A few people have emailed me or left comments asking what we’re doing to get ready for the new baby. So I thought I’d talk about a couple of big things and then open it up for advice. How often do I ask for advice? So get it in while you can! (just kidding)
The Bedrooms and Sleeping Arrangements
Even before I knew we were having another boy, I had planned to go ahead and move Hudson to a big boy room and keep the nursery as it is. If we had found out we were having a girl, I would have switched up some of the fabrics and stuff like that to bring in some pinks, but the nursery is pretty gender neutral in terms of colors. I didn’t want to own two cribs at once since Hudson will be two years old in June and would likely be moving to a big boy bed anyway. I just hated the idea of buying a crib if I was only going to use it a couple of months.
So this is the nursery, Hudson’s current room. We’ll change up a couple of things to personalize it for the new baby, but I still love the fabrics and colors we chose and I’m excited for another little one to spend some time in this room.
I’m praying Hudson’s transition to his big boy bed is smooth. I’ve read a few blogs (including Marriage Confessions) about the transition to the big boy bed and some tips on how to make it an easy transition for everyone. We plan to move Hudson over as soon as his bedding is finished and as soon as we have curtains for the windows. (My child needs a pitch black room, remember?) Hopefully it will all be finished at least a month before his baby brother arrives.
The shelves and toys will stay in Hudson’s room and I’m even more thankful now that we worked out a good storage system for that room.
Here’s a sneak peek of the fabric swatches that we’re using for Hudson’s room! It’s boy-ish, but not too dark and still really fun. He loves cars and trucks so we had to incorporate that. We’re going to make it fun while still keeping it stylish for his mom’s sake and his KK’s sake!
The Stroller Situation
This is where I need advice. I love our BOB stroller and plan on keeping our single BOB in case we’re ever just taking one baby out. I am planning to get a double BOB with the infant seat attachment so Hudson and his brother can ride along together. After we got the BOB we used it for a lot more than just walking and jogging. It’s such a great stroller.
But it is going to be really wide and maybe it’s not the best stroller to take everywhere. I plan to have it regardless, but I’m wondering if we need a second double stroller. These are the others that I’ve had my eye on. We already have our Graco infant seat and plan to use that again. But holding Hudson and holding the infant seat is the main goal I’m trying to achieve in this task.
The Baby Trend Sit and Stand
Baby Jogger City Select
So what do you think?
What is the best double stroller for an infant and a toddler?
What was it like transitioning your toddler to a bigger bed and a different room?
I’m ready for tips!
I tried out the baby jogger and didn’t like it. Have you looked at the Uppababy Vista? We decided on that stroller, which can easily be made into a double. Since we’re planning on #2 relatively soon, I think it’s a pretty good buy. And it works with the Graco infant seats (which is what we are buying).
Phil &Ted Stroller with double attachment?? Little pricey but I heard that it is a good investment and works with the infant seat. I am searching too so I like to see what others say as well.
Also investing in a Moby Wrap this time go round!!
I’ll be checking back to read the comments as we’re on almost the same baby schedule for #2! I have had recommendation for SO many different strollers, everyone seems to have strong opinions on this matter. I am thinking about getting the Baby Jogger City Mini Double … I’ve heard the front/back strollers are really hard to steer (but can get through store doorways which is a big plus!)
We transitioned our daughter to a big girl bed on Jan. 5, her second birthday. We built it up a few weeks ahead of time, by telling her that when her birthday came she would have a big surprise after she got home from school (aka daycare) and we also talked to her about how when babies get to be big kids they get to sleep in beds like mommy and daddy. By the time the day rolled around and she discovered her new room, she was SO EXCITED. She climbed in and didn’t even want to get out to open gifts!
The hardest part of the transition, for us, has been at bedtime when she isn’t 100 percent ready to go to sleep. We try to remedy that by following a strict bedtime schedule — bath, pajamas, books, lights out, prayers and singing night-night songs. Kind of involved, but it works!
Good luck with the transition in your household!
Just subscribing…
I am having #2 in July and starting to transition my 3 year old to his big boy room next month. I cant wait to read all the good tips!
We love our Phil and Teds! It has the doubles kit (front and back) instead of side by side like the BOB.
So much to think about…I’m not even pregnant with #2 but I’m already thinking about the double stroller. I’ll definitely have to have a double BOB! We use the single almost every day. I love the fabric choices for Hudson’s big boy room. How fun, yet still stylish.
I have a double BOB and love it, BUT it’s very heavy. I sometimes struggle to lift it in and out of my car. It’s probably quite the sight for anyone watching. I use it for outings like walking,running, zoo, disney (future), and mall. It’s wide, but it will still fit through door ways…tightly. We also have the Joovy Caboose. It’s similar to the Sit and Stand. I used it in the beginning with #2 a lot for smaller trips….library, stopping at one store, school,etc. But when the carrier is installed in the front, the back seat does not look the most comfortable b/c the front seat has to fold down a little to accomodate the carrier. I think a different double would be best. The Baby Jogger looks neat and I’ve hear Peg has a good one!
Unfortunately I have no advice for baby #2 — I’m pregnant with my first.
Somehow I’ve never seen H’s nursery, but I love it! Is that a large circle rug or is that the carpet in there? I really want to find a cute rug for our nursery, but haven’t found anything I love.
Good luck with all things baby #2 and love the fabrics for H’s big boy room!
Sound like exciting and fun decisions to be making! I don’t have the best advice since I’m not a mommy yet, but the Baby Jogger stroller looks like a good choice. Bet the boys will love being able to look at each other on walks 🙂 Hope all is well with you!
I love the look of these rooms–gorgeous, crisp, and stylish.
We transitioned on vacation.. someone recommended this and it worked like a charm.. She had no problems sleeping in the big girl bed.. now if we could just keep her it in… she gets up in the middle of the night to find us… not so fun when dealing with a newborn as well…
Strollers were a big issue for us. We got the sit and stand on… and so far they both like it.. however be cautious. it says it will accomodate most carseats.. well not mine.. so i ended up getting a jogging stroller. and now my two year old doesn’t like the stroller so we barely use it… i am sure it will be useful when we actually go somewhere needed… but with two kids.. i dont get out much…
I used the double BOB for my two boys…who were closer to 3 years apart (as oppsoed to your two that will be two years apart.) It worked out perfectly! I didn’t have or need a second double stroller as the BOB sufficed. However, the double BOB is unwieldy and not the easiest to get in and out of the car. Much of the time my 3 year old walked and I used the single BOB for the baby, but I don’t know if Hudson is old enough for him to walk as much as Nolan did.
As far as transitioning to a big boy bed…we first put Nolan’s mattress directly on the floor for about a month before the bed arrived. It gave me peace of mind that if he feel out he wouldn’t have far to fall. When the bed arrived he did well and didn’t fall out even though he is a very active sleeper!
I would think that Hudson may be too young for the sit and stand. If he’s only going to be just turning 2, that’s very little to not have a stroller seat that he can really sit and lean back in. We got the Phil and Ted and have loved it (though now at 4 and 2 the kids are really getting too big for it). It’s very flexible, can be used as a single or double, and since it’s front-to-back it is super easy to get around with.
As far as the beds, I’d recommend getting Hudson into his own room ASAP so that the transition is old new by the time baby #2 comes. We were in the same boat, didn’t want 2 cribs, so I moved first into her bed at 18 months so that 6 months later when the baby came, it didn’t feel like the baby took “her” bed.
I have a 3 year old and a almost 20 months. I believe my son and Hudson are a couple of weeks apart. Anywoo I have the Phil and teds with the doubles kit! We love love love it!!! We got ours used and I think once it’s time for number 3 I might save up for a new one 🙂
As for the big boy bed. My daughter was 20 months when I had my son. We got a toddler bed from a friend and just moved her into that. She didn’t have much of a problem and still sleeps in it. I think we are gonna keep her in it until after Jacks 2 then move her to a twin and him to the toddler bed 🙂
My girls are 22 months apart, we transitioned to a “big girl” toddler bed for our oldest daughter about 2 or 3 months before our 2nd daughter was born. We had the toddler bed out one morning and she was sooo excited. So that day, my husband moved her crib out and put it in the baby’s room – and shut the door – which stayed shut for a solid 2-3 weeks, so she couldn’t see it and say “mine!” and want her crib back. And we never had a problem with switching beds. I also made sure that the first time she saw her crib in the baby’s room it already had the baby’s bedding in it (which was totally different from hers) so she didn’t even really flinch about it.
We tried out 3 or 4 different versions of strollers after my second daughter was born (we’re consignment people so my mom would buy one at one sale and then trade it in for another one at the next sale). For driving sake, my favorite was the side by side. We also tried a front/back which was much narrower but was a little harder to drive because it was so long!! We now have a sit and stand and while I don’t love it, love it can’t live without it, it is a happy medium to the not too long, not too wide dilemna. Which I guess means, I said all of that to say, when it comes to double strollers it will be all about your preference and your comfort (and how much you utilize it) as to which one makes a winner for you!
We have the Joovy Lite and I love it. It’s cheap but great!
We need a double stroller too, so I’ll be checking up on the comments : ) But one thing I wanted to mention for our big boys is that a lot of them have weight limits for the bigger baby. I don’t think that most of the big brothers are over 30 pounds because a lot of them have weight limits of 32 pounds. So just make sure to check on that. The one that I’m looking forward to seeing the price of is the Bugaboo Donkey. It’s coming out this Spring so just in time, but they haven’t said the price. Check it out : )
I struggled with double strollers and never found one I loved. We spent a ton of $ on a MacClaren double (because we loved the single) and it was a huge waste. I never used it. I ended up using a sling and putting Elizabeth Rose in the single stroller. By the time Pete was too big for the sling, Elizabeth Rose was ready to be done with the stroller.
We’ve transitioned two children to beds. For both, I used a video monitor and put a baby gate in the doorway to the room so the baby couldn’t escape. This was crucial for Pete because he LOVED to escape from his bed to ours. Ha:)
Good luck! Your nursery is to DIE FOR. You have fabulous style.
We have a ‘Tot Clock’ that I found online and I believe that is what helped us the most. The clock turns yellow in the morning at a time that we designate. (6:30…he’s an early riser :)) We tell him the night before that he can get up when the clock turns yellow. He just hangs out in his bed until the yellow light comes on and then gets up. Actually, come to think of it, he still doesn’t get out of bed, but just announces to us that the clock is “yellow- I’m awake!”
The clock is the second best baby investment we’ve ever made (next to the white noise machine)!
I like Marla’s idea…use a sling for your infant and the stroller for Hudson!
-K
sorry about the misspell *Maria*
we are having our second baby boy in april. i narrowed it down b/w the double bob and the baby jogger city select. i ended up getting the baby jogger city select-it’s in the mail! i hear awesome things about it. the uppa baby vista is the exact same thing for over a $100 more. this is all so fun enjoy!
oh! and the Bugaboo Donkey is a whopping $1500 for those wondering. they finally came out with the price.
1. OMGeee, how teeny was baby Hudson?! Gosh, it’s hard to believe how fast they grow! 2. I just love his nursery and I’m glad that you’ll get to use it for longer! 3. I am loving the new fabrics you’ve chosen for H’s big boy room, they’re a good balance for us mamas that like to keep things as stylish as possible with little ones 🙂 And I’m very interested to hear about the double stroller advice. I’ve wondered about a sit n stand for when we have our next, but I’ve heard mixed reviews…
I HEART the Baby Jogger City Mini. It’s perfect for fitting through doors, and has the most amazing fold and turning radius. I highly recommend it. Also, as for the big boy bed transition. My little girl transitioned to her big girl bed at 14 months. She’s done amazingly well. No problems whatsoever! I almost think the sooner the better as for when you do it. She loves the extra room in her bed and lets us know when she’s up in the morning, just as she did in the crib! Hoping your transition will be as easy as ours!
We moved our son into a big boy bed a few months before his 2nd birthday. I think the biggest thing when moving into a big boy bed, is to be consistent. No matter how many times he gets up, you have to keep putting him back. It’s hard, but don’t give in! If you give in once, they’ll know you’ll do it again if they keep pushing. Another thing that really helped us was creating a routine. Every night before bed, we give my son a bath, put on pajamas, brush his teeth, read a story, pray, and then it’s lights out. A night light is another great idea if Hudson seems scared in his room. Make sure it’s just enough light that he can see, but not so much light that he will get up and play. Putting up a baby gate in his doorway helped us too. That way, we can leave his door open and he doesn’t feel like he’s shut off from the rest of the house. It also helps because if he wakes up in the morning before I do, I know he is safe in his room. A baby monitor is also something we still use in his room. That way I can hear him if there is something wrong, or hear him if he gets out of bed and starts to play, and also when he wakes up in the morning. As long as you’re consistent, and do what works best for Hudson, he’ll do great!
As far as a double stroller goes, I have no idea. Although I will say that I like the ones where the bigger child can stand up in the back, but then I worry about if he/she gets tired of standing. I hope you find a stroller that works for you! Good luck!
While I love the BOB Single, the BOB double was too huge and heavy for me. If you can afford two strollers I think it would be great along with a smaller one, but it is so heavy to get in and out of the car and also too wide I found for “mall” type shopping. I ended up with a Baby Jogger City Mini Double off craigslist and it was fantastic. The push was good inside and out (but not as good as the BOB) and it also fit in any door which was really nice. It is so easy to fold and didn’t take up the whole entire truck. I really liked it. I did try the Baby Jogger City Select but my first born is tall and he was way too big for it. The BJCMD also pushed really easily with just one in there which was nice and my toddler gets out to talk alot. It reclines flat for a newborn and has an awesome sun canpoy. It was great for summer. Loved it! Be sure you have a great baby carrier too though ( my favs are the Baby K’tan and the Beco Butterfly) because you need to have your hands free with a toddler! I didn’t even really use a double stroller till the baby was too heavy to wear and by then the toddler walked even more so you have time if you want to wait till after the baby gets here. When my husband was with me sometimes we found it easier to take two singles.
One thing I found when moved our first to a new room was that naps were a bit harder so you might allow yourself as much transition time as possible and even have him nap in there before the room is all the way ready. This also helps so that he doesn’t think the baby is “taking over” his current room. Hope this helps! Two boys are so fun! The best thing is seeing your first sweet baby loving his new baby brother…it is precious!
First of all, I am in no way an expert here. I am still figuring out two boys! I have a 6 month old and a 2 1/2 yr, both boys.
We moved when I was 32 wks preggo, so we did the whole new house, new room, new bed. We opted for a toddler bed. It was rough. He would get up for naps and sneak into our room at night. It did get better for awhile, till we had the baby, and than he would not want to leave our room. We did a lot of different things, but he still sneaks into our room most nights. ( We usually have no idea he is there till we wake up) It took a few weeks to get him to nap. You may want to try to get him into a new bed earlier, if possible. Some kids will transition wonderfully. Mine did not. He is very independent boy, and once he figured out his freedom…he took full advantage. Consistency is key, but that gets very difficult with a newborn, especially if you nurse. I was desperate and frantic for a few weeks, but it did get better. Praying your transition goes well for Hudson. I don’t want to sound negative, but I wish someone would have given me a heads up on this…I would have been a bit more prepared.
As for the stroller, we ended up getting a double like the city select you posted, countours I believe is what ours is called. We can move the seats and put the baby carrier in no problem. It moves well for a long double. We just tested a ton of them at babies r s and grabbed what moved the best, that I could put away, what worked for our carrier, etc… It is not that bad in the mall. There is no way I could get a side by side double in most of the kids stores though…especially gymboree. We may consider a double jogger once Colin is sitting up and old enough to be in the stroller without a carrier.
Best of luck! You can do it!!!!
We transitioned our daughter to her big girl bed just after her second birthday. Several friends told me if the kiddo is a good sleeper to begin with, the transition isn’t too bad! Thankfully for us, it was true! My daughter took books to bed with her and we added an extra night light in her room so she could see a little better in case she woke up. We went through several set backs like her refusing to sleep in the bed after a few weeks. At that point, we let her sleep on the floor then slowly moved her floor blankets to her bed and she was good after that! Our big thing we refused to do was stay in her room or her bed until she fell asleep. I have few friends who did that and it took MONTHS to break the habit! Good luck!
I had a double McClaren. I loved it because it was side by side and could fit through a doorway. I also purchased the Graco Duo glider. I loved this stroller for ease (could steer with one hand), great under bin storage, 5 pt harness, it folded easily but was a bit heavy to lift and took up room in the back.
I was wondering where did you get the ceiling light fixture for Hudson’s room. I love it. I haven’t found one that I like as much as yours.
I’m doing all the same arrangements right now! We have baby girl #2 on the way, and Kate will only be 16 months. We have to buy a new crib for her since she definitely won’t be ready for a “big girl” bed! But new baby (Caroline) will get Kate’s nursery, and Kate will move rooms and use the antique furniture that will someday be hers.
Too funny you posted about strollers today. I have been trying to decide b/w the Baby Jogger City Select and the City Mini. And as I read reviews, I wondered what you would be doing for your two! Obviously Hudson’s a bit older, so your needs may be slightly different than ours. I think I’m going to go with the City Select, though. I like that it’s more versatile and can be used as a single stroller later if that’s what we need. We’ll get the infant seat adapter attachment for it. I consider that a must! Have you tried one yet? I went to Buy Buy Baby and strolled that thing all around. It was very easy to maneuver. The City Mini is an easier fold, but I wasn’t sure I wanted the double wide.
Sorry for the too long comment… it’s just fun to read about someone else in the exact same boat (almost!). Good luck with all your decisions!
We moved my son to a big boy bed when he was 20 months old to make room for the new baby. We went with a toddler bed because he just seemed so small in a twin. It was nice for him to be able to crawl in & out on his own and when he did fall out it was only 4 inches off the ground. We moved his crib aquarium to his new room because he was obsessed with it and kept his nighttime routine exactly the same. He had no problem sleeping in his new room and got used to the bed after just a couple of nights. Babyproofing the heck out of the room was the hardest for me. I was so worried but it’s been over a year & we’ve had no problems!
I used a double jogger at first with both kids and loved it. We had a cheap on (BabyTrend) and it folded up small & fit through a single door so I used it not only for walks but also going to the store, etc. I thought we would need another double umbrella or sit/stand stroller but my oldest hates them. Honestly, by the time he was 2 1/2 he wouldn’t really sit in one anyway so the other strollers we got were just a waste of money.
The best thing in the world with a new baby & a toddler is the Baby Bjorn. I used that everywhere & it saved my life!
The nursery is great! It’s adorable and I love that you will be able to use it for the baby! And I just love Hudson’s new bedroom fabric. I have been working with a local fabric store on some stuff for Brody’s room and it’s bright colored dots and stripes and that are similar. Since Brody’s room is red, we are trying to stay with bright colors.
I have the Sit and Stand stroller and I honestly do not like it. I actually borrowed it from a friend (thankfully) because I would have just bought it and then I would have been stuck with it. It’s very bulky, which I am sure is common for double strollers, but the sit/stand part for the toddler isn’t really working for us. Brody gets very restless just sitting on the littl bench seat. It’s not comfortable for long periods of time for him. I also don’t like the storage basket on it. I cannot get my bag down in it. I also cannot get to any other small bags I put in the basket without moving Jillian’s carrier or without making Brody move from his seat.(You can see what I am talking about when you look at the picture of it) These are just my opinions and it might be a great stroller for your family, but it just doesn’t work well for us. We are actually getting a new double this weekend since Josh will be near a Babies R Us! 🙂
I have heard GREAT things about the double BOB!
Check out the brand Joovy! They have some great concepts for a double stroller. I think the Caboose is the best model to fit your needs. Love your blog and good luck stroller shopping!
Love the fabric! It will be another cute room. 🙂
We moved Ella to a mattress on the floor, and then to a bed a few weeks later. It was a super easy transition. Hopefully Hudson does well, too!
I’m due with #2 on May 28th, and we’re planning on the Joovy Caboose. I have a single Maclaren that I LOVE, so I’m sure I’ll use a sling and the Maclaren sometimes, too.
Isn’t planning and preparing so FUN? 🙂
A girlfriend as a sit & stand stroller and loves it! It’s good for day to day she says. I would move H into his new room as soon as possible…. just b/c it might take him a little while to get used to it. We went straight from a crib to a twin for our son… w/ rails of course. I have to say this made napping harder for some reason. And, we started putting up a gate so he couldn’t leave his room. But, saying that, his room is upstairs while our master is down. I also took my oldest to the store and let him help pick out a little step to help him crawl into bed. We have been a lot more schedule oriented since he’s moved from bed to crib. Nightly ritual….. turn on lamp (he does this himself), turn off over head light, take bath, read book, say prayers & he then turns off his lamp. Then bedtime. It’s worked really well. And then there are nights when either my hubs or I have to lay down w/ him for a few.
I think a baby jogger city mini double would be great- we just bought the single for my tall toddler before we got preg ((when we thought it wasnt’ going to happen for us))(he doesnt’ have enough head room in the others) and it is great. handles very much like BOB (but not a jogger) AND the double is narrow enough to fit through a single door and you can just use the bar attachment to use it with carseat. since it has so much headrm it will last forever! and the baby jogger is SO easy to breakdown, practically no effort. I also really like (but don’t have)the city select. (britax be ready is very similar and you can sometimes find online 20% off britax sales) but I worry the toddler seat wont be tall enough for my oldest. might work for hudson though. the sit and stand is my least fav b/c your toddler might not want to stand and you also don’t have the security of knowing he can’t get down and run away(mine would!).
transition to a toddler bed was not too bad for us. at 1st they don’t realize they can get up if they want to. I sat in the chair in his rm and didn’t look at him or talk unless necessary and then very few words “be quiet, lay down, then I would warn him- if you do not mommy is going to leave(I know this sounds bad but I said it lovingly and he knew I wasn’t abandoning him, just leaving the room), then I would, and stand outside a minute, then tell him lay down, be quiet and mommy will sit with you again. once he would lay quietly, (a week) I would sit outside his door in his view not looking at him. then I changed to door shut, but mommy’s right outside, then we went to just shutting the door and leaving. took about 4-5 weeks and lot of patience! and there was a little crying but it worked pretty fast for us. NIght time is super easy for us now but nap time was/is harder. I have to lay with him til he falls asleep- usually just 5 min now. I am afraid he would get up and start pulling out his drawers and clothes. but I am sure blackout curtains would resolve this. sorry for the novel! thanks for posting this. now I am going to read all the OP’s advice for myself!
I’d recommend the Kolcraft contours double, I just bought it as we’re expecting #2 and I love it! It’s a little big but it’s got a TON of seating options. Currently I end up using it when I go shopping with friends whoever I’m with will ask me to bring the double and we’ll plunk mine and hers in the stroller. I really like it.
I love Hudson’s nursery! We are planning on moving {thank you military} in May hopefully so we’ll transition our now 2 year old to a big girl bed then. I am so excited about redoing her room and the new babys!
one other thing I would recommend is strapping the furniture to the wall in his new room! it is scary when your toddler has free reign and you are not watching! (don’t ask me how I know)
we have a single bob- love it- but i HATED the double bob- hated the handle, the sling seats, the way the snack bar is at eye level, that you had to have the bar across the other kid in order to have the car seat adapter on…..thus, we went with the bumbleride indie twin and i LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE it!!!!!!!!!! check it out- i went against the citi mini bc i wanted something more all terrain that could be versatile and i didn’t like the city select bc my 2yr old was too big for it and i felt like a limousine!!
my bumbleride fits through EVERY doorway!!!
The Baby Trend Sit ‘n Stand is hard to push because it is so heavy, and even harder when there are two kids in it.
I had a friend who had the Baby Jogger and absolutely hated it. She said it was way too heavy and hard to adjust the seats.
I have a Graco double stroller and love it. While it is heavy, it isn’t too heavy to lift in and out of the car and it isn’t hard to push when I have both kids, with one of them in a car seat. My husband and I absolutely love our double stroller and it was worth the investment. Here is what we have, in the Rittenhouse print:
http://www.gracobaby.com/Products/Pages/ProductDetails.aspx?ProductID=6K00RIT3
Wow. That nursery is beautiful. I think I had seen pictures before but that was just a reminder of how fantastic it is. I love the colors, fabrics, rug…I mean maybe someday I will just copy it into my own home. Just kidding, 😉 but I hope you take that as a huge compliment! Good luck with the stroller decision, I don’t have much advice in that area!
I know you get a ton of comments but I just have to know where you got the four paintings that went above Hudson’s crib. We are expecting our first child in April and I have delayed buying wall hangings because I can’t find exactly what I want. I live in Kansas so if it is online, that would be awesome. And by the way, your nursery is ideal – classy but appropriate for a baby!
I love the storage shelves! Tell us more about them! please
Go with the Sit and Stand. I had one very similar and LOVED it! It worked great for my two boys who are three years apart. Even when it’s just you and the baby you can sit your purse/diaper bag in the seat. The oldest one feels like a big boy but can be buckled in (great!) or just sit. He can stand to stretch his legs and you can still not have to worry about keeping up with both. I don’t think you will be disappointed.
I have twin girls and we have both the Double Bob and the City Select and use both equally for various different outings. We live in downtown SF so rarely use a car, so keep in mind that both of these strollers are quite heavy and not always easy to get in and out of a car. We actually keep a lightweight double Maclaren in the car, however, it’s not infant compatible but something to consider down the road. In terms of weight and pushing, the double Bob is definitely easier and while it is bigger than a single Bob it’s really very manageable, even in a big crowded city. The other stroller that I almost got was the Uppa Baby Vista with the 2nd seat, I have friends with it that really love it and the nice thing is like the City Select, it can be used as a single baby stroller as Hudson transitions into more walking.
Chicco has a new double stroller that looks great (front/back), I saw it in the Babies R Us mailer…
And can I just say that “KK” is the CUTEST name for a grandmother?!?!
I have a double BOB and love it for my two little ones (3 and 6 months). I don’t think that you need another double stroller. I use the snap and go frame for the infant seat and have my older child walk. I also use the baby bjorn and have my older child walk. I did keep my combi umbrella stroller for when my baby is older. Good luck!
Umm….I’ve only been married for 8 months and I don’t have any babies, so I can’t really contribute to the stroller debate. BUT — I was wondering if you’d be able to tell me whether those amazing white shelves (with the “Toys” buckets and such) are built-in or if you bought them somewhere?? I’m a sucker for organization. 🙂
I know it’s not a super stylish and trendy option, but I really can’t recommend the good old Graco Quattro Tour Duo enough. I’m just a couple of years older than you, so I’m in an age group where pretty much all of my friends had their second babies a few years ago (I have a 5 year old and a 2 year old), and I can’t tell you how much frustration I’ve seen with my friends and their choices of double strollers. You know the ones that everyone seems to think look really cool, where it’s like a normal jogging stroller up front, but then there’s that little seat underneath at the back? Oh, I just found it, it’s the Phil and Ted’s. Yeah, NEVER get that one. I don’t know why everyone thinks it seems so cool, but everyone that I know who bought into the trend has regretted it. The baby in the underneath seat? Pretty much only works until baby is old enough to, you know, want to look at stuff (so we’re talking like a few months old, 6 months old tops), and then I’ve seen several babies do nothing but fuss and flail around, wanting to get out of there, to see things. Which can’t happen from that little underneath spot. So seriously don’t be tempted by that one.
I also thought about the Bob side-by-side one, which I think works just fine for a lot of people. But the thing that made me decide against that one is the temperament of my older child. She was just about to turn three when the little one was born, and she’s, uh, spirited. Let’s just say that I had a feeling that if Mia was able to get her hands on the baby, like if they were sitting right next to each other, then SHE WOULD. I didn’t want big sister waking up little sister if the little one was getting some good nap time in the stroller. And for us, I was SOOOO right. Mia is definitely the type who was so interested in her baby sister, wanted nothing more than to touch her and love her at all times. So I’m certain that the waking-up-the-baby thing would have been a huge issue, and I’m really glad I went with my instinct. That’s one reason I love the Quattro Duo–with one kid in front and one in back, no one can get their hands on anyone to bug or wake up. Of course it works with the Graco infant seat, and the rear seat is elevated so that even with the infant seat on the front, the child in the back could still see over it, and not feel like she was blocked in. And little sister was far enough away from big sister to not be touched. When you get past the infant seat stage, the back seat is perfect for the littler sibling. Because it reclines, from just a little to laying all the way down, so a baby can sleep really comfortably there while the bigger kid is out front with the action. Oh, and Mia’s favorite feature? The front, big kid seat also reclines some (doesn’t lay all the way down), so when little sister was sleeping on the way home from the park and Mia would say “no fair! I want to lay down too!” the front seat reclined just enough for her to rest and think that she was getting a place to lay down too.
Which brings me to why I would NOT NOT NOT recommend the sit and stand. I think if you have a 5 year old and are having another baby, those would work well. Bigger kids rarely want to really rest in a stroller anyway. But my 3 year old? Well, the first two times we went to the park after the baby was born, I had not yet gotten the double stroller, and I was totally leaning toward the sit and stand. But those first two trips to the park, when the baby was sleeping in the stroller, the three year old threw two gigantic fits about wanting to be able to lay down and rest too! So I quickly realized that she was not old enough to want just the little platform or the little hard bench on the sit and stand, she still needed a comfy seat to rest in. So with Hudson being as young as he is, I really suggest that the sit and stand won’t work. Even if you feel like he’s being a big boy now and never wants to really lay back in the stroller, I think you’ll be surprised about what happens when there’s a new baby. Suddenly older siblings want to do some of that “baby” stuff again, and I think that on certain things (like being able to relax in the stroller), that’s an okay thing to indulge.
Oh and two more reasons I like the Graco. . .forever, the front-and-back double strollers were crazy long. I think that’s why people still have something against them. But Graco did a really awesome job with the design of the new Quattro Duo. I’ve had lots of friends say they’re really surprised about how small the footprint actually is. And having done lots of shopping with it, I can say that the wheels are really well designed for good maneuvering. It really does turn on a dime! And finally, the cargo basket on the bottom is HUGE. It holds a suprising amount without feeling like the stroller is really that big. The only downside, in my opinion, has been that it does not collapse down very small. I don’t know what kind of cars you have, but you definitely need to try it out in your trunk/cargo space before committing, because it’s not small. It’s not that heavy or difficult–it folds down in one easy move, and I can easily lift it myself. It’s just the fitting in that can be a little tough. I just have a sedan with a normal trunk, and let’s just say that I can’t have the stroller AND do a big Costco run on the same day.
There’s my, uh, way more than $0.02. 🙂
Can’t help you on the bed situation….My soon to be three year old is still in his crib! I say why mess with a good thing!
I LOVE the nursery!
I have been reading for a long time and don’t think I have ever seen Hudson’s nursery! It is GORGEOUS! It looks so comfy and cozy! I love it! I enjoyed reading everyone’s responses. Lilly is just a month and a half younger than Hudson. She has been an EXCELLENT sleeper since 3 months (up until this past week). For some reason she screams when we put her down. I just have let her cry it out (I know…mean mommy) and I feel we are on the mend. I am hoping to keep her in a crib as long as I can. I feel like I know she is safe by doing that. If I were pregnant, I would probably move her like you…but I’m not. I do like the gate idea. I also LOVE the Tot Clock. I will be looking that up for sure!
I was wondering if you could tell me where the white shelf system came from. Did you purchase it or is a built in. We are looking for something like that for our next house! Thanks!
I love your nursery, it so so cute Erin! Good luck with the bed transition- you are brave to move Hudson so young. I was in a crib until I was four- maybe I was just too wild when not in it though!
I have 3 kiddos…the oldest two were in their cribs until almost 4…#3 who turned 3 is in that same beautiful PBK Sleigh Crib…he is a wonderful sleeper he feels safe and secure there and I feel good knowing he is not able to get out, roll out, cant find me in the middle of the night etc…just my two cents but each time a new baby came along I liked knowing that there would not be yet another transition to an already challenging newborn situation. Keep it simple for you and your husband. Im always surprised when I hear about 2 and under (even 3 and under) going to a bed…in my eyes they are still babes! But you know your own kiddo and there is good and bad to all situations so just follow your Mom instinct. (Fyi, we needed another crib for #2 when #3 was on his way…so we just borrowed a cute white Jenny Lind from a friend. Lots of cute cribs now at BRU for under $200 and even resale shops have some cute, affordable, newer options…) Good luck!
Our kiddos are less than 2 years apart so we had two double stollers – a side by side like the double bob and a Joovy Caboose Ultralight. Now they are 4 and 6 and I STILL have the ultralight. We use it occasionally when my son and I walk the mile and 1/2 to pick up my daughter from school. With the extra seat she (at 6!) can still sit on it if she is tired after a long day on the walk home. As your kiddos get older it’s nice to have a double that will accomodate them at 3 and 4 for long day trips or long walks.
BYTW – just like Amanda above, we had 2 cribs for awhile. My daughter was sleeping so well in her crib that I didn’t want to upset things before my son was born so we went to a consignment store and bought a lovely crib for about $70. Best $70 I spent on a baby item. It really was. It just took all the pressure off us and my daughter to move sleeping arrangements. She knew that she was moving to her big girl bed on her own terms, and that made a huge difference.
My vote is the stroller you have is fine. You can take walks and be out and about with it. If Hudson is a good sleeper, the big boy bed might not be the issue you think. My son has gone from crib to toddler bed to full sized bed and NEVER gotten out of it without us comign to get him. And that’s no thanks to us. We just told him to call for us and we’d come get him, so he does. I was dreading it for MONTHS and it turned out fine. Hopefully your transition is just as smooth.
Also, my boys have rooms that share a wall and I was afraid a newborn would wake my son. Thanks to sound machines and toddlers heavy sleeping, that was never an issue either. It’s so much easier than you think. 🙂 But I still praise the Lord for naptime!!
A double bob stroller is a must have it is so nice for going to the park and any other out door activity. I also have a Phil &Ted Stroller that I use for going to the mall or if I am going to be in a place that I know is going to be cramped.
One other peace of advice I would rank this before getting a double stroller. Eet a ergo. My daughter was so small when she was born and we where in the process of moving she was to small to fit into the baby bjorn and I needing somewhere to put her my sister in-law brought over her Ergo to borrow. I had many client and moms tell me about how great the Ergo is.. Any way I fell in love with it. So I did some research on it and found out it had won award and what got me is that it goes up to 40lbs and you can put them on your front back. So anyway my daughter is 15mo 25lbs still loves it.
can´t wait to see Hudson’s new bedroom!! love your good taste!!
We have the baby jogger city elite for our little one-to-be and it comes with a toddler attachment. Such a great pram 🙂
OMG Hudson’s room is GORGEOUS, the new little guy is lucky to inherit it! And I absolutely love the swatches for his new big boy room! Can’t wait to see it all finished!
We tried multiple strollers for our two, who are barely 17 months apart, before finally getting the Phil & Teds. Oh my WORD has it been a life saver! I had the Graco front and back (I heard it was “the best” because it was so narrow) but it was heavy and huge to put in and out of the car. Next I tried the side-by-side Combi, which was very light weight, folded down small, but was a pain to use in anything that had narrow aisles (even though it did technically fit through a door frame.) I finally splurged on the Phil & Teds and wish I had done it from the start! There’s no more shuffling strollers depending on if I have one or both kids with me, I just add or take off the back seat. I LOVE IT! I would DEFINITELY recommend it. If you have any questions, feel free to send me an email 🙂
We did a McLaren (sp?) double but I don’t know if those are good for an infant. What I liked about it is that it’s a side-by-side fits that through a standard doorway. Some doubles where they sit either facing each other or one behind the other makes it feel like you’re pushing a train.
Whatever you pick… just make sure it’s not too wide to fit thru a normal doorway or so long that you feel like you’re driving a train. If it’s a hassle to push the dang stroller you won’t get out. And if you don’t get out, you’ll start to go bananas. (As I’m sure you already know.)
Confession on big kid beds: We had our first 2 fourteen months apart, so I had both of my kids in cribs… and left them there… til they were THREE years old. Such a bad mom. Probably not at all good for their development. Who knows. But they never tried to climb out, so I figured–heck, if they’re stuck in bed and can’t get up and wander downstairs into my room, why mess up a good thing? So, needless to say, since they were practically preschoolers by the time I tranistioned them, it wasn’t a big deal.
Good luck!! I think it’s GREAT you’re doing it soon. While you’re not super sleep deprived and can focus on just him, this is a good time to do it.
Hi! Love the double BOB, but agree that it is big and heavy. For quick trips/shopping, take a look at the Peg Perego Aria 60/40 double..it fits an infant seat in one side. It will accomodate a Graco seat (that’s what I have) with an adapter strap. It does not ‘snap’ in like a Peg Perego infant seat would, but it fits snugly and securely. It is a side by side but narrow enough to fit through doorways. It’s also very lightweight, easy to fold and lift in and out of the car.
I know several who have the Joovy and love it…for a sit n stand type of stroller. Good luck!!
I LOVE LOVE LOVE Your nursery ! I would want to use that forever! Cant wait to see the big boy room! You know where I stand on the double stroller! city Select all the way! We love our stroller!
To transition each of our kids (18 months/2 years) to the big bed we did this: We put a body pillow on the side of the bed against the wall, used a side rail on the “open” side, and had a pillow at the head and foot of where they were sleeping. This made the area in which they slept cozy and safe just like they were used to in their crib. Then we did our normal bedtime routine of bath, favorite part of the day, prayer and a song while we take them into their dark rooms. We ALWAYS put them in bed over the side rail (in the middle area surrounded by the 4 pillows mentioned above). In the mornings when we heard them waking at first we didn’t let them stay too long because we didn’t want them to get curious enough to try and get out. When we took them out of the bed we always picked them up over the side rail…basically trying to convince them it was just like their crib. Hope this helps!
I have a 22 month old and a 7 month old. I absolutely love my baby jogger city mini double. It’s very easy to fold and lightweight. I highly recommend it!
We have a Phil and Ted’s with the doubles kit. We bought it used from a friend who bought it when they were expecting #2, but then quickly realized their older child had suddenly become very independent and active and didn’t want to ride in a stroller at all. Even though we only have one child, he stopped wanting to ride in the stroller at about 1 1/2. He’s two now and has no interest in being pushed around in the stroller. He’ll walk two miles on his own, with a break to rest half way.
He’s also been in a twin bed for about 6 months now. We always had a twin bed set up in his room along with the crib. Once he was old enough, we let him nap in the bed if he wanted. Eventually, he just started asking to sleep in the bed at night. After he’d been sleeping in it consistently for a week, we asked him if he was ready to be all done with the crib and he said yes. We asked him if it was okay with him if we gave the crib to another baby (his new cousin) and he was cool with it. He “helped” us take it apart an pack it up. It was great!
hi erin! i’m a longtime follower/lurker and had to reach out to comment on this post since we own the city select. with baby #1, we were loyal BOB devotees. however, when i became pregnant with #2, i knew i did not want the Double BOB. i worked at Pottery Barn for 4 years and literally saw people groan when entering our store with that stroller . . . or any side-by-side stroller for that matter. it was just too hard to get around. i was pregnant with #2 when i saw an ad for the yet-to-be-released city select. i loved how it looked very bugaboo-ish. i loved how you could switch the positions of the seats. i loved that you could use it with an infant carrier (we have the peg). it was released a month before my son was born. a few weeks later, after test driving it in the store, we were proud owners.
here’s the deal though – 10 months later, do i really think i need it? um, now that’s debatable. since we spent over $800 on it (the base cost reflects the stroller frame and one seat. the second seat and infant attachment are separate costs.), i will never tell my husband that. 😉 but, in all seriousness, we rarely use it as a double stroller. rarely. my kids are 2.5 years apart. my daughter (age 3 years, 3 months) loves to hold onto the stroller and walk. or she helps push it. she never runs off, so i don’t feel the need to keep her contained. my son (now 10.5 months) was born 7 weeks premature and was very colicky. he hated his infant carrier and was too small for the stroller seat for a long time. i wound up wearing him during most walks. the stroller itself is a very big and heavy; it takes up the most of trunk of my large, third-row seating SUV. it is very difficult to turn when used as a double stroller. it is not the easiest stroller to push either when used as a double. i envisioned taking it on miles-long walks like i did with my BOB. not so much. i primarily use it as a single stroller now and push my son while my daughter walks.
hope all these reviews help! happy stroller shopping!
So I don’t have two kids yet, but thought I throw in my two cents. I have several friends that have the double bob and most all of the love it. They primarily use it for walks and jogs in the neighborhood, running, festivals, and other things like that – most don’t use it as a day to day stroller because it is so heavy and bulky. As for a more convenient daily stoller, I have friends with a variety and they all seem to like them. The baby jogger city mini does handle well and is super easy to fold. Several have the Graco front to back and love it too. And then I know several that have an umbrella type double and like them as well. As for a sit-n-stand, my reccomendation is one that Hudson will have the option to sit or stand, because my 19 month old would never stay in the seat if was just supposed to stand there. My suggestion would be to test as many out as possible. I would say for the first few months, it is probably easiest to wear the new baby and put Hudson in a single stroller or grocery cart, etc. And honestly if I was getting the bob, I would go with something more economical and space saving for the second stroller.
As for the City Select, I have seen it as a double and personally for me I felt like the kids were too low to the ground – especially the bottom baby. Also, since Hudson is on the tall side I would definitely reccomend making sure he isn’t getting close to being too tall for the city select seat. We have an Uppababy and I love it, but depending on how old number 1 is when number 2 arrives he may be too tall for the seat. (He’s 19 months now and not too tall, but I could see him outgrowing it by the time he’s 3 and he’s on the short side of the scale). If you decide you are interested in the city select, I would recommend checking out the Uppababy too. I personally like the uppababy better, but that’s just me. I will say they are both a big stroller and won’t be saving any space in your vehicle though.
I have four kids and only with the last one did I find what I consider to be the best alternative to a double stroller, and that is the Ergo carrier and then just a single stroller for my toddler.
I had a double stroller for years and dreaded using it because it’s so bulky. When I finally got a GOOD carrier (one that I hardly even notice is on, even when walking for 3+ miles and/or several hours at the zoo) I realized it was much more space savings to just use an umbrella stroller for one and have the baby in the carrier. I’ve even been known to switch out and put the baby in the stroller with the 2 year old on my back inthe carrier. Having this carrier now makes me want to have more kids – NOT!
Oh, and all my kids were out of cribs by 18 months, so Hudson will be just fine!
Good luck with everything!
Hi! I have the exact same double BOB that you posted a pic of. I have a 2 yo and 1 yo girls and I love it…for jogging/walking/trips to zoo, etc. ONLY. It’s just too big to try using it around town for errands, etc. I compare it to the size of a grocery cart but maybe a few inches wider! LOL It only folds down in half so it will take up a lot of room in your car. I don’t know what you drive but I had a small SUV and after baby #2 was I sucked it up and got a swagger wagon (Toyota Sienna). My third row folds down flat into the floor and then I can easily put the BOB double in the back. Even then, it still takes up the majority of the space in the back of the van. So, just be prepared for that. I have thought about getting a second double stroller but so far I’ve made do without one. My older girl will walk along the single stroller (taught her early on to keep one hand on the stroller in public) or she will ride on the step our single stroller has for a second child.
Hopefully, your older child will be different, but my 2 year old is really at the point where she doesn’t like to be in the stroller and wants to walk like a big girl so I’m glad that I didn’t spend the extra money for an everyday type of double stroller. Wishing you all the best Mama!