Baby Trend Sit N' Stand Double Review

For over 26 years, Baby Trend has designed a variety of baby gear from walkers to car seats. The company strives to make affordable products for babies. Their innovations have led to the first Sit and Stand stroller and the first diaper pail that didn't require brand-specific refills.

Performance Comparison

Ease of Use

The Sit N' Stand earned one of the lowest scores in the group for ease of use.

Fold and Unfold

Folding and unfolding any double stroller has a size issue to contend with that can cause struggling. The fold and unfold here isn't difficult with one hand and 3-4 steps. It can self-stand and auto-lock but requires the user to bend to the ground. If you can't bend that far, you can fold this stroller with two hands and avoid it. To unfold requires two steps, two hands, and is easier than the fold. It can be awkward the first few times you do it, but with practice, it isn't the worst.

Brakes

The brakes are hard to set and even harder to release. The pedals are double-action, requiring you to set and release both sides. They are so stiff we gave up getting them to release with our foot and used our hands instead. The roughness of the underside of the pedal, where the top of your shoe/foot goes will hurt your foot and scuff your shoe. When you set them it will feel like they are set with an initial push, however, this is not the case, and you will need to press them a second time to truly set the brakes.

Storage

The storage bin 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 the seat configuration, it will be harder to access the bin from the top. We could fit our large diaper bag in it, but it has an allowable weight of only 5 lbs. We question whether or not the bin is even designed with a diaper bag in mind.

This stroller 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.

Sunshade

Baby Trend tends to prefer strollers with smaller canopies, and this one is no exception with canopies that are small and chintzy. The rear canopy is stationary and won't cover anything but baby's head, while the front canopy rotates forward to help keep out the lower sun, but it will be worthless if it rains. The canopies have small mesh peek-a-boo windows with hook and loop closures on the window flap. The Joovy Caboose Ultralight Graphite has better features for protection from the elements.

Harness

The harness on each seat is a 5-point harness that is average to adjust and use. The shoulder height is only adjustable by two inches, so it might be hard to fit all children. It has a re-thread harness that is ok to use, but not the best. Managing the harness buckle can be done with one hand but is much easier with two; when you press the button the sides sort of pop out on their own, which is nice.

Seat

This stroller does not have adjustable leg rests, and in fact, the leg rest is pretty bleak. Both seats 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, 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.

Car Seat Compatibility

This Baby Trend accepts two infant car seats with a strap. We tested this stroller with the Graco SnugRide Classic Connect 30, but it accepts 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 during installation.

Attaching the seats is some of the worst in the group with scores. While you don't have to remove the canopies to install the seat, it is easier. 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, which causes the car seat to tip back. We felt like we were going to drop the car seat.

Ease of Setup

The Sit N' Stand is pretty easy to set up with a time of 7 minutes. It only has average instructions in the assembly manual and is similar to those found in other Baby Trend products. Everything snaps together pretty easily, and you don't need any tools to put it together.

Maneuverability

If you weren't disappointed with the Sit N' Stand yet, the maneuverability will probably seal the deal. It offers poor maneuverability, and while not the lowest in the group, it is still not impressive. Many of the inline options are hard to push and turn, but the better ones have nicer wheels and tires than this one.

It takes more effort to turn this stroller, but the narrower design makes 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 gravel. The dual plastic front wheels make the entire stroller wobble and gives the overall feel of a rickety mess. Single front wheels work better, and anything but plastic is the way to go for a smooth ride.

Weight and Folded Size

The weight is 31 lbs 5 ounces. This is below the average for the group which is 32 lbs, and far lower than the high of 37.8 lbs. The folded size of the Sit N' Stand is a little over 21,000 cubic inches. This is a relatively large fold.

Quality

The Sit N' Stand earned the lowest score in the group for quality with a 3. The fabric on this stroller feels flimsy and has little padding. The webbing on the harnesses feel cheap compared to the competition, and the canopies don't want to stay open. The whole thing looks frumpy and like you've owned it for years. The frame feels solid but looks cheap with several plastic components and it flexes making the stroller feel like it might fold up on itself. The overall fit and finish are sloppy and disappointing compared to the competition.

The wheels and tires are plastic with a dual front wheel design we don't like. It is hard to push, but the pushing gets harder the more weight you put inside. The

The handlebar is not adjustable, and it has very limited space for your hands thanks to the fold button in the center. The foam cover is fine, but that center handle will dig into your hands.

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 kids 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, 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.

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.

Should You Buy the Baby Trend Sit 'N Stand?

No. No matter your strolling goals or children's ages, this stroller doesn't offer anything worthy of even the lower price. With poor performance for maneuverability and ease of use, we think most parents will be frustrated trying to make this stroller work. It has limited storage, is not adequate for two, and neither seat offers useful features for napping. Overall, it is not even the best Sit 'N Stand we've tested.

What Other Double Stroller Should You Consider?

We very much prefer the Joovy Caboose over this option. It is lightweight, easy to fold, and offers more protection from the elements. While it also didn't score well in our tests, we did give it an honorable mention in our review because we can see how it fills a niche no other product can manage. If you have budget constraints or want a good travel option and have an older child who may want to stand, then the Caboose is the better choice.

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