Hello to all you wonderful parents out there that are looking to buy a stroller!! If you are considering the very trendy Single-to-Double Mockingbird stroller, you are in luck and in the right place! I'm Karli and I'm here to give you the Rainy Mom Opinion on this popular carriage on wheels.
What's the deal with this stroller?
Alright, so here's the deal. This company has made an affordable, high-end stroller that mimics others that you may have already looked at. For example, the UPPAbaby Vista is very similar in its appearance. It also comes with comparable attachments which we'll get into later (it's my favorite part!).
The main difference between the two strollers is the price. The Vista is $1099.99 and the Mockingbird is $450.00. I will admit, the Vista comes with much more than the Mockingbird does initially. However, you can add all those same accessories for a total of $630 for the Mockingbird. AND if you don't see a need for these items, you don't have to spend the extra cash... isn't that great? Spending money on exactly what you want/need makes this option even better.
Even at the lower price range, this stroller may not be for everyone.
Who is it for?
This stroller is so versatile in the way it can be rearranged or used for multiple children. Especially if you are preggo with your first babe and already know you are going to have more, this stroller will be well worth the investment. However, it's size is not the largest but not the smallest either. Here are some things to consider.
Your Vehicle Type
If you have a compact vehicle, this stroller may not fit in the back! I believe it fits just fine in a Sudan style car, but I don't have one to double check. Also, if it does fit... don't expect to go on a Costco run with it in the back. I drive a Subaru Ascent which has plenty of room with the third row down. With the third row up, however, there is absolutely no way this stroller would fit even with taking the seats off. This would not deter me from buying this stroller since I currently have my third row open most of the time. Also, the back of an ascent can't hold much of anything so even the smallest stroller would be a tight fit.
How Heavy is This Stroller?
Another important thing to consider is the weight of the stroller. This stroller with one seat and canopy attached comes in at whooping 26.5 pounds! It is certainly not the lightest stroller so if your family travels quite a bit, you may consider having an additional travel stroller or a different stroller all together.
Having said that, I have traveled a handful of times with this stroller, and though a lighter stroller would have been easier, the weight of the stroller didn't bother me much at all. AND it carried all of mine and baby's bags! (Plus, the things that I didn't need but definitely bought at the airport:)
With all things considered, I would make this purchase 100 times over, but someone who can't lift much or already has trouble fitting groceries in their vehicle, may not have the same opinion.
Does anyone remember my favorite part? That's right! The accessories! Let's talk about that.
Mockingbird Attachments
I'm so excited to tell you all about the different options this stroller offers making it customizable to your baby, your lifestyle, and your environment. This was the most exciting part of buying the stroller for me. I might have gone a little click happy when adding the items to the cart, but who's to say?! (My bank account....that's who)
Let's start with the most important addition for anyone with more than one baby or who plans on having another baby. The second seat kit!
The Second Seat Kit
This kit comes with everything you need to attach a second seat to your stroller frame. It comes with brackets to hold your first seat up higher on the base, and brackets to attach the second seat lower on the frame.
The best thing about these brackets is that they are so simple to put on, take off, and change the seat positions. (I have even moved baby from forward facing to backward facing while she was sleeping without waking her... though I am not sure they recommend you moving the seats while your baby is in it...shh;) BUT, that's how easy it is to move the seats around. You simply click the button, and it stays clicked until you remove the seat instead of you having to hold the button down and remove the seat at the same time. Which is so simple and a no brainer, but I have not seen this technology before on a stroller!
The Riding Board
Okay guys, this part is really cool. The more expensive stroller I told you about earlier has a skateboard attachment, and it was almost enough for me to buy that stroller instead of this one. After searching on the Mockingbird website, I found out that they were also working on a board attachment for older kids (up to 55 pounds) to ride on the stroller when they need a break from walking. It took about a year after I bought my stroller, BUT they did finally release their board and I was so stoked! However, my babies are still little so... I haven't made this purchase yet. I can't wait to have this in my possession and let you know how it works out.
The Infant Car Seat Adapter
Most strollers in this style have a way to carry an infant car seat as well. This stroller has an adapter for 9 different brands and many models of car seats. Putting the adapter on is just as easy as switching around the seats. Taking the car seat on and off may be another story. I had the Maxi Cosi Mico Max Plus infant car seat, and that sucker was not the easiest removal. I believe it is different for each car seat but, the Maxi Cosi has two buttons on opposite sides of the handle that you had to press down at the same time as pulling the seat up. It was a bit of a pain.
Honestly though, I loved the look of just the infant seat on the frame of the Mockingbird. I thought it looked very modern and my Maxi Cosi was black, so it looked very elegant. It definitely is not a must to have a beautiful car seat and stroller combo.... but it's a nice bonus:)
If you are having twins, you can purchase two adapters and a second seat kit (to get the brackets for separating the seats on the frame) and the stroller will hold TWO infant car seats. The only double that won't work for the frame is having two bassinets. You can have a bassinet with an adapter or with a seat but not two at the same time, so make sure you don't buy two! Speaking of the bassinet, let's talk about that next.
The Bassinet and Stand
The Vista Stroller comes with a bassinet from the initial purchase. The Mockingbird, however, does not. You must add on this feature if you think it is necessary/worth it. If you live a busy lifestyle outdoors where you might take a lot of walks then meet up with family for lunch on a regular basis, then I think the bassinet could be worth it. I live in Montana where walking outdoors is bearable for about 5 months out of the year if that.
So, to me, the bassinet wasn't going to add any value to our lives. Which is why I was excited to learn that I could save my money for the other attachments I wanted to buy!
Recently, Mockingbird has come out with a stand for the bassinet for those that love the idea of a safe sleep space for your baby that is easy to transport and travel with. You can use this as your everyday bassinet if you'd like and save your money.
These are the big-ticket items that attach to your Mockingbird stroller, but now, let's talk about the small stuff. Though smaller, these items are just as fun, useful, and necessary in my book!
The Small Stuff
There are nine other items you can purchase to enhance your stroller... and yes, I did buy most of them! Don't forget, if you are purchasing a second seat kit, you will need to buy two of the items having to do with the actual seat. I will list them and tell you a little about each one.
The infant insert:
The infant insert is actually a seat liner, which you can purchase separately, a wedge, and a head/neck pillow that supports your newborn in a flat position in the seat. Later, you can use the seat liner as extra comfort and protection from messy eaters. I personally did not get an infant insert since I had a car seat adapter. However, I do think I will get one for my next baby. Tiny babies definitely need that extra support in the seat. It's also nice to take a walk around the neighborhood without your newborn being in the car seat.
The cup holder:
I should have bought two of these! The cup holder is just that... a cup holder. It attaches to the frame of the stroller and holds many different drinks as long as they aren't in a large mug or cup. I only got one but for some reason, every time I walk with someone else, they put their drink in the drink holder! Which is totally fine, but I might order another since it is so popular. Pro-tip: take your cup holder off before putting your folded up stroller in the car so it doesn't bend. It is super easy to remove and reattach.
The snack tray:
I didn't need this for several months, but I do love having it. My little girl snacks while we roll or sometimes, I use this as a highchair when we are eating somewhere that doesn't accommodate for babies well. (Such as the airports)
The parent organizer:
This organizer is such a life saver! I use it for everything, my wallet, my phone, my car keys, my small purchases, my kids' snacks, water bottles, receipts, more snacks... etc. etc.
It is not great for say a fountain soda or other drinks with no lid or easy pop-off lids since it is suspended not rigid. The organizer does occasionally get in the way of fully reclining a seat or putting up a seat, but this is a very small price to pay for something that holds so much.
The seat liner:
The seat liner is the same liner that I mentioned above in the infant insert. If you don't want to buy the infant insert but still want the protection and comfort of a seat liner, this is for you! The seat liner is great for a messy toddler or the occasional poop explosion. You can easily remove and wash to keep the seat clean at all times with minimal effort.
The rain cover:
The rain cover is exactly that. I have one but have never needed to use it. I don't often find myself stuck in the rain, but I do have it just in case! We don't travel a ton, but a few times a year we take an adventure with the kids so it's nice to know you are covered in all-weather options.
The mosquito cover:
I have also never used the mosquito cover, but again, you never know when you might need it!
The foot muff:
The foot muff I use often and love! It is a cover for your child's feet, but it covers the whole seat back and comes up to almost their face. The fabric on the inside is so soft and so warm! The muff is perfect for Montana weather as well! I walked my 20-month-old last week at 27 degrees Fahrenheit and she stayed perfectly warm with a blanket around her lower half, a warm sweater, and a hat of course. She refuses to wear gloves, so the foot muff kept her hands toasty. I just love that they are nice and bundled up in an enclosed little package.
The hand muff:
This has got to be my favorite accessory! Have I already said that about something? Regardless, I love this part. The hand muff is for the parents in cold weather. It wraps around the handlebar, and you stick your hands in it to push the stroller. And it is made from the same soft, warm material the foot muff is! Gloves and the hand muff are almost too warm which is wonderful!
That's all the accessories! Also, each seat comes with an attachable full coverage sunshade which we have used so many times! It is perfect for keeping sun, or shopping mall lights in our case, out of your baby's eyes, especially when they are sleeping. The canopy itself is extendable with a full mesh panel allowing for great airflow and protection from that pesky sun.
Let's Wrap Her Up
Altogether, I am very happy with my purchase of the Single-to-Double Mockingbird Stroller! I love when I see other people out in public with one as well! Often times I find myself looking at other strollers for the Mockingbird logo and I am surprised when I don't find one since the Mockingbird looks so similar to those higher priced competitors!
Of course, there are so many brands of great strollers out there! I went with this one because of its cheaper price tag, its elegant design, and its ability to grow with your family.
Drop me a comment below if you have any questions on how this stroller will work with your family and I will do my best to answer them! Also, if you have a Mockingbird, let me know your favorite accessory or what you just love about it!
You all have the Rainy Mom Opinion, let's make some smart purchases together!
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