Strollers, you can never have just one

Anyone who has been in my garage has undoubtedly noticed that I have twice as many strollers as I have children.  This week I am purchasing a fifth stroller.  While some would think five strollers for two children is overkill, I maintain that I absolutely need each and every one of them.

1. Double jogger/bike trailer:  This is the newest addition and I'm very excited about it because it is easy to steer on my three mile walks and the boys sit side by side, keeping each other entertained the entire time (Alex also thinks it is a car instead of a stroller, making it funner for him to ride in).  It also has a screen and a clear plastic cover so they are protected from wind/bugs/throwing toys on the ground and also keeps them warm and cozy on cooler days like today, both of them snuggled up in their blankies were quite warm in there while I was freezing and wearing a sweater.  Plus, BIKE TRAILER!  Excited to try that out this weekend!


2. Sit 'n' Stand stroller:  This is my every day stroller, especially necessary if we're going on an outing where I might want to have both boys contained.  It's narrower than the bike trailer/stroller, the kids sit back to back, can hold the baby carrier seat (which I'm about done using now anyway) and has both child and parent trays, which I find essential in a stroller.  Also Alex is able to sit or stand (hence the name) and feels less like a baby in a stroller and more like a big boy.


3. Single jogger:  When Max was a baby I rarely, if ever, put him in a stroller, I wore him in a sling or front carrier and I used this stroller for Alex on walks.  I still use this on weekends when I opt to take just Alex on my walks and John watches Max at home.  I LOVE this stroller.  It has parent and child trays, sun shade, basket under the reclining seat and a swivel wheel that can lock if you want to jog with it.


4. Lightweight stroller:  Mine is a Jeep that I bought at Walmart for $50.  It's got all the good stuff a full size stroller has, parent/child trays, basket under the reclining seat, sun shade... only about half the size.  This is the stroller I almost always keep in my car and use for Max (Alex is too big for it now) when we go to the park or somewhere where I know Alex will be running around.  It's small and easy to maneuver even while chasing a 3 year old.  It also has what they call a "Standing fold" where you push a button and it folds up, but stays standing instead of dropping to the ground like other strollers.


5. 
   

   Umbrella Stroller w/ shade:  This is my travel stroller.  After a disasterous attempt to take our full sized stroller with us one year when we flew to San Diego (where we left it because it was such a pain to take in the airport), we have since used this umbrella stroller.  It's been to Panama and Boston and worked quite well on both trips. 

The nice thing is, all five of my strollers together has cost me less than $400 (I am a very thrifty stroller shopper).  I suppose I could have spent $500 for a Phil and Ted, which could serve the same purpose as 4 of my strollers, but I still would want a bike trailer and umbrella for travel.  So cost wise, I feel like I'm ahead of the game.  I guess it's a good thing we only have one car because half our garage is filled with strollers.