How the Austlen Entourage Gave Me the Confidence to Go Out With a Newborn and Toddler
Before my second baby was born, there was one part of becoming a mom of two that genuinely scared me:
How was I ever going to leave the house alone with both kids?
I had a just-turned 2-year-old who wanted to walk, explore, climb in and out of everything, and change his mind approximately every five minutes. And soon I was going to have a newborn who would need me for just about everything.
Even simple outings suddenly seemed intimidating.
How would I get everyone from the car into the grocery store? What if my toddler refused to ride? What if the baby needed something? How was I supposed to manage a stroller, two kids, a diaper bag, groceries, snacks, and everything else by myself?
Then we got the Austlen Entourage.
I can honestly say I couldn't have picked a better stroller for this stage of our family.
The Best Double Stroller for My Newborn and 2-Year-Old
My favorite thing about the Entourage is that I'm not locked into one seating arrangement.
Most of the time, I put my baby girl in her infant car seat on the rear adapter. She rides up high, right in front of me, where I can easily see and check on her.
My 2-year-old rides in the front seat.
I especially love this setup because he can get into his seat with very little help from me. I hated the idea of having to repeatedly lift a growing toddler into a high stroller seat every time he wanted to get in or out.
With the Entourage, I can guide him and he climbs right in himself.
That may seem like a small detail until you're also caring for a newborn. Suddenly, every little thing your toddler can do independently feels huge.
For our family, that's one of the reasons it's the best double stroller we've found.
The Most Versatile Stroller Because I Have Options
Here's where the Entourage really won me over: that isn't our only setup.
If I'd rather have my newborn out of her infant car seat, I can use the front seat in bassinet mode for her and put my older child in the rear second seat.
That flexibility matters because the needs of a newborn and a 2-year-old can change constantly.
Sometimes I want my baby right in front of me in her car seat.
Sometimes I want her in bassinet mode.
Sometimes my toddler is perfectly happy riding.
Sometimes he's determined to walk everywhere.
Instead of having one configuration that I'm constantly trying to make work, I have options.
And as my son gets older and becomes even more independent, I'm excited to transition him to the Sit + Stand. He'll be able to hop on when he needs a break and hop off when he's ready to explore again.
It's not simply a stroller that "grows with your family." It adapts to the different stages, moods, and needs that happen along the way.
That's what makes it the most versatile stroller for us.
Why I Think It's One of the Best Strollers for Newborns
Before having my daughter, I assumed I'd need to purchase a separate bassinet if I wanted that type of newborn setup.
I love that the Entourage's front seat converts to bassinet mode.
It gives me another option for those early months without having a separate bassinet attachment to purchase, bring along, or store when we're finished with it.
And when using her infant car seat makes more sense, like a quick errand where she's already asleep after the drive, I can use the appropriate car seat adapter instead.
Having both options is exactly what I want during the newborn stage.
That's a big reason I consider the Entourage one of the best strollers for newborns.
The First Time I Realized, "I Can Actually Do This"
I remember one of those first outings with both kids when I realized how much my mindset had changed.
Before my daughter was born, going somewhere alone with both of them sounded overwhelming.
Now I could load up the stroller, put my baby close to me in her car seat, help my toddler into the front, put everything we needed in the stroller, and just...go.
No second adult required.
That feeling of independence was enormous.
We started doing the normal things I'd worried might become difficult after having another baby: grocery runs, Target trips, neighborhood walks, playground visits, library story time, lunch outings, trips to the zoo, and longer days when I knew my toddler would eventually get tired.
The Entourage didn't make having two young children magically effortless.
It made it doable.
And that was exactly what I needed.
What I Bring for an Outing With My Newborn and 2-Year-Old
I've learned that having everything organized makes solo outings much easier. Depending on where we're headed, I usually bring:
- Diapers and wipes for the baby
- An extra outfit for each child
- Burp cloths
- Bottles or feeding supplies when needed
- A changing pad
- Toddler snacks and a water bottle
- A small toy or book for each child
- Sunscreen and hats for outdoor outings
- A light blanket or extra layer
- My own water bottle and essentials
- A few plastic bags for wet or messy clothes
And because the Entourage has so much carrying capacity, I don't have to wear everything on my shoulders while pushing two kids.
That alone makes a big day out feel much more manageable.
Features That Make the Austlen Entourage Stand Out
Here are the features that have made it the best double stroller, most versatile stroller, and best stroller for newborns for our family:
- Multiple newborn options, including infant car seat compatibility and a front seat that converts to bassinet mode
- Flexible seating configurations that let me choose the setup that makes sense for each outing
- Accessible front seating for my toddler, so I don't have to repeatedly lift him into a high seat
- Rear infant car seat positioning that lets my baby ride close to me
- Second Seat option for two seated children as our needs change
- Sit + Stand option for later, giving my older child more independence as he reaches a new stage
- Generous storage capacity for everything two young children need
- Smooth maneuverability that makes solo outings easier
- One adaptable stroller system that can serve our family through very different stages instead of solving only today's needs
I'm Not Scared to Go Out Alone Anymore
That's probably the biggest compliment I can give this stroller.
Before my daughter arrived, I was scared.
I wondered how I was going to manage a newborn and a 2-year-old by myself and whether I'd start avoiding outings simply because getting everyone out the door felt like too much work.
Now?
I know I can do it.
We can go grocery shopping. We can spend the morning at the zoo. We can walk to the playground. We can meet someone for lunch. We can take a full day out and change our stroller setup as our kids' needs change.
And I know we're not even using all of the Entourage's possibilities yet.
Today it's my newborn in her infant car seat with my toddler in front, or my baby in bassinet mode with my toddler in the rear Second Seat.
Later, we'll enter another stage, and my oldest can transition to the Sit + Stand.
That's why, if you're preparing for baby number two and wondering how you'll manage life with a newborn and toddler, I can't recommend the Austlen Entourage enough.
For us, it's the best double stroller, the most versatile stroller, and one of the best strollers for newborns because it doesn't just carry my children.
It gives me the flexibility and confidence to actually get out and experience life with them.
Image provided by customer is for illustrative purposes. To read their review and other customer reviews, click here.