Melissa Gambrill, Marketing Manager from Britax Child Safety, Inc.

Expert Insights on Choosing the Best Double Stroller with Melissa Gambrill, Marketing Manager from Britax Child Safety, Inc.

When it comes to baby gear, choosing the right products for your family is essential.

I’ve been a longtime fan of the Britax brand and was pleased to have the opportunity to connect with Melissa Gambrill, marketing manager for Britax, and pick her brain about what parents should consider when choosing the best double stroller for their family.

If you’re wondering what features make her must have list, read on.

eNannySource: What do you think parents should look for when choosing a double stroller?

Melissa: Whether you are choosing a car seat or stroller, safety should always come first, followed by convenience. Britax has been the leader in child safety seats for more than 70 years, so when you’re talking about our products, I know safety is covered and we can move right on to convenience. For parents, a double stroller should make the travel experience easier. I always encourage parents to test drive a stroller before they buy one. As a parent myself, I looked for a stroller that was lightweight, had versatile seat options and had seats with easy-to-move harnesses to accommodate my kids who always like to switch seats. Since parents like to stuff a lot into the cargo bags, choosing a stroller that gives you front access so you can grab whatever you put in first, easily, is also important. An articulating handle is also huge since it allows parents and caregivers of different heights to use the stroller comfortably.

eNannySource: Many parents are concerned about a side by side, thinking it may not fit through standard doors. What are your thoughts on this?

Melissa:  Britax makes sure that every product is thoughtfully designed and innovated. We design our strollers to fit through a standard door frame. But even beyond that, we consider how parents are actually going to get into the door, whether it opens for them or they have to open it themselves. Our double strollers have front swivel wheels that allow for turning on a dime. Parents can get through a standard door without having to do a three-point-turn, which is especially important when you’re pushing the stroller and trying to hold the door open yourself.

eNannySource: The BRITAX B-Agile is extremely lightweight and has a compact fold. Why is this so important?

Melissa: We really try to combine convenience, comfort and ease of use into our products. We also want to make sure our products are used correctly each time. For me, an easy, compact fold was a purchasing-driving force. Folding the B-Agile is a snap and it could fit into the car that I already owned. In the garage or the apartment hallway, having a handle that goes forward an extra notch allows the stroller to stand vertically, which minimizes the amount of space it takes up when you’re not using it.

eNannySource: When do children typically outgrow a stroller?

Melissa: Our strollers are designed to max out based on weight, rather than age. Our B-Agile can hold up to 50 pounds in each seat. Our BOB brand’s Duallie double stroller is the same way. But once you start loading diaper bags and purses, you do need to be careful not to overload them. Safety should always come first.

eNannySource: What makes the B-Agile Double unique?

Melissa: One of the unique features about the B-Agile is its ability to turn into a travel system. Our infant seats match the colors of the stroller so you can color-coordinate the infant seat with the stroller. The B-Agile comes with the infant car seat receiver accessories, so you don’t have to pay more for a conversion kit. Another unique feature is that the B-Agile Double can accommodate two child trays. The two canopies on the B-Agile Double are also huge, which offers lots of shade from the hot summer sun. The no-rethread, adjustable, five-point harness and infinite seat recline positions are pretty distinct too.

eNannySource: B-Ready or B-Agile?

Melissa: Oh that’s a tough one. It’s all about the test drive. What feels comfortable? What’s going to make traveling easier? You should consider what your needs are and choose the one that’s the best match for you.

Michelle’s Review of the Britax B-Agile Double

Being a diehard Britax B-Ready fan, when my Britax B-Agile Double arrived in the mail courtesy of Britax (at no cost to me) I wasn’t sure how I’d like it. After getting it out of the box and taking it on its debut cruise up and down the streets of Historic Main Street in Hyannis, Massachusetts, I have to say I was impressed. It was super easy to open and fold and it was lightweight. It handled amazingly well carrying my 40 pound four-year-old and 39 pound three-year-old side-by-side. It surely didn’t feel like I was pushing 89 pounds of kid along. In fact, it was such a smooth and comfortable ride they both fell asleep on the way back, which gave me the opportunity to navigate in and out of the little shops with ease.

The extra-large canopy offered tons of protection from the sun and the harness straps had more than enough room to allow for growth, which was a nice surprise since much of the gear that advertises a higher weight limit seems to forget that kids who weigh more are typically taller, too. And although I didn’t need them, an added bonus was that the adapters to hold an infant car seat came right along in the box, which is going to be a money saver for moms who need it. Being a nanny who specialized in caring for twins for many years, I wouldn’t hesitate recommending the B-Agile Double as an alternative to the typical go to side-by-side umbrella style stroller I usually recommend for moms of multiples because it’s lightweight and convenient to use. The Britax B-Agile Double is all that and more.

Melissa Gambrill is the stroller marketing manager for Britax Child Safety, Inc. With more than 10 years of experience in consumer products, she launches new products and supports strategic partnerships with organizations like Stroller Strides® and IRONMAN®. She is a Nationally Certified Child Passenger Safety Technician who educates new parents on the options and features to consider when purchasing, assembling and installing child safety seats and strollers. Melissa enjoys experiencing the outdoors with her husband and two toddlers. Learn more about Britax at www.BritaxUSA.com.

Michelle LaRowe, Proud Mom and Enthusiastic Parenting Partner

With her background as an International Nanny Association Credentialed Nanny specializing in caring for multiples, Michelle has been partnering with parents in raising their children since 1994.

With her extensive experience in newborn, infant and child care, and with her passion for setting herself apart from her peers by providing top-notch service, Michelle is regularly called on by the most popular parenting magazines and websites to share her knowledge and expertise. She has been featured on Parents.com, Parenting.com and BabyTalk.com and regularly contributes toModernMom.com, Momtastic.com and other popular parenting websites.

Michelle has contributed to TWINS Magazine and wrote a chapter for the best-selling Experts’ Guide to the Baby Years. Michelle has also authored four books of her own entitled, Nanny to the Rescue!, Nanny to the Rescue Again!, Working Mom’s 411 and A Mom’s Ultimate Book of Lists. She also co-authored Beyond Parenting Basics: The International Nanny Association’s Official Guide to In-Home Child Care.

Michelle is an active member of the nanny and baby planner communities. In 2004, Michelle was honored as the International Nanny Association Nanny of the Year and received accolades from President George Bush for her dedication to improving quality in-home child care. Michelle serves on the advisory board of the International Academy of Baby Planner Professionalsand has served on the board of directors and as vice president of the International Nanny Association. She currently serves as the executive director of the International Nanny Association. Michelle also serves as a trainer for The Academy of Coaching Parents International.

Michelle is a national speaker, bringing a message of hope and empowerment to mom and nanny groups across the nation. She and her husband Jeff, reside on Cape Cod with theirdaughter, Abigail, and their son, Luke.

by Michelle LaRowe, Editor in Chief @ Enannysource.com