I know this is not a double or triple or quad stroller – but it’s a sweet deal. $169.99 for this Eddie Bauer Trailmaker Travel System stroller and the car seat. Plus FREE shipping! But, (don’t you hate that, there is always a “but”) this deal is for today only while supplies last at Target online. So be quick like a bunny and check this great price out on a stroller/car seat combo!
I have thought a great deal about writing on this topic – it is a daunting topic to say the very least! But, I have to tell you I am not one who likes to “recreate the wheel”. That being said I think the best thing to do is to refer you to Lynn Lorenz bookThe Multiples Manual, Preparing and Caring for Twins or Triplets. This is one of the few great books (in my humble opinion) about preparing for and caring for multiples. She has an Appendix solely dedicated to what an expectant mother of multiples should register for – mine is highlighted, written in, check marked, etc. Needless to say it is extremely useful!
I need to be honest with you though, I only registered for and bought the bare necessities. I also only had one shower – for the mere fact that I didn’t want to have a bunch of baby showers. I didn’t even register for very many items. My girls wore onesies and lived in PJ the first three months of their lives – I had no time to play dress up with them. My advice, instead of having multiple showers, have someone organize a meal chain for you in lieu of an additional shower. You’ll thank me for this some day, trust me on this one
I have been woefully truant on my blog – chalk it up to summer vacation, end of summer, etc. My apologies to all my readers (all two of you). Anywho – I want to pass on my most recent find, Stay-Put Inflatable Bed Rail Set by One Step Ahead. I had been looking for some sort of compact travel bed rail. Everything I found was big, metal, bulky, or only included one inflatable bed rail (umm last time I checked there were two sides to a bed). I initially had purchased some metal – “portable” bed rails – which SUCKED! One of the girls fell out of bed – just rolled the darn thing right over.
That's a 12 inch ruler for scale purposes
Then I found Stay-Put Inflatable Bed Rail Set by One Step Ahead on Amazon.com. (Chorus of Angels!) First what’s so great is the set includes two – I know a set should be at least two items. They have their own little pump and blow up in a snap. There is nothing big and bulky about them, the set and pump fit in a nice little bag. You just blow them up, put the rail (more like a speed bump) under a fitted sheet and it stays in place – there is some nonslip fabric on the rail to aid in keeping it in place.
Just so you know, no one is paying me to write about this product – all on my own research, trial and error, bought them with my own dime etc.
I can’t really recall when I decided to purchase a white noise machine (we fondly refer to it as the “sleep machine”), what I do know is that I wish I had decided to buy one sooner (we didn’t have it during infancy, but we for sure had one by the time the girls were one). We can’t live without ours. The 7 July, 2011 Home section of the New York Times inspired me to clue you all in on this little, can’t live without device. Farhad Manjoo has an article on page D4 about such devices – but what was so cool – the very one I own was featured Marpac Sound Screen 980A!
The Marpac Sound Screen 980A is super basic and easy to use (and that is why I bought it). I honestly didn’t want to decide if the twins would prefer thunderstorm or rushing waves. It has two speeds and you can change the volume and tone of the sound. No fancy electronics, just a fan inside – that is it!
We bring our “Sleep Machine” everywhere we are going to be overnight. Ours has made numerous airplane trips packed in a suitcase without incident – so I’d say it’s durable. Initially we started out keeping it in the twins room. But, now since they have “big girl beds” we have it running in the hallway outside their bedroom door. This new location works great seeing as there is a lot of action in the hallway at night (3 teenage girls in and out of their rooms, bathrooms, speaking loudly etc – you get the idea). Saves me from being the “evil stepmother” asking them to please be quiet like a broken record.
There are an endless number of white noise machines to choose from. My best advice is to get something that is easy to use. These make great shower gifts also!
Looking for a little help out there from the masses. I need to purchase portable bed rails, but I really would like something that is portable enough to stick in a suitcase when we fly. Any recommendations? I am desperate! I have to buy 4 (obviously 2 for each child) and they are not cheap!
I know strange post, but I have had some hits lately from visitors looking for info on how to clean their BOB Stroller. So without further adieu this is what the manufacture recommends…
CLEANING
The fabric has a stain resistant treatment that makes most cleanups easy. Use a sponge with a solution of mild soap and cold water (maximum temperature of 100 deg. F / 38 deg. C). Rinse thoroughly with clean water to remove soap then air dry. Do not use detergent.
Have I ever washed my BOB? Nope. Here is where you may find more information on your specific BOB stroller.
Spring is here! Finally! After a record amount of snow in Minnesota ready does not begin to describe how I feel about the thoughts of Spring and Summer! I pulled our Burley out of storage today! I love this bike trailer! We bought ours from our local bike shop (Bicycle Sports) a couple years ago – the girls weren’t even a year yet – so this is our third season with it. Burley’s are incredibly durable – so much so that it will survive flying out of the back a pickup truck going 70 mph! How do I know this – sum it up to experience. I almost had Rochambeau some old guy who stopped in the median to grab it up right after it flew out – I literally had to run after him as he was trying to stick it in the back of his truck. Note to self (actually note to my husband) secure the Burley when it’s in the back of the truck – lesson learned. Oh ya, it is recommended that children wear bike helmets when riding in a bike trailer. Read more on this subject at the Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute.
When it came time to look at diaper bags I was super disappointed. I was not about to carry something around that screamed “6 year old” when I was actually approaching my 40′s. I ended up making my own. I had a really great Timbuk 2 Messenger bag that I loved! So I just bought the extras that a baby might need and tah dah – have bag will travel.
Well these bags can be a little pricey! 
This bag normally retails for $120! But if you are quick you can grab it at Rue La La for only $69.90! Your husband will even carry these bags! Better yet make one just for him! Because let me tell you, when you travel on an airplane with multiples you WILL NEED two diaper bags! Just sign in or sign up at Rue La La a then scroll down to the Timbuk 2 sale!
So here we are a few months later and a few trips to the ski hill later and the girls are loving it! (see original post HERE). We are using the RC Sport Kid’s Ski Harness Children’s Ski Leash HERE and the The Lucky Bums Easy Wedge HERE and they are really skiing! The short trips out have paid off! Yesterday was the first time that all seven of us were able to go out and ski together! We had such a great time! We didn’t have any melt downs only requests to go “faster”!
So now in my seasoned mommy skiing with children opinion, the ski harness with leash and the wedge device are the way to go! If I have to scoot them to the lift line between my legs I notice how much more they depend on me by bearing their weight in my arms. So save your back, your quads will still get a killer work out skiing in a wedge and go with the harness and wedge device.
We recently returned from a week long trip visiting family and did not bring “BOB” with us. First trip without him. We thought “we can get by without him”, “will we really use him all that much?”. Well let me tell you needing him only once was enough for me to wish we’d brought him. Never again will we leave you home “BOB”.
My BOB Duallie Jogger was the first baby item I bought. This was the one item I could not wait to purchase! I researched jogging strollers more seriously than anything I have ever bought. Hands down the BOB was the one for me! I actually had two double strollers. A Graco that allowed me to put the car seats on it and my BOB Revolution Duallie. I could not wait to get rid of the Graco once the girls grew out of their car seats. I barely used the the stroller itself – yes it was very handy when they were infants to just “snap” their car seats in it, but once they could fit in the BOB the Graco was destined for the back of the garage.
I admit, the BOB is heavy and big, but please show me a double stroller that isn’t! They are all awkward and bulky. It does take up all the space in the cargo area of my Honda Odyssey (this vehicle and I have a love hate relationship – more on that at another time). We have taken our BOB on multiple plane trips and it has always traveled well, we just plane side check it. Even on smaller planes we have had zero problems plane side checking it.
As far a a running stroller I love it! The front wheel swivels and does have the option to lock, but I never lock mine. I have logged hundreds (totally serious) on mine and have had one flat tire (pine needle of all things – my dad patched it without a problem). I run in all seasons with it too! In the winter I use the weather shield, which helps keep the girls warmer. My temperature limit is 11 degrees fahrenheit or warmer (this includes the windchill temp too – we are hearty Midwesterners – if you are going to live in a cold climate you need to try to enjoy it no matter what – we will raise no wimpy children). When I take the girls out of the stroller after a run on a cold day they are always nice and warm – obviously I dress them in their snowsuits, boots, etc.
So you are not a runner but want a good durable stroller, I still recommend BOB! Yes it does look wide, but I have been able to get through every door I have entered when out and about, no greasing the sides required. I will at times rearrange store clothing racks if we bring BOB shopping. The one store I cannot go in with BOB is Gymboree. I don’t know how your Gymboree is set up, but mine is difficult to just walk around in without a stroller and with a double stroller – not going to happen. The only thing – ok there are two things – I would have liked to had the choice of more colors when I bought mine (they now offer more colors in the Duallie model) and I wish they made the Duallie so that it could support two car sears and not just one. I still get jealous when I see the single BOB and car seat attachment (not fair!).
Finally, this is an expensive stroller. But you get what you pay for. This bad boy is all metal and built to last! Their resale value is very good! I have had friends come over to give my BOB a test drive. They all sold their current jogger and bought BOB’s. People have even stopped me on the street and asked ” is that a BOB?” Someone even asked me if the girls names were Bob – I kid you not they were totally serious – I am sure I gave them a look that said “are you really asking me that question” – with a polite reply of “no”. You can try and shop around if you like, but everyone sells them at pretty much the same price. But, it is always worth looking for sales! The only thing you could shop around for is the shipping fee. Here are some sites where you can purchase a BOB Duallie. I am unaware of any store that keeps the Duallie in stock so you will probably have to purchase your BOB on line.
Target (search “BOB Revolution”)
Note- no one is paying me to write this post. This is my honest opinion about a product I purchased myself and absolutely love!