How to Choose the Best Double Stroller
If you're looking for a double stroller there are a variety of options. To help you pick the best one for your family, we spoke with child development expert and mom Katie Billingsley.
Look for a stroller that's relatively easy to push, fold and carry. And consider a model that's versatile enough to accommodate two car seats for infants or a toddler along with an adult rider board.
Safety
Find a double-stroller that has all-terrain wheels and a brake that is operated with a hand if you want to keep your kids safe when walking. These wheels and brakes allow you to navigate trails and gravel without your children falling or rolling. The best double strollers come with plenty of storage space to store gear and kid-sized essentials like snacks and toys.
Choosing the right double stroller for your family starts by determining the age and distance in terms of age your children are. A majority of double strollers can only accommodate one child seat. However, those that do have a variety options that let you choose the seating that's best for your family.
The classic doubles are perfect for children of similar ages who like to interact. Some double-decker designs allow you to place one seat above the other, or even attach a riderboard for older siblings. Newborns can be snuggled into an infant bassinet that is attached to the frame or as an individual attachment that offers an unobstructed view of your baby. If you are expecting twins or have twins, then a twin stroller is the best choice.
Choose a stroller with two wheels that is capable of handling off-road terrain as well as hiking. A lot of these strollers were designed with active parents and their children in mind. They come with features that will let you take them on any adventure, no regardless of how difficult or steep the climbs might be.
In addition to all-terrain tires, the best double strollers have clever features that make traversing difficult terrain and weather more enjoyable. This jogging stoller, for instance, features a wrist loop, so you can make sure your child is safe when running downhill at higher speeds or in extreme weather conditions. It also features an all-over canopy that has ventilation to ensure your children stay cool during the summer heat.
This model is a compact and compact double stroller from Joovy. It weighs in at just over 23 pounds, making it lighter than other single strollers and perfect for air travel or storage in trunks and overhead compartments. Plus, it has an enormous storage basket as well as an integrated parking brake that's easy to use.
Seating
Unlike the behemoth strollers of the past the modern double strollers are sleek and can accommodate an array of designs to accommodate families. Some work as traditional side-by-side strollers while others--such as the Baby Trend Sit 'N Stand Double Stroller--work as a base that car seats, toddler seats, or bassinets can be plugged into. They are available in a range of sizes and weights to accommodate children from newborns through kindergarten.
A good double stroller should be easy to fold and move, as well as allowing you to adjust your handlebar height to ensure that you feel at ease on all your outings. A great handlebar should be comfortable to hold, and it should encourage you to walk with proper form (ask other parents for advice on this). It should come with a variety of storage options that can accommodate all the essentials your children will require.
If your twins are similar in age, you could find a tandem stroller works best for your family. The seats of these models are positioned side by side, enabling you to interact with them both and keep an eye on them simultaneously. They can also recline independently which means that one child can sleep while the other is ready to go.
The downside of a twin stroller could be that it's wider than a stroller designed for a single person. This could make it more difficult to navigate narrow aisles for stores, doors, or walkways. For some families, however the benefits are well worth the extra effort and size.
If you're looking for a compact double stroller, the UPPAbaby Vista Double is a great option. The UPPAbaby Vista V2 Double is an excellent choice for urban living due to its shock absorption, sleek design, and capacity to accommodate two infant car seats. It also comes with an optional running board that can be used by older children who are mobile.
Another option is a wagon-style double stroller, like the Delta Children LX Side-by-Side Stroller. This bare-bones model offers plenty of seating space and storage space, along with heavy-duty wheels that manage any terrain. It also has a canopy with 50+ SPF and adjustable handlebars. Some parents complain that the seats are a little too low and they don't recline completely to a flat position, making it difficult for small children to get comfortable or reach their snack tray.
Simple to use
A double stroller is usually an investment of a large amount and one that you hope to use for many years. If you are looking for a double stroller, make sure it's easy to use and clean. The best double strollers have been developed to be easy-to-use and come with numerous features that are convenient.
For starters, all the strollers we tested fold easily and compactly (with just one hand!). They're also light, making them ideal for traveling. A lot of them fit into the majority of trunks and are gate-checked on airplanes. Our testers found that their strollers could fold down to a smaller size than their single-seat equivalents. Some even had a carrying strap.
If you're looking for a versatile double stroller that can expand with your family take a look at the Valco Snap Duo Trend. This side-byside stroller is compatible with infant car seats as well as other accessories. It can be used from birth up to the age of preschool. Each seat comes with five points of harness and a large canopy. It also offers plenty of sun protection.
The Joovy Twin Roo is another option that's highly regarded. This stroller is lightweight compact and weighs only weighs 22 pounds when folded. double push chair reclines almost to a flat position and the back seat can be adjusted to fit every child. There's a large storage basket and an easy, one-step linked parking brake that makes this stroller extremely simple to move and use.
The only drawbacks of the Joovy Twin Roo are minor and specific to this model. Kerry says that the packaging is clever and fun, however it comes in five boxes, which could be a bit cumbersome to carry around. She also found the Genuis magnetic clasp a bit clunky, and it took her a while before she could master it. She was happy with the stroller at the end and would recommend it.
Storage
Strollers are available in various sizes and styles and styles, including tandems (single-file seating) as well as side-by-side doubles and many that allow you to customize the configuration using the use of a bassinet or car seat attachment. Some come with rider boards that can be added for older siblings. But, they're not all made equal. Some are sleek and easy to use, whereas others are heavy, bulky and difficult to fold or stow.
If you are looking for a lightweight stroller that can accommodate two children, the Joovy Caboose Graphite is a great choice. It was the lightest choice in our tests at close to 23 pounds. It is also simple to fold, but it still has all of the features parents need to have a great time out with two kids.
The UPPAbaby Vista v2 Double is another model that our testers loved, especially for its sleek design and ease of use. It can accommodate two infant car seats, or a toddler's bassinet and seat without adapters, and its rear seat can be removed to turn it into a quad or triple stroller. It comes with a huge basket for storage, and it can be upgraded by adding a parent organizer and all-terrain tires, as with side storage bags.
Billingsley says that the most suitable double stroller to use for a toddler is one that offers various options for customization. This includes a seat or a bassinet that can be removed. That's because toddlers often have limitations in endurance, and a stroller with an attachment for a bassinet will provide them with a safe space to take a nap. She says that a double stroller must also have a great recline position and harness system and plenty of storage space for toys and snacks.
The ZOE Twin+ is popular among parents due to its lightness and flexibility. It is gate-check-friendly for airlines, fits through most doorways (without taking off the wheels on the front) and can be made into a quad or triple stroller by adding an extra tandem. The nearly flat, independently reclined seats as well as the extra-long sun canopy that can be adjusted are just a few of the highlights. A spacious underseat basket as well as cup holders for the child and parent make up this impressive feature set. Taylor says the one downside is that it has the largest footprint when folded, and is difficult for parents to carry.