The Pros and Cons of Having More Than One Stroller

People often say that there is no greater joy than having your first child – even athletes that have won the most acclaimed awards say that the joy they’ve experienced during their first child's birth surpassed the feeling they get when winning these awards.

However, being a parent is not as easy and straightforward as one would think. Not only does being a parent require a ton of patience, but also a significant amount of planning.

Throughout the time I have spent assisting parents in picking out the best strollers for their needs, one question has always been brought up: Should I get two strollers or just one?

An obvious answer is just to do some family planning and figure out how many kids you and your spouse want. In this article, let’s take a look at some “not so obvious” pros and cons to having more than one stroller.

Pros

A Lifesaver for Outings

Going to the mall or even on a family outing with a baby calls for a bunch of stuff. From the diaper bag to the parents’ personal items, the amount of items needed can add up pretty quickly.

This is not uncommon for my family. As my husband would say: With both of my hands so full, I felt like I was competing in a “strongman” competition as I walked out of the Walmart entrance.

Yup, that’s has been a pretty common scenario for our family this past year whenever we decide to go on a shopping adventure. Going shopping has often been a challenge because our hands would always be full carrying stuff and/or pushing the stroller around.

Until recently, we only had a double umbrella stroller to accommodate two of our three kids – I have been using a baby carrier for my youngest child. It took us awhile to find a suitable double umbrella stroller - there are plenty of options out there.

Not long after that, with three kids, my husband and I quickly realized how much more convenient it would be to have more than one stroller. Now, we have a double umbrella stroller and a lightweight stroller to accommodate all of our three kids. To find out more about what lightweight strollers are, head on over here.

Not only do I not need to carry my newborn around in a baby carrier, but having two strollers have also made it much easier when we’re shopping in the mall. Having the extra storage space in the second stroller is a huge plus especially if we end up in the mall for a few hours.

Versatility

Having more than one stroller is always beneficial especially if you have specific needs for each one. Most parents I know have a jogging stroller as well as a regular stroller. Jogging strollers are made specifically for jogging and outdoor use where there is uneven terrain; whereas other, regular strollers, are typically more lightweight and are much easier to fold. These strollers are often used for everyday use such as running errands or going to the mall.

Believe it or not, my husband and I own a total of 3 strollers! We have a double umbrella stroller, a lightweight stroller (single) and a double jogging stroller. The double umbrella and lightweight strollers are for everyday use and for traveling, whereas the double jogging stroller is used for outdoor activities or if one of us want to go on a jog with the kids.

Having multiple strollers to serve different needs can do wonders. I have found this to be especially true for families that like to travel. As an example, a jogging stroller is probably too heavy and bulky, making it impractical to be used for traveling.

If you're interested in a double jogging stroller and would like more information on how to select the best one for your family, check out this guide.

Cons

Could be Costly

Having more than one stroller could get costly pretty quickly. With most top-notch strollers being priced at $300 or more, you could be spending a pretty penny to have the benefits of owning two or more strollers. Be sure to shop around and find the best deals possible. I highly recommend checking out strollers at garage sales and consignment stores. I have seen double jogging strollers at consignment stores that are sold for 50% of its retail price.

Takes up Too Much Space

Depending on what kind of vehicle your family uses to get around and your garage or space availability, having two or more strollers could be taking up too much space. My husband and I have a minivan, so there is plenty of room in the very back for two strollers when they are folded up. However, this is not the case for all parents, especially for those of you who have a small-sized car.

Another thing to keep in mind is the size of your house/apartment. For example, storing 2 or more strollers in a small apartment can be an issue.

To Sum Up

I still remember last summer when we went to a festival in the park: having an extra stroller saved both of our backs…big time. Do make sure you have the space needed to both store and transport both of your strollers.

As discussed, there are both pros and cons to owning more than one stroller; however, from my experience, the pros far outweigh the cons. If I knew that I would eventually end up with three kids that need strollers all at the same time, I would’ve bought a few strollers right away as soon as I had my second child. It’s just so much easier to get around and run errands!

If you need help in selecting a double stroller, The Baby Cubby has an excellent guide here! Or, for general guidelines on selecting a stroller check out their Stroller Buying Guide!

Written by Evelyn Taylor of mommystroller.com