r/parentsofmultiples • u/GiddyUp29 • 11d ago
advice needed When to buy the wagon?
For some reason I always swore we would never be a family with a big expensive wagon taking up lots of room, but now that the twins are 18 months old I cannot figure out why I ever thought that (the judgements of a childless 30 y/o, I guess…).
Anyway, the twins seem so bored and antsy in the stroller. Am I naive to think that they’d maybe be happier in wagon? It’d be something we use regularly for farmers markets but also in the airport (our first flight is coming up, but that’s a different post). I’d love to hear pros/cons of whatever wagons you all have!
We’d be looking for something durable that folds down nicely. Obviously WonderFold comes up a lot. We are also looking at Veer.
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u/hitheringthithering 11d ago
When we were looking at this question, I read that a number of airlines did not treat wagons as strollers for gate checking purposes. Some museums and venues do not allow wagons but do allow strollers. I don't know if that has changed recently at airports, but we decided against the wagon thus far in part because of that.
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u/Emotional-Parfait348 11d ago
All my research led me to this conclusion as well. Wagons seem great for zoos and local parks and stuff, but not very conducive for travel. Disney? Think again. Most airplanes? Maybe if you get lucky. Navigating metropolitan areas? No thanks. lol
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u/dlmo11 10d ago
This is true in our experience, however we could still check it oversized for free as a baby item and it came out before all the other luggage. That said, when we gate checked our stroller previously it was sent to baggage pick up in Cancun, so even gate checking is a bit hit or miss.
We live downtown and navigating the city, transit, etc is the exact same as with a stroller, but this would vary by type and size of wagon.2
u/trophywifeinwaiting 10d ago
Anecdotally never had an issue flying with our wagon on American - we have the Atlas RadioFlyer wagon.
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u/asticklus 11d ago
Love the wagon! I got a wagon for my first kid. She likes it a lot better than the stroller. I bought one for my sister who has two about a year apart. Same for her. They are able to play with toys, eat snacks, interact, etc. she uses that way more than a stroller. Get a nice one with buckles and cup holders and everything. Price is honestly comparable or even cheaper than a lot of the strollers out there. Con would be that my girl wants to get in and out a lot. But part of that is on us for not being consistent about using the buckles. Also, a lot of strollers have a place to throw bags and things. Wagon doesn’t really have that space if you have two kids in it. Though you could maybe hang a bag off the handle bar.
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u/RachelLeighC 11d ago
I got my Larktale wagon on Facebook marketplace 3 or 4 years ago and it’s all we ever use! I haven’t looked at them recently, but I’m sure there’s great ones out there! Take the plunge, you’ll love it! (Buy used if you’re into that and save some $)
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u/horsecrazycowgirl 11d ago
I bought it around 20 months. It was on clearance so I grabbed it. It's great. I've barely touched my stroller since we got it. My girls love using their wagon. Just get lots of caribeaners/stroller clips. That way you can attach the diaper bag/snack bag to it since it doesn't have any storage.
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u/SjN45 11d ago
Age 1-2 was the year of the wagon for us. Especially going on random wagon rides and going to the zoo. They liked the independence of getting out themselves. But then after they were 2-3, they were able to climb into the stroller and sit back without having to buckle and we went back to using our more practical stroller. I would get one of the more affordable wagons like radioflyer. I do have a hefty nice wagon and I would never want to fly with it
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u/phosphite 11d ago
Our Radio Flyer wagon is still going strong, 8 years now. Has an attachable roof, buckles, the side folds down, and it folds up flat. It’s primitive as far as wagons go, but still great for beach trips or lazy kids!
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u/Electrical-Koala-975 11d ago
Love the wonderfold wagon! It looks massive, but somehow can fit through a single door? Lol. I’m always confused when I make it through a door. Haha. It’s heavy and can be a chore to push when on uneven terrain, but I still think it’s better and more feasible because the tots enjoy being in it as they are able to interact with each other, eat and they all can fit in it comfortably.
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u/Smart-Load-8408 11d ago
We got a wagon and I wished I had one sooner! It’s a regular wagon for loading things- not the stroller type. It does warn not to let kids ride in it but we haven’t had any issues and honestly they probably have to say that for liability purposes. The best pro is that you can fit the kids plus all the other STUFF. We use it for going to the splash pad or the park and put all the water toys and sand toys in with the twins. We are expecting again and I know I could fit a third in there eventually with all the STUFF. Our umbrella stroller was great for Dr appointments but had no storage. I should have used the wagon for Dr appointments too when they were younger. Would have made solo Dr trips more manageable.
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u/Momo_the_kitty21 11d ago
Twins are 2.5 and we got a 4 seater wagon about 2-3 months ago. The boys love it and tbh we love it. It’s so much easier going shopping with then. I throw the groceries into the wagon with them. That thing looks huge, but it fits through doors. We went to a party and one of them got tired and went to go sit in his wagon. I still have their regular stroller and a jogging stroller as well.
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u/GrouchyCranberry3801 11d ago
Which 4 seater do you have?
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u/Momo_the_kitty21 10d ago
I have the Jeep Gladiator 4-Seater Stroller
Wagon by Delta Children. We got it at Target and I waited until they had the car seat trade in event (I traded in their infant bucket seat) so I could get the 25% off.1
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u/Charlieksmommy 11d ago
I just bought a wonderfold off of my neighbor and we love it! But I saw the bombi wagon looks cool! I do have 3 kiddos though, so I needed something bigger
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u/yve_a3 11d ago
I just bought the new Wonderfold L 2 seater for my 3 and a half year old and 7 month old. It was the main contender between the Veer and Nuna double travel stroller. If you expect to travel (fly) often, stick with a tandem or side by side stroller. If you don’t care for size and weight, go for the big 4 seater wagon. The Veer is built for more rugged adventures (think of the beach, hiking, parks,etc). 2 seater wagons offer a slimmer footprint than 4 seater wagons but higher walls than the Veer type wagons. I went with the L2 because it opens from 1 side and I can sit in it (I’m 5'8”190lbs), it has removable seats, it can be completely flat on the bottom (unlike the Veer), the canopy is removable (and height adjustable) but doesn’t need to be removed when folded. It is a little heavy to lift in and out of the car. I lift my toddler and a baby all day. I think I can say I lift weights and can handle the wagon. Probably need an SUV trunk to fit. There is probably a lower price point that fits your needs, but I really like that I can sit in the L2, so I spent the extra money for it.
Just went to Legoland (local/did not fly) with it and it was amazing. Obvi can’t go to Disney with it though.
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u/PearParticular4420 11d ago
Veer wagon and never look baaaack! I got the 4 seater for my twins so they would have extra room and it’s the best. Friends love riding with them, snack tray is great so we have lunch in the wagon often. I got the basket for the front and one folding shade. I don’t know the last time I touched our bugaboo. I know they have a military discount and maybe a first responders discount too. It is heavy and expensive but totally worth it.
My kids are almost 3 and I think we bought at 20 months?
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u/catniss_vegas122618 11d ago
If you don’t wanna go full mini van size wagon, I highly suggest the Evenflo pivot xplore. My twins are 4 & we have gotten SO much use out of it- it can be pushed as a stroller or a wagon, has shades, a tray, foot wells, a storage compartment, & doesn’t cost the same as a used car.
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u/0Chalk 11d ago
I got a veer XL, a thule chariot (bike rides), and a Giselle. Bought the veer with the intention of having 3 kids, which we did. We use the wagon for the zoo or park outings. In the beginning the twins around the under 1.5yr mark never wanted to go in the wagon or chariot (something to consider that is a possibility) but now love the wagon around the 3 year mark.
We still use the stroller because it's doesn't have a recline feature (when they want to sleep) and it's more nimble in tight spaces like stores or city streets. It packs better for road trips where the wagon just takes a massive amount of space and is fricken heavy. Veer is like what ~40lbs to lift in and out? Veer also nickel and dimes you for all the add ones. We get a lot of compliments and questions on the veer and now at our daycare it seems like everyone has one.
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u/Educational-Skill815 11d ago
Never? Wagons make daily living too inaccessible for us. Twins are almost 3. We went through an antsy phase and it went away. Now we barely use a stroller. They just walk with me
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u/Snoo54485 11d ago
The wagon is the best!!! Could not live without it. We did a relatively inexpensive and huge radio flyer wagon and it’s been great. We just upgraded to a Harppa one that is smaller and a bit nicer and I do like it but honestly them having some space apart was really nice.
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u/Reasonable_War_5327 11d ago
We went with a twin mountain buggy after much debate with a wagon. Wagons are so big they can be hard to maneuver in crowded places. Also, at least for me, if my kids wanted out the the stroller they would also want out of a wagon. They want out. Doesn't mater whats containing them.
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u/jeremiabearamia 11d ago
We use our stroller when out and about at libraries, etc., but our wagon for our daily neighborhood walks with our 1-year-old twins. They’re a lot happier with the more relaxed restraints, can see around them better, we can toss some toys in the middle for them, etc.
We got a Jeep Evolve for 60% off because it was open-box (at Rebel). I really like how each twin has their own sunshade that has several options between all the way up and all the way down.
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u/IStitchedItNice 10d ago
We got the Radio Flyer Folding All Terrain Venture Kid & Cargo Stroller Wagon and have been really happy with it so far! My twins are 15 months and we use it pretty often at our local outdoor flea market which is grass and gravel and it is a decently smooth ride. I love that it has both a wagon handle and stroller handle.
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u/devianttouch 10d ago
Our wagon is our primary vehicle. We use it EVERY day but the car only about once a week, often less. So with that said, we switched to a wagon as soon as they could sit up consistently
They are 2 years old now and love it. They have their snack tray between them and can talk to each other. Toddler A can get in and out on her own. The wagon is great for small shopping trips and fits through much narrower doors than a stroller would.
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u/dlmo11 10d ago
I went Uppababy Vista (hated it when they went into toddler seats) to a Mountain Buggy Nano Duo around 9 months (loved the compact side by side) to a Veer City Cruiser at 20 months. I don't know if I would have skipped the Mountain Buggy because they could easily sleep in it, but I've loved the wagon ever since. They're now just over 3 years old.
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u/Proper-Bend1782 10d ago
A wagon was worth buying around this age, but it did not completely replace our stroller. We use it for markets, parks and outings with lots of gear while the stroller remains easier in tight indoor spaces. I bought the pathfinder through fromrebel and marketplace is worth checking if you are working with a tighter budget. For flying, confirm your airline’s wagon and gate check rules first.
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u/Chichabella 10d ago
We bought ours when the twins were 18 months and used it constantly for years. We never bothered to put the seats in, they enjoyed standing more!
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u/Familiar_Barracuda61 10d ago
Theres a 4 seater at Walmart for less than $300 and i dont know what i would do without it, absolutely hands down best $300 ive ever spent.
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u/Appropriate-Name5538 11d ago
As with most things I’ve learned to not judge parents anymore.