Looking for someone who has test driven both the Joovy and the Baby Trend Sit N Stand? Need an in-depth guide to help you decide before making the large purchase? Well you have come to the right place!

With a tall 3 1/2 year old and a chunky and long 12 month old, I needed a stroller that would accommodate their very different needs during walks in the mall/store or days at the park.

I suddenly found my answer when I saw a few women within a short period of time with the Baby Trend Sit N Stand.  I finally asked a mother how she liked her stroller and where she purchased it. She proudly explained that it is the perfect stroller for a toddler and an infant and she purchased it at Target. She said that it maneuvered well and was much better than a side by side double stroller for navigating through aisles and doors.

After reading reviews and trusting her comments, I purchased the Sit N Stand LX very soon afterwards. I didn't need the Sit N Stand version with the removable back seat. The version with the just bench was more suitable for my tall 3 1/2 year old. I fell in love with the stroller right away! My 3 1/2 year old loved it!

Just when I thought I had found the perfect stroller...I discovered the Joovy sit and stand version. I found out that Babies R' Us sold the Joovy. I then could not make up my mind! I decided to put an end to the indecision and take my new Sit N Stand to Babies R' Us for a test drive with the kids.

Here are a few things that I noticed:

• One of the most apparent differences that I noticed was that The Joovy is more expensive than the Sit N Stand. Joovy (Base Color: Black) $139.99 at Babies R Us. Sit N Stand LX $119.99 at the time of purchase at Target.
• Another important distinction was that the Sit N Stand has a larger basket. We mom's need that extra space for shopping, diaper bags, purses etc, so that was important to me. I love that my Sit N Stand basket is large and easily accessible from the side. It is especially helpful when we need to store away items that we purchase at the mall. Also, when I go to the park and need to take a few things with me, I can just put them in the roomy basket.
• I read in so many reviews that the Joovy Caboose storage basket is too small. Well...in my case...it's true. I clearly remember thinking "Hmm...what am I going to fit into that?" 
• Another obvious difference was that the Baby Trend Sit N Stand has a sturdy hard plastic parent tray. It has a cup holder on each side of the tray and a small area for change/keys/etc in the middle...with a snap lid. Very convenient.
• The Joovy did not have a parent tray. It had to be ordered separately for an extra $29.99.
• The consultant at the store told me that I needed to be sure to lock a latch on the Joovy every time it was set up. I do not have to do this with the Sit N Stand.
• The Joovy is shorter from front to back.
• The Joovy has a nice oversized canopy which allowed both my 3 1/2 year old and my 12 month old to be covered.
• My 3 1/2 year old cannot fit under the Sit N Stand canopy.
• Both strollers have a harness on the rear bench. This is a great feature for when the child is sitting on the rear bench. However, I only noticed that the Sit N Stand has an additional strap that buckled across the back from bar to bar so that when they are standing, it helps the child to avoid jumping off or falling so easily. I am not sure if the Joovy has the same type of strap so it's something to look for as you choose.
• The Sit N Stand rear seat is nice and cushiony. The fabric is pretty. The Joovy rear seat is not as "plush".
• The Joovy has nice side flaps on the arms of the infant seat. The Sit and Stand does not.
• If you are out a lot at night, the Joovy has reflective stitching. Cool feature. The Sit and Stand does not have reflective stitching.
• The Joovy has a taller steering handle.
• The Sit N Stand has a totally removable swing child tray. This has come in handy for me. This feature was more apparent to me later with more use, so you would need to test this with the Joovy if needed.
• The Joovy has nice trendy colors available online (more expensive). The base color black stroller at Babies R Us was not as "pretty" to me. It was black and steel. It had a very "utility-like" appearance. It reminded me of a dolly to carry packages or books. However, it's all a matter of personal taste.
• Considering their relative sizes, both strollers were fairly easy to fold and lift. The Sit N Stand fits easily into our smaller vehicle, a full sized Sedan.
• When I put both children into the stroller (the real test for maneuverability), the Joovy was harder for me to turn down the aisles. The Sit N Stand was much easier for me to turn. It seems counterintuitive because the Sit N Stand is longer and larger, but the 360 degree turn system works wonderfully for me. I have even gotten comments from onlookers about how easily it turns.
• Update: July 13, 2007- The Sit N Stand seat cover is machine washable. The Joovy seat cover has a cardboard backing, is not washable and can only be spot treated by wiping with a cloth etc.

     Sorry ladies, since I hadn't bought the Joovy, I couldn't take it into the grass/dirt/park mulch. The aisles of the Babies R Us were the most terrain that I could test. I was, however, able to test my Sit and Stand at the park. The park was the most important test of uneven terrain for me because it is where I struggled with my old Evenflo stroller. While it did not roll with the quality of a jogging stroller, the large wheels did pretty well in my opinion. 

The ultimate decision maker for me was that my tall 3 1/2 year old son's feet could not comfortably rest on the foot rest of the Joovy. He would have to position his legs at an angle that was sharply inward or else they would just hang off the foot tray and drag on the floor or easily get in the way of the wheels. He even noticed the way he legs hung over the foot tray and gave me the "mommy this isn't right...is it?" look. I read the comments about the childrens' feet hanging over the foot rest and/or getting in the way of the wheels in quite a few reviews online...well in my case...it's true.

With the Sit N Stand, he could comfortably stretch his legs down to the foot rest, which is large enough for him to hold his feet on without touching the floor or getting in the way of the wheels.

My 12 month old rides in this stroller just as he did our Evenflo. At his age, a good secure, roomy place to sit is good enough for him. Nevertheless, I would prefer larger infant seats on both strollers. I am used to the larger seat from my Evenflo. The biggest change I have seen is in my 3 1/2 year old. He is having fun with this stroller! Its like a big toy to him. I used to struggle with keeping him close at the store, mall, etc like most independent toddlers. Now he sits or stands and rides in the Sit N Stand with his little brother most of the time. Whether it is the novelty of the stroller, or that he is just very comfortable and having fun...it's great for shopping/outings and keeping an older toddler and a younger child at bay.

Since I have the specifications for the Sit N Stand LX from the packaging, I will include them here for you:

• Convenient one-hand fold system is fast and easy to use.
• Carries the Baby Trend Latch-Loc Infant Car Seat and most other brands of Infant Car Seats
•  Extra Large-ratcheting hood moves to block the sun or wind
• Lightweight, sturdy steel construction
• Removable child tray with cup holder
• 2-position reclining seat
• Large 7" front and 8" rear sport styled wheels for effortless strolling and smooth ride
• Plush, extra comfortable seat and
• Extra large storage basket with side access.
• Update 6-6-07: Joovy also has the "Joovy Caboose Ultralight". It has a great trendy look. Currently, it is not sold in Babys R Us and is only a specialty item. Some of the main differences between the two models are that the "Ultralight" is 20% lighter than the original "Joovy Caboose", the canopy is larger than the original model and the parent tray is included! The basket is the same size. I have not seen anything that indicates that the foot rest position has changed. MSRP $249.00. The official Joovy website has more specifications if interested. The "Ultralight" model is also presently sold on Ebay.
• Update 2-20-08: My sons are now almost 4 1/2 and 21 months and they still use the stroller. Of course my 4 year old likes to walk but he also enjoys riding the stroller while at the mall, store, on long walks to the park, or simply to ride just for fun with his little brother. It really comes in handy when you have two small children, want to get things done quickly and walk faster than they could on their own, especially when crossing the street. It is definitely harder to begin pushing with a tall, nearly 4 1/2 year old and chunky 21 month old but that's to be expected. Once I get the momentum going, it's fine. After washing the seat covers on delicate, they held up well. Actually, nothing has fallen apart. It            has been a very sturdy stroller.

Strollers can be relatively large purchases, so getting it right the first time is important to us.

When comparing the Joovy and the Sit N Stand, I have found that there were many commonalities between them. I also have found that, in addition to cost, there are some highly differentiating aspects to take into account. Therefore, to help you choose, I have listed some important questions to ask yourself:

1. If I have tall children or would like to use the stroller for an extended period for fast growing children, how much of a concern is the foot rest position for me?
2. How often do I need to carry additional items (shopping bags, diaper bags, purse, etc)? Do I need a large basket?
3. Which is better for me, a parent organizer similar to a bag or a  hard plastic shelf like parent tray? How important is it to have the tray/organizer at the time of purchase? How important is the additional expense if purchased separately?

For tandem strollers in general, an important question for me was:

Do I need a side by side stroller or would one of these style strollers be more suitable for my daily activities?

It is also helpful to look on-line for pictures of the strollers. At this time, the Joovy web site even has a picture of children in the stroller. It will assist you in assessing how your children will fit. Target has great perspective images of the Baby Trend Sit N Stand.

If you are between these two choices, take into account the pros and cons that I have researched and decide which is the most suitable for you and your little ones' needs.

Finally, don't forget to go for the test drive!

If you have any questions about the strollers, I will be glad to help... just send me a message. If you have found this guide helpful please click yes at the bottom...thanks a million and again :-)

Have fun stroller hunting! There are some great deals on Ebay!

Shopscape