After finding out that we were pregnant with our second baby (Caleb was 12 months then), we began looking for a double stroller because we would have two under two when baby arrived. In a previous post on baby products I regret purchasing, I mentioned that I regret purchasing the Nuna Stroller. This is only because we knew we wanted to have another baby close in age and I wish we bought a stroller that could turn into a double right away.
Upon doing some research, I quickly realized how expensive double strollers can be so when I found the Mockingbird I was excited! Pretty much all of the reviews I found were positive ones, so we decided to go ahead and purchase it. This stroller reminds me of the UppaBaby Vista with a similar look but at almost half the price!
I have used it as a single stroller once or twice but for the most part, we use it as a double stroller for my newborn and 20-month-old. Now, that we have had some time with it and took it out to quite a few places, I have decided to give an honest review of its design and performance.
Keep in mind that this review is again on the single-to-double stroller (the single stroller is a different stroller), and our experience with it as a double stroller. If you do use the single stroller or the single-to-double as a single, your experience may be different.
Pros
Let’s begin with things we really liked about the stroller.
Assembly
The stroller is easy to assemble. The adapters are very easy and quick to click on which made it convenient for us to take the seats on and off when taking it with us places.
The stroller comes with over 19 configurations and the adapters make it easy to change the arrangement of the seats. With the added riding board the stroller can be used for up to 3 kids.
Easy to Maneuver on Smooth Surfaces
When going over even smooth surfaces such as a paved road or the store, the stroller feels light and is easy to turn and maneuver because of the weight distribution. I found this to be true even when using it as a double with my toddler and infant.
Stylish
One of the key selling points of this stroller is its sleek and stylish design. It looks like a high-end stroller but at a much lower price point.
It comes with 5 different canopy colors and two different black-and-white inside patterns that are supposed to help promote early childhood visual development. The leather bars come in either black or brown which also gives it a luxe look.
Easy to Clean
Another great thing about the mockingbird stroller is how easy it is to clean. The material is stain resistant and the fabric at the footrest unzips which allows you to shake out everything that might collect there.
You can also take out the storage basket area to shake out any collected dirt or crumbs. This can easily be done by undoing the velcro in the front and the buttons in the back.
Large storage
With two kids, having a large storage basket was a must for me and this stroller definitely does. It can hold up to 25 lbs and I am able to fit in quite of stuff including my pretty large diaper bag.
One slight downside with it, though, is that it is a little bit more challenging to access with the front seat facing inwards but not impossible.
Accessories
The Mockingbird Stroller comes with a variety of accessories. These are all at an additional cost but it’s nice that you have the option of buying them to make the stroller more convenient.
This includes:
- Bassinet
- Car Seat Adapter
- Infant Seat Insert
- Riding Board –great if you have 3 small children
- Cup Holder
- Snack Tray
- Parent Organizer – a small caddy that you can clip on the handle for anything that you may need while you’re strolling.
- Seat Liner – an additional seat insert that covers the seat completely that you can easily take out and clean
- Rain Cover
- Footmuff
- Hand Muff (you can just wear gloves but I guess it’s kinda nice)
- Mosquito Net
Affordable
I think that the best part about the stroller is how affordable it is for how nice it looks. For the single-to-double stroller, the price is $450. This does not include the second seat kit or bassinet which you would have to purchase separately.
Second Seat Kit – $145
Bassinet – $140
If you decide to add the second seat kit or the bassinet it still comes out under $600. Compared to the Uppababy Vista V2, where you get the stroller with the toddler seat and bassinet for $1099.99, it is much more affordable!
Cons
Yeah, I know, unfortunately, this stroller is not perfect. Now let me talk about some of the things that fell short for us about the stroller.
Non-extendable Handle
Instead of telescoping out, the handle on the mockingbird stroller rotates to 6 different positions. I am 5’10 and I can still stroll comfortably without hitting the bottom bar if I wear flat shoes. However, if I am wearing boots with a small heel, I end up kicking the bar when walking.
When moving the handlebar to the tallest position, I am forced to walk closer to the stroller and I still end up kicking the bottom bar.
Canopy
We went with the black canopy, and I am so happy we did. It is resistant to spills so it still looks brand new. I have heard from other people who chose lighter colors that they can get dirty quickly so that is something to keep in mind.
The first thing we found frustrating about the canopy was how easily it collapses. It stays put on smooth terrains but we found that going over a small bump or even grass, the canopy collapses easily.
Difficult to Maneuver with More Weight
When using the Mockingbird as a single stroller, it is very easy to maneuver and push. However, when you add the second seat and the weight of the child, it becomes much harder.
With every bump on the road, the stroller feels like it will tip over. Going over grass or gravel is also difficult with a second child. This is the biggest issue we found with using the Mockingbird as a double stroller personally.
I have tried the Uppababy double stroller and found it rides much smoother over gravel than our Mockingbird stroller does.
Takes Up a lot of Room When Folded
To fold the stroller with the seats, they have to both be facing out. Since we like to have the higher seat facing us, we just remove the seats when folding it to store in the trunk of our car.
Any double stroller will take up more room and this one is no exception. This stroller however does not have a compact fold so it takes up even more room than some other strollers like the Uppababy Vista.
Seats Wobble (feels a little bit flimsy)
When going over rougher terrain such as gravel or even grass and having the added weight of a second child, the seats wobble quite a bit. We try not to put my newborn in the stroller if we know there will be gravel or grass because of how much it makes his head shake when going over it.
The handlebar also feels a bit flimsy with the way it moves when you push the stroller.
Infant and Toddler Configurations
The ideal configuration for us is having a bassinet or seat completely flat and facing us on the higher level and the lower seat facing out.
With this stroller, I have found that when using a bassinet or laying the seat flat for our infant, the second seat does not have enough room to be facing out. The only way I have enough room to face my toddler’s seat out is if I use a car seat for my newborn which takes up less room.
Final Verdict:
The Mockingbird Single-To-Double Stroller is not perfect but for the price, you can’t expect it to be. Depending on what is important to you, the stroller may or may not be worth it.
The main pros of the stroller are that it is stylish, affordable, and can be used for up to 3 kids. The fact that the stroller does not do well over rougher terrain as a double is a big deal to us. However, we still use ours when going to church or when we know there will be sidewalks or paved pathways.
