(For reference, the Joovy Caboose’s capacity is 45lbs in front and 45lbs in back. My younger son is 26lbs and my older son is 31lbs, well within the range.)

Assembly took about a half hour and didn’t require more than a basic tool or two.

The first thing that struck me is that the the wheels and rear seat were stiff and tough to get moving. I dismissed this thinking that things will loosen after a couple strolls around the neighborhood. In hindsight, however, I should have taken this as a sign and re-boxed it and sent it back to Texas.

The Joovy Caboose loses it for me in four areas:  the weight (26lbs), the UNCOMFORTABLE handles, a rickety frame, no access to brakes when folded, and a never-ending squeak.

Weight is weight and the Joovy Caboose is heavy. Maybe it’s particularly heavy for me because I’m used to the City Mini Double. I’m all for building  muscles, but the Joovy Caboose doesn’t balance the weight with sturdiness and it feels as if the joints are precariously put together. It is very difficult to steer for two reasons: the weak joints and the odd angle at which the push bar is positioned.

In fact, the push bar is EXACTLY like pushing one of these folding shopping carts which, as you may know, are designed to be pulled.

Living in a city I find the stroller extremely difficult to maneuver around a simple street corner and it does not take urban craters with grace.  It takes a lot of energy to push this thing and you’re never quite sure that it’s safe.

While the stroller folds easily the brakes are not accessible when it is folded.  This is particularly difficult for us because we live in a building where we must unload the kids on the sidewalk, walk up six stairs, take an elevator and walk down a hallway to our condo. It would be much easier to brake, fold up the stroller, unbrake, roll to the condo, then brake for storage.  In addition, The brakes – one on each rear wheel – are made of flimsy plastic and in order to brake the plastic piece must be aligned with a groove in the wheel and this is sometimes an issue.

Oh, and the squeak.  There is a metallic squeak from the right rear wheel that gallons of 3-in-1 oil haven’t fixed.

In short, it takes a lot of energy to push, isn’t maneuverable, is difficult to brake, is noisy and I’m never quite sure if it’s safe.

First it was a small thud, then the pitter-patter of tiny feet. We raced up stairs and opened the nursery door and there she was. Zhanna had flung herself out of her crib. The hilarious part is that when we found our little monkey she had put on her shoes and socks!

What could have that thought process been? “I want to play, I don’t want to nap…oh! I made it over the wall..oh no! I need my socks and shoes so I don’t get in trouble!” ?!?!?!?

The not funny part is of course that it is a big distance to fall from and she somehow had time to run and get some not crib safe toys and toss them in with Elena along with an outfit, so we found the little sister half undressed and basically stuck in her shirt.

It was… Mayhem? Bedlam? Funny and scary all at the same time.

So now what? Zhanna is not ready to be in a bed yet…or we aren’t ready for her to be in a bed, but seriously it might be good to actually all be speaking the same language and to have our routine a bit more solid before going for a major upgrade in toddler freedoms.

We are online looking at something called a crib tent, seems nutty….

We should have known this was coming. The other morning we found every item from both girls cribs piled high on the floor. The two of them curled up in little balls without blankets or stuffed animals or pillows. Poor Tigger and Pooh Bear.

And just in case anyone is wondering if all those time in sessions had any impact on Elena…. Check out where I found her favorite baby doll today (yes, the infamous time out corner)

The finale to the monkey tale (tail?) was Zhanna insisting on trecking down the front steps today on her own. With the resulting scrape on her nose and fat lip possibly slowing her down for at least the rest of the day?! Or not….