BTW: If you were surveying experienced parents only (those with more than one kid), you would probably get a very definitive answer...

any recommendations for good strollers for twins? we have a few fairly steep steps leading into our building and are curious as to what other parents of twins have done... thanks!

My advice? Don't buy a first stroller before you know that your infant will accept one and won't spend all time in contact with the seat shrieking as if he were being brutally murdered.

And then buy something LIGHT and COMPACT, to be easily carried down the subway with the child still strapped in.

I really think a Baby Bjorn's the way to go until the kid turns into a real chunk, and then after that, REI makes some great kid backpacks. Strollers are generally unweildy and are best for museums, zoo, parks, and taking a turn around the block, not for shopping or getting from point A to point B.

Oh, and places to stow your diaper bag, baby coats, etc., are VERY nice. Some NYC parents like to hermetically seal their kids in plastic protective covers, and I'm not that extreme, but I do like the sun shades. Larger-than-average wheels are also nice, but folding ability is critical for tiny, street-side NYC shops and restaurants.

Use a carseat carrier in NYC ONLY if you A) drive a lot and B) the kid falls asleep in the car and isn't woken when it stops. They're huge and unweildy otherwise.

With all this in mind, I'd wait for the child to be born to determing his stroller tolerance, and then if I happened to do a lot of strolling around the park/department store/museum/zoo/whatever, I'd go for the Quinny.

We've had three strollers. One was an incredibly expensive (used, as gift) pram/convertable type. One was a moderately expensive, semifolding one (also a gift, used). And one was a $15 umbrella stroller from Wal-mart, which we bought because I hated the others. We've only used one, and it was the cheap one, and we've been though DC, Annapolis, and NYC in it and are glad we didn't take either of the others.

I don't like these choices, and I'm not sure I agree that these were the most recommended in the comments on the last post. I mean, two people mentioned micralite, and one mention each of Phil & Ted, and Bumbleflyer? Multiple mentions of a non-Volo McClaren.

I will express, again, that there is no one right answer to this and the variable involved in enjoyment are the ones that are not quantifiable in surveys. That said, I agree with Lydia that a buyer should wait and see on investing in an infant friendly stroller. I also think that while the Volo is really popular, due to the shoulder strap and its light weight, the other McC's are not much heavier and can provide a few more features (like a reclining seat).

Joe,
I strongly recommend that you go to a couple of stores and try collapsing the double strollers.

When you say steep stairs, I think elevator building or brownstone and single width door. I don't know how you would get a side by side twinner in such an entrance, unless you can collapse it.

When we had two, we borrowed a Peg Twin Tender, which has two seats, one behind the other. It was bulky and heavy, and drove like a hummer limo, i.e., no manueverability at all, but I was able to collapse it with one hand and one foot. Luckily, I had only one infant to hold at the time. I don't know how, with twinfants, a person can collapse a stroller and hold them at the same time. So I would think you have to launch that stroller into the vestibule and then take the twinfants somehow to safety, and . . . actually, maybe someone with twins (JP?) can speak up and explain how its done. I guess if its safe, you can leave the stroller there until you have a chance to collapse it and take it upstairs? Assuming its a walkup or the elevator is really small . . .

I took the PTT up what I consider steep stairs, in two parts, at my bro's bldg in WH. The outer 4 stairs were hard, but once inside the inner door, I could bump the older kid, carry the little one in one hand, and pull the stroller up the steep stairs backwards. Then replace everyone and move on. But the entrance to the building was uncommonly wide and the stroller fit into the elevator.

We used the PTT for a total of 8 months, during the newborn period, when our older one needed pushing home from school and the little one hated the bjorn. As soon as the baby liked the bjorn, we gave that stroller back with a hearty thanks. Although I have to admit that it was great for carrying stuff to the park for picnics.

Better yet, try collapsing a stroller with one hand. The other will be undoubtedly occupied.

Sorry for the double post.

Charlene got my point exactly - go to some stores with different models and try to collapse with one hand. The Peg has a foot pedal thing, you step on it while squeezing a handle. But you push it down to collapse. The McC side by side twin you need to squeeze together to collapse, which can be hard. But the McC fits in more elevators in my experience, while the PTT can be too long to fit in some elevators.

Again, depends on your particular usage. I am now wondering how parents of twins get by in brownstones or buildings with really narrow hallways.

I answered the universal and the volo, but it occurs to me that I'm not in NYC, so that might skew things. I used the universal in Ann Arbor, MI (I've moved since then) -- good sidewalks, pedestrian traffic ok, and I had a garage. A bugaboo would have been complete overkill there and in a lot of cities (unless you're into status parenting), especially with a young baby who enjoys being worn in a bjorn or sling. But something like that might be warranted in NYC...

But I think the volo, or something like it, is a good option in any place for older kiddos -- until you have another baby & really have to re-think.

FYI: I have some sort of Graco Citilite or Metrolite thing (the smaller one!) for the 2nd ride. It was a gift, and it's been around the U.S. and abroad. Never had to worry about it getting trashed on a airplane, and it's been on some pretty rough terrain. It's not the best in snow and ice -- something to consider with any stroller if you take your kid outside, rain or shine.

And what is it with the hermetically sealed babies in NYC? I swear I've gotten the hairy eyeball on several occasions for exposing my kid to, you know, air... at least, in certain neighborhoods :)

I agree. Skip a bulky, heavy stroller until you really need it (if you ever do). And then go for a lightweight, compact one. Easy for the bus and the subway, can go anywhere, sidewalk friendly, space friendly.

There are so many choices in slings and baby carriers out there (hotsling, lucky baby, babyhawk, ellaroo, didymos, girasol, sachi, peanut shell, pea in the pod pouch), and you will get far more use. I gave up on a stroller in Manhattan and stuck with a Didymos. It worked much better, and I have not missed the stroller at all.

yes, in NYC keep in mind the weight of the stroller - you'll have to lug it up stairs in subway, buses, stores, restaurants & people's apts., how it easily it stores in your apt - can it fold easily into a small area, and how much room there is on the bottom to lug stuff around. you'll find the Bugaboo while attractive, is heavy and doesn't fold up for storage that easily - most leave it open.

I'm bewildered by any New Yorkers who are fans of the Bugaboo or many of the other strollers listed on this survey. I presume they are the sorts of people who never take the subway or buses, certainly not at rush hour, and surely have never taked an older child to school at 8 AM while dragging along a 1-year old.

I've tried many strollers in the past 5 years, and while none is perfect, the only one that can be folded quickly with ONE hand, is light enough to be tossed over your shoulder while you get on a bus with two children, can easily be navigated down the narrowest NYC grocery store aisle using only one hand, fits into the overhead bin on an airplane, can fold down and be tossed on the floor in the backseat of a yellow cab when it's raining and you're trying to get two exhausted children home with shopping bags, and still comes with a (small) storage space underneath plus a sun and rain cover, is the McClaren Vola. Period. The next best thing is to keep your baby in Baby Bjorn for as long as possible.

The price difference between the top two choices is hilarious!

We live in an elevator building and do a lot of walking.
We love the Zooper Z-Street (they've since renamed it). It was heavier than the Maclarens but not as expensive. Has a full recline and a zip up footer for an infant, plus it came with the rain shield and misquito netting.
However, I have to agree with Lydia. Our son hated being in the stroller. We "bjorned" him most of the time when he was an infant.
Our 2nd stroller was a second hand Maclaren Quest. The only complaint I have is that the rear wheels wore out too quickly. After replacing the rear wheels twice, we bought a second hand Combi Saavy for everyday use instead. The Combi is not as manueverable as the other strollers. But it is light weight and folds up relatively flat.
The Quest is now at my IL's.
We also have a cheap umbrella stroller from Walmart for subway and bus rides.

Universal Carseat Carriers cost $70 brand new, but you can get one second hand for $15-30.

Slings (which our child preferred to the Bjorn) cost $40-80.

Bugaboos cost $600-800.

You could get a carseat carrier, sling, bjorn, AND a Maclaren and make a generous donation to charity with the money you have left over...or you can buy a Bugaboo.

Interesting. I have always been told (by literally a dozen people) that the McLaren Volo is the way to go in the city, but I guess it must lack the prestige factor or something. I have no idea what it looks like.

Exactly, Mama C. I was also wondering about the Maclaren "backlash." Certainly the Technos and Quests were mentioned far more than some of the other strollers we can vote for here.

One point that no one has made yet...by the time your child is 2 or so they should be walking most places and the stroller should be used sparingly or just as a back up. That's what makes the Volo so great. It just makes me upset when I see older kids, who are perfectly capable of walking and probably need the exercise, being "strolled" short distances.

Sounds to me like a alot of sour grapes on the board. I see alot of people with Bugaboos, have talked to a few, and they are perfectly happy with their choice. Who are you to tell anyone else that they should buy a sling (yuck!) carseat or anything else in palce of the Bugaboo? Second, why should you get "upset" over seeing older kids (4,5) riding in a stroller? 1) Mind your own business and 2) there are alot worse things to be upset about - children Darfur comes to mind. This survey was about what you liked best in a stroller, not your opinion of strollers you don't own!

I too am baffled by the lack of a Maclaren choice. We just toted our kid around in a Bjorn-type carrier until about three months, when summer hit and it got too darn hot to have a baby strapped to my chest. We would have gotten the Volo if it had reclined at all, but instead got the Triumph because we could use it right away. We also considered a Combi which was close in lightness and smallness and also cheaper, but it felt wobbly when pushed with just one hand. The only real problem with the Maclaren is that the sunshade is nearly useless, so we end up pulling the stroller backwards half the time, which works fine but takes up more sidewalk space.

Sammie, who are you to tell people that slings are Yuck!, when many people are happy with them? Why don't you mind your own business.

I think it's a little bit funny that people here hate the Bug. But Lydia goes on to say she's had three strollers, Nina has tried many, and Mabel has had three. I've just had the one: a Bug. I can't talk about the others but I really find the Bug easy to push (with one hand), super on cobblestones and in snow, and my kid likes it. I think there is something to be said for a light stroller that folds and if I was in and out of a car ever, that would be important to me. But my life involves far more trips to Key Food and CVS than to the Met and the bug is great for this. A sling or a bjorn is good too but when we take a walk or meet people at the playground, I really prefer to use a stroller and keep my wallet and change of clothes in there too.

And my child is 3 and our church is 11 blocks away and you know what... I HAPPILY push him there. If we walked, it would take an hour. My best friend lives 14 blocks away. I push when we need to cover ground. I don't care if any other mom give me the evil eye bcs of it!

If Mama C. feels the need to air her opinions, I'll air my own right back. A taste of her own medicine. And by the way, Anon, get some guts and post a name.

No, Sammie,
The survey was about the best choice of a stroller based on looks, function and price.

"Which stroller is the best for a New York City apartment? You are contemplating years of navigating your hallway, the elevator, the stairs and the city streets with your most precious cargo and need a stroller NOW. Which one should you buy? So many questions... We are looking for leaders in PRICE, DESIGN & QUALITY."

This is a different question from do you like your Bug or "what do you like best in a stroller."

Think about it this way. If you designed a rating system by assigning numeric values to each of the three categories, and averaged the values to come up with a winner, it is clear that the Bug is in the basement in price and therefore is unlikely to be the winner. This assumes that price is equal weighted with the other categories. The survey question is, of course, ambiguous on this, and it is AT, so a person could conclude that design outweighs price. I think the comments on the Bug reflect not "you snob, you bought a status stroller" but rather "why are you ignoring the comments abouts its deficiencies for apartment dwellers?"

Dave,
There is an australian stroller shade (I can't remember, I think that it starts with a P) that you can tie on with excellent SPF protection. Also, we found the Graco stroller umbrella to work very well with the McC.
A

I just reread Mama C's post again, and don't find it snooty or "sour grapes" at all. I think she sounds very positive and constructive and her experience could benefit many who want to do what's best for their children but have financial concerns (which is about 99% of our country's polulation)

I have several friends who were able to resell their Bugs after using them for more than 2 years for $300-$350. I do think it's the only one with real resale value!

This is a funny take on the Bug in Manhattan, btw.

http://sweetjuniper.blogspot.com/2005/09/love-message-hate-new-york-times.html

A: what the hell are you responding to? What does "No" exactly respond to in my post? I don't remember asking a question. Clarify.

I too cringe at older toddlers in strollers but I understand the speed differential.

All these prices are crazy. Sorry, that's the redneck in me talking. But 500+ dollars for two years of use?

Umbrella stoller, activate!

No offense intended to any, and I'll show myself out.

It is all a matter of priorities.

We can afford a Bugaboo, but prefer to spend our money in other ways, especially since we take public transport a lot and Bugaboos are absolutely useless on subways and buses.

Oh, good Lord, let's not let this place turn into Urban Baby (which is catty as all get-out). They love to fight about Bugaboos and about whether people really aren't fans or are just jealous and bitter because people who have them are married to investment bankers and have huge rocks and drive Mercedes and turn up their noses--done by the best plastic surgeons--at non-Bugaboos.(This is not my opinion; this is a typical urban baby thread.)

Please, let's not go down that road!

thanks Mama. I was really wondering about your personal financial decisions. Your post cleared up that burning issue.

In your first post, you said:

"This survey was about what you liked best in a stroller"

That's "what the hell" I was responding to when I quoted the first AT post on this topic.

Breathe, people. Fighting over a stroller is so ridiculous.

We bought a couple of Quinnys (Buzz and Zapp) before our kid was born. Nice strollers, but we hardly ever use either one, although Grandma does. Our 18 month old still loves riding around in a pouch carrier. I had one sewn for less than 40 bucks all in- simple black (it's hard to find one that doesn't look girly or hippy-dippyish) with a flannel lining. She loved it as an infant and would sleep happily for ages, and now she sits up in it. She's pretty heavy now, but even so, I can go at least 3 hours before I need to switch it around to the other arm. What's best is I can fold the thing up small enough that it fits in a diaper bag or even a coat pocket. Hauling a stroller around is really only necessary if you pack a bunch of crap or have mutiple kids. It's a lot easier to get around quickly in the city if you pack light, and ditching the stroller is the best way to do that.

I would suggest that the bugaboo is excellent from birth to when a pram is no longer required. We used a buggy board when our son was a the 'don't want to walk but don't want to be in the pram' phase and it was a life saver!!

BUGABOO FOREVER!!

I actually didn't WANT the two strollers that I was given. An aunt pressed them upon me despite my unwillingness, telling me they were the best strollers EVER and I just HAD to have them. I hated them when I first tried them, and I hate them now.

The $15 umbrella stroller, however, has served us just fine! If we used it tons, though, we'd upgrade to a smoother ride.

As far as the "kids who can walk" in stollers...have you ever tried to walk and/or shop with a just-turned two-year-old? If your sole purpose IS to walk around with a two-year-old, then you only need your arms--for when the kid goes to far and tires out before he can make it back. But you can't go far and you have to go VERY slowly, and the kid gets exhausted fast and can't be expected to go any distance without tiring out. When DS was 2.5, we tool the stroller, but we didn't buckle him in on the street, and he could walk as he cared to and ride when he got tired. Most of the time, it was too much for him to walk! And there's also a certain age when you want your child strapped in when in stores. They might be handsy, or they just might be inclined to wander. Either way, it pins them down.

>And what is it with the hermetically sealed babies in NYC? I swear I've gotten the hairy eyeball on several occasions for exposing my kid to, you know, air... at least, in certain neighborhoods :)

YES!!! My DC hated coats, too, from the time he was a year until he was 3.5, and we were also living somewhere that was often much colder than NYC, so when we went last winter, he had several layers of clothes and a blanket instead of a coat...and he often didn't wear the blanket, which got be all sorts of nasty looks AND comments. Russian women all but tried to take him from me. *g*

Of course, I wasn't wearing my coat most of the time, either, nor layers--just a light sweater--and the NY-ers were bundled up as if the next ice age had arrived...buildings are MUCH hotter in NY than what I'm used to, so I guess people feel colder outside.

I can't stop myself from joining in the fray. I'm a nyc parent (Brooklyn) and the stroller decision was a BIG one for me. I talked my parents into getting a bugaboo for my son, thinking it was going to be fabulous. And well, we used it a lot at first as a bassinet in the apartment (he slept in it for a while) but rarely as a stroller. I ended up selling the bugaboo on ebay after about 9 months because I never used it. You can't take it on the subway, it's a pain to fold up and even more of a pain to unfold, and is generally not nyc friendly. I have no idea why so many parents continue to put themselves through it because after selling the bugaboo I got a Maclaren Triumph (one step up from Volo - it reclines) and it is the best thing I ever did.

I also have a $10 umbrella stroller from target but hate to use it - no sun shade, and you're always accidentally stepping on the wheels, plus you can't stand up straight and simultaneously reach the handles.

Btw, I totallly second the idea that kids old enough to walk should not be riding around in strollers. Now my son is 18 months old, and though I still take the stroller when we go out walking in case of tired meltdown, he usually is walking next to me instead of riding in it.

And finally, though baby carriers are lovely in theory, and I did use a sling for a while when he was really small, once they get a bit bigger sometimes you're just too tired to carry them all the time. Strollers are great for that. Otherwise we never would have left the house!

we love our quinny buzz (2006). the stroller itself (not including the cot, shopping basket, etc.) comes out to less than any bugaboo (if we needed to buy the accessories it would come out to about the same) but drives as nicely and is very practical. we did have a maclaren triumph -- and it is one beautiful looking stroller, but gave it away because we found it too low, bad canopy, and rickety on the sidewalks. we ended up importing a TEUTONIA SOLANO from europe and are very pleased with it as a second ride. with these two we really couldn't ask for more, but if we do decide to splurge a bit more next time around, we'd switch from a quinny to a stokke xplory -- all about how high the kid is (as our babies tend to be on the smaller side anyway). good luck.

We don't make a lot of money. But we live in DC, and don't own a car. Those factors helped us decide on the Bug.

Our first stroller was an older Graco which had great features--big basket, recline--but handled DC's unpredictable sidewalks poorly. (If it was broken up brick, forget it!) And it also sat widely and heavily in our tiny apt.

We waited till the baby was 5 months old to decide on the bug, searching for something that had all the features we wanted. But ultimately it was that we would practically walk everywhere in the city (we venture to the burbs only rarely) that convinced us the Bug was worth it. (Friends call the Bug our car.)

If it had come out earlier I think we would have gone with the Orbit. I like how the stroller seat is also the car seat.

But if you have to have a stroller unfolded in your apt anyway, the Bug is definitely the way to go. It's pretty. It isn't as wide as our old Graco, and doesn't add any more clutter than other baby gear.

You show the Stokke Xplory and yet it's not a voting option. I personally love my Xplory, our Bugaboo was a piece of crap that was rickity at best, the Xplory is a fine tuned piece of non-China/Taiwan made machinery.

I think two stroller are best design

For parents of multiples (twins is my experience), the double decker stroller is the best by far for infants (http://www.doubledeckerstroller.com/specifications.html)18lbs and the car seats are a breeze to carry safely into the subway.

We use the Jane Powertwin for our kids now (2 years 5 months) and it's heavy with them in it (85lbs - 55 for the kids) but only weighs 31lbs without our junk. I don't like the Peg/Mclaren style doubles for their tiny wheels but they are a bit lighter (5 lbs). My wife and I have it down but I'm waiting for the day they can walk safely down while I carry a small stroller....