Second baby necessities - double stroller?

[Anonymous]

DD1 is almost 2.5 years old, and getting ready to welcome DC2 in a couple months. DD1 is not a fan of her stroller, but sometimes its necessary for her to sit in it, and once she's strapped in she's normally fine after a couple minutes. Debating whether to get a double stroller, a boogie board, both, or neither. The board sounds great and I think DD1 may like it, but worried that if she resists we can't physically force her like with stroller straps. Plan to baby wear a lot at the beginning so wondering if can also get away with a single stroller for awhile. For first month we'll be driving DD1 to daycare, but switching 4-6 weeks after birth and will be a 15 min walk (assuming DD1 in a stroller, ~45 min if we let her walk herself and dawdle). Thoughts?

Also, what other gear was particularly helpful with a second kid? Other than things we gave away (bassinet) I assume we have most stuff we need already, but welcome all suggestions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DD1 is almost 2.5 years old, and getting ready to welcome DC2 in a couple months. DD1 is not a fan of her stroller, but sometimes its necessary for her to sit in it, and once she's strapped in she's normally fine after a couple minutes. Debating whether to get a double stroller, a boogie board, both, or neither. The board sounds great and I think DD1 may like it, but worried that if she resists we can't physically force her like with stroller straps. Plan to baby wear a lot at the beginning so wondering if can also get away with a single stroller for awhile. For first month we'll be driving DD1 to daycare, but switching 4-6 weeks after birth and will be a 15 min walk (assuming DD1 in a stroller, ~45 min if we let her walk herself and dawdle). Thoughts?

Also, what other gear was particularly helpful with a second kid? Other than things we gave away (bassinet) I assume we have most stuff we need already, but welcome all suggestions.

Will you eventually have your DC go to the same daycare as DD1? All three of my kids were in a stroller-hating phase right around 2.5 but were much more willing to sit in the stroller as they got older. I would consider doing the double stroller or the Joovy sit and stand if you will be doing a 15 minute walk every day with the two of them

[Anonymous]

Maybe my kids are lazy, but at 4 and 2 they still love their strollers. We just went to the zoo and I only brought one stroller. They both whined nonstop about having to share it. We bought a city select double and it's great, but it's HEAVY! The side by side is easier to maneuver. I think you'll need a double to walk to daycare and should get something like those double joovy umbrella strollers.

Our favorite is that we have two uppabbay gluxe umbrella strollers. We've taken them to Disney multiple times, on vacations, zoo trips, you name it. We really like having two separate strollers, but obviously this takes 2 people to push.

[Anonymous]

I hate double strollers. Mine are 22 months apart. I used an Ergo for the first 6 months or so for the baby and the then-2yo didn't need the stroller after that. He just walked everywhere after that.

[Anonymous]

Following; also expecting my second, although older DC will only be 23months when the new baby comes. Older kid still tolerates the stroller and structured carriers but also likes walking, so I'm tentatively planning to stick with the single stroller for now but interested to hear others' experiences.

[Anonymous]

I second the Joovy Sit and Stand recommendation! However, like all double strollers/sit and stands they are comparatively massive. You might try the walk with the baby carrier and the single stroller before you buy to see if you can get by without one. But as others have mentioned the sit and stand was helpful to us for longer walks and zoo visits (ours are 2 years apart).

Also, if you haven't already - transitioning the toddler to a toddler bed before the baby comes (if you are not planning to get a second crib).

[Anonymous]

I pushed my friend's double stroller around for a bit (twins) and I wouldn't get one of those side by side ones. It's like trying to steer a boat.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I second the Joovy Sit and Stand recommendation! However, like all double strollers/sit and stands they are comparatively massive. You might try the walk with the baby carrier and the single stroller before you buy to see if you can get by without one. But as others have mentioned the sit and stand was helpful to us for longer walks and zoo visits (ours are 2 years apart).

Also, if you haven't already - transitioning the toddler to a toddler bed before the baby comes (if you are not planning to get a second crib).

This is all very sound advice. My 3 y/o wants to walk home from daycare vs the sit and stand stroller, but in the early days of potty training we were also playing beat the clock.

[Anonymous]

We got a double tandem with the removable baby seat with a board and backfacing seat. Kids are 2.5 and 7 months. We use it everyday as we live in the city and walk everywhere.

It definitely takes getting used to but it’s worth it for us.

[Anonymous]

For an older sibling who will be closer to 3, I'd go with the sit/stand or a buggy board attachment, plus a carrier for the baby. You really, really don't want to get into the habit of pushing 238 pounds of preschooler plus double stroller around indefinitely.

FWIW, I had a single that I used for my 3 yo and newborn. I think it helped with the rivalry and encouraged feelings of "big kid-ness." I'd say things like "Baby, Big Sibling's feet are getting tired. It's time to give her a turn in the stroller." Or, "Big Sibling, will you help me push Baby up this hill? I need some extra power."

[Anonymous]

I had my kids two years apart and my one regret as far as baby items was not spending more on a double stroller. I got one that had a boogie/bench seat and layer ended up getting the seat converter. But it wasn't like having two full seats. I work full time..but on weekends we are out and about. There were many times I wished I hadn't been so cheap about the double stroller.

[Anonymous]

We never had a two seater or a boogie board. I carried my second in my Beco for the first year (first in front, then on my back) and by the time she was old enough for the stroller, the older child could walk.

[Anonymous]

Ride along board for sure. Mine were 22 mos apart and first of all, just wore the baby in a sling or soft carrier for first 6 months of taking the two of them out together. Second of all, I have the city double and there were many times when it went empty because the older one wanted to walk (but so slow) and the younger one wanted to be carried, or both wanted to be carried. It’s like a walk of shame

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We never had a two seater or a boogie board. I carried my second in my Beco for the first year (first in front, then on my back) and by the time she was old enough for the stroller, the older child could walk.

I think this only works if your baby a) likes the carrier and b) isn’t huge. Mine likes the carrier but by 1 years old he was 31lbs so it killed my back to wear him for a long time. Short periods of time I could do it but not for long hikes/walks.

[Anonymous]

We used a veer cruiser as our double stroller! My daughter was about 2 when we got it (while pregnant with 2nd) and was going through a big stroller hating phase but loved the wagon. They can get in and out on their own very easily, room for snacks and toys, etc.