Well, hello hello there, you parental super sleuth.
Come and join us, Mister or Miss, baby gear detective.
Did you know it takes, on average, about 300 hours of analysis before the typical parent finally makes a choice on which stroller wagon to purchase?
No, honestly I just made that up – I have no idea how long people take studying these things – but I do know that when it comes to baby products, it can feel like a full blown investigation before you finally land on a decision.
I’m old enough to remember the slogan ‘choosy moms choose Jiff’ – that was for like peanut butter. The stakes are so much higher when buying products you have to trust to keep your kids safe. And stand the test of time. And not put the family into debt.
You find yourself talking to other parents on the playground, trying to feel them out. Asking family for advice. Doom scrolling, searching for something better.
This is it. This is now your life as a parent.
The wonderful world of endlessly researching baby products until you can (or you think you can) finally make a choice.
It is the wild wild west out here, and as a parent with young kids, there are tons of big ticket items that are simply non-negotiable. Things like cribs and car seats – essential items you’re not going to last without.
There is however, some baby equipment where parents have a wide range of choices and options.
One such example is the wheels your family chooses. How are you going to get around town, Charlie Brown?
Are we going for a regular stroller that can convert to a double? A single stroller setup?
Do we fancy a flimsy umbrella stroller to get us from point A to point B and then rely on a carrier to hold the baby?
And of course, the new kid on the block, do we want to buy a stroller wagon?
You’ve heard of them, no doubt; wagon strollers, family wagons, toddler wagons – whatever name they go by, they are making their mark on families with young children, and how they get out into the world.
We’ve broken down our favorites in the best stroller wagon, so if you want to dig into specific brands, that’s the place.
But maybe you’re new here, maybe the stroller wagon is just something you’re exploring.
For now, I want to share my experience after raising two children, going down the research rabbit holes, attending baby gear shows (yes, I’m that nerdy), and owning a bunch of these products over the past several years.
So here we go – is the stroller wagon worth it?
Unless it’s Twins, Skip the Double Stroller
Do you need a stroller? Yes.
Do multiple kids equal a double stroller? No, not for me.
To many parents I talk to, strollers with the ability to add seats and fit two children sound like the solution.
“I’ve got one baby (or I’m having one baby) – I might have another baby – bingo, problem solved, I will just add a seat to my stroller and off we go.
In my experience, it only sounded like the solution. The double stroller didn’t really provide the solution.
Why?
Well, a few reasons.
One, it’s super heavy.
Pushing with one child is comfortable, but once you start loading up the double stroller with two kids and all your gear, I’ve found it pretty difficult to maneuver.
Negative number two, the kids will only enjoy it for so long.
In our experience, the stroller is only going to last about that three to four year mark.
Can they last longer? Sure. And it may depend on your child’s personality – or how strict you are about keeping them in the stroller – but they typically only want to be in there for a few years. Especially if they have older siblings.
How come?
Well, because they can’t see everything.
They can’t move around.
There’s no room for activities.
They are constrained in a five-point harness, forced to go along with the program when many times they want to be a big kid.
Big picture, in the double stroller, the lack of seating options and freedom gets stale quickly.
So yes, I definitely recommend a stroller – you’re going to need it and use it in those infant years – but unless you’re having twins, I would shy away from getting a double stroller.
Personally, we blew it – wasted a lot of time and money on getting the double stroller with the bells and whistles, only to have it fizz out rather quickly. We didn’t use it much (or at least as much as I had envisioned), and when we did, it was truly more in the single stroller capacity to help during that newborn phase.
Let’s Talk Stroller Wagon
So why does a stroller wagon solve this?
Well, not just stroller wagons in general, but the right stroller wagons seem to be the real deal solution for parents – at least it was for us.
When I say the right one, I mean you should really key in on three main features: safety, transportability, and the clean routine.
Transportable
The right stroller wagon should fold easily and fit into your vehicle.
Point blank, it needs to be transportable.
You didn’t buy it to collect dust. It’s not there to help go out for walks in the neighborhood once a month. You buy it to have with you wherever you go and change how long family experiences can last.
Or at least that’s the way you should be thinking
I can’t tell you how many parents I’ve talked to where that’s all the stroller wagon has become: a relic in the garage that never lived up to the hype.
They didn’t factor in how heavy it is, or how much space it takes up when folded – or they drive a Tesla, and no matter what they do, it won’t fit in the trunk.
Consider the transportability of any stroller wagon you may purchase – compact folds and lightweight material matter oh so much when your family ventures out into the unknown.
Safety First
Your stroller wagon needs to be safe. Beyond just the harness and the standard safety certifications, there are a few other features to look for.
It should have a footwell.
I find footwells so much better for children as they grow, and not all stroller wagons include them.
Footwells are safer for little legs to spread out, and typically will also add to the longevity of your wagon’s life as children mature.
Clean My Ride
Lastly, your stroller wagon shouldn’t be a nightmare to clean.
Because, as all parents know, kids have an uncanny ability to completely destroy….well, pretty much everything they touch.
What parts of the wagon are hose washable? Is it all cloth? Spot clean or can I put it in the washing machine?
Do a bit of digging to understand how to properly clean everything and what that entails before you make a purchase.
That’s it.
That’s your checklist.
I have perks and opinions to mention, but as long as you can clean it, bring it in the car, and it’s safe, then the stroller wagon is definitely worth purchasing.
It’s going to make a difference everywhere you go, and it’s the one piece of baby equipment that just instantly makes your life easier.
Regardless of brand, the storage room for what you can bring on outings is going to increase. You’re going to have more space for snacks, drinks, and toys.
And it really shines when you consider hauling larger items – if you envision going skiing or hiking, or anything that requires gear all on its own, that’s where it can do things your typical stroller would never dream of.
The Straight Truth
In our experience, there is a freedom that the children get with the stroller wagon that they never enjoyed with the stroller.
A Little Independence
Want to get out and walk around? Sure, just get up and go for it.
Our stroller wagon is a ‘low wall’ stroller wagon, meaning the kids can easily climb in and out pretty much all on their own. Of course, they can’t unbuckle themselves, but there are plenty of situations when you’re not very worried about the kids being buckled in – walking around Costco (our go-to) or in a low-traffic, safe smooth area.
Some high-walled stroller wagons also have little entrance doors for kids to get in and out all on their own – if the higher walls are your vibe.
Regardless, there are more seating arrangements with stroller wagons that kids are going to enjoy.
We own a four-seater stroller wagon, but only have two children. Sometimes, the kids will opt to sit across from each other – other times, they prefer to sit next to each other. We never know, and the choice is there.
Give a kid a few options, let them make some decisions, and the stroller wagon becomes their favorite.
Longevity
The stroller wagon is going to make it easier for the family to get out and stay out.
Smaller scale, it’s going to make mini-trips last longer – as you’ll be able to bring more things to preoccupy and entertain everyone.
But also on a larger scale, as kids can comfortably ride in the stroller wagon well beyond the age of three or four years old.
And once the kids are truly too big (or too cool) for the stroller wagon, it can be used in plenty of other ways.
Hauling drinks to the beach or garden equipment to your backyard – filling it up at the grocery store or the local farmers market – the stroller wagon is unlike your typical stroller in the fact that it has potential to be used for other purposes, well after the toddler years.
Final Perks
Many stroller wagons now offer infant car seat adapters, meaning parents don’t have to worry about transporting newborns.
I still believe in the need for one solid stroller, but the ability to do it all with just one piece of equipment (the wagon) does exist as an option for parents. This alone can save hundreds of dollars on equipment if you like the setup.
Lastly, the ability to actually lay flat and take a nap is totally underrated.
Stroller wagons either offer systems to help convert them into bassinets of sorts – or hey, just stuff a couple blankets in the footwell and it pretty much becomes a comfy flat surface for naps.
We’ve had plenty of instances where the ability to put a child down for a legit nap in the stroller wagon totally saved us from having to rush home for nap time. We instantly saw the benefits of not having to dictate our day around snooze times.
Sure, kids can still nap in a stroller, but there’s something really nice about getting horizontal and getting cozy.
Final Say
In the end, for our family, the stroller wagon is totally worth it.
We have plenty of other articles on the site in this same vein – ranking specific brands (see the stroller wagon breakdown), solo reviews on some of our top choices, and even a standalone piece comparing double strollers vs stroller wagons.
I guess I’m becoming the stroller wagon whisperer at this point – so come on in and stay a while 🙂
If you’re new to the parenting world, I go into more detail on the many things I would do differently before having my first – specifically the choices I made with purchasing the higher ticket items.
I hope you can now go into your months of researching a little bit more prepared for what to look for in the stroller wagon of your dreams. What are you waiting for? Pull the trigger already!
