okay, NOW what do I do?

[tigerbright]

I picked up a used Graco double stroller (front-back) for my now-three-year-old and my baby back during the spring when I realized that using the stroller and carrier (even though it's the Ergo carrier) together were killing my back because the baby was just heavy enough that stroller-posture was pulling on my back in all the wrong ways

Comments

[geminigirl]

I only have a five month old, but I've got a friend coming to visit with her two children-a daughter who will turn four the day after they leave and her son who will be 20 months when they're here, and I picked up a Baby Trend Sit-n-Stand on Craig's List for about $35. I know quite a few people who like them.

I was stroller-browsing the other day to see if there was anything that rivaled my love for my Maclaren but had the two features that were missing (or if there was a way to fix that-it has no snack tray and no cup holder, problems I managed to fix for about $20) and while I was browsing, I was chatting with someone who has three children-two in the stroller, and who was shopping with a friend who was looking for a new double stroller-both of whom really love their Maclarens. I really love my single, and would probably look at the double when the time comes.

[ladyynara]

At 3, my son started being able to use a buggy board, but I found using it really hurt my back for anything longer than short distances as I had to stand further back to stop my feet from clipping it. I started training him to be able to walk long distances, short trips first then longer and longer and by the time he was 4 he was able to quite easily walk miles.

[clare_s]

I love my Phil and Teds e3. It is spendy but I can get it up the kerbs, I cannot do that with a graco tandem and that was with a 18 month old in the front seat. I can also manage a Jane PowerTwin but I suspect I would have stopped using that earlier than this just from the size impact of it.

[heraldis]

The Jane double buggy is incredible, but very expensive. It fits through doors, and apart from kerbs, is really easy to steer and manoeuvre, I can do it one handed. Shame you're the wrong side of the pond, cos I'm selling mine!

[ailbhe]

The trouble with the heavier baby in front of the lighter one is that it means you have to do all steering, even tiny course correction, with massive effort. Anything that brings the weight closer to your body as you push will make it easier as long as it doesn't force you into strained pushing postures.

A three-year-old can only walk a whole mile if they regularly walk a half mile first - it takes time to build up to it. What I did was have the two-year-old stand on the step or shopping basket of the buggy holding the front or hood when she got too tired to walk any further, but mainly, she walked. The playground seems like an excellent short distance to practice with to up her stamina.