Best stroller for a newborn and a 2 year old

[..and another makes 2]

Can anyone offer advice on our current situation...

* new baby due in June 08
* Our toddler will be 2 then
* We have 1 Graco stroller with baby capsule
* We have 1 lightweight Maclaren stroller

What should we do next year ??

Buy a new 2 person stroller - for the newborn + toddler ?

Which one is best ?

Use what we have...?


Any advice would be great!


Proud Dad

[sling]

use a sling or a baby bjorn for the babe and decide later. a stroller is not exactly one of the must-haves before baby arrives.

[Caligirl]

Hi Proud Dad:

Congrats on your impending arrival!

I think "Sling" has a good point. I just gave birth to baby #2 and have a 2 year old, and I am Baby Bjorning it until I am able to collect our new double stroller in the States.

There's no need to rush a double stroller purchase UNLESS you have the opportunity to visit a country where the prices and selection are superior to Singapore (i.e. U.S., Australia).

Having said that, there are a few things to take into consideration when buying a double stroller. First, what primary purpose will it serve? Long walks on pavement...or quick trips to the mall? If the former, then you might want to look into one of the all-terrain models (Phil & Ted's, Valco, Mountain Buggy, etc.) If the latter, perhaps a lighter model might be more appropriate (like the MacLaren). Whether you have a car or not is also a factor to consider, as some of the heavier models are a nightmare to fold up into the trunk of a cab.

I posted a related thread earlier this year, which you might find of some interest. In the end, we decided to go with the Phil & Ted's double (the new Sport model). We don't have a car, and I walk quite a bit -- those were the deciding factors in choosing this particular model.

http://www.expatsingapore.com/forum/index.php/topic,11409.0.html

Best of luck with your decision & again, congrats on your impending arrival!

[Mum of three girls]

I was going to suggest the P&T also. It converts easily back to a single stroller when your doubling days are over and isn't too wide to fit through doorways.

I also found a good quality scooter/skateboard that attached to the back of my Maclaren worked well for short mall trips. It's a good idea to get a scooter that is small enough to fit in the underbasket of the stroller and to carry a sling for when the toddler decides that THEY want the stroller.

You still have a bit of time (you really don't need to buy anything until the baby is born or even a few weeks old)so I'd look around for a bit longer and hopefully buy something on sale or on a overseas trip.

[limitedchoices]

in singapore, there are limited options for double prams - the shops i called explained that they don't carry many models because customers find them too bulky and in cases where one seat goes in front of another, the design of the back seat (usually for newborns) can be get quite cramped if you have a big baby.

it also depends on your plans about using an infant carseat, that makes things even more complicated. i know because i'll be in the same situation in Jan and have not found anything suitable yet. e.g. the P&T looks like the best double to me but if you want to put a infant carseat on top, the toddler can't go below so it's really a single then. i have seen 2 at m o t h e r c a r e. one can take a carseat but very bulky, the other more streamlined model can't....problem is both weigh almost 15kg on its own!

anyway...because of the limited options and because we currently have 2 prams, the decision made is not to buy a double for now and assess the situation again when the baby actually arrives. we're also going back to UK next summer so maybe we will see something we like there. but for now, this is how we plan to go around:
1) if husband's with me (so that's 4 of us) or i'm alone with the baby while my toddler is in school, we will use our travel system pram so that baby travels in the infant carseat while toddler goes in lightweight stroller and wears joeysafe harness in cab.
2) if i'm going someone's house for a playdate, i will put baby in infant carseat and toddler in joeysafe.
3) if i am out and about with 2 kids to the shops, i will wear baby in a carrier while toddler goes in lightweight stroller.
I would love not to do option 3 as our priority is to have baby in an infant carseat for as much as possible in first year. however, we don't have a car and i don't want to assume that cab drivers will always help me with a massive buggy and/or have the patience to wait for me to strap 2 kids on safely before driving off - as it is most of them seldom even wait for me to put my seatbelt on before dashing off! i guess there's always the option of training your toddler to walk independently. mine is a runner and usually unstoppable and when he does walk side by side, he gets tired and can't do a very long stretch so the buggy board is out for us for the moment.

hope this helps, be sure to post back if you think you see something suitable!

[maddie]

I don't like little babies in slings all the time.  Think it's better for them to be lying down (just my opinion) especially for longer durations.  Saying that, don't think babies spend as much time in prams here due to the heat, people using public transport ect. At home my babies spend so much time in their prams sleeping, long walks etc that you did need a good solid one.

[my 2 cents]

double strollers are fabulous in your situation (we were in same situation) but wait - you can't really use them properly with 2 kids until the youngest is about 6 months old so wouldn't get one now, but wait a few months. I would also go second hand - I just bought one by putting ad up at Tanglin Marketplace (wanted to buy ad) and bought one at less than half price they are selling them new - and it was brand new as previous owners bought it for newborn twins who don't like it (fact: I don't know a newborn who would like it!!). They are not worth $695 new as they get so dirty so fast. So I would wait about 6 months then get one second hand - I found out via my ad that there are lots of them sitting in garages and spare rooms that have rarely been used. We use the d/stroller ALL the time - botanic gardens, zoo, etc - we would not live without it. Our two kids are now 3 and 18 months old - it is a god send.

[rush]

I found the best way to stop cab drivers rushing off was to leave the door open while I strapped everyone in. Worked well and I was less stressed. If they got grumpy I told them to turn on the meter. Can't help with the original question though sorry. Will be in the same situation soon.