Graco Double Strollers & Chicco Infant Carrier - 18 mos old and new born...double stroller, side by side or front/back?

I have a Phil & Ted's Sport and LOVE IT!!! It's a terrific stroller. It's narrow and easy to navigate. My favorite part is that once my toddler decides he doesn't want to "ride" any longer, it easily converts back to a single stroller.

I would do front and back. Side by sides are really hard to get through some doorways. Put the older baby in the front if you can so she isn't kicking the little one.

My friend has 8 month old twins and she has a Combi side by side stroller. It is very lightweight and easily fits into their small SUV. It folds up nicely so that it is only as wide a single wide stroller. (It's smaller than my evenflo single travel system!!!) It is not too wide, so she never has trouble going through doorways or maneuvering around indoors. The girls seem to find it quite comfy.

My kids are 13 months apart and we have two different double strollers. One is a Burley that can also be pushed (side-by-side). We use this the most for outside. It is great for snow and ice or dirt trails. We also have a Graco front-back and it feels like we are pushing a bus. We really only use that when we go to the mall or are spending a long day out. Honestly, I would recommend getting a good baby sling. There are many very comfortable ones. It is much better for baby to be held as much as possible, and then you won't have to deal with pushing a bus. Try Pea Pod's in St. Paul. They have a variety of slings and can teach you how to use them. At least one of the kids will probably want to be held or walk most of the time anyway. There have been times I've been stuck pushing an empty stroller, carrying my daughter, and letting my son walk.

As a mother of 4, a singleton, and a set of triplets (2 years apart) I would recomend the side by side. I've tried both, and several of each, and find the side by side ones to be much better. They push easier and stear better. My kids wanted to interact with each other as well and it just worked out with them side by side vs. front/back. Hope this helps.

I know the side-by-sides at hard to manuvor through doors, and narrow isles. You may find yourself in situations that the stroller just doesn't fit. I personally would go for a front-and-back.

I'd go front to back. The side by sides are nice. But a real pain, because their so wide (when your out and about: walking, shopping, etc.) Hope this helps a little.

C.

I have a 18mo and a 12wko, we got the Baby Trend duo stroller from Target and LOOOOOVVVVVVVVVEEEEEEEEEE it!!! Yes, of course it's much bigger and bulkier than a single, but that's to be expected. It comes with an adapter for pretty much ALL infant car seats that goes on the front. My daughter loves her seat in the back because she sits up higher and can see her sister and everything else. Then when she gets older I can remove the back seat and it's a "sit & stand". It is the most versatile stoller and very reasonably priced (around $150). Also the canopies are nice and large so they really protect from the sun. I would suggest this stoller to anyone. Good luck w/ your new little one!

I cant come with too much advice since I'm kinda in the same boat as you. I've been out with my husband and looking around at the stores and asking around. I found with just my daughter in the one side is that the side by side being the easiest to steer. I found the front to back very strange. Although it's narrower I really liked the side by side. I've talked to a few different sales people and they have said that people have been the most pleased with the side by side. Take my advice with a pinch of salt cause I cant say from too much experience.

When I did daycare, I had both kinds. I found that when going to places INSIDE, the side by side was VERY difficult to manuever. Recently, I went to an event and I barely fit it through the door. The boys pulled one another's hair in the behind, front kind. When I put them side by side, they hit eachother. :-) It would depend on what your primary use would be.

We have a Sit and Stand Plus. It can be used as a double stroller with 2 seats or with a seat and a place for the older child to sit/stand. It also comes with a bar to use a baby seat. We never used the seat as our little guy was born in the winter and we didn't need the double stroller until spring, and by then he could just sit in the back seat. My daughter is 4 1/2 and can still fit in the seat, but will be able to ride in the back (sit/stand) once she feels like it (she is in the "my legs are broken" stage and likes to ride a lot.

I like the way it fits in my car, it is not too heavy for me to lift and I do not feel it is too big when I am with the kids somewhere. I love it! I don't know much about side by sides, because when I was researching, I knew I didn't want something wide, so I never looked at them. But I think most of them are more like umbrella strollers. And will the baby be able to use it right away (with the car seat) and how long will your older child be able to use it (height/weight wise)? Just something to consider when making a purchase, I know double strollers are not cheap.

I have 2 girls 18 months apart, now 2 1/2 and 1 year. We have 2 double stollers: Graco double stoller and a jogging side by side stroller.

Double:
Pros:
1.)We left our baby in the car seat and just set it in the back seat of the double stoller (even though not the same brand it would click in)unitl she was able to sit up.
2.) It had a lot of storage underneath.
3.) Even though it was long it was easy to go through doors and go to the store/zoo/park with.
4.) Folded up nicely,
Cons:
1. Is heavier
2. Younger child (in back) did pull older child's hair (in Front).

Jogging Side by Side
Pros:
1. Much Easier to push, smooth ride, I actually do run with the two of them, that is how easy it is to push.
2. Both seats do recline and has great visor for shade
3. Love it on walks!!

Cons:
1. Harder to turn, I dont know if that is because it is a jogger, but you have to lift up the front to turn (Grandma hates it)
2. Children occasionally fight next to each other.
3. Even though it folds down nice it is harder to assemble. I can open the other with one hand.
4. Wider and could have trouble getting in doors.
5. No cup holders or trays.

From exprience I must have cup holders for the kids and for us pushing it, and storage. Look on craigslist and maybe you can afford both kinds. That is what we did and it is great.

M.

I don't have any suggestions on stroller type but I wanted you to beware of something we didn't think about. Size! It turns our neither of our cars will fit a double stroller in the trunk. So when purchasing a stroller, make sure it'll fit in whatever you drive!

I have two girls that are 14 months apart. We purchased a front to back. I can't remember the name off the top of my head but I really like it since the seat closest to me will lay all the way down for an infant. As she has gotten older it reclines in a seated position. Both seats have trays and canopies that are removable. It folds up almost to the size of my travel system that I used with my first. I can't complain about it..

I have two little girls who are the same amount apart as your two will be. I got a front to back double stroller when I was pregnant, but it was an older one, so it was quite long. If you decide to get a front to back I would recomend one that is as close in length to a regular full size stroller. At this point with a one year old and an almost 3 year old, if we're going for walks we usually take the wagon, we got the one that has the pop up seats w/ belts, and the baby has been good in this since she was about 6 months old. This works well for pretty much everywhere but shopping in stores. Honestly, at this point I would KILL for a sit and stand. So remember that you will be using this for some time, and my (almost) three year old looks kind of silly in a regular stroller at this point, IF I can actually get her to sit in it.
So - long story short,we usually take the stroller that came with our travel system to the store and the big girl walks, but before she was two I put the baby in the baby bjorn and the big girl was in the stroller. (This was the same for carts when there was only room for one of them btw)
Good luck!

I never gravitated towards side by side because it's too wide and I think a Duoglider by Graco back to back is hard enough in stores I couldn't imagine a side by side.

My kids are 25 month apart and we have both the Graco Duoglider and the Sit N Stand and I use both because for long outings the Graco is best so they can both sleep and the Sit N Stand is smaller and nicer to use for quick outings or walks where my oldest can get in and out. Your child may still be too little to walk along side the stoller. I'd personally get the Graco Duoglider and you can test your carseat out in it at Babies R Us. I'm not sure if your seat will work.

I was in the same situation last year. I was due at the end of September and started looking into a double stroller when I was still pregnant. However, once i thought about it a little more I decided to wait. I knew I would still be taking my older daughter to daycare while I was on maternity leave so I just used the travel system for the newborn. We didn't even have a need for a double stroller until springtime and then I was able to purchase a used one from a friend that had twins. Hers is a front/ back stroller and it does work great but I'm already thinking that at 2 1/2 my daughter would like a sit and stand better!

Since both of your kids will be young, I really recommend a double front/back. There will be plenty of times when you will want your 18 month old to have the option of falling asleep in the stroller. At the very least, you will want the "total seat". I had a double for at leat 2 1/2 years and used it all the time. Mall (winter is coming after all), parking lots, church, all activities, walking around the neighborhood... Double wides are a huge pain indoors. They don't fit well in lots of situations. Sit n' stands are great if your oldest is a little bit older... They make some great front/back double's now that fold quite small and are much more compact. But, mine was a Graco and I love it even then. Make sure if you are looking at the new fancy double joggers, where the baby goes kind of underneath, that you realize the older child may NOT be ready to get kicked out of the main seat in a few months.... My oldest was still riding in the double from time to time until he was 4. Good luck!

when i had my daughter i got a side by side cause i felt my son would think i was giving the baby more attention i love it but its harder to get through doors with the side by side and cant but the care seat on most side by sides. my son is 3 and i thought since he dpnt listen it would help but it does but doesnt

B.,

Let me preface my suggestion with a side note that I like the lightest weight double stroller I can get. I never liked those travel systems, I was all about the umbrella. That being said, I got a Jeep side by side double stroller from Toys R Us and just had my newborn in a Baby Bjorne until he/she could sit in the reclined position at about 2 months old. If your baby comes in Nov, you probably won't be outside walking until the baby is over 2 months old anyway.

Both sides recline, but not all the way, and the system comes with adjustable canopies and cup holders. There are small nylon carrying pouches off the back and I hung my diaper bag over the handle.

It has been very sturdy and will fit through any area that a wheelchair can get through, so we rarely have trouble.

If you are looking for a bulkier travel system that has more features, but still like the side by side, I saw one yesterday that can accomodate any infant carrier. I'm sorry, I didn't catch the brand name, but I am sure if you googled around you would find it. I have also heard good things about the Sit n' Stand system and have seen people put their infant carriers in one of the styles.

Good luck,
S.

We have a front-back stroller from the One Step Ahead catalog. The really nice feature is that it has two full seats, but it converts to a sit and stand when the older one is ready. We have used it both ways and are really happy with it. (Our older girl is two and just started using the jump seat, which she loves.) It also takes multiple types of carseat carriers.

A friend of ours just got a BOB side by side, which she loves, too.

My son started daycare at 8 months, and was with one other boy who was 1 year older than him. The nanny had a front and back double stroller, put the older boy in front and my baby in back. He loved it - never seemed bothered by not having the front spot, and the older boy loved having a big view. I think she chose it for manouverability. The side by side (like other posters said) was just too wide for sidewalks, stores etc. Plus with the front/back stroller you can recline the back seat for the baby's comfort. Good luck with the new arrival!

i LOVE the graco quattro and two of my friends have bought one since i got mine. it is much easier to manuever than other double strollers i have tried. i also love that the back seat lays flat which is so great for a newborn and for napping. plus, it looks cool too. i always get comments on it when we are out.

Have you considered just getting a front carrier for the newborn? If if is winter and you plan to walk with baby, the baby will be warmer next to you and get a lot lest jostled. Then as your kids grow, consider getting a front/back sit or stand stroller. The older child has the option to sit or stand. I saw one in the mall the other day and the 2 year old looked thrilled to be standing and looking about, but was wheeling along just like the little one in front.

J. M

I have had 2 sets of twins and have a side by side, and I would not recommend it. Get a front to back, I have seen some really good ones that have a seat in the back and you can put the baby car seat in the front. There a two major reasons I recommend this, one- easier to get around in stores, the side by side is too wide for most isles, second- to keep the older one from messing with the younger. Your little girl may think she is playing, but taking stuff from the younger is going to cause problems. With my twins, they all loved to take the other's bottle or toy. The next thing you know you have one touching the other one just to make them scream or cry. I hope this helps.

I actually recomend a sit and sat stroller, this will last a lot longer because your older child can still use it until he is 3 or until he wieghs about 50 lbs, plus while he is still young he can sit and be buckled in on the back seat and most of them have a car seat attachment for newborns. I love mine, I only got to use it for one summer because my daughter outgrew it, but i definitly was a key to my survival.

I had the same problem!! I wanted something for my infant and 3 year old who only sometimes wants to ride and my Eddie Bauer carseat isn't compatable with any of the other options out there.

I got a litaf Sit to Go - it's two steps (for lack of a better description) that comes with attachments for any stroller (I use it on my big travel system stroller and can also attach it to my smaller umbrella stroller) - so the older child can either sit on the top "step" and put feet on the bottom ones or can stand on the bottom "step."

The best part about this is the actual steps can detach so if your out with just the infant you can take them off.

I got mine off ebay brand new for $65 and LOVE it!

Best of luck to you!