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Getting Around Town With Two Kids as a One Car Family

We received the double stroller featured for review. Post includes affiliate links.

It’s not easy being a one car family, especially with two young children. When we first made the decision to drop down to one car, it was no big deal. Rissa was still a baby and my car had broken down beyond (affordable) repair. The savings of owning only one car was a no-brainer for us.

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Luckily, we live within walking distance from the library, bank, post office, park and a grocery store. Most of the time I didn’t need to go anywhere while Brian was at work. If I did or it was nice out, we could go for a walk.

As we add to our family and the kids get older… this whole one car thing is getting harder.

Most of the time it is merely an inconvenience. A first world problem for sure. So, I try to make it work the best I can.

When Xander was a baby, you’d likely see me walking around town wearing him on my front while pushing Rissa in the stroller. Other times he’d be in the stroller while Rissa ran, jumped and danced ahead. I’m most comfortable letting her wander when we don’t have to be anywhere by a specific time and while on the local bike path. When we need to get somewhere on time, it’s easier for me to push both of them in one stroller.

Last summer we expanded our activities, so I was pushing a double stroller around town two to three times a week. Hey, great exercise for me, right? As we finally escape the frigid clutches of the Polar Vortex, it’s almost time for me to hit the road again.

Sure, we’ve continued activities throughout the cold, snowy months, but I’ve had to work things out with Brian in order to have car access. It gets tricky sometimes. Thankfully we’ve been able to make it work so far, but I’m already seeing potential conflict issues in the days ahead (mostly with travel time…that a car could meet but my little legs cannot). Rissa is also way more interested in playdates and field trips now that are near impossible to do without a car.

A trip to the mall

A trip to the mall.

But for the places I can get them to on my own, I’m starting to use the LX double umbrella stroller from Delta. It’s light and easy enough to open and close that I don’t feel like I’m wrestling with it. There’s not much storage space, but the kids sit side-by-side. I wish we had taken it along on our trip to Disney World because that’s when the fighting over who got to sit in front started.

Going for a walk on a chilly spring day.

Going for a walk on a chilly spring day.

Unfortunately, Rissa lost unless Xander was on my back because he’s too little to sit on the back of our other sit and stand one. When they are next to each other there isn’t any arguing, they entertain each other and can share snacks and blankets.

I can’t maneuver it one handed, but it’s narrow enough to fit through most standard doorways. I don’t feel like I’m taking up too much space with it since it’s not much wider than our single width strollers. It folds nice and flat making it perfect to keep in the back of our Kia Sportage for outings.

Much to my husband’s dismay, I continue to be a stroller hoarder. I think he’d like me to settle on just one and get rid of the rest. However, I find our different needs are met by different strollers. So this one has been added to my collection and should see more mileage this summer.