Best stroller plan for 3 under 2?

amother ↓

Thu, Aug 18 2011, 6:52 pm

I am IYH due with twins when my oldest will be approximately 18 months. She is walking already and will be a very able walker by then, so my plan is to let her walk for the shortest distances, and let her ride with one twin for longer distances or when I want to keep her contained and wear the other baby in a baby carrier. My first was small and these are twins on top of that, so I'm assuming that the twins will be light enough to carry with minimal back strain for a while, and by then my biggest will be more capable of walking for a bit . The only problem I can foresee is needing to pick up another kid and having the baby I'm wearing be in the way.

I REALLY REALLY don't want a massive, expensive behemoth of a triple stroller. Does this plan make sense? I live in the suburbs and we live really close to the shul, so shabbos isn't a problem. Maybe I will feel more capable than I am envisioning right now, but I doubt I'll be taking these three any place more exotic than the park or the doctor by myself, at least not for a while. For long, intense trips I'll use a single and a double and a helper.

Does anyone have any other ideas? What did you do, or would you do based on experience, in this situation?

lakewooder

Thu, Aug 18 2011, 7:13 pm

you can get a glider/ buggy board - basically a standing board with wheels for a child to stand and hold on. I have kids ages 3, 2, 1 and use the board. It can work for you though may be a little hard for such a small kid to stand

punktfarkert

Thu, Aug 18 2011, 7:39 pm

I have a friend who had twins after a singleton - and she had a double stroller (valco maybe) that had one elevated seat in the middle the clips on for an older child. Not sure if this is the monstrosity you wanted to avoid.

Here's a link to something similar that I found online: http://www.strollermama.com/va.....t.htm

kitov ↓

Thu, Aug 18 2011, 8:09 pm

punktfarkert wrote:

Valco has a great double stroller that you an add a seat in the front. So when you're out with the twins alone, you snap off the seat, when the older kid comes along, you snap it on. The only thing is, it doesn't recline.
Hatzlacha with your brood!

↑ amother ↓

Thu, Aug 18 2011, 8:50 pm

OP here. Thank you. I do know about that stroller, and I am considering it, but I'm not sure it can fold with the third seat in and I don't like the idea of an extra step to get the stoller set up every time I take it out of the car. It also doesn't seem like the ideal stroller to be heaving in and out of a car in general. I would like to go with a high quality double umbrella stroller (easiest to get in and out of the car), which is why I want to know what experienced twin mamas think of my plan. Anyone else?

YALT ↓

Thu, Aug 18 2011, 8:54 pm

Just for your info, I have a friend who had 5 singletons - each weighing no more than 7 lbs and then she had twins - they were 9 lbs each.
and not that it makes a dif, but she is a very petite woman.

spring13 ↓

Thu, Aug 18 2011, 8:57 pm

if you don't have a carrier yet, look for a Beco Butterfly II. it has an internal harness that makes it possible to do a back carry even with a very small child. it won't work for a brand-newborn, but you'd be able to do it sooner and more easily than with just about any other carrier - plus it'll work for your toddler too. that gives you your arms, at least some of the time.

↑ spring13 ↓

Thu, Aug 18 2011, 8:59 pm

amother wrote:

I don't have twins, but have you looked into this stroller? it's like a combo of a double and a sit-n-stand, so it accomodates 3 kids.
http://joovy.com/pages/pd_bigc.....t.php

↑ kitov ↓

Thu, Aug 18 2011, 9:00 pm

Then go for the Maclaren umbrella double with a kiddie board. But I must warn you, it is not easy to push!

Also, a great investment would be a double snap and go so you won't have to wake those sleeping babies every time you leave the car.

↑ kitov

Thu, Aug 18 2011, 9:01 pm

spring13 wrote:

amother wrote:

I don't have twins, but have you looked into this stroller? it's like a combo of a double and a sit-n-stand, so it accomodates 3 kids.
http://joovy.com/pages/pd_bigc.....t.php

It looks MURDER to push!

↑ spring13

Thu, Aug 18 2011, 9:03 pm

kitov wrote:

spring13 wrote:

amother wrote:

I don't have twins, but have you looked into this stroller? it's like a combo of a double and a sit-n-stand, so it accomodates 3 kids.
http://joovy.com/pages/pd_bigc.....t.php

It looks MURDER to push!

most double umbrella strollers seem awful to push!

bnm ↓

Thu, Aug 18 2011, 10:36 pm

18 month old is too young for a buggy board. Valco might be your solution if you do lots of walking/malls, parks etc. if your in and out of the car a lot it is cumbersome and heavy. there is a quad stroller that looks like 2 maclarens, one in front of the other. I heard of a family with triplets using it and using the extra seat for more storage cuz if you go out with 3 babies you always need more place.

Teomima

Thu, Aug 18 2011, 11:34 pm

As kitov suggested, if yiu are planning on using it primarily for trips that require a car ride, a snap and go can be a great option. The problem is it wouldn't work for your older kid. What I would suggest instead is going for something like a city mini double or aria 60/40 with a car seat adapter. Then one baby can be transfered in the car seat, if s/he's asleep, the other put in the other seat in a recline position, or your toddler can sit in there while you wear the other baby.

I'm a huge fan of wearing kids, I often take my twins out with one in a single and the other in a carrier. You can also easily keep both babies in a stroller and wear the toddler with the right carrier. Just don't waste your money on anything like a Baby Bjorn. That will definately hurt your back. A good wrap is a great pain-free way to carry an infant and for your older kid I'd highly recommend an Ergo. I've often worn two kids at once using both of these carriers at the same time.

Shopmiami49

Fri, Aug 19 2011, 4:44 am

I do not have twins, but my 3rd was born when my oldest was 22 months. I got a city mini double, which is a DREAM to push and fold. There are a few options that you can do: Get the Baby Jogger glider board, which is the only one that attaches to the City Mini double (besides for the Lasco one if you buy all the right attachments) or you can get the seat that attaches to one side of the double which I believe you can fold the stroller while the seat is still in.

↑ bnm ↓

Mon, Aug 22 2011, 2:55 pm

YALT wrote:

I never tried one of these, but maybe its worth looking into.
http://adventurebuggycompany.c.....y.htm

my neighbor has this. the only reason I didn't recomend it is because she didn't want a bulky carriage, this is a bit less bulky than the valco but you can't be short to use, have to be over 5' 2 if your going to use the seats on top. unless you put the toddler seat on top-the one that dosn't recline. also very expensive but you can find it on craigslist sometimes.

↑ amother ↓

Mon, Aug 22 2011, 7:23 pm

OP here, thanks for your replies everyone!

How is the Citymini to get in and out of the car? I live in the suburbs and the fancy stroller I have now is a huge hassle to get in and out of the car. The fold is a pain and lifting 30 lbs in and out of the trunk isn't too fun either. That is one of my main motivations with getting an umbrella stroller, that it is lighter and easier to fold and maneuver than a full size stroller.

How bad is the push on the double maclarens? That's what I'm thinking about getting right now.

I'm also planning on getting a Snap n Go, btw. This stroller is for walking or longer trips.