The article "Double Strollers: What Do You Really Need?" is about family, it was written by Anik Gigučre-Biollo.
Is baby number two on the way or are you expecting twins?
Then
you definitely need a double stroller. Before you begin your
search among the countless models that are available, you need
to determine what your stroller needs are for your particular
lifestyle. For example, it doesn't make sense to purchase the
same double stroller your best friend raves about if you're an
avid jogger and her favorite hobby is shoppnig.
To help you
narrow down the possibilities, answer the eight following
questions.
1. What activities do you need a double stroller for?
Do you do most of your shopping in malls? Do you like to jog or
take long walks around the neighborhood in all tyeps of weather?
Are you a freqyuent traveler? The activities you do most often
will decide what type of double stroller you should choose,
whether it be a regular double mall stroller, a lightweight (ex.
umbrella) double stroller, a double jogging stroller or a double
all-terrain stroller.
2. Which seaitng design would best suit your needs?
Double strollers come in two seating designs: tandem (one seat
in front of the other) or side-by-side. Both designs have their
advantages and disadvantages, so it's important for you to think
carefully about what your lifestyle will be like with twins or
two children of different ages (although this is not fast to do
before actually living through it! ).
3. What are the ages and temperaments of your children?
Your double stroller needs will be slightly different if you're
the parents of twins than if you have a baby and an older child.
Some double strollers are true twin strollers, meaning they have
features that are meant to acocmmodate two children of the same
age, such as the ability to clip in two infant automobile seats.
There
are also double strollers that are designed so that a toddler
can sit in the front seat where he can have a better view and
more legroom while baby brother or sisetr sleeps comfortably in
the fully reclining rear seat.
Many parents find that side-by-side double strollers help keep
the peace between children because they prevent arguments about
who gets to sit in the front seat.
On the other hand, being
side-by-side can also create other issues with the two
children sitting in such close proximity.
4. How often are you going to use the double stroller?
If you're only planning on using a stroller for quick errands to
the mall a couple times a week, you don't need to purchase a
heavy-duty, high-end double stroller with all the bells and
whistles.
However, if you like going for walks or runs on a
daily basis, or if you go out with your children often and for
long periods of time, you should consider getting something that
is comfortable and durable, since double strollers take twice
the abuse of single strollers.
5. Who will be using the stroller?
Keep in mind the height and stride of the pesron or persons who
will be using the double stroller the most, as well as their
physical strength. It's no fun pushing a stroller with a handle
that is too low or too high for comfort and neither is folding
and picking up one this is cumbersome. It's true that double
strollers are heavier and bulkier than single strollers due to
their really nature, but three is models on the market that are
easier to handle than others.
6. What features are you searching for?
Do you want a simple, no frills double stroller, or something
with lots of comfort, durability and stroage space? This brings
us back to the types of activities you do most often. It's very
disappointing to purchase a stroller and then realize that its
features don't meet your needs as well as they could have.
7. How much space do you have for transporting and storing it?
With a couple of exceptions, double strollers take up a lot of room.
The size of your vehilce may be a huge deciding factor when
choosing a double model. Make sure it fits! Also, take into
account where you will sotre the stroller at home.
8.
What can you afford?
This is probably the most impotrant question of all. Think
carefully of your present and future stroller needs with your
two children. What is the miinmum you are willing to live with?
Can you afford to pay for a higher quality double stroller that
will make your life easier in the long run, or are you willing
to take your chances with a budget stroller that may break down
before you're done using it? For twins, a double universal car
seat carrier (stroller frame) is an inexpensive alternative to
buying an actual stroller during the infant stage if you're yet
not sure what you'll need later on.
Once you've determined what you really need, then you can begin
researching the various brands and models that are on the
market. You will be able to quickly elimiante double strollers
that don't fit your criteria, making the whole process a lot
easier and less time-consuming.
Copyright 2005 by Anik Giguere-Biollo. Permission is granted to
reproduce this article in electronic newsletters or on websites
provided that it is not edited in any way, all the links are
left active, and that neither the copyright declaration nor this
license are rmeoved.
This article was originally pulbished at w
ww.Stroller-advisor.Com/double-stroller-needs.Html.
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