Baby Jogger City Select LUX Second Seat Review: The Ultimate Upgrade for Growing Families

I remember the exact moment the thought first struck me. We were navigating a crowded farmers market with our firstborn, happily ensconced in his City Select LUX, and I saw a parent wrestling with a massive, side-by-side double stroller, trying to fit through a narrow aisle. It looked exhausting. At that moment, the idea of a second child felt logistically daunting. Would we have to sell our beloved stroller, a system we’d researched for months and grown to love, and start all over again? The thought of adding another bulky piece of gear to our already full garage was a source of genuine anxiety. This is a crossroads many growing families face: the joy of expansion is met with the practical challenge of mobility. The solution isn’t just about fitting two kids; it’s about preserving the maneuverability, style, and investment you made in your original single stroller. That’s precisely the problem the Baby Jogger City Select LUX Second Seat is designed to solve, transforming a trusted companion into a fully capable tandem chariot.

What to Consider Before Expanding Your Stroller System

A stroller expansion kit, especially one in the Jogger Baby Strollers category, is more than just an add-on; it’s a key solution for maintaining an active lifestyle as your family grows. It elegantly bridges the gap between a single and a double stroller, offering a modular approach that adapts to your life, not the other way around. The primary benefit is financial and spatial efficiency—you leverage your existing stroller frame, a significant investment, to accommodate a new passenger without buying an entirely new, often cumbersome, double stroller system. It’s about future-proofing your initial purchase and embracing flexibility.

The ideal customer for this type of product is a parent who already owns and loves the corresponding single stroller—in this case, the Baby Jogger City Select LUX—and is expecting a second child, or even twins. It’s for the planner who wants a system that can grow with them from day one. Conversely, this specific accessory might not be suitable for those who need a double stroller for children with a very large age gap where the older child rarely needs to ride anymore, or for someone who doesn’t own the specific LUX model. For those starting from scratch or needing a dedicated all-terrain single, alternatives like a complete travel system or a specialized jogging stroller might be a better fit.

Before investing, consider these crucial points in detail:

• Compatibility & Fit: This is non-negotiable. Stroller accessories are almost never universal. We confirmed that the Baby Jogger City Select LUX Second Seat is engineered exclusively for the City Select LUX model. It is not backward compatible with the original City Select. Always double-check your stroller’s model name and year before purchasing any add-on to avoid frustration and returns.
• Configuration & Versatility: How many ways can you use the second seat? The best systems offer multiple configurations—both children facing forward, facing each other, one in a bassinet and one in a seat, etc. The City Select LUX system is renowned for this, and these adapters are the key. Consider if they allow for a car seat adapter in addition to the toddler seat, as this extends the product’s useful life from the newborn stage onwards.
• Impact on Maneuverability & Fold: Adding a second seat changes the stroller’s geometry and center of gravity. How does it affect steering, pushing, and especially navigating curbs? Furthermore, a critical feature is whether the stroller can still be folded with the adapters or the second seat attached. The convenience of a compact fold is a major quality-of-life feature for parents.
• Materials & Durability: These adapters are connection points that bear a child’s weight, so they must be robust. We look for high-grade, durable plastics and metal components that feel solid and secure. The materials should match the premium feel of the stroller itself, ensuring a seamless and safe integration that can withstand the daily grind of loading and unloading.

This modular approach is a game-changer, but it’s part of a larger ecosystem of baby gear designed for active families.

While the Baby Jogger City Select LUX Second Seat is an excellent choice for expanding your current stroller, it’s always wise to see how it stacks up against the competition. For a broader look at all the top models, especially if you’re just starting your search, we highly recommend checking out our complete, in-depth guide:

First Impressions: Unlocking the Double Stroller Potential

Opening the box for the Baby Jogger City Select LUX Second Seat kit feels less like unboxing a new product and more like revealing a key to a puzzle we’ve been trying to solve. The packaging is minimalist and efficient. Inside, the second seat and its corresponding adapters are securely nestled. Our first impression of the components was one of substance and quality. The adapters have a satisfying weight to them—not heavy, but solid, made from a high-density polymer that feels incredibly durable. There are no flimsy parts or questionable seams; every piece mirrors the premium build quality of the City Select LUX stroller itself.

The black finish is sleek and matches the stroller frame perfectly, an attribute users often praise for its seamless look. Installation is where the design brilliance truly shines. There’s no complex manual to decipher or tools required. The adapters slide onto the lower position of the stroller frame with a clear, audible “click” that instills immediate confidence. This simple, secure feedback mechanism is something we value immensely in baby gear. It removes any guesswork about whether the component is properly engaged. Once the adapters are on, the second seat clicks into place with the same reassuring finality. You can immediately feel how stable the connection is. It’s this combination of intuitive design and robust engineering that makes the City Select LUX’s expansion system a market leader.

A Deep Dive into the City Select LUX Second Seat Experience

Merely adding a seat is one thing; transforming a stroller’s entire functionality without compromising its core strengths is another. We spent weeks putting the Baby Jogger City Select LUX Second Seat through its paces in real-world scenarios—from tight grocery store aisles to long park walks and bumpy sidewalks—to see how it truly performs as part of a complete double stroller system.

Installation and The ‘Click-and-Go’ Promise

The single most significant barrier to using modular baby gear is complexity. If it’s a hassle to convert, parents simply won’t use it. Baby Jogger has clearly poured immense engineering effort into making this process foolproof, and it shows. The user feedback celebrating the “click and go” nature of the system is not an exaggeration; it’s the defining feature. The process begins with the second seat adapters, which are specifically for the lower position on the stroller frame. They are clearly marked and ergonomically designed to be held comfortably.

As we lined them up with the mounting points on the frame, they guided themselves into place. The final push results in that crisp, loud “click.” We tried tugging on them, wiggling them, and applying pressure—they were absolutely immovable. This tactile and auditory confirmation is a crucial peace-of-mind feature. It means you can perform the conversion quickly, even in a chaotic parking lot with two impatient children. Once the adapters are on, the second seat itself attaches using the same mechanism as the primary seat. It slides on and clicks securely. The entire process, from single to double configuration, took us less than 60 seconds on our first try. This speed and simplicity are what make the Baby Jogger City Select LUX Second Seat system so practical for daily use. It’s a design that respects a parent’s most limited resource: time.

Versatility Unleashed: More Than Just a Second Seat

The true genius of the City Select LUX system, unlocked by these adapters, is its staggering versatility. This isn’t just a two-toddler solution. The adapters for the lower position are designed to accept not only the second toddler seat but also a compatible car seat adapter. This functionality was a massive win in our testing and a point of praise in user reviews. It opens up a world of possibilities for families with a new infant and a toddler. We tested a configuration with our toddler in the upper seat facing forward, and an infant car seat clicked into the lower adapters. This “stadium seating” arrangement gave both children a view and kept the stroller’s footprint surprisingly compact and manageable.

This dual capability means the Baby Jogger City Select LUX Second Seat kit isn’t just an accessory you buy when your second child is already a year old; it’s a solution from the day you bring them home from the hospital. You can transition from a single stroller with a car seat, to a double with a car seat and a toddler seat, and finally to a double with two toddler seats. This adaptability ensures the stroller system serves your family through multiple stages of growth. We found this ability to customize the setup on the fly to be invaluable. A trip to the zoo might call for two forward-facing seats, while a nap-time walk might be better with seats facing each other for a bit of sibling interaction. This level of customization is what elevates the LUX from a good stroller to an indispensable family logistics tool.

Design, Durability, and The All-Important Fold

A stroller accessory should feel like an integrated part of the original product, not a clumsy afterthought. The Baby Jogger City Select LUX Second Seat excels here. The sleek, matte black finish of the adapters and seat frame is identical to the main stroller chassis, creating a cohesive aesthetic. As one user noted, they “love how sleek they look.” This isn’t just about vanity; it speaks to the meticulous design and manufacturing standards. The polyester fabric of the seat itself is durable, easy to wipe clean, and matches the main seat perfectly in color and texture. After weeks of snacks, spills, and being tossed in the car trunk, the materials showed no signs of wear.

However, the most impressive design feature is its impact on the stroller’s fold. Many convertible strollers become monstrously difficult to collapse once in double mode. The City Select LUX, true to its name, offers a more luxurious experience. With the second seat removed (which takes seconds), the lower adapters can remain on the frame, and the stroller still performs its signature compact fold. This is a huge practical advantage. It means you aren’t fumbling with multiple small parts every time you need to put the stroller in the car. You simply pop the seat off, fold the frame, and go. This thoughtful engineering makes the transition to a double stroller feel seamless and manageable, removing one of the major pain points associated with larger stroller systems. The full feature set demonstrates this thoughtful design at every turn.

What Other Users Are Saying

Our extensive hands-on testing confirmed what the broader user community has found: the Baby Jogger City Select LUX Second Seat is a masterclass in functional design. The sentiment is overwhelmingly positive, centering on ease of use and versatility. One user’s comment, “best stroller ever love being able to just click and go,” perfectly encapsulates the primary benefit we identified—the installation is intuitive and lightning-fast. This isn’t a feature you appreciate once; it’s a feature you appreciate every single day.

Another piece of feedback highlighted the product’s dual functionality and aesthetic appeal: “They work great. Love how sleek they look and how easy they are to remove. Love that I can put a second seat on with them, or add car seat adapters.” This confirms our findings about the system’s incredible versatility, allowing parents to tailor the stroller to their immediate needs, whether they have two toddlers or a toddler and an infant. The only potential point of confusion, though not a negative review, is ensuring customers purchase the right kit for the right stroller model (LUX vs. original City Select) and understand that this kit provides the lower adapters and seat. This feedback reinforces the importance of carefully reading the product description to ensure a perfect match with your existing stroller. To see more detailed user experiences and Q&As, we recommend checking out the product page.

How Does It Compare to the Alternatives?

While the Baby Jogger City Select LUX Second Seat is a specific solution for a specific stroller, it’s helpful to understand its place in the wider market of baby transport. How does the concept of a modular system stack up against all-in-one travel systems, dedicated joggers, or other accessories?

1. Baby Jogger City Tour 2 Travel System

The Baby Jogger City Tour 2 Travel System is an entirely different beast. This is a complete, ultra-compact, lightweight single stroller and car seat combination designed for travel and urban mobility. It’s not convertible to a double. For parents of one child, or those who prioritize a feather-light, one-hand-fold stroller for zipping through airports or city streets, the City Tour 2 is a superior choice. It’s an alternative for those whose needs are met by a single stroller and value portability above all else. In contrast, the City Select LUX with its second seat is built for parents who need the robust, all-terrain capability and the flexibility to handle two children simultaneously.

2. BOB Gear Rambler Jogging Stroller

The BOB Gear Rambler is a specialist. It’s a high-performance, single jogging stroller with a suspension system built to handle trail runs and serious mileage. If your primary use case is fitness and you need a stroller that can keep up with an active, running lifestyle, the BOB Rambler is the undisputed category king. It prioritizes stability at speed and shock absorption over the modularity of the City Select LUX. A parent might choose the Rambler as a dedicated second stroller for exercise, but it cannot serve the role of a convertible double for daily errands. The choice here is between a master-of-one (BOB) and a jack-of-all-trades (City Select LUX).

3. Baby Jogger City Select Belly Bar

This is an accessory-to-accessory comparison. The Belly Bar is not a stroller but an add-on for a single City Select seat. It provides a soft, padded bar for a child to hold onto and to which you can attach toys. If you’re looking to enhance the comfort and experience of your existing single seat, the Belly Bar is an excellent, low-cost upgrade. It’s an alternative purchase for a parent who is not yet ready to add a second seat but wants to add functionality to their current setup. It solves a different problem entirely—child comfort and engagement, rather than capacity expansion.

The Final Verdict: Is The Baby Jogger City Select LUX Second Seat Worth It?

After rigorous testing and analysis, our conclusion is clear: for owners of the Baby Jogger City Select LUX stroller who are expanding their family, the Baby Jogger City Select LUX Second Seat is not just an accessory; it is an essential, transformative upgrade. It flawlessly converts one of the best single strollers on the market into a remarkably capable and versatile double, all without sacrificing the premium feel and intelligent design that made you choose Baby Jogger in the first place. Its primary strengths are its brilliant, tool-free installation, its robust build quality, and the sheer number of configurations it unlocks.

This product is wholeheartedly recommended for parents who already have the LUX system and need to accommodate a second child, be it a newborn or a toddler. It allows you to maximize your initial investment and avoid the cost and clutter of an entirely new double stroller. However, it is not for owners of the original City Select or those who only need a single stroller. If you fit the profile, this second seat kit is the key to future-proofing your family’s mobility with style and unparalleled convenience.

Ready to effortlessly transform your stroller and embrace the adventure of two? We are confident this is the best solution for growing families using the LUX system. You can check the latest price and availability to complete your travel system today.