The Graco DuoGlider is a fine stroller for close in age sibs!
Written: Mar 15 '09
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Pros: Comfortably seats two, Reclining seats, Large storage basket
Cons: Hard to see infant in rear-facing mode, Takes up a lot of trunk space
The Bottom Line: The Graco DuoGlider is a good choice for siblings two years apart or less. For a three or more year difference, a sit-n-stand model might be better size-wise.
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| jurgrace's Full Review: Graco 7918MRG3 Standard Stroller |
As it got closer to the birth of my second child, my husband and I debated whether or not we should take the plunge and get a double stroller. Our girls were going to be 40 months apart in age, and we were rarely using the stroller for our older daughter. However, we knew we were going to be doing some traveling, and having a place for both kids to sit while we walk around was definitely going to be useful. Especially now that my second two children are less than two years apart, I am glad we chose the Graco DuoGlider as our double stroller.
How we chose the Graco DuoGlider
In shopping for a double stroller, my top concern was being able to put the baby into the stroller while she was still in her car seat/infant carrier. At the time that we were shopping for a double stroller, this was only going to happen with a tandem stroller (as opposed to a side by side). Also, since I knew I was going to now have to lug around baggage for two kids, I wanted something with plenty of storage.
Since our infant car seat was a Graco, I instantly narrowed my search down to Graco strollers that specifically mentioned being compatible with the Graco Snugride carrier. After trying out a couple of strollers in Babies R Us and seeing how easily it was to snap the car seat in and out of the DuoGlider, I knew which stroller I wanted. Seeing this particular model on clearance for $130 at Babies R Us sealed the deal.
Basic Design
The DuoGlider is about three and a half feet high and four feet long. The back seat is raised about two inches higher than the front seat, giving the riders stadium seating, and there are about four inches between the back of the first seat and the front of the back seat. Each seat has a tray with cup holder and a sun shade. Beneath the seats, there is a long basket running the length of the stroller, about 14 inches high and 12 inches wide.
Our DuoGlider is a pale sage-y color with faded blue, green and red plaid on the seat backs. Graco sells them in various color options, and if I had it to do over again, I think I would go with the black model.
Assembly
When you open the box, you may be slightly overwhelmed by all that you find. In addition to the pre-assembled stroller frame, you will find:
* two double wheels to attach to the front
* two single wheels for the rear
* the rear axle with brakes attached (the only metal part)
* a curved bar to hook up the basket
* a canopy to wrap over the rear of the stroller
* a parent tray to snap on top of the rear canopy
* a canopy to put over the front rider
* a snack tray for the front rider
* a snack tray for the back rider
* two caps to be pounded into the sides of the rear wheels
The manual is pretty clear on how to put all these pieces together, and much of the assembly involves snapping the plastic parts into place. According to the manual, a hammer is needed for assembly, but that's just for pounding the caps onto the wheels, so anything hard and heavy should work for that.
I was eight months pregnant when I assembled this stroller, and was able to do it in less than half an hour. The only part that caused me trouble was snapping the snack tray onto the front seat. For some reason, the snappy ends of the tray did not want to wrap around the aluminum stroller frame.
Height and Weight Recommendations
Graco states that the stroller should not be used if the combined weight of the children in it exceeds 80 pounds. More specifically, they recommend individual children/riders to weigh up to 40 pounds, with a maximum height of 43 inches. I will note here that my oldest was 45 inches tall when she stopped sitting in this stroller, and those extra two inches did not appear to harm the stroller.
Using with an infant carrier
While the children's snack trays are optional in order to use the stroller, you will need them if you plan to put an infant carrier into the stroller. Graco recommends only using its own SnugRide car seat carriers with the stroller. FYI-the car seat that comes with Graco's MetroLite travel system is technically a SnugRide and is compatible with this stroller.
If you have twins, you can snap a carrier into both the front and back seats. To set the carrier in the front, you will need to recline the seat, which can be tricky at first, because you have to pull up and back on the bar behind the seat in order to lower it. The back seat will also need to be reclined if you want to put a carrier in the back, and you will need two hands available to recline the seat, because you have to pull out and down on two side tabs simultaneously. In three years, I have tried on several occasions to do this while still holding a child, and it is very difficult to do without both hands free.
Similar to the position they use in the car, babies' heads will be facing you while in the carrier and the lower back of the carrier will snap into the snack tray. If you only plan to put one child in a carrier into the stroller, you should put that child in the back. This not only allows the other rider to actually see where you are taking him or her, but it also balances out the stroller better. Yes, like most long things with wheels, the Graco DuoGlider can tip over if too much weight is placed in the very front or very back.
The only thing I don't like about using the infant carrier with the Graco DuoGlider is that it is very difficult to see baby's face while you are pushing the stroller unless you are a giant. I can pull back the canopy to look down into the carrier where baby is, but I still have to stand on my tippy toes to see him. My other option is to bend down and peek through the tinted vinyl under the handlebar, but then I look silly, and either way I risk waking up a sleeping infant.
I am 5' 2-1/2" tall, so I'm guessing that this will not be an issue for vertically gifted people (maybe 5' 5" and above?).
Getting them in without the carrier
Without the carrier, it is much easier to sit children into the front seat, because you don't have the obstacle of another seat to get around. Depending on your child's mood, you can slide them in from behind the snack tray, or you can lift up the snack tray (both trays swivel) and sit them down.
Both the front and back seat have a five-point harness that can also be used as a three-point harness, depending on your preference. The harness consists of five straps, one that comes up in the crotch area, two side straps (at the waist) and two shoulder-high straps. The side and shoulder-height straps have a sliding adjuster for your desired snugness, and there are two heights at which you can start the shoulder straps. The shoulder straps have a plastic loop at the bottom that you can hook onto the side buckles in order to "activate" the five-point harness.
We have generally used the five-point harness until the kids were ten months old. After that, we stuck with the three-point, unless they were in a fussy, throw-your-body-around kind of mood.
Day trips--does it give you all you need?
With three kids who have to each bring their own drink, snack, baby doll, toy, book, make up, et cetera...wherever we go, storage compartments are my best friend. If you use both snack trays, that gives each rider an indented tray to set snacks on, as well as a cup holder. Mom gets a cup holder too, as well as a covered compartment (about 2" x 4") for keys, cell phone, etc.
You use a handlebar to push the stroller, which runs the width of the stroller. This has a double benefit for parents. Not only can you set a little one's rump on it while pushing the stroller ("hold me, hold me" mood), but you can also hand a diaper bag and purse around the handlebar.
If that's not enough, the Graco DuoGlider also has a handy basket that runs the length of the stroller. In total, I would guess that the basket provides 1' x 1' x 3.5' of storage space, which is pretty good when you're lugging two or more kids around. There are several ways to access the basket, but the most easiest is through the rear. By squeezing the lever at the top rear of the basket, the back will lower, so you can reach in for whatever you need. The best thing about this is that you can still access your goods when the back is fully reclined. That has always been a pet peeve of mine with my MetroLite.
Steering
Considering that you can push up to 80 pounds of child in the Graco DuoGlider, on top of the 30 pounds the stroller weighs, steering can sometimes be difficult. You will almost always need to have two hands available to turn corners if there are two children in the stroller. Going straight one-handed is no problem, as long as you are on smooth terrain.
The wheels of the Graco DuoGlider are made of rubber, which, along with the built-in shocks, help give kids a smooth ride if you drive over gravel or bumpy grass. As can be expected, sandboxes (and mulch-boxes) are a bit of a pain to steer in, but they are not impossible.
Other than needing two hands most of the time to steer, the most irritating thing about steering the Graco DuoGlider is that there are two sliding brake locks above the front wheels. If the front rider is 36" or taller, they can easily bump the brake down while you're pushing the stroller. Then, all of a sudden, the stroller won't turn when you push it to, and you have to go around to the front, figure out which brake is set, and un-set it. No matter how many times I tell my kids to keep their feet on the foot rest, they still can't resist the urge to kick their feet front and back, knocking down the brake.
Storing the Graco DuoGlider
While the DuoGlider folds up fairly easily, my biggest issue with it is the amount of space it takes up in the car. To fold up the DuoGlider, there is a switch on a roller on the bottom of the handlebar. Using only one hand, it is simple to slide the switch, roll the roller and the bottom of the stroller will fold up. There is a red hook that will keep it shut.
The only things to be aware of before folding up the stroller are that the front canopy will need to be folded all the way down, and the front wheels need to be turned a specific way. The wheels should be turned so that more of the wheel sticks out in front of the wheel post. Otherwise, the wheels will get in the way of the basket when you fold up the stroller.
In its "compact" size, the Graco DuoGlider measures 14" wide, 19" deep, and 42" long. This includes the front canopy and snack tray. These items stick out so much that it not only makes storage in the trunk of Camry or Jetta difficult, but it makes it near impossible to store anything else in the trunk. Based on size and how often we use the vehicle, we tend to keep the DuoGlider in our Toyota Sequoia, but it's always a pain to put it away after a big shopping trip. For this reason, we tend to not use the front snack tray or canopy very often. They mainly stay in the garage.
Cleaning
Graco recommends using soap and water for cleaning the frame of the DuoGlider. I usually use baby wipes to clean the snack trays and seats. Unless you have the model with the removable seat pad, all fabric needs to be spot cleaned with a mild soap. If you have the removable seat pad, you can throw it in the washing machine.
Overall
I have used the Graco DuoGlider for almost three years: first, with children 40 months apart and currently with children 21 months apart in age. We took it to Disneyland for a week with the older two, and it saved us a lot of backache. When you are on a long day trip, the luxury of being able to sit back, relax or nap in the stroller while your parents push you around is much appreciated by little ones.
When my youngest was born, I got a great deal on a Sit 'N Stand style stroller, and that model seems more useful (and less space-consuming) for siblings three to four years apart. For siblings less than three years apart, the Graco DuoGlider will come in very handy. I definitely recommend this one.
As always, thanks for reading.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 130
Age Range of Child: 12 to 36 Months
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