Baby Trend Sit N' Stand Double Review
Pros: Accepts two car seats
Cons: Poor sun protection, larger and hard to push, difficult to move
Bottom line: Difficult to use inline with hard to use storage and lower quality materials
Editors' Rating:
Folded Dimensions: 24.8"W x 17.3"H x 49"L
Capacity Limits: Minimum: Child must be able to sit unassisted. Maximum: 40 lbs/40"
Manufacturer: Baby Trend
The Skinny
The Baby Trend Sit N' Stand earned the lowest score overall in our review of 18 double strollers. This simple tandem stroller can accept two infant car seats, but the standard seating arrangements sans car seat give children very different rider experiences that might have twins arguing about who gets to sit where. If your goal is a stroller for children of different ages, it might work somewhat better, but the quality and performance just aren't as high as the competition, and for a Sit and Stand design there are better options in this review. While this stroller does have a reasonable price point, it isn't low enough to make putting up with poor maneuverability and ease of use performance worthwhile. This is not a stroller we would recommend no matter what your goal or budget.
RELATED REVIEW: The Best Double Strollers of 2018
Our Analysis and Test Results
Review by:
Juliet Spurrier, MD & BabyGearLab Team
Juliet Spurrier, MD & BabyGearLab Team
Last Updated:
Friday
May 5, 2017
Friday
May 5, 2017
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The Baby Trend Sit N' Stand is a tandem stroller that accepts two infant car seats. The standard configuration of the stroller has two regular seats and also works with a younger child sitting in the front while an older child can sit or stand on the back. This stroller has a covered parent tray with dual cupholders, 5-point harnesses, child's tray with cup holder, and a foot activated rear brake.
This is a comparison chart of the overall scores for each stroller in this review with the Baby Trend Sit 'N Stand shown in blue.
The sections below provide details on how the Sit N' Stand performed compared to the competition during testing for each metric.
The Sit N' Stand earned the second lowest score in the group for ease of use with a 4 of 10 in our tests. The high for the group is an 8 for the UPPAbaby Vista Double, which has many features that are easy to use and work as expected.
When it comes to folding and unfolding any double stroller, they all have a size issue to contend with that will leave shorter parents struggling. The fold and unfold of this stroller isn't difficult, but it is only average for ease. It can be managed with one hand and 3-4 steps. This stroller can self-stand and auto-lock and requires the user to bend all the way to the ground. If you can't bend that far or don't want to, you can fold this stroller with two hands and avoid the waist bending nightmare. To unfold it is about two steps, two hands, and easier than the fold. It can be awkward the first few times you do it, but with practice, it isn't the worst in the group.
The brakes on the Sit N' Stand are hard to set but even harder to release. The pedals are double action, which means you need to set and release both sides independently. They are so stiff we gave up getting them to release and used our hands instead. The roughness of the underside of the pedal, where the top of your shoe/foot should go will hurt your foot, and it is likely to scuff your shoe. Why do they have to be this hard? When you set them it will feel like they are set with an initial push, in fact, it will feel like they engage with a natural stopping point. However, this is not the case, and you will need to press them a second time to truly set the brakes.
When it comes to storage bin size, you'd think that having a double sized stroller would mean even more storage. However, this isn't always the truth. This storage bin on this stroller is smaller than some of the competition with access that is hard to use from the back and sides. It also has top access but depending on seat configuration, and whether or not your second child is using the stroller, it will be even harder to access the bin from the top. We were able to fit our large diaper bag in it, but it has a maximum allowable weight of only 5 pounds, so if you plan to use a diaper bag it needs to be a lightweight option with few items inside. We even questioned whether or not the bin is even designed with a diaper bag in mind.
This stroller seems to have more items for convenience than others given that it has a parent and child trays, but sadly not all of them are great. The parent tray (above left) has two cup holders, and they are compatible with water bottles, baby bottles, and sippy cups. The child's tray (above right) has a shallow tray and almost as shallow cup holder that accepts baby bottles and sippy cups, but nothing larger. While it takes a bottle, it is likely to fall out shortly after you squeeze it in there and it is probably more for looks than for actual use.
Baby Trend tends to prefer strollers with smaller canopies, and this one is no exception with canopies that are small and on the chintzy side. The rear canopy is stationary and won't cover anything but baby's head, while the rear canopy rotates forward to help keep out the lower sun, but it will be worthless if it rains. The canopies have small peek-a-boo windows made out of mesh and have hook and loop closures on the window flap. The canopies earned the lowest score in the review, which is a disappointment no matter what else it has to offer. Protecting baby from the elements is one of the most important features of a stroller for most parents.
The harness on each seat is a 5-point harness that is about average to adjust and use. The shoulder height is only adjustable by two inches, so it might be hard to fit all children with only two shoulder straps and one crotch strap positions. It has a re-thread harness system that is ok to use, but not the best. Certainly, non-rethread options are easier to manage. Managing the harness buckle can be done with one hand, but it is much easier with two. When you press the button the sides sort of pop out on their own, which is nice compared to those that require a second hand for removal.
The photos above show the recline adjustment for the rear seat (right) and the front seat (left).
This stroller does not have adjustable leg rests, and in fact, the leg rest is pretty bleak with no real leg rest and a hard plastic foot rest. The front and rear seat both recline with the front being a one hand operation and the back requiring two. Reclining the seats is only average with the front being easier to operate, but it only has two recline positions. The rear seat has infinite recline options, but it doesn't go very deep. The double child trays are swingable and removable.
The Sit N' Stand is pretty easy to set up with a better than average setup time of 7 minutes. It only has average instructions in the assembly manual and is similar to those found in the Baby Trend Expedition. Everything snaps together pretty easily, and you don't need any tools to put it together.
If you weren't disappointed with the Sit N' Stand yet, the maneuverability will probably seal the deal and have you looking elsewhere for a stroller. It scored a 4 of 10 for maneuverability, which isn't the lowest in the group, but it is still not impressive. Many of the inline options are hard to push and manage around turns, but the better ones have nicer wheels and tires than this one.
It takes more effort to turn this stroller, but the narrower design does make it easier to make it through smaller doorways. Pushing and turning on hard ground is tough, but it gets even harder on rougher surfaces and is terrible in gravel. The dual plastic front wheels make the entire stroller wobble, though not as badly as some of the others it still gives the overall feel a rickety mess. Single front wheels just work better, and anything but plastic is the way to go if you want a nice smooth ride.
The BabyGearLab weight on this stroller is 31 pounds 5 ounces. While this sounds heavy it is below the average for the group which is 32 pounds, and far lower than the high of 37.8 pounds for the Baby Jogger City Select Double. The lightest option in the group is the Joovy Caboose Ultralight Graphite which is 23.4 pounds. While you can't expect any double stroller to be lightweight, it is important that you get an option you can lift without needing to struggle.
The folded size of the Sit N' Stand is a little over 21,000 cubic inches. As commented on before in this review, it is a relatively large folded product with only a few products in the group being larger when folded. The smallest in the group is another sit and stand product, the Joovy Caboose, which is 23.4 pounds and near 11,000 cubic inches. The Britax B-Agile Double is slightly smaller, closer to 10,000 cubic inches, but it is also heavier by 4 pounds.
Baby Trend strollers tend to lack in the quality department compared to other strollers, but they also have a lower price tag most of the time, so you can almost forgive the difference. The Sit N' Stand earned the lowest score in the group for quality with a 3. The high for the group is a 9 earned by the Thule Urban Glide 2 Double.
The fabric on this stroller feels cheap and has little padding. The webbing on the harnesses feel cheap compared to the competition, and the canopies don't want to stay all the way open. The whole thing looks little frumpy and like you've owned it for years even though you've just put it together. The frame feels solid but looks cheap with several plastic components bringing the parts together. This makes the overall fit and finish sloppy and disappointing in our tests compared to the competition.
The wheels and tires on this stroller are plastic with a dual front wheel design we aren't fans of. It is hard to push, but the pushing gets a harder the more weight you put inside. The frame flexes when it's weighed down, and it makes the stroller feel like it might fold up on itself.
The handlebar on this stroller is not adjustable, and it sits about 41 inches from the ground. It has very limited space for your hands thanks to the fold button in the center of the bar. The foam cover is fine, but that center handle will dig into your hands and knuckles. The stroller requires a lot of effort to push, so this just makes the handlebar feel worse.
This Baby Trend accepts two infant car seats with strap in installation. We tested this stroller with the Graco SnugRide Classic Connect 30, but it can also accept other seats from Baby Trend, Britax, Evenflo, and Graco. We are not fans of any strap in installation because we worry that parents will forget or forgo the strap when they install it.
Attaching these seats is some of the worst in the group with scores for attaching and removing that are lower than the competition. While you don't have to remove the canopies to install the seat, it is easier if you do take them off. The rear seat is more difficult because you have to tuck the foot of the car seat under the rear canopy. The hook on the back of the car seat tends to get caught on the tray when you take the seat out, which causes the car seat to tip back. We felt like we were going to drop the car seat when this happened.
This stroller will work for twins thanks to the ability to accept two infant car seats. However, the difference in rider experience between the front and rear seat will probably leave older little ones fighting over who gets which seat. The seat in the front has more legroom, while the seat in the back can recline further. Both have a child tray, but it can make the back seat feel cramped. The last problem is the sit and stand styling itself, which can cause a problem if neither twin wants to sit in the front seat, but would prefer the freedom of standing. We think this product is probably a better fit for families with children of different ages and abilities that will make it an obvious choice on who sits where.
Also, we found that when a car seat is attached to the back seat that there is a significant issue with holding the handlebar as the seat interferes and leaves little room for hands. We aren't sure what they were thinking, but parents with larger hands will be rubbing knuckles on the infant seat every time they push.
There is no best application for this stroller. No matter what your needs are, or how you plan to use your stroller there is likely an option in this review that will get the job done better or more comfortably. If you want a Baby Trend brand stroller the Baby Trend Expedition Double is a better choice and ranked higher. If you need a sit and stand type product the Joovy Caboose is lighter, smaller, and higher quality. If you need a stroller for twins that will accept infant car seats, well you can still do better by purchasing the Joovy Twin Roo+ a frame stroller that can hold almost any brand of car seat and costs only $130 list price. What will you buy when they outgrow their infant seats? Well, just about anything will be better than this stroller.
With a list price of $180 it might feel a like a good value, however, a good value and inexpensive are not always the same thing, and we think most parents will be disappointed in this stroller and will wish they spent a little more or saved their money until they could afford something better. Coming in the last place in our review of 19 products does not indicate that this option is a good value. The Best Value winner, the Joovy ScooterX2 with Tray is a better value with a list price that is $100 more it offers far more than that in the way of features and performance. The Scooter scored almost 30 points more than the Sit N' Stand making it worth the extra money. It is the least expensive stroller in the top 9 products. The Joovy Caboose also ranks higher, is a sit and stand style product, and has a list price of $250.
The Baby Trend Sit N' Stand is a cheap looking stroller that feels flimsy when you use this. This product manages to check some boxes of key features parents want, but it fails to deliver those features in a way that truly provides exceptional or even adequate performance. From the dual plastic front wheels to the hard to access and utilize storage, this stroller fails to offer the user an experience that is good for passenger or pusher. While we do like that it can accept two infant car seats, it isn't enough to make up for a vastly different riding experience for each passenger, limited and difficult to use storage, and giant folded package and an uncomfortable seat. This is not a stroller we recommend.
Baby Trend makes several different kinds of strollers. In addition to this one, we also reviewed the Baby Trend Expedition Double, which earned a Best Value award in this review. The Baby Trend Navigator Double is another double option we did not decide to review. While it allows for two infant car seat, it only accepts Baby Trend brand car seats which is a limiting factor. Also, it oddly has four wheels which are strange for a jogging stroller and potentially increases the risk of accidents while running. If one front wheel should get caught or lock up on an item in your path, the other side will continue to roll and potentially cause the stroller to become unbalanced or tippy.
Performance Comparison
This is a comparison chart of the overall scores for each stroller in this review with the Baby Trend Sit 'N Stand shown in blue.
The sections below provide details on how the Sit N' Stand performed compared to the competition during testing for each metric.
Ease of Use
The Sit N' Stand earned the second lowest score in the group for ease of use with a 4 of 10 in our tests. The high for the group is an 8 for the UPPAbaby Vista Double, which has many features that are easy to use and work as expected.
To initiate the fold on the Sit 'N Stand you first need to slide the lock with your thumb and then squeeze the handle.
Fold and Unfold
When it comes to folding and unfolding any double stroller, they all have a size issue to contend with that will leave shorter parents struggling. The fold and unfold of this stroller isn't difficult, but it is only average for ease. It can be managed with one hand and 3-4 steps. This stroller can self-stand and auto-lock and requires the user to bend all the way to the ground. If you can't bend that far or don't want to, you can fold this stroller with two hands and avoid the waist bending nightmare. To unfold it is about two steps, two hands, and easier than the fold. It can be awkward the first few times you do it, but with practice, it isn't the worst in the group.
The double action brakes on the Sit 'N Stand are difficult to set and very stiff to release. Some testers bent over and used their hands to release as it was easier than using a foot.
Brakes
The brakes on the Sit N' Stand are hard to set but even harder to release. The pedals are double action, which means you need to set and release both sides independently. They are so stiff we gave up getting them to release and used our hands instead. The roughness of the underside of the pedal, where the top of your shoe/foot should go will hurt your foot, and it is likely to scuff your shoe. Why do they have to be this hard? When you set them it will feel like they are set with an initial push, in fact, it will feel like they engage with a natural stopping point. However, this is not the case, and you will need to press them a second time to truly set the brakes.
The storage bin on the Sit 'N Stand is hard to access from any angle, and only carries up to 5 pounds. This isn't much for supplies for two.
Storage
When it comes to storage bin size, you'd think that having a double sized stroller would mean even more storage. However, this isn't always the truth. This storage bin on this stroller is smaller than some of the competition with access that is hard to use from the back and sides. It also has top access but depending on seat configuration, and whether or not your second child is using the stroller, it will be even harder to access the bin from the top. We were able to fit our large diaper bag in it, but it has a maximum allowable weight of only 5 pounds, so if you plan to use a diaper bag it needs to be a lightweight option with few items inside. We even questioned whether or not the bin is even designed with a diaper bag in mind.
This stroller seems to have more items for convenience than others given that it has a parent and child trays, but sadly not all of them are great. The parent tray (above left) has two cup holders, and they are compatible with water bottles, baby bottles, and sippy cups. The child's tray (above right) has a shallow tray and almost as shallow cup holder that accepts baby bottles and sippy cups, but nothing larger. While it takes a bottle, it is likely to fall out shortly after you squeeze it in there and it is probably more for looks than for actual use.
Neither sun shade on the Sit 'N Stand is that impressive, and while they have peek-a-boo windows, they really aren't necessary because the canopy doesn't cover baby and has trouble staying open.
Sunshade
Baby Trend tends to prefer strollers with smaller canopies, and this one is no exception with canopies that are small and on the chintzy side. The rear canopy is stationary and won't cover anything but baby's head, while the rear canopy rotates forward to help keep out the lower sun, but it will be worthless if it rains. The canopies have small peek-a-boo windows made out of mesh and have hook and loop closures on the window flap. The canopies earned the lowest score in the review, which is a disappointment no matter what else it has to offer. Protecting baby from the elements is one of the most important features of a stroller for most parents.
The buckle on the Sit 'n Stand is fairly easy to use and can be managed by most parents with one hand to release.
Harness
The harness on each seat is a 5-point harness that is about average to adjust and use. The shoulder height is only adjustable by two inches, so it might be hard to fit all children with only two shoulder straps and one crotch strap positions. It has a re-thread harness system that is ok to use, but not the best. Certainly, non-rethread options are easier to manage. Managing the harness buckle can be done with one hand, but it is much easier with two. When you press the button the sides sort of pop out on their own, which is nice compared to those that require a second hand for removal.
Seat
The photos above show the recline adjustment for the rear seat (right) and the front seat (left).
This stroller does not have adjustable leg rests, and in fact, the leg rest is pretty bleak with no real leg rest and a hard plastic foot rest. The front and rear seat both recline with the front being a one hand operation and the back requiring two. Reclining the seats is only average with the front being easier to operate, but it only has two recline positions. The rear seat has infinite recline options, but it doesn't go very deep. The double child trays are swingable and removable.
Ease of Setup
The Sit N' Stand is pretty easy to set up with a better than average setup time of 7 minutes. It only has average instructions in the assembly manual and is similar to those found in the Baby Trend Expedition. Everything snaps together pretty easily, and you don't need any tools to put it together.
Dual front wheels like those on the Sit 'N Stand historically have not performed well in our tests for maneuverability. The plastic wheels and rims wobble and the dual front wheels get hung up on items and easily divert the stroller off the intended path.
Maneuverability
If you weren't disappointed with the Sit N' Stand yet, the maneuverability will probably seal the deal and have you looking elsewhere for a stroller. It scored a 4 of 10 for maneuverability, which isn't the lowest in the group, but it is still not impressive. Many of the inline options are hard to push and manage around turns, but the better ones have nicer wheels and tires than this one.
It takes more effort to turn this stroller, but the narrower design does make it easier to make it through smaller doorways. Pushing and turning on hard ground is tough, but it gets even harder on rougher surfaces and is terrible in gravel. The dual plastic front wheels make the entire stroller wobble, though not as badly as some of the others it still gives the overall feel a rickety mess. Single front wheels just work better, and anything but plastic is the way to go if you want a nice smooth ride.
The Sit 'N Stand weighs over 31 pounds and measures over 21,000 cubic inches when folded.
Weight and Folded Size
The BabyGearLab weight on this stroller is 31 pounds 5 ounces. While this sounds heavy it is below the average for the group which is 32 pounds, and far lower than the high of 37.8 pounds for the Baby Jogger City Select Double. The lightest option in the group is the Joovy Caboose Ultralight Graphite which is 23.4 pounds. While you can't expect any double stroller to be lightweight, it is important that you get an option you can lift without needing to struggle.
The folded size of the Sit N' Stand is a little over 21,000 cubic inches. As commented on before in this review, it is a relatively large folded product with only a few products in the group being larger when folded. The smallest in the group is another sit and stand product, the Joovy Caboose, which is 23.4 pounds and near 11,000 cubic inches. The Britax B-Agile Double is slightly smaller, closer to 10,000 cubic inches, but it is also heavier by 4 pounds.
The quality of the Sit 'N Stand is on par with other Baby Trend strollers, but failed to compare to the other products in our review.
Quality
Baby Trend strollers tend to lack in the quality department compared to other strollers, but they also have a lower price tag most of the time, so you can almost forgive the difference. The Sit N' Stand earned the lowest score in the group for quality with a 3. The high for the group is a 9 earned by the Thule Urban Glide 2 Double.
The fabric on this stroller feels cheap and has little padding. The webbing on the harnesses feel cheap compared to the competition, and the canopies don't want to stay all the way open. The whole thing looks little frumpy and like you've owned it for years even though you've just put it together. The frame feels solid but looks cheap with several plastic components bringing the parts together. This makes the overall fit and finish sloppy and disappointing in our tests compared to the competition.
The wheels and tires on this stroller are plastic with a dual front wheel design we aren't fans of. It is hard to push, but the pushing gets a harder the more weight you put inside. The frame flexes when it's weighed down, and it makes the stroller feel like it might fold up on itself.
The overall fit and finish of the Sit 'N Stand is frumpy and has a sort of used feeling even straight out of the box.
The handlebar on this stroller is not adjustable, and it sits about 41 inches from the ground. It has very limited space for your hands thanks to the fold button in the center of the bar. The foam cover is fine, but that center handle will dig into your hands and knuckles. The stroller requires a lot of effort to push, so this just makes the handlebar feel worse.
Ease of Car Seat Attachment
This Baby Trend accepts two infant car seats with strap in installation. We tested this stroller with the Graco SnugRide Classic Connect 30, but it can also accept other seats from Baby Trend, Britax, Evenflo, and Graco. We are not fans of any strap in installation because we worry that parents will forget or forgo the strap when they install it.
Attaching these seats is some of the worst in the group with scores for attaching and removing that are lower than the competition. While you don't have to remove the canopies to install the seat, it is easier if you do take them off. The rear seat is more difficult because you have to tuck the foot of the car seat under the rear canopy. The hook on the back of the car seat tends to get caught on the tray when you take the seat out, which causes the car seat to tip back. We felt like we were going to drop the car seat when this happened.
The Baby Trend Sit 'N Stand comes with 2 seats and will accomodate 2 infant car seats, but it still has enough variation in the toddler seating that it isn't the best for twins if you want to avoid bickering on who gets to sit where.
Twins
This stroller will work for twins thanks to the ability to accept two infant car seats. However, the difference in rider experience between the front and rear seat will probably leave older little ones fighting over who gets which seat. The seat in the front has more legroom, while the seat in the back can recline further. Both have a child tray, but it can make the back seat feel cramped. The last problem is the sit and stand styling itself, which can cause a problem if neither twin wants to sit in the front seat, but would prefer the freedom of standing. We think this product is probably a better fit for families with children of different ages and abilities that will make it an obvious choice on who sits where.
Also, we found that when a car seat is attached to the back seat that there is a significant issue with holding the handlebar as the seat interferes and leaves little room for hands. We aren't sure what they were thinking, but parents with larger hands will be rubbing knuckles on the infant seat every time they push.
Best Applications
There is no best application for this stroller. No matter what your needs are, or how you plan to use your stroller there is likely an option in this review that will get the job done better or more comfortably. If you want a Baby Trend brand stroller the Baby Trend Expedition Double is a better choice and ranked higher. If you need a sit and stand type product the Joovy Caboose is lighter, smaller, and higher quality. If you need a stroller for twins that will accept infant car seats, well you can still do better by purchasing the Joovy Twin Roo+ a frame stroller that can hold almost any brand of car seat and costs only $130 list price. What will you buy when they outgrow their infant seats? Well, just about anything will be better than this stroller.
Value
With a list price of $180 it might feel a like a good value, however, a good value and inexpensive are not always the same thing, and we think most parents will be disappointed in this stroller and will wish they spent a little more or saved their money until they could afford something better. Coming in the last place in our review of 19 products does not indicate that this option is a good value. The Best Value winner, the Joovy ScooterX2 with Tray is a better value with a list price that is $100 more it offers far more than that in the way of features and performance. The Scooter scored almost 30 points more than the Sit N' Stand making it worth the extra money. It is the least expensive stroller in the top 9 products. The Joovy Caboose also ranks higher, is a sit and stand style product, and has a list price of $250.
The Sit 'N Stand isn't the best version of this style of stroller that we reviewed.
Conclusion
The Baby Trend Sit N' Stand is a cheap looking stroller that feels flimsy when you use this. This product manages to check some boxes of key features parents want, but it fails to deliver those features in a way that truly provides exceptional or even adequate performance. From the dual plastic front wheels to the hard to access and utilize storage, this stroller fails to offer the user an experience that is good for passenger or pusher. While we do like that it can accept two infant car seats, it isn't enough to make up for a vastly different riding experience for each passenger, limited and difficult to use storage, and giant folded package and an uncomfortable seat. This is not a stroller we recommend.
Other Versions and Accessories
Baby Trend makes several different kinds of strollers. In addition to this one, we also reviewed the Baby Trend Expedition Double, which earned a Best Value award in this review. The Baby Trend Navigator Double is another double option we did not decide to review. While it allows for two infant car seat, it only accepts Baby Trend brand car seats which is a limiting factor. Also, it oddly has four wheels which are strange for a jogging stroller and potentially increases the risk of accidents while running. If one front wheel should get caught or lock up on an item in your path, the other side will continue to roll and potentially cause the stroller to become unbalanced or tippy.
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Juliet Spurrier, MD & BabyGearLab Team
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