying to get her twin stroller in the trunk of her car. She had one that would also accomodate carries while they were infants. It took two of us. It was a bus.I didn't want that for me. Now Graco makes a Snap and Go stroller. It is only the frame and it only acoomodates the infant carriers. It is light weight, folds up esy enough to go through airport scanners and turns on a dime. I use it right now with my infants. Like another mom said my 3 year old likes to stand on the basket and hold the handle bars when he gets tired of walking.

I really wanted the triple stroller that would have the sit and stand option for a third child. I thought this would be best for my aged children. When I did the research I found that when the stroller was folded up, the only way to store it in my minivan would be to but the backseat down. This is not an option for me since I need those seats. be careful with triplet strollers for this reason.

When the boys outgrow this Snap and Go, I have a side by side stroller that folds up easily and small as well. When you have the twins you will see how important this is. At mothers of multiples garage sales you can try out all these strollers and see which fits your needs best. I love the idea of getting the attachment for your two year old.

I live in Grapevine if you ever need a friend or a helping hand. I will also be selling my Snap and Go for $50 when we are done with it in May.

Good luck. The best advice I got is that it does get easier. Just hang in there.
S.