Baby Jogger City Select 2 Second Seat Kit Review: From Solo to Duo, Our Hands-On Test

There’s a unique kind of joy that comes with finding out you’re expecting your second child. The initial elation is quickly followed by a cascade of logistical questions. Your home, your car, your schedule—everything is about to be re-evaluated. For us, the most pressing question echoed in our garage: “What are we going to do about the stroller?” We had invested in the Baby Jogger City Select 2, a stroller we adored for its smooth ride, premium feel, and incredible versatility. The thought of relegating it to storage and shelling out a small fortune for a bulky, side-by-side double stroller was disheartening. It felt wasteful and inconvenient. This is the exact predicament that leads countless growing families to search for a better way—a solution that adapts, grows, and preserves the investment they’ve already made. The alternative, juggling two separate strollers or resorting to a complex combination of carriers and toddler-wrangling, is a recipe for stress on any family outing. The dream is to find a seamless upgrade, not a complete overhaul.

What to Consider Before Expanding Your Stroller

An expansion kit like the Baby Jogger City Select 2 Second Seat Kit is more than just an accessory; it’s a key solution for future-proofing your family’s mobility. It transforms a single stroller, which you’ve likely grown to love, into a fully functional tandem double. The primary benefit is immense: you avoid the cost and hassle of purchasing an entirely new double stroller system. This allows you to maintain the familiar footprint and maneuverability of your single stroller while accommodating a new arrival, making navigating doorways, aisles, and crowded sidewalks significantly easier than with a wider side-by-side model. It’s an elegant, cost-effective, and sustainable approach to handling a growing family.

The ideal customer for this type of product is a parent who already owns and is happy with the base Baby Jogger City Select 2 stroller and is expecting a second child or has two children with a close age gap. It’s for the planner who values modularity and long-term usability. However, this kit might not be the right fit if you don’t already own the compatible stroller, as the total cost of the base stroller plus the second seat can be substantial. For those starting from scratch with twins, buying a dedicated twin stroller from the outset might be a more streamlined option. Similarly, if your primary need is for a lightweight travel stroller, a dedicated compact model might be more suitable than a converted double.

Before investing, consider these crucial points in detail:

• Compatibility & Integration: The most critical factor is ensuring the kit is designed for your specific stroller model. A poor fit can compromise safety and functionality. We found that it’s also worth checking user feedback for backward compatibility; as some have noted, this kit surprisingly fits older models, which can be a huge bonus. Look for a system that clicks securely into place without any wobble or instability.
• Configurations & Space: A tandem stroller’s success hinges on its configurations. How many ways can the seats be arranged? Can they face each other, both face forward, or both face the parent? Critically, you must assess the legroom and headroom for both children, especially the one in the lower or rear position, as this can become cramped. Also consider how the second seat impacts your access to the storage basket.
• Materials & Durability: The second seat should be a perfect match for the original in terms of quality. Look for durable frame components and high-quality fabrics that are comfortable and easy to clean. Premium features like the TENCEL™ fabric found in the Eco Collection offer superior breathability and softness, ensuring the second passenger gets a ride that’s just as comfortable as the first.
• Ease of Use & Value: How simple is the conversion process? A good kit should allow you to add or remove the second seat in seconds without tools. In terms of value, compare the cost of the second seat kit to the price of a brand-new, comparable double stroller. Often, the kit offers significant savings and is a much more practical investment for extending the life of your gear.

While the Baby Jogger City Select 2 Second Seat Kit is an excellent choice for upgrading, it’s always wise to understand the broader landscape of family mobility solutions. For a wider look at strollers built for active lifestyles, we highly recommend checking out our complete, in-depth guide:

First Impressions: Unboxing the Radiant Slate Upgrade

Upon opening the box for the Baby Jogger City Select 2 Second Seat Kit, our first impression was one of reassuring quality. This wasn’t some flimsy, afterthought accessory; it felt every bit as premium as the original stroller seat that came with our City Select 2. The Radiant Slate color was a perfect, seamless match to our existing stroller, creating a cohesive and polished look. The package includes the full-sized seat and the necessary mounting brackets—a crucial detail, as some brands inexplicably sell these essential components separately. The TENCEL™ fabric was immediately noticeable to the touch; it’s incredibly soft and has a breathable quality that you can feel, a clear upgrade over standard polyester. The assembly, if you can even call it that, was laughably simple. The mounting brackets snap onto the stroller frame just above the front wheels with a confident, audible “click.” Then, the second seat clicks into those brackets just as easily. Within two minutes, our beloved single stroller had evolved into a full-fledged double, ready for new adventures. You can see the elegant design and included components for yourself right here.

A Deep Dive into Performance: Growing with Your Family

A second seat kit lives or dies by its real-world execution. It must integrate so perfectly that the stroller still feels like a single, cohesive unit, not a single with a clumsy attachment. We put the Baby Jogger City Select 2 Second Seat Kit through its paces over several weeks, navigating grocery stores, park paths, and bumpy city sidewalks to see if it truly delivered on its promise of a seamless transition from one child to two.

Assembly and Conversion: A Two-Minute Transformation

The brilliance of this kit lies in its simplicity. For parents, “easy” is the ultimate feature, and Baby Jogger has perfected it here. The process begins with the two included mounting brackets. These are clearly marked and intuitively designed to snap directly onto the stroller frame, just above the front wheels. There’s no guesswork, no fumbling with tools, and no consulting a complex manual. You simply line them up and push until you hear a solid, reassuring click. This sound becomes the hallmark of the City Select system—it’s the sound of security.

Once the brackets are in place, the second seat attaches with the same satisfying click. The entire conversion, from single to double, can genuinely be done in under two minutes. This speed is invaluable when you’re trying to get two kids out the door. The reverse is just as fast, allowing you to quickly revert to a single stroller for solo outings with one child. This modularity is the system’s greatest strength. We were also incredibly pleased to find that our testing confirmed what many hopeful users have discovered: the kit is backward-compatible with the original City Select stroller frame. One user noted, “I read reviews that the second seat for the City Select 2.0 didn’t fit with the old frame, but thankfully it does.” This is a massive win for longtime Baby Jogger fans, saving them hundreds of dollars and preventing a perfectly good stroller from becoming obsolete. The thoughtful inclusion of the mounting brackets in the box removes a potential point of friction and makes the entire upgrade package feel complete and user-friendly from the start.

Comfort and Design: A First-Class Ride for the Second Passenger

Baby Jogger made a critical design choice with this kit: they provided a full-sized seat, identical to the main stroller seat. This is not a smaller, less-featured “rumble seat” with a lower weight capacity. The second seat holds a child up to 45 lbs and boasts all the same premium features. This ensures that whichever child is in the second seat—be it the new baby or the older toddler—they are getting an equally comfortable and secure ride. This commitment to equality in comfort is a feature that truly sets it apart.

The materials are top-notch. The Eco Collection’s TENCEL™ fabric is a standout feature. It’s noticeably softer and more luxurious than the fabrics on many other strollers. More importantly, it’s known for its thermal-regulating properties, helping to keep your child cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. For long walks or nap-times on the go, this makes a real difference in comfort. The seat itself offers a multi-position recline, operated with a simple one-handed lever, allowing for everything from upright sightseeing to a near-flat nap position. Combined with the rotating calf support, it’s easy to create a customized and ergonomic space for a growing child. The extended UV 50+ canopy is another highlight, providing ample shade, with a magnetic peekaboo window that lets you check in silently without waking a sleeping little one. The addition of a premium leatherette belly bar not only looks stylish but also gives toddlers a secure place to hold on. Every detail feels intentional and focused on the child’s experience, making the investment feel justified through its premium execution.

Navigating the World as a Duo: Configurations and Maneuverability

The true test of a tandem stroller is how it handles in the wild. With over 24 possible configurations (when combining seats, bassinets, and car seat adapters), the City Select 2 offers unparalleled flexibility. We tested the most common dual-seat setups: both forward-facing, both parent-facing, and face-to-face. With both seats facing forward, the stroller pushes like a dream, feeling remarkably balanced and easy to steer with one hand. The overall length is manageable, and it glides through standard doorways without issue.

However, this is where we encountered the nuance that one user rightly pointed out. In certain configurations, particularly face-to-face or with the lower seat parent-facing, legroom can become tight. For two older toddlers, the face-to-face mode might lead to some kicked shins and competition for foot space. We found the most spacious arrangement was with both seats facing forward, or with the top seat parent-facing and the bottom seat forward-facing. It’s a puzzle of geometry, and finding the perfect setup depends on your children’s ages and sizes. Despite the potential for cramped quarters in some modes, the sheer number of options means you can almost always find a configuration that works. Maneuverability remains excellent. Even fully loaded with two kids and a basket full of groceries, the City Select 2 with the second seat is surprisingly agile. It doesn’t feel like you’re steering a bus, which is a common complaint with other tandem strollers. The ride is smooth, and the suspension handles cracks and bumps with ease, ensuring neither passenger is jostled too much. Folding the stroller requires removing the second seat, a quick two-click process, but this is standard for most convertible tandem strollers.

What Other Users Are Saying

Across the board, the sentiment for the Baby Jogger City Select 2 Second Seat Kit is overwhelmingly positive, centered on its core purpose: providing a lifeline for growing families. One user perfectly captured this feeling of relief, stating, “What a relief to find this replacement piece!” after a part was damaged during travel, saving them from the massive expense of a whole new double stroller. This highlights the value of a modular system where individual parts are available.

The most celebrated feature among users is the backward compatibility. Multiple reviewers expressed their joy and surprise, with one saying, “So glad I found these and they fit my original City Select, not just the City Select 2.” This is a massive selling point that speaks to the brand’s consideration for its long-term customers. However, the feedback isn’t without its critiques. The most common issue reported is potential color mismatching. One detailed review noted that their “Harbor Grey” second seat kit did not perfectly match the original seat, which was disappointing given the premium price. While this is a cosmetic issue, it’s a valid concern for parents who value a cohesive look. This feedback, along with notes about finding the right configuration to maximize legroom, paints an honest picture of a fantastic but not flawless product. You can browse more user reviews to see their experiences and photos.

How Does the City Select 2 Second Seat Kit Compare?

It’s important to frame this comparison correctly. The Baby Jogger City Select 2 Second Seat Kit is not a stroller itself; it’s an accessory that converts a specific single stroller into a double. The alternatives below are standalone single strollers. This comparison is for the parent at a crossroads: should you expand your current system, or buy a different type of single stroller for other purposes?

1. Hauck Lightweight Compact Sport Stroller

The Hauck Sport is on the opposite end of the spectrum from the City Select 2. It’s an ultra-lightweight, compact, and incredibly affordable stroller designed for travel and quick errands. A parent might choose the Hauck as a secondary stroller for one child, perfect for throwing in the car or taking on a flight. It doesn’t offer the modularity, premium materials, or all-terrain capabilities of the City Select 2. If your primary need is a simple, no-frills buggy for one child, the Hauck is a fantastic budget choice. However, it offers no solution for accommodating a second child.

2. Graco FastAction Fold Jogger Travel System

The Graco FastAction system is an excellent all-in-one solution for parents of one child, starting from birth. It bundles a capable jogging stroller with Graco’s highly-rated SnugRide infant car seat. Its main appeal is value and convenience, providing everything you need in one box. The one-second, one-hand fold is a huge selling point for busy parents. This is a great choice for an active family with their first child. However, like the Hauck, it is exclusively a single stroller. Once a second child arrives, you would need to buy a completely new double stroller, which is the exact problem the Baby Jogger kit solves.

3. Thule Urban Glide 2 Jogging Stroller

The Thule Urban Glide 2 is a premium, high-performance jogging stroller for serious runners. Its large bicycle-style wheels, advanced suspension, and sleek aerodynamic design are engineered for speed and stability on any terrain. This is the stroller for the dedicated athlete parent who wants to bring their child along on their runs without compromising performance. While it’s a phenomenal single stroller, it is highly specialized. It lacks the modularity and convertibility of the City Select 2. The choice here is clear: if you need a top-tier jogging experience for one child, the Thule is a leader. If you need a versatile daily stroller that can adapt for two children, the City Select 2 system is the superior choice.

Final Verdict: The Smartest Upgrade for a Growing Family

After extensive testing, we can confidently say that the Baby Jogger City Select 2 Second Seat Kit is a brilliantly designed, high-quality, and essential upgrade for any family invested in the City Select 2 ecosystem. It masterfully solves the “second baby, new stroller” dilemma by transforming a best-in-class single into a capable and comfortable double. The quality of the materials, from the soft TENCEL™ fabric to the sturdy frame, is impeccable and ensures the second child receives an equally premium experience. Its ease of installation and the flexibility of its many configurations make it a joy to use in the real world.

While minor issues like potential color mismatches and the need to find the right configuration for optimal legroom exist, they are vastly outweighed by the enormous benefits of cost savings, convenience, and sustainability. You are extending the life of a product you already love, which is the smartest move a parent can make. For owners of the City Select 2 (or even the original City Select) who are expanding their family, this isn’t just a good choice; it’s the obvious one. It delivers on its promise with polish and thoughtful design, making life with two children that much easier. If you’re ready to future-proof your stroller and seamlessly transition from solo to duo, we highly recommend you check the latest price and color options for your upgrade today.