Strollers

[Sid Eaton]

My son and daughter-in-law are about to have twins 11 months after
their first born.

Has anyone seen or heard of three individual strollers that can be
somehow connected together or disconnected. Seems like it would be
ideal to be able to have individual strollers, or a parent pushing two
and the other, one, or all three connected together.

Does anyone have advice from experience about configuration? Some
strollers are three inline, others are three across and I suppose the
two-one "triangle" configuration exists.

I thought about combo stroller car seats but it seems to me that such
an idea is probably not worthwhile because of the difficulty getting
car seats mounted and unmounted.

[David desJardins]

Sid Eaton writes:
> I thought about combo stroller car seats but it seems to me that such
> an idea is probably not worthwhile because of the difficulty getting
> car seats mounted and unmounted.

I'm not sure exactly what you mean, but we had the "Double Decker
Stroller", and found it very easy to move the carseats (with infants)
from the stroller to the carseat base (in the car), and back. Why do
you think it would be difficult?

They have a triple version. While I've never seen one, this is
certainly what I would get if I had triplets.

http://www.doubledeckerstroller.com/

David desJardins

[David desJardins]

Sid Eaton writes:
> I thought about combo stroller car seats but it seems to me that such
> an idea is probably not worthwhile because of the difficulty getting
> car seats mounted and unmounted.

I'm not sure exactly what you mean, but we had the "Double Decker
Stroller", and found it very easy to move the carseats (with infants)
from the stroller to the carseat base (in the car), and back. Why do
you think it would be difficult?

They have a triple version. While I've never seen one, this is
certainly what I would get if I had triplets.

http://www.doubledeckerstroller.com/

David desJardins

[KimandJuan]

WOW, I have never seen a double decker stroller before. Thanks for the link
David. Were you happy with it? What made you choose it over something tike a
Graco duo glider? That is what we have. It seems like the disadvantage to the
DD is that it is only good with the infant seats. With the Duo Glider we used
the infant seats and now that they are not in them any more we can still use
the stroller.
Just curious.

~Kimberly
Mommy to Alexis Iliana 07/17/99 and
Emma Elidia & Aislyn Gabriela 10/01/02
come see us...
http://www.babiesonline.com/babies/a/aislynemma/

[KimandJuan]

WOW, I have never seen a double decker stroller before. Thanks for the link
David. Were you happy with it? What made you choose it over something tike a
Graco duo glider? That is what we have. It seems like the disadvantage to the
DD is that it is only good with the infant seats. With the Duo Glider we used
the infant seats and now that they are not in them any more we can still use
the stroller.
Just curious.

~Kimberly
Mommy to Alexis Iliana 07/17/99 and
Emma Elidia & Aislyn Gabriela 10/01/02
come see us...
http://www.babiesonline.com/babies/a/aislynemma/

[Twinzmommie]

I too have seen this triple decker stroller that was mentioned, but I don't
think it would be of use to a family with a toddler and two infants. I thought
I remember it to be a frame that holds the infant seats, but not having a
regular seat for an older child. Don't quote me on that!

I do NOT recommend the stroller connectors that you mentioned. They are
supposed to be used to connect two umbrella strollers but they do not function
well at all with two strollers I doubt it would be any better with three.

My suggestion is something like the Graco Duo Glider that accommodates two
infant seats and then can be used for two children after they have outgrown the
infant seats. They could then attach one of those sit and stand things to the
back of the stroller so the older child could sit or stand on that.

They could also use the duo glider and a snap and go when they have an extra
pair of hands around. They could put the older child and one of the babies in
the duo glider and pop the other infant into the snap and go.

I had two snap and go strollers when my twins were infants and DH and I would
each push one baby around when we were together (they did not have the double
one when mine were born). I also had the duo glider when I was alone with
them, which was quite often. The infant seats pop in and out very easily and
it helps a lot to not have to disturb a sleeping baby when transferring from
stroller to car.

Good luck to your son and daughter-in-law. I am sure they appreciate your
help!

Michelle
Mommy to Riley Claire & James Michael
http://www.babiesonline.com/babies/r/rileyandjames/

[Twinzmommie]

I too have seen this triple decker stroller that was mentioned, but I don't
think it would be of use to a family with a toddler and two infants. I thought
I remember it to be a frame that holds the infant seats, but not having a
regular seat for an older child. Don't quote me on that!

I do NOT recommend the stroller connectors that you mentioned. They are
supposed to be used to connect two umbrella strollers but they do not function
well at all with two strollers I doubt it would be any better with three.

My suggestion is something like the Graco Duo Glider that accommodates two
infant seats and then can be used for two children after they have outgrown the
infant seats. They could then attach one of those sit and stand things to the
back of the stroller so the older child could sit or stand on that.

They could also use the duo glider and a snap and go when they have an extra
pair of hands around. They could put the older child and one of the babies in
the duo glider and pop the other infant into the snap and go.

I had two snap and go strollers when my twins were infants and DH and I would
each push one baby around when we were together (they did not have the double
one when mine were born). I also had the duo glider when I was alone with
them, which was quite often. The infant seats pop in and out very easily and
it helps a lot to not have to disturb a sleeping baby when transferring from
stroller to car.

Good luck to your son and daughter-in-law. I am sure they appreciate your
help!

Michelle
Mommy to Riley Claire & James Michael
http://www.babiesonline.com/babies/r/rileyandjames/

[thefackrells]

As the others have stated, I too would stay away from the connected umbrella
type situation....and you are misguided about the difficulty of the combo
strollers...they are so incredibly easy!! We had the graco double stroller
and it was fantastic.....but we recently went with the schwinn double
jogging stroller because as the babes reached toddlerhood, it became more of
a struggle to get them in and out...and the babe in the back would keep
kicking and pulling the hair or just plain bugging the babe in front. I
would probably opt for a double and then a single.....or even a double with
one of those step/riding plates because eventually the older one wont want
to be in a stroller anymore
Good luck
Gwen

"Sid Eaton" > wrote in message
m...
> My son and daughter-in-law are about to have twins 11 months after
> their first born.
>
> Has anyone seen or heard of three individual strollers that can be
> somehow connected together or disconnected. Seems like it would be
> ideal to be able to have individual strollers, or a parent pushing two
> and the other, one, or all three connected together.
>
> Does anyone have advice from experience about configuration? Some
> strollers are three inline, others are three across and I suppose the
> two-one "triangle" configuration exists.
>
> I thought about combo stroller car seats but it seems to me that such
> an idea is probably not worthwhile because of the difficulty getting
> car seats mounted and unmounted.

[thefackrells]

As the others have stated, I too would stay away from the connected umbrella
type situation....and you are misguided about the difficulty of the combo
strollers...they are so incredibly easy!! We had the graco double stroller
and it was fantastic.....but we recently went with the schwinn double
jogging stroller because as the babes reached toddlerhood, it became more of
a struggle to get them in and out...and the babe in the back would keep
kicking and pulling the hair or just plain bugging the babe in front. I
would probably opt for a double and then a single.....or even a double with
one of those step/riding plates because eventually the older one wont want
to be in a stroller anymore
Good luck
Gwen

"Sid Eaton" > wrote in message
m...
> My son and daughter-in-law are about to have twins 11 months after
> their first born.
>
> Has anyone seen or heard of three individual strollers that can be
> somehow connected together or disconnected. Seems like it would be
> ideal to be able to have individual strollers, or a parent pushing two
> and the other, one, or all three connected together.
>
> Does anyone have advice from experience about configuration? Some
> strollers are three inline, others are three across and I suppose the
> two-one "triangle" configuration exists.
>
> I thought about combo stroller car seats but it seems to me that such
> an idea is probably not worthwhile because of the difficulty getting
> car seats mounted and unmounted.

[David desJardins]

Twinzmommie writes:
> I too have seen this triple decker stroller that was mentioned, but I
> don't think it would be of use to a family with a toddler and two
> infants.

Oops, you're right. I didn't read the original posting carefully: I
thought they were having triplets.

For a toddler and twin infants, the only triple stroller alternative I
know of is the Runabout. Otherwise a separate twin stroller and single
stroller. The Double Decker is still a good alternative for the
infants, imho.

David desJardins

[David desJardins]

Twinzmommie writes:
> I too have seen this triple decker stroller that was mentioned, but I
> don't think it would be of use to a family with a toddler and two
> infants.

Oops, you're right. I didn't read the original posting carefully: I
thought they were having triplets.

For a toddler and twin infants, the only triple stroller alternative I
know of is the Runabout. Otherwise a separate twin stroller and single
stroller. The Double Decker is still a good alternative for the
infants, imho.

David desJardins

[David desJardins]

Kimberly writes:
> WOW, I have never seen a double decker stroller before. Thanks for
> the link David. Were you happy with it? What made you choose it over
> something tike a Graco duo glider? That is what we have. It seems
> like the disadvantage to the DD is that it is only good with the
> infant seats. With the Duo Glider we used the infant seats and now
> that they are not in them any more we can still use the stroller.
> Just curious.

The Double Decker is really convenient because the frame is very
lightweight, so it's easy to get into and out of the car, and it folds
compactly so it doesn't take up much space (e.g., it fit comfortably in
the back of our VW Golf). Also I think it's more maneuverable than the
Duo Glider. As you say, the disadvantage is that it's only good for
infants. But the frame is plenty durable, so we just resold it, for
most of what we paid for it.

David desJardins

[David desJardins]

Kimberly writes:
> WOW, I have never seen a double decker stroller before. Thanks for
> the link David. Were you happy with it? What made you choose it over
> something tike a Graco duo glider? That is what we have. It seems
> like the disadvantage to the DD is that it is only good with the
> infant seats. With the Duo Glider we used the infant seats and now
> that they are not in them any more we can still use the stroller.
> Just curious.

The Double Decker is really convenient because the frame is very
lightweight, so it's easy to get into and out of the car, and it folds
compactly so it doesn't take up much space (e.g., it fit comfortably in
the back of our VW Golf). Also I think it's more maneuverable than the
Duo Glider. As you say, the disadvantage is that it's only good for
infants. But the frame is plenty durable, so we just resold it, for
most of what we paid for it.

David desJardins

[GandSBrock]

Oh David, where were you when our arms were falling off carrying those danged
buckets around?!! I've never seen or heard of those double decker strollers.
And they didn't make twin strollers that allowed for the bucket carseats back
when we had the boys. My DH would have been in heaven!! He's strong, but he
still complains about how heavy those buckets got!

Sorry, I have no advice for the OP. We are too far removed from the days of
strollers to be of any help - but good luck to you!! And congratulations!

Stephanie
Jake and Ryan 9/3/99

[GandSBrock]

Oh David, where were you when our arms were falling off carrying those danged
buckets around?!! I've never seen or heard of those double decker strollers.
And they didn't make twin strollers that allowed for the bucket carseats back
when we had the boys. My DH would have been in heaven!! He's strong, but he
still complains about how heavy those buckets got!

Sorry, I have no advice for the OP. We are too far removed from the days of
strollers to be of any help - but good luck to you!! And congratulations!

Stephanie
Jake and Ryan 9/3/99

[David desJardins]

Stephanie writes:
> Oh David, where were you when our arms were falling off carrying those
> danged buckets around?!! I've never seen or heard of those double
> decker strollers. And they didn't make twin strollers that allowed
> for the bucket carseats back when we had the boys.

I think the Double Decker Stroller was not available before 2000. We
saw one before we bought ours, at a twins club meeting, but I think that
was one of the first ones.

David desJardins

[David desJardins]

Stephanie writes:
> Oh David, where were you when our arms were falling off carrying those
> danged buckets around?!! I've never seen or heard of those double
> decker strollers. And they didn't make twin strollers that allowed
> for the bucket carseats back when we had the boys.

I think the Double Decker Stroller was not available before 2000. We
saw one before we bought ours, at a twins club meeting, but I think that
was one of the first ones.

David desJardins

[Hillary Israeli]

In >,
Twinzmommie > wrote:

*My suggestion is something like the Graco Duo Glider that accommodates two
*infant seats and then can be used for two children after they have outgrown the
*infant seats. They could then attach one of those sit and stand things to the
*back of the stroller so the older child could sit or stand on that.

I don't know about the OP's 11-month-old, but my 11-month-old wouldn't be
able to stand on a sit-n-stand for that long, and I wouldn't really feel
comfortable having her sit on it that long either. She can't walk yet, she
is prone to trying to climb away, she really needs to be strapped into a
proper stroller if she isn't being carried. Of course, there's no reason
they couldn't just use a DuoGlider for the twins, and carry the 11 month
old, as far as I can tell.

--
hillary israeli vmd http://www.hillary.net
"uber vaccae in quattuor partes divisum est."
not-so-newly minted veterinarian-at-large :)

[Hillary Israeli]

In >,
Twinzmommie > wrote:

*My suggestion is something like the Graco Duo Glider that accommodates two
*infant seats and then can be used for two children after they have outgrown the
*infant seats. They could then attach one of those sit and stand things to the
*back of the stroller so the older child could sit or stand on that.

I don't know about the OP's 11-month-old, but my 11-month-old wouldn't be
able to stand on a sit-n-stand for that long, and I wouldn't really feel
comfortable having her sit on it that long either. She can't walk yet, she
is prone to trying to climb away, she really needs to be strapped into a
proper stroller if she isn't being carried. Of course, there's no reason
they couldn't just use a DuoGlider for the twins, and carry the 11 month
old, as far as I can tell.

--
hillary israeli vmd http://www.hillary.net
"uber vaccae in quattuor partes divisum est."
not-so-newly minted veterinarian-at-large :)

[Twinzmommie]

<< I don't know about the OP's 11-month-old, but my 11-month-old wouldn't be
able to stand on a sit-n-stand for that long, and I wouldn't really feel
comfortable having her sit on it that long either. >><BR><BR>

True! That is why I also suggested the Duo Glider and a snap and go when she
has someone else around to help her. This way she could put an infant in the
snap and go and the 11 month old and the other infant in the duo glider.
Michelle
Mommy to Riley Claire & James Michael
http://www.babiesonline.com/babies/r/rileyandjames/

[Twinzmommie]

<< I don't know about the OP's 11-month-old, but my 11-month-old wouldn't be
able to stand on a sit-n-stand for that long, and I wouldn't really feel
comfortable having her sit on it that long either. >><BR><BR>

True! That is why I also suggested the Duo Glider and a snap and go when she
has someone else around to help her. This way she could put an infant in the
snap and go and the 11 month old and the other infant in the duo glider.
Michelle
Mommy to Riley Claire & James Michael
http://www.babiesonline.com/babies/r/rileyandjames/

[telmgren]

"Twinzmommie" > wrote in message
...
> I do NOT recommend the stroller connectors that you mentioned. They are
> supposed to be used to connect two umbrella strollers but they do not
function
> well at all with two strollers I doubt it would be any better with three.
>
I second that. I bought those connectors and two umbrella strollers and
they were awful, I ended up selling them in a yard sale.

> My suggestion is something like the Graco Duo Glider that accommodates two
> infant seats and then can be used for two children after they have
outgrown the
> infant seats. They could then attach one of those sit and stand things to
the
> back of the stroller so the older child could sit or stand on that.

I'd suggest the same thing. I love my Duo Glider, and all I have to do is
take the suncover off of the second seat to fit it into my Celica trunk.
Maybe you could get a sling to hold one baby while the toddler rides in the
stroller?

[telmgren]

"Twinzmommie" > wrote in message
...
> I do NOT recommend the stroller connectors that you mentioned. They are
> supposed to be used to connect two umbrella strollers but they do not
function
> well at all with two strollers I doubt it would be any better with three.
>
I second that. I bought those connectors and two umbrella strollers and
they were awful, I ended up selling them in a yard sale.

> My suggestion is something like the Graco Duo Glider that accommodates two
> infant seats and then can be used for two children after they have
outgrown the
> infant seats. They could then attach one of those sit and stand things to
the
> back of the stroller so the older child could sit or stand on that.

I'd suggest the same thing. I love my Duo Glider, and all I have to do is
take the suncover off of the second seat to fit it into my Celica trunk.
Maybe you could get a sling to hold one baby while the toddler rides in the
stroller?

[multimom4]

Unless your DIL is able and prepared to carry a baby/toddler everywhere for
the next 2 years or so, the only option is a triplet stroller. Even once
the older child can walk, (s)he will not walk far or for long, which could
imprison DIL ... unless she is an amateur weightlifter in which case she
should still consider whether she wants to be balancing a baby/toddler in a
front or backpack while she is crawling around on the floor of a public
restroom trying to retrieve a pacifier / toy / cup / bottle that just got
tossed behind the toilet?

Triplet Brands:
Inglesina (old-fashioned "pram" look and holds upto four babies at a time);

Baby Trend (*much* the cheapest but NOT very tough);

Peg Perego (very plush but hard to clean);

Baby Jogger (three in a row side by side ends up MUCH TOO WIDE, don't do it)

and the RUNABOUT (lighter, easy-clean, big wheels, great straps to prevent
standing, super-manoeuvrable, lots of street cred, ... i.e. perfect and
wonderful ... enough said).

All of them fit in a minivan -- the Runabout does not need to be dismantled
as the handle telescopes; the Perego and the Inglesina do need dismantling
(they'd fit in a Suburban without dismantling). Not sure about the Baby
Trend -- it may fold.

Try: www.tripletconnection.org to see pics of new and secondhand triplet
strollers for sale.

If getting the Runabout you need the sunshade and the basket, which are
extras.

If you want more info., let me know. A new Inglesina, Runabout or Perego
runs about 700 these days but you get 50% or so of that back if you sell it
in decent shape. In your DIL's shoes, I think I'd hunt down a secondhand
Runabout -- they sell for 300-400 and should have *plenty* of wear in them
for another family, so that if the older child is super mobile at an early
age she can cash it in and trade down to a twin stroller. Plus Runabout (in
Oregon) is usually good about supplying spare parts. The Baby Trend, I
don't know, it used to be $300 +/- a couple years ago from Babies R Us.

PS Just a thought, but we still used our Runabout to go to the zoo long
after they were out of it for shorter trips. Spending all day out
somewhere, it's nice for them to be able to climb and rest somewhere *other*
than Dad's shoulders.

--Janet
Elliot, Hanna, Connor (10/21/96)
and Holly (4/4/01)


"Sid Eaton" > wrote in message
m...
> My son and daughter-in-law are about to have twins 11 months after
> their first born.
>
> Has anyone seen or heard of three individual strollers that can be
> somehow connected together or disconnected. Seems like it would be
> ideal to be able to have individual strollers, or a parent pushing two
> and the other, one, or all three connected together.
>
> Does anyone have advice from experience about configuration? Some
> strollers are three inline, others are three across and I suppose the
> two-one "triangle" configuration exists.
>
> I thought about combo stroller car seats but it seems to me that such
> an idea is probably not worthwhile because of the difficulty getting
> car seats mounted and unmounted.

[multimom4]

Unless your DIL is able and prepared to carry a baby/toddler everywhere for
the next 2 years or so, the only option is a triplet stroller. Even once
the older child can walk, (s)he will not walk far or for long, which could
imprison DIL ... unless she is an amateur weightlifter in which case she
should still consider whether she wants to be balancing a baby/toddler in a
front or backpack while she is crawling around on the floor of a public
restroom trying to retrieve a pacifier / toy / cup / bottle that just got
tossed behind the toilet?

Triplet Brands:
Inglesina (old-fashioned "pram" look and holds upto four babies at a time);

Baby Trend (*much* the cheapest but NOT very tough);

Peg Perego (very plush but hard to clean);

Baby Jogger (three in a row side by side ends up MUCH TOO WIDE, don't do it)

and the RUNABOUT (lighter, easy-clean, big wheels, great straps to prevent
standing, super-manoeuvrable, lots of street cred, ... i.e. perfect and
wonderful ... enough said).

All of them fit in a minivan -- the Runabout does not need to be dismantled
as the handle telescopes; the Perego and the Inglesina do need dismantling
(they'd fit in a Suburban without dismantling). Not sure about the Baby
Trend -- it may fold.

Try: www.tripletconnection.org to see pics of new and secondhand triplet
strollers for sale.

If getting the Runabout you need the sunshade and the basket, which are
extras.

If you want more info., let me know. A new Inglesina, Runabout or Perego
runs about 700 these days but you get 50% or so of that back if you sell it
in decent shape. In your DIL's shoes, I think I'd hunt down a secondhand
Runabout -- they sell for 300-400 and should have *plenty* of wear in them
for another family, so that if the older child is super mobile at an early
age she can cash it in and trade down to a twin stroller. Plus Runabout (in
Oregon) is usually good about supplying spare parts. The Baby Trend, I
don't know, it used to be $300 +/- a couple years ago from Babies R Us.

PS Just a thought, but we still used our Runabout to go to the zoo long
after they were out of it for shorter trips. Spending all day out
somewhere, it's nice for them to be able to climb and rest somewhere *other*
than Dad's shoulders.

--Janet
Elliot, Hanna, Connor (10/21/96)
and Holly (4/4/01)


"Sid Eaton" > wrote in message
m...
> My son and daughter-in-law are about to have twins 11 months after
> their first born.
>
> Has anyone seen or heard of three individual strollers that can be
> somehow connected together or disconnected. Seems like it would be
> ideal to be able to have individual strollers, or a parent pushing two
> and the other, one, or all three connected together.
>
> Does anyone have advice from experience about configuration? Some
> strollers are three inline, others are three across and I suppose the
> two-one "triangle" configuration exists.
>
> I thought about combo stroller car seats but it seems to me that such
> an idea is probably not worthwhile because of the difficulty getting
> car seats mounted and unmounted.

[Sid Eaton]

Thanks everyone for sharing your experience and for your ideas
stemming from that experience about what strollers might work best for
my new grand family.

[Sid Eaton]

Thanks everyone for sharing your experience and for your ideas
stemming from that experience about what strollers might work best for
my new grand family.

[Cris]

I have a 20 month (Ethan) and 2 month old twins (Ryan and Olivia). We
use the Prego Triple for Mall events, i.e. flat surfaces. For walks
(Always take walks together) we use a double jogger and a single
jogger. They are much more flexible in where they go, and much better
to manage.

The Preggo tripple is only used if one of us has to take all the
kids....

[Cris]

I have a 20 month (Ethan) and 2 month old twins (Ryan and Olivia). We
use the Prego Triple for Mall events, i.e. flat surfaces. For walks
(Always take walks together) we use a double jogger and a single
jogger. They are much more flexible in where they go, and much better
to manage.

The Preggo tripple is only used if one of us has to take all the
kids....