Car Seats/Stroller Combo--What is best for money

We have are expecing are first born(fraternal twin boys) and have been shopping for a stroller and have seen scores of options.
Would like to hear feedback from those who have had twins and experienced different car seats, strollers, etc...

We have looked at the Graco dual stroller and looks like that may be the one.

Any advice would be helpful.

Minnesota Twins

 

We have are expecing are first born(fraternal twin boys) and have been shopping for a stroller and have seen scores of options.
Would like to hear feedback from those who have had twins and experienced different car seats, strollers, etc...

We have looked at the Graco dual stroller and looks like that may be the one.

Any advice would be helpful.

Minnesota Twins

 

First of all...love your screen name! Secondly, I don't have eny experience YET with twins..but I'll tell you what we're planning to do. We have decided to get the double snap n' go stroller that is basically a frame where you click the car seats in. I've heard from two friends who recently had twins that it is the easiest thing in the beginning to make you the most mobile. Obviously that only lasts as long as the babies are in their infant car seats...so then we're planning to save up and get the valco twin stroller. We have the valco single stroller for our ds and we LOVE it! We're going to try and sell that and then get the double. It is very pricey, but worth every penny. That's our plan. Good luck figuring it out!

Reyna

 

Well, if you want the best for your money, the Graco Duoglider tandem stroller with attachable Snugride infant seats are probably the best bet. BUT....

If you want the best for your SANITY, I might recommend something else. I do not own a duoglider, although I have friends with twins who have. Based on their comments, and my own experiences, this is what I recommend.

Invest in a used (or even new, as they are not too terribly expensive) double snap n go stroller. This is the frame that the pp mentioned, where you just snap the car seats into the stroller and go. It is lightweight and very easy to use. Since I wanted the freedom to get out and about with two infants, this stroller was ideal for me.

Then I would invest in a new double stroller of your choice. You will definitely have to test drive some and see what you like best. Some prefer tandem and others prefer side by side. I personally LOVE the SBS strollers as they are lightweight, easy to maneuver, and just take up less room. We have a Combi Twin Savvy and we love it, especially the kids! This is a great stroller and we will use it until they have totally outgrown it. I like to get out often, and this stroller is so easy to use.

Lastly, in hindsight, I would invest in carriers that can hold heavier or taller infants. We outgrew ours at 4.5 months, which was really early. My son was heavy and tall, and it would have been nice to go with a brand (we had the Graco Snugrides) that had a higher weight limit. Others will have to chime in on what brands there are out there. (Do a google search, the news two weeks ago had info about infant carseats, and which where safer.)

ETA: Just wanted to add, welcome to TS. Great to have you here!

 

Welcome and congrats on the pregnancy! I'm only 24 weeks, but have been in the same space as you.....if you go to the First Year board and do a search, there should be some threads about strollers, or you can simply post there for peoples' experience and someone more knowledgeable will probably link you to a thread that already existed.

I've read from a LOT of people that the double snap-n-go is the way to go for the first few months at least (depending on how big your babies grow); the advantage is that you can leave them in their seats, pop them into a base that gets buckled into and stays in the car, and take them out in their seats, so if they're sleeping you don't have to worry about shifting babies, especially w/two!

I just got mine off of Craigslist.org - it was used by another twin family, and they promised that the seats had never been in an accident (apparently a big issue w/used car seats, since it can cause hairline fractures) and they were a non-smoking home which was important to us. I would definitely check your local craigslist, or also see if there is a local Mothers of Multiples Club; often people are selling their gently used stuff.

It seems to be a very personal thing, but i've heard from lots of folks that the side-by-sides are awkward becasuse they take up so much space that navigating can be problematic, especially if you are in a store w/narrow aisles.

Good luck!

 

Congratulations and welcome to Twinstuff.

For me the best stroller for my money was the Graco Duoglider and the seats we got the snugrides. The Duoglider was the only double stroller I owned for the entire 3 years we used a stroller. I have not one complaint.

 

Go to Babies R Us and check it out. I was between a Duoglider and a Double Snap and Go (then switching to a hand me down from my sister when they didnt' fit in the carriers). I had a hard time manouevering the duoglider in the store (no babies) and my husband (an engineer) struggled putting that back carrier in so I was over that one then and there. I got a double snap and go. The double snap and gos come up used on craigslist and ebay a bit for about half the price, and they have a pretty good resale...that's also something to consider. If you can buy one for $60 used and sell it for $40 or $50 bucks it isn't bad at all in the long run. Also, I don't like the stride length on some strollers even though I'm not that tall. I think if you can get to a store to try it out yourself that's the best thing to do. We all have different preferences and what my husband and I had a problem with in the duoglider might be intuitive and easy to you.

 

I was in Buy Buy Baby yesterday looking at the double strollers. And there was a husband and wife there with their ADORABLE twin girls. Anyway, their advice to us was to get the Double Snap N Go stroller for the first few months w/the car seat carriers.
We're for sure getting the snug ride car seats, and will probably get the snap n go.

My boss' boss is giving me a Graco double stroller (she has 2 of them, lol)so I'll probably end up getting a side by side one so I could have 2 altogether, just have no idea of which yet. Although the twin mom in the store yesterday swore by the Combi side by side. She said it's reliable, long lasting, easy to manueuver and even showed us how easy it folds up, and easy to carry. Seems great if you're a traveler!!
Her twin girls were so darn cute, they both got in the Combi stroller to demonstrate for us. It was the cutest thing ever!!!!

Good luck w/your decision, this is one of my biggest areas of indecisiveness...

 

I had the double snap-n-go by swan and LOVED it, I highly recommend it. You can't beat the storge basket under the stroller and it was so easy to use, I really miss it sometimes.

 

We had the Duoglider with two Graco Snugrides and it was wonderful. We used it everyday and I did all my shopping with it. The Snugrides lasted us until about 7 months old and then I propped my girls in the stroller seats using rolled up receiving blankets because they weren't sitting independently yet. That stroller has gone with us everywhere and was still used everyday as recently as a few months ago. I liked it much better than my side-by-side because it fits more places, has better storage, has better sunshades, has snack trays for the girls, and it keeps them from fighting with one another.

 

thanks to all the busy mommies who took the time to respond to this one!
we're still debating on what to do in the long run, but for the first few months we'll for sure be going the route of the double snap n'go. I had a friend with a duoglider and tried pushing it with her twins in it in their car seats. it was so hard for me to manuveur, and nearly impossible to get the back car seat out. but i'm also so much more sensitive that most people since i have a terrible back. but my girlfriend had trouble getting the car seat out of the back too, so maybe it's not just me

As for after the snap n'go, i'm totally undecided. I think i might end up with two- a double jogger to use around the neighborhood, to synogogue, park with my son, etc. i need that since right now our jogger is the only one i can push my son in (the suspension makes it much easier on my back). But I know I won't be able to use that for errands because i won't be able to lift it in and out of the car. so we'll probably get a lighter weight side by side for car use- i have no idea which one- the combi, aria twin, etc. i have to go check them out. it's hard though since they're all easy to push when empty!

 

Hi
Has anybody tried the stroller connectors? I have been seeing those and it looks impressive.. I dont know how they will work though.. I am thinking of buying 2 separate strollers and connect them using the connectors.. When me and husband go out together, we'll use them as 2 separate strollers.. and if 1 of us have to go out with both kids, we'll use the connector..
Can someone plesase advise on this?

 

Great question MeeraYuvan!

The connectors work with umbrella strollers. Children have to be able to sit up more or less to sit in an umbrella stroller, so it is not exactly an immediate solution to the stroller dilemma. Also, when attached, they are often too wide to fit through standard doorways. Lastly, they are hard to manuever.

We have tons of strollers but use them all equally. If I had to have just one, I would still vote for the Combi Twin Savvy. But, these are the strollers we have/use(d):

1) Double Snap n Go (for infancy)
2) Combi Twin Savvy (for everyday use)
3) Jogging Stroller (DH runs with this and we bring it hiking)
4) 2 Umbrella stollers (for traveling)
5) 2 Baby Trend Trendsport Lite Single Strollers (we use these when there is more than one adult available; mall, zoo, etc.)

I honestly do not thing that the stroller connectors are the solution for twins. Yes, they are convenient in a pinch (like for use with umbrella strollers while traveling), but are not practical for everyday use.

 

We have the Graco Duoglider and snugride carseats -
my girls are going to be 2 weeks old tomorrow and we have only used
it twice so far but I love it -

 

HI!
I am going with the double snap-n-go too. I had a single car seat carrier stroller (by Kolcraft) when my second child was born and loved it so much more than the travel system I had with my first born (I had used a Peg Venezia with a Graco Snugride seat). The Snap-n-Go is probably lighter than a regular stroller - so it will help if you have a c/s!
One other piece of info - we had bought 2 Graco Safeseats for the babies and got a Snap-n-Go for $50 off of craigslist.com - when we tried the Safeseat on the stroller - it does not fit! So we had to return the car seats and get Snugrides with EPS foam. The Snap-N-Go by Swan/Baby Trend are the only ones that have a double version - so there is no other alternative if that is the way you want to go. Graco's snugrider stoller only comes in a single.
We also bought a Valco Twin - with older kids I needed a 'mix use' stroller so I can use it at the mall and at the soccer field! Also with the Valco we might purchase a 3rd seat for my 3 year old - so it is a great option for families with more than 2 kids.
Good Luck!
Alex
Mom to Alyssa (5/4/01), Nicholas (10/3/03)
and id twin girls (edd 3/24/07)

 

I bought the double snap and go used at a multiples sale for $45. Then I have the Graco Snugrides to go in them. After they grow out of it, not sure what we will get. I definitley want a double jogger for running/walking, etc.

BUT from previous experience with my single jogger, they are awful when you are shopping....actually I'm sure any double probably is a bit inconvenient, but the jogging ones front wheel sticks out so far and is hard to make turns in. Your regular strollers wheels let you make a right hand turn, a jogger you have to make more of a curve.
Which makes me thing we will probably go with something else.

Someone gave us a double umbrella, but I know I am going to want something with cupholders, basket underneath, etc.

I have a friend who used a cool double wagon with seat belts etc, at the mall, zoo, where ever.

 

I went to the store today and I pretty much decided on getting the Graco DuoGlider. The man in the store was really helpful in showing me how to get the car seats in and out. The car seats snapped right in. Real easy, and taking them out was easy too (although I did it wrong at first, when he showed me I was embarrased b/c it was so easy)

I took it all around the store w/the 2 car seats in it to test how it manueuvered and it was great. I was able to turn tight corners without a problem, it was pretty smooth. I literally swiveled around in a circle so effortlessly!!!
I also really like the sunshades and the trays. Also when the car seats are in you have a great view of both babies.

Since I think I'm having boy/girl twins (I'll know for sure in 3 weeks if both babies cooperate) I'm getting the stroller in Metropolitan, w/one Metropolitan SnugRide w/EPS and then the Giselle SnugRide w/EPS(it's pink/black for the girl and matched nicely w/the Metropolitan)

So now I guess I no longer need the Snap-N-Go for the extra money I could put towards something else.

 

Hi,
This is the first I've heard of the "snap and go" can you get that at Babies R Us? This is all very confusing!! Thanks for all the advice - very helpful,
Aimee

 

first of all i would recommend reading the new consumer reports on infant carseats. i believe the graco snugride with EPS was one of the two that performed the best in crash tests.

double snap n go fan here too! I loved it for the infant seats. It was half the weight of the duoglider which worked well especially for the first month or more when lifting heavy things was not a good thing! but remember you snap and clip the seats in. they should call it snap and clip and go! i did have a hard time getting the infant seat into the back of the duoglider too which is why we got the double snap n go. then i tried several tandem strollers and settled on the jeep tandem stroller. it is heavy but what quality double isnt? it has all the features and more that i wanted.

now i am lookig for a lightweight double umbrella stroller as it takes longer to shlep out the jeep stroller, kids etc than to run the errand HA.

 

Has anyone tried the Eddie Bauer Bryant Two Way tandem stroller?

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000K52H5Q/?tag=mytwins02-20

There is also a similar one from Safetyfirst (available in Amazon.com)..

Can you give me ur opinions about this?