Talk Me Out of a Phil & Ted's! (Or into One)

I did a lot of research on doubles before deciding to buy the BOB revolution duallie. It is wider, but it has higher quality components (read: metal, not plastic), excels for jogging and as one reviewer said BOB's are the equivalent to buying a bike at a bike shop versus buying one from a department store.

Ooooohhh... I hated the Phil and Teds when I tried it out. One kid has to sit almost on the ground and has no view of anything at all. The baby won't fit in the bottom seat, so your three year old will be stuck in the back whining about not being able to see (at least that's what happens with my friend). We bought the Bob instead and LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE it. Sure, it's wide, but it's no wider than a wheelchair so it fits through all doors. And most places we take a stroller it doesn't matter the width anyway - long walks, zoo, Target, etc.

Seriously, the double Bob is great.

My neighbor had one, and she watched our son regularly. If it wasn't for that Phil and Ted's, I don't know how they would have gone anywhere! She let us use it a few times, and it was wonderful. There were only two drawbacks that I noticed. They are rather heavy. They also do not fold down very compactly. Besides that, they are a dream!

I got a Phil & Ted's Sport to use with my 4 year old and infant. I also was looking for something that would work as an "occasional" double, since most of the time my 4 year old will walk. The baby doesn't mind being in the attachment on the bottom for the few times that we use it as such, she can see out the sides, and honestly she sleeps a lot in the stroller regardless of where she is. We also got the attachment so we could clip the infant seat into the stroller. This way it replaced my "travel system" stroller and my jog stroller. It pushes nicely, folds down compactly, especially if you take the front wheel off. This last year we have traveled a lot to events where I need the double stroller (lots of walking, crowds) and it folds into a wheeled bag for the airport and held up great. I'm really pleased with it for our uses.

So, I've always wondered if I was just not getting the trendy awesomeness that was the Phil and Ted. Why would you put your smallest child in the cargo area?? Yet it costs a bazillion dollars, and people love to have it.

This weekend, I was out to lunch with a friend visiting from the UK and she was commenting on how ridiculous the Phil & Ted was and the moms in the UK are really put off by it. It dawned on me that it's just something that we have all kind of hyped up but to people "outside", it's as silly as I think it is. LOL

Seriously, though. How long can you get away with that? Toddlers will tire of looking at their siblings backside and in all reality, children learn by SEEING their environment. You want to take the kids to the zoo and then what? One kid won't be able to see anything! It will totally give kid number 2 a complex. Get a Bob.

Don't get a phil & ted's -get a bob! LOL- that is what I have and it is AWESOME! it has BIG wheel which is great in our mountainous, snowy rural community, and it has a pretty decent "under basket" to throw our stuff when we are out and about. - downside, you have to buy the handlebar console for drinks key etc separately. (woe is me hehehe!) Hey doesn't Milwaukee get snow sometimes???? (sarcasm hehe!)

Actually, get whatever works for you family. But first- price shop and look for deals! the phil & teds website mentions something about a free "double kit" hmmmm... worth checking out. look at similar strollers from other companies, like the bob stroller and their accessories and prices.

a good stroller is awesome! Consider buying a double kit or an "extra" umbrella stroller if you ever take a long trip with your kids though... because even a three year old has a limit and they could hit it when you are still 2 miles from your car at disneyland, LOL! (or the zoo, or the park, or the airport). A handy enough parent could easily store the "extra stroller" in the basket of the big one just in case... wink*

I love my Phil & Ted's. I have a 4 and 2 year old with another due in July. My kids don't complain about being in the back and they can see things just fine (it's not like you can only see things straight in front of you anyways--the world is all around!). The back is kind of like a 'jump' seat for the older one and she can get in and out to walk as she wants. It is super easy to push and navigate, I often only use one hand, even for making turns. I don't feel it's any heavier than a typical Graco or Evenflo single stroller, which is what we got when my first was born. If you can find a store to try out the strollers, I recommend that...and bring your kids with so they can try them out too. We went to the MN zoo today and did a ton of walking and I was very glad I had my Phil & Ted's!

I'm from the UK and I had a Phil and Ted and loved it.

So helpful. I used it as a double as I only have a 14 month age gap between my two. My youngest doesn't have a complex, didn't mind being in the back at all.

Easy to use and easy to maneuver.

Go for it.

R.

I love my BOB duallie! I never liked the Phil and Ted's because one child is basically relegated to the regular area where your bag would go. They can't see anything! Everyone I know who opted for the P&T over the BOB never got any use after the first year.