For some parents, this type of stroller might look a little unusual, but for a parent of two or more children of different ages, a sit and stand double is a real help. Typically available in tandem style, sit and stand strollers were first created by Baby Trend, one of the leading baby gear brands. Since then, many other brands have come up with product details similar to the Baby Trend Sit N Stand stroller, following this great idea that really took off.
Why Trust Us?
Because my full-time job is being mom to 2 precious daughters, and I know a thing or two about strollers. Besides personal experience, I get feedback from other moms who use these strollers every day and put all that research into our unbiased stroller buying guides
- Kyli
A sit and stand double stroller is designed to have a front seat for the younger sibling, and a back bench with a standing area for the older child. Popular among parents with a baby and a toddler, a stand-on tandem stroller gives more freedom to the older child without the bulk of a full double stroller.
Quick Summary: The 4 Best Sit And Stand Strollers
 | Our Top Choice Chicco Bravo For2 | Check on Amazon → |
 | Joovy Caboose Ultralight Graphite | Check on Amazon → |
 | Graco Ready2Grow & RoomFor2 | Check on Amazon → |
 | Baby Trend Sit N Stand | Check on Amazon → |
Your toddler may be eager and able to walk but occasionally will need a rest. Your older child has more fun because of the freedom of choice to either sit down facing the parent or stand up and hanging on for a ride. Independence like this builds confidence and a happier child and when mom has to also tend to a smaller baby, this is helpful.
Table of Contents
What to look for:
A good quality sit and stand-on stroller should be able to hold more than 70 pounds for two passengers. The product should have a sturdy frame and the seats made of durable fabric that withstand spills. The standing platform should have enough room to stand steady, with an obvious place for your child to hang on to while standing up. Look for a 3 or 5-point harness on the bench seat, and it should be padded for extra comfort.
Some brands like Graco and Baby Trend offer a deluxe model that has a removable 2nd seat for when your older child is big enough to stand. Joovy offers a product called the Too second seat to serve as a bridge until your child is ready. Learn more about these options in each review below.
Most stand-on strollers come with extra features like a parent console and child snack trays or drink holders and a large storage basket. Look at the sun canopy. Does it have one or two canopies? A great stand-on stroller should be compatible with most infant car seats and many are easy to set up.
Currently, four brands dominate the sit and stand stroller category:
An Italian brand founded in 1958, Chicco is the largest baby brand in Europe and has expanded into a global brand with a presence in 120 countries, becoming a household name for all things baby.
Coming out with their first stand-on stroller based on a very popular model, this brand is constantly improving their line.
A relative newcomer in the stroller segment, Joovy is a family-owned American manufacturer of family gear products founded in 2005 in Dallas, Texas, with an additional facility in Orange County, California.
With three different types of stand-on tandem strollers to choose from, each very good, they are constantly improving their line.
Founded in 1942 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Graco offers a host of baby products including infant car seats (its most popular being the SnugRide), travel systems, strollers, high chairs.
Aside from making playards (it invented the Pack N’ Play Portable Playard in 1987), Graco offers a complete lineup of strollers, from full-size strollers to jogging strollers, lightweight and double strollers.
A solid brand, around for decades, improving and innovating their two best-known sit and stand strollers.Baby Trend
A juvenile products brand that has been around for more than 30 years, Baby Trend manufactures a wide variety of strollers, ranging from full-size, joggers, lightweight, sit-and-stand, travel systems, umbrella strollers, as well as stroller frames that converts your car seat into a stroller.
The one that started it all, has some great sit and stand strollers, but not all that innovative or seeking improvement or change over the years.
But wait! Discover a new feature on some higher-end strollers – the single stroller converts to a sit and stand
Popular Sit and Stand Strollers
Chicco Bravo For2
- Accommodates 2 children: Traditional stroller seat plus back seat and platform for big kids to ride or stand
- Main stroller seat folds forward to accept KeyFit or Fit2 car seat with an audible click
- Main stroller seat includes 5-point harness, adjustable canopy, and detachable child tray
Chicco has taken their stylish and popular Bravo, and turned it into a sit and stand stroller called the Bravo For2! When I first saw this stroller, I was surprised and impressed at how compact it is – it barely looks larger than a single.
It weighs more than the single, though. Compared with the Joovy Caboose Ultralight at 22 pounds, the Bravo For2 weighs 26½ pounds. It has a weight capacity of 80 pounds with a traditional seat in front that accommodates the Chicco KeyFit car seat to turn it into a travel system.
Around back is the standing platform and bench for your older child. The bench has a three-point lap belt and folds up when not in use.
The Bravo For2 is fully-featured with a parent console with two cup holders and zippered storage pocket, a removable child tray with cup holders, a large storage basket and your older child’s pocket underneath the bench seat when it’s folded up. It has an easy one-step fold that stands alone and is quite compact for being a stand-on tandem stroller. Linked parking brakes provide one-stop convenience and a full-coverage extendable sun canopy also shades your older child when seated with a pop-out visor!
Reviews so far have been very positive! Parents love the compact folded size, excellent maneuverability and how well it is designed for two children.
Here’s a quick official demo video:
Top Reasons to Buy
- Comes standard with parent console and child’s snack tray
- Smooth ride and easy navigation
- Great value for the price
Joovy Caboose Ultralight Graphite
- REAR BENCH AND STANDING PLATFORM so the tandem stroller gives your big kid the freedom they deserve; Kids can sit, stand, or stroll whenever the mood takes them
- UNIVERSAL CAR SEAT ADAPTER for when a new kid comes along, you don’t need to upgrade your stroller
- 3-WAY RECLINING SEATS for naps and babies; Your little ones can lay back in this infant and toddler stroller and enjoy naptime thanks to the Caboose’s three reclining positions
This amazing Joovy is the one of the best “sit and stand” strollers on the market in terms of weight, length, features and highly rated reviews. The Caboose Ultralight Graphite has streamlined design and upgraded features from the original Ultralight.
It has a graphite colored frame, an extending shade from the parent console for your bench-sitting child, and a 10% lighter stroller weight. So far customers are writing in with stellar reviews saying it handles just like a single stroller and is lightweight and convenient.
Features such as a 23-pound weight, enormous sun canopy with visor, and three-position reclining seat make it a big hit for parents with kids of different ages.
With the Caboose Ultralight Graphite, you get upgraded wheels with sealed ball bearings and a 4-wheel suspension system, making the ride much smoother. When you have a child standing up in back, a bumpy ride could lead to a loss of balance, but not with the Caboose Ultralight! This stroller offers lots more benefits and you can learn all about them in the Joovy Caboose Ultralight Graphite review.
Top Reasons to Buy
- Extra-large sun canopy to shade both your children better
- Quality materials and durable design ensuring years of use
- Accommodates most car seat brands for your convenience
Graco Ready2Grow & RoomFor2
- With 12 riding options and the ability to accept two Graco Classic Connect infant car seats
- Front seat, bench seat and standing platform each hold child up to 50 pounds, rear seat holds up to 40 pounds
- 80 percent polyester and 20 percent cotton construction
Graco has two “stand and ride” strollers. The first is the RoomFor2, the more basic model and is a #1 seller on Amazon. The Ready2Grow, shown here, has more options. The most obvious upgrade is that you can attach two Graco car seats which are an ideal feature for twins (see more strollers for twins here).
The Graco Ready2Grow has you covered for whatever your family’s lifestyle needs with 12 seating options for children of any age. The front seat holds up to 50 pounds, as does the bench, and the second parent-facing rear seat can hold up to 40 pounds.
The bench and seat have the same features as the Room2Grow, but this model has two sun canopies that pivot at all angles to keep your children shaded. This stroller is easy to steer and maneuver with large wheels and a suspension system.
For parents, a one-handed fold is essential, and an auto-lock holds the frame together for quick storage. You get lots of storage space with a large basket beneath the seat and a console with cup holders at the handle. The seat has a child snack tray that pivots outward for easy ins and outs.
The Ready2Grow has been getting fantastic reviews so far, with the average rating being pretty high!
Read our full review for even more information.
Top Reasons to Buy
- Compact size and easy to steer
- One-handed fold
- Two sun canopies and ideal for twins
Baby Trend Sit N Stand
- Designed for children up to 50 lbs up to 40 in front/back seat
- Jump seat area is designed for a child 2.5 years old up to 50 lbs
- Baby Trend stroller has a 5-point child restraint safety harness
As a leader of stroller manufacturers, Baby Trend has designed the Sit N Stand stroller, which comes as either your basic LX model (pictured) or which comes with two seats, two child snack trays with cup holders called the Double.
The Baby Trend Sit N Stand is excellent for parents with two children with different ages with lots of amenities for both parent and children.
Parents rave about the standing platform and padded bench for the older child, as outings become something pleasant to look forward to.
The full back seat can be removed to use the standing feature, and most toddlers love this feature the most. All Baby Trend Sit N Stand strollers accommodate most major infant car seat brands, which is appreciated by parents, as they do not need to purchase a Baby Trend infant car seat.
Most parents love that the stroller is lightweight and compact once it is folded. It is easy to store, and many families have brought the stroller on vacation. It also has a large storage basket, parent cup holders, and a covered tray. Safety features include a foot activated brake and 5-point safety harness. Consumers who bought this product give it a fantastic rating.
Read the Baby Trend Sit N Stand review by clicking below the photo to discover more reasons why savvy parents love this stroller-and-a-half.
Top Reasons to Buy
- Wide range of features from basic to deluxe
- Plenty of storage and amenities
- Use for twins (double model) or children of different ages
Sit and Stand Strollers: Everything You Need to Know
Sit and stand strollers are a game-changer if you have more than one kid. Prices range from the inexpensive (for example, the Baby Trend Sit N Stand Ultra and Joovy Caboose Too Graphite) to the fairly expensive (Graco BravoFor2 and the Joovy Caboose Ultralight Graphite). Some are carseat-compatible, while others can be configured to accommodate a secondary seat, converting into an in-line double stroller.
Let’s get to know more about this particular type of stroller, starting with the benefits of having one.
Sit and Stand Strollers: The Good
Sit and Stand Double Strollers are Best for Kids that 3 to 5 years apart
Have a toddler and a newborn? A sit and stand stroller may be a better option than, say, a side-by-side stroller or a regular in-line tandem stroller. (A side-by-side stroller doesn’t work well with kids of different sizes and weights, as weight tends to affect maneuverability.)
On the other hand, a regular in-line tandem stroller—one where the seats are stacked stadium style or one in front of the other—might not be a good idea if your kids are far apart in age. Again, weight difference will affect maneuverability greatly. If you put a toddler in front, you will have a hard time pushing with all that weight concentrated in front of the stroller.
If you have toddlers, then you know how hard it is to contain them in a stroller seat around 3 or 4 years of age, as they start to assert their independence at this age. Still, it’s a good idea to have a stroller around in case they get tired of walking—and that’s where sit and stand strollers offer the best of both worlds. Toddlers can simply hop on and hop off as they wish.
Another cool option is sit and stand strollers that come with a bench, offering tired toddlers some temporary relief from standing. But it’s not for prolonged use, as seats tend to get cramped when the infant seat is reclined.
They come with large storage baskets
This is definitely good news for parents who like to bring everything but the kitchen sink when heading out with kids: nappies, extra sets of clothes, towels, snacks, bottles, toys, and sippy cups. Good thing sit and stand strollers come with large underseat baskets.
The only downside might be that, in some models, you will have to ask your larger kid to step aside each time you have to load and unload stuff, as the baskets are accessible only by partially or totally removing the bench seat.
They’re lighter than regular tandem strollers
Think of sit and stand strollers as a single stroller, but with extra space at the rear, a more slanted handlebar, plus a step board or platform. That’s essentially the design of a sit and stand stroller.
That said, if you’ve handled a regular tandem stroller before, you’ll find that sit and stand strollers are more lightweight. If you’re used to a single stroller, don’t worry: they’re not much heavier than your single stroller.
Folding dimensions are just a little above that of a single stroller. Overall, they’re still compact.
Sit and Stand Strollers: The Not-so-Good
They might not do too well on rough terrain
As of this writing, we have yet to lay our hands on and review a sit and stand stroller that can handle uneven surfaces well, perhaps owing to the small wheels and the lack of suspension. That said, you might want to stick to flat, smooth surfaces if you want to keep your occupants comfy.
Otherwise, consider buying an all-terrain double stroller if you’re the more outdoorsy type.
They’re built primarily for your younger child’s comfort
Sit and stand strollers are built on compromise, and most of the time, it will be your older child who will be getting the shorter end of the stick. For instance, reclining the front seat will eat up your older child’s seat back, so they will either have to seat farther out from their seat or opt to stand on the step board instead.
If you want to maximize a sit and stand stroller for both occupants’ comfort, consider buying a secondary seat (like the Joovy Too). Otherwise, go with a regular in-line double stroller.
Features to Look for in a Sit and Stand Stroller
Sun Protection
With a sit and stand stroller’s elongated design, it can be hard to see if your front passenger is sufficiently shielded from the sun’s rays. So look for a sit and stand stroller whose canopies aren’t just an afterthought and really perform the function for which they’re intended.
In this regard, we like the Joovy Caboose Graphite and the Grace Room2Grow. Both have an extended canopy that’s large enough to cover both the front and rear seats. The canopies are detachable too (that is, it isn’t attached to the backseat), which means you can adjust the canopy depending on where the sun’s rays are angled.
Weight
The ideal sit and stand stroller should be lightweight and compact, for easy use and storage. The lightest sit and stand stroller is the Joovy Caboose Ultralight Graphite is the currently lightest at 23.5 lbs. (“4 lbs. lighter” than the standard Joovy Caboose, according to their website).
Steering
Sit and stand strollers may not handle as well as, say, a single stroller or an all-terrain stroller. Still, if maneuverability is one of your needs, look for models that have four-wheel or built-in suspension. The Graco RoomFor2 and Joovy Caboose Ultralight Graphite have gotten mostly good reviews from parents in the steering department.
Weight Limit
If you’re willing to splurge on a sit and stand stroller, look for one that has a high weight limit to ensure it will grow with your kids. Depending on the model, some sit and stand strollers can accommodate a combined 100 pounds of weight.
Comfort
Padded seats (for both the front and the rear) will go a long way in ensuring your kids’ comfort. As for the front seat, look for models that offer fully reclining seats.
And don’t forget: your comfort matters too! Look for a model that has adjustable handles. Better yet, go to a department or baby store to test-push your top picks first before buying to ensure the handle height and position is compatible with your height and gait.
Still on the subject of comfort, look for strollers that come with an easy one-hand fold, aside from being lightweight. Trust us, this feature is a game-changer—just ask any parent with more than one wriggly kid.
Detachable and Machine Washable Fabrics
Spills and boo-boos are an inevitable part of life, as any parent of young kids would know. Choose a model whose fabric parts are easily detachable and washable. Additionally, look for strollers that have stain-resistant fabrics.
Safety
Look for the following safety features:
- Durable harnesses: standard five-point harness for the front seat and a three-point harness for the rear
- Durable and ergonomic riding handles for your older child
- Flame-retardant fabric
- Easy-to-use brake mechanism (such as one-step linked parking brakes)
Are sit and stand strollers safe? Yes, of course! Just make sure to use the stroller according to the manufacturer’s specifications. Additionally, when looking for a sit and stand stroller to use, make sure the model you’re buying is JPMA certified and complies with CPSC federal safety standards for strollers and carriages.
Additional Accessories
Some sit and stand strollers come with parent organizers, snack trays, and cup holders, which can make you feel like you’ve gotten more than you paid for. These may not be non-negotiables, but these added perks are thoughtful touches that make your life more convenient.
The Final Say
Does the he thought of heading out alone with your two different-aged kids intimidate you? Thankfully, sit and stand strollers can make trips out with your children safer and easier by helping you reign in your toddler while you keep close guard on your infant.
Whatever model you choose, make sure to choose one that’s well within your budget but still has all the features you’re looking for.
Still not sure which stroller to pick? Leave a comment below. We’ll be happy to answer any stroller-related question you may have.
