Great Question From A Dad

Q:

I have two boys 5 and 2.5 and try and do a long run on Sundays. We have #3 on the way so am thinking about getting a stroller. WE have the Bob Revolution - so I was leaning towards a Bob, but was wondering if you had any advice. I generally run on pavement and do 5-6 miles. Thanks so much. I am thinking about a double to take both boys, but will probably go with a single.

A:
What?! No triple stroller? They only cost $999.99!

It sounds like you already have a single, but I absolutely think you should get a double so that you can take both boys on your Sunday runs. My kids are exactly the same age-split as yours (plus one year). Though not for too much longer, the 5-year-old still fits fine in the stroller and it will be a welcome break for your wife. The advantages of a double are many. You can always use a double with only one child (with, of course, witty comments as you pass confused pedestrians such as, "Oh no! Where's Tommy?" or "Yeah, the other one was giving me too much lip!" or "Don't worry. He'll catch up!"), but you can't put two kids in a single. I've tried and it is super-duper hard to turn. Likewise with putting three kids in a double.

As the older child adds more school and extracurricular commitments, it also allows you or your wife to take #2 and 3 in the stroller while #1 is at baseball or whatever a couple years down the road.

Personally, we find that it is worse on the parent left at home for the other parent to take the 5-year-old, but leave the 2.5-year-old behind than to leave all the kids at home. Now you've got to entertain the younger ones because the most useful kid who would otherwise do the entertaining isn't around.

The double strollers do get harder to turn than singles. If you are running on pavement anyway, I would avoid strollers with suspension. You are not pushing a little baby either so the big kids can take it. You want to run for real, so a swivel front wheel is going to be a liability- especially downhills. If you can afford it and if you have the space to store it, my dream stroller is the Baby Jogger Performance Double. It is 5.5 pounds lighter than the BOB Ironman Duallie and 7 pounds lighter than the BOB SUS Duallie. If you don't care too much about a sun shade, you'll be able to find used Baby Joggers on websites like craigslist.com for much less than a new one as well. They are built to last.