kids 3 yrs. apart, wwyd? going to warehouse sale in few days

[rochelsmommy]

k, let me fill you in on my needs and get some feedback from you
> stroller mavens on what to consider.
>
> i have a dd 2 1/2 years old. we currently have a well used techno and
> e3 with doubles kit.
>
> I am due with my second in late november. by then dd will have just
> turned 3.
>
> I am excited to finally use my e3 in doubles mode, but will prob. only
> use it when i have both kids with me at say the zoo, disney or long
> walks in the neighborhood. my daughter is going to preschool for 3
> 1/2 hours a day and i'll prob. use that time to take out the new
> baby. i dont want to use the techno for a young baby cuz it doesnt
> seem very cozy to me.
>
> I am almost definitely getting the rock star baby which i absolutely
> love to be my main full featured stroller for the new baby. and prob.
> will buy a board to attatch to it so my daughter can hop on and off
> when she is with me.
>
> my question is this: i know the e3 is hard to use for a period when
> the new baby is 3-6 months and too big for the newborn stage but too
> young for the back seat. my dd will already be 3yrs and 4 months at
> that point and might not ride that much anyways. is there any reason
> to get a side by side, like a maclaren rally twin, for that stage?
> should i be gettina lightweight double just to have around? or will
> the rsb and board be enough?
>
> also, i think i want a more lightweight option for my dd now than my
> 17 pound techno, I am going to a running strollers warehouse on monday
> when i'm in orlando and she is clearancing out strollers for a moving
> sale. i'm hoping she might have some well priced maclarens. what
> would you buy as a truly lightweight easy stroller for the car? a
> volo? a triumph? i think a quest is so similar to the techno it might
> be redundant.
>
> thanks for reading all this. i read this board every day, but i have been
> trying to save my pennies for the strollers i really need, and now
> that i have a chance to get things at a discount i want to get what
> will really last me.
>
> Chani

[Momof3Labs]

IME, a Venezia or Milano is perfect for that age spread. The older child can ride on the footboard as needed (DS1 doesn't ride often at all), and the infant can be fully reclined (without losing the footboard functionality). I probably wouldn't bother with a double as your older one will likely walk a lot (and you have an E3 when she doesn't).

Perhaps trade the Techno in for a Quest (which you could use with either child)? It's quite a few pounds lighter, and has more features than the Triumph (like an adjustable legrest - essential for a younger babe) for a few bucks more.

[sleepdeprivedmommy]

I have 3 kids: 3.5 yr DD, 20 mo DS, 2 mo DS and use my E3. I put my Cosco infant car seat from Target in the top on the bar and my middle child in the doubles seat. And when my daughter gets tired of walking she sits on the platform by the wheel. It also works with the 2 mo old in the back, the 20 month son in the seat with daughter on the front space. And the beauty of it all is that with all that weight, It is still way easy to push.
I also have a Triumph that I've had for 2 yrs & love! I rarely get a chance to only push one kid though. When I only had two kids, my daughter would actually stand on the metal crossbars in front of the tether when she got too tired and we were really in a pinch- not a good long term solution though...

IMO I would stick with the e3. Then you're never stuck with a single when you need a double.