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The Stroller-and-a-Half:
Halfway Between a Single and Double
With A Whole Lot of Heaven in Between
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If your older child is a walking toddler when your next baby is born, chances are you've shopped for a double stroller, and been horrified at the semi-truck you'd be forced to schlepp around.
Good news! There is a new category of strollers -- the Stroller-and-a-Half -- that allows you to tote a small child in a standard stroller seat, and offers a smaller backseat ride for the sometimes toddler hitchhiker.
What used to be a specialty stroller that wasn't made all that well is now a bonafide double stroller alternative thanks to the Joovy Caboose. Their new models offer all the style and convenience of a standard stroller, with the added bonus of a double ride without the added bulk.
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We've road tested the Joovy Caboose with all manner of kids, and found the perfect combination in a child that can sit upright in the front stroller seat (six months or more), and an older toddler that is happy for the ride, but is mature enough not to jump off without warning (two-and-half years and more). While the stroller will work with other combinations - newborns can ride when their car seat carrier is attached, older children can hop on the back seat - if you have the above combination, this stroller is as close to heaven as you can get.
The Joovy Caboose has a nice, normal front seat, with solid safety straps (with reflective stitching for nighttime safety - a great extra), a good amount of padding, and even a snack tray. Back riders can stand on a platform, face forward and see over their little sister or brother, or relax on a tiny seat of their own.
We honestly would have taken any kind of seat, having carried a weary toddler before while pushing a single stroller with our nose -- but were pleasantly surprised by the Joovy's back seat. It includes a strap that a child can lean back against, and slides out of the way when the child wants to stand. The back rider also has special curved handles to hang onto. Most children we tried it with loved riding along, although younger toddlers can jump off fairly easily, so choose your back riders wisely.
The Joovy Caboose comes with a large canopy - large enough to cover both riders actually. It is removable as well. The stroller also has a large basket, one of our most important stroller requirements.
There is not attached parent tray or cup holder, but Joovy does sell a separate parent organizer that includes a cup holder, compartments and even a zipped section, all in a cool, coordinating black neoprene.
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For all that room and convenience, the Joovy is surprisingly easy to push. It's smooth. Takes corners well. And while not as easy as a single stroller, is far, far better than any double we've ever pushed.
We're not going to lie: looks matter to us. And the first thing we fell in love with was the sporty design of the Joovy. Rather than a boring navy or hideous plaid, Joovy offers bright, pleasing combinations of black and orange, red or blue. The orange is our favorite. It's the perfect hue - not pumpkin or safety cone orange, but just right. We get compliments on it wherever we go.
The Joovy Caboose works with almost every infant car seat carrier on the market, and can be used up to 45 pounds. It isn't light - it clocks in at 26 pounds, but that's a lot better than full double strollers. In fact, once we started using the Joovy, we retired our double stroller altogether. Gladly.
Shop for Joovy Caboose Strollers
Shop for all Strollers-and-a-Half
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