How to Choose the Best Double Stroller
There are a variety of options in the field of double strollers. To help you pick the right one for your family, we talked to experts in child development as well as mom Katie Billingsley.
Choose a stroller fairly easy to fold, push and carry. Consider a model that's versatile enough to accommodate two infant car seats or a toddler and a rider board.
Safety
If you want to ensure your children are safe while walking make sure you choose a double stroller that has features like all-terrain tires as well as a hand-operated brake. These wheels and brakes will help you navigate trails or sidewalks without your kids slipping or rolling off. The best double strollers have ample storage space to store equipment and essentials for kids like snacks and toys.
The first step in choosing the best double stroller is to determine the age of your children and how far apart they are. Most double strollers only accommodate one child seat. However, the ones that offer a variety of options that let you select the seating option that is ideal for your family.
Side-by-side doubles are a classic choice, and they're perfect for children of similar ages that like to interact with each other. Some options have a more double-decker design, which allows the user to place one seat above the other or attach a rider board for older siblings. Newborns can be snuggled into a bassinet attached to the frame or as an independent attachment that offers the chance to peek at your baby. If you are expecting twins or have twins and want to have a twin stroller, it will be the best option.
Choose a stroller with two wheels that is capable of handling off-road terrain, and even hiking. Many of these strollers were designed with active parents in mind and include features that allow you to take your children to any adventure, no matter how rough the path or how steep the climbs could be.
The top double strollers come with thoughtful features to help you navigate in difficult terrain and bad weather. For instance this stroller for jogging has a wrist loop for your child so you can be sure that they're safe when you run downhill or at speeds that are higher. It also comes with an all-over canopy that has ventilation so your kids stay comfortable in the summer heat.
This model is a light and compact double stroller from Joovy. It weighs less than 23lbs., making it ideal for air travel and storage in trunks or overhead compartments. It also comes with an enormous storage basket as well as a parking brake that is linked in one step that's easy to use.
Seating
Double strollers today are sleeker and can be set up in various ways to meet the needs of your family. double buggy that converts to single are used as traditional side-by-side strollers, while others -- like the Baby Trend Sit 'N Stand Double Stroller--function as a base for car seats, toddler seats, or bassinets can be plugged into. They are available in a variety of sizes and weight limits, allowing children from birth through kindergarten.
A good double stroller should be easy to fold and maneuver and will allow you to adjust your handlebar height to ensure you are comfortable on all of your outings. A well-designed handlebar is easy to grip and should encourage you to walk in a proper manner (ask for advice from other parents). It should also provide various storage options that can accommodate all the necessities you'll require for your children.
If your twins are near in age, you might consider a tandem stroller that works best for your family. These models come with seats that are side-by-side, so you can talk to them both while keeping an eye on each of them at the same. They can also recline independently so that one child can sleep while the other is ready to go.
The drawback of a twin stroller is that it can be more spacious than a model with a single occupant and can make it difficult to navigate the aisles of shops, sidewalks and narrow doorways. But for certain families, the advantages are worth the extra size and effort.
If you are looking for a compact double-stroller, then the UPPAbaby V2 Double is an excellent alternative. The UPPAbaby Vista Double is an excellent choice for urban living due to its shock absorption capabilities, 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.
A wagon-style double stroller such as the Delta Children LX Stroller Side-by-Side is another option. This model is bare bones however it has plenty of storage and seating space. It also comes with heavy-duty wheels that can handle any terrain. It also has a 50+ SPF canopy and adjustable handlebars. Some parents complain that the seats are too low and cannot recline fully flat, making it hard for small children to reach their food trays or get comfortable.
Ease of Use
Double strollers are often an investment of a significant amount that you will be using for a long time. When choosing a stroller you need to ensure that it is easy to operate and clean. The top double strollers have been designed to be user-friendly and include many useful features.
To start, all the strollers we tested folded easily and compactly (with only one hand!). They're also light, making them ideal for travel. Many of them fit in most trunks and can be gate-checked on airplanes. Additionally, the majority of our test subjects found that their strollers folded to smaller dimensions than their single-seat counterparts and some even came with an adjustable carry strap for easy carrying.
The Valco Snap Duo trend is a double stroller that has a lot of versatility that can adapt to the needs of your family. This side-byside stroller works with infant car seats as well as other accessories. It can be used from birth to the age of preschool. Each seat has five points of harness and a large canopy. It also offers ample sun protection.
The Joovy Twin Roo is another option that's highly regarded. The stroller is light and extremely compact, measuring just 22 pounds and 26 inches in width when folded. The front seat reclines to nearly an entire flat position, and the back seat features an adjustable recline that can be adjusted for each child. The stroller is simple to use and maneuver thanks to its large storage basket, easy one-step parking brake and large storage basket.
The only downsides of the Joovy Twin Roo were minor and specific to the model in question. Kerry says that the packaging is smart and fun, but it comes in five boxes that can be a bit heavy to carry around. She also found that the Genuis magnetic buckle was awkward and took a while to master. She was satisfied with the stroller, however, and would highly recommend it.
Stores
Strollers come in all shapes and sizes, from side-by-side doubles to tandem (single-file seating) styles, and a lot allow you to personalize your layout by adding a bassinet or a car seat attachment. Some have rider boards which can be added for older children. However, not all of them are created equal -- some are sleek and easy to use, while others are heavy, bulky and difficult to fold and store.
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 stroller in our tests, with a weight of just under 23 lbs. It folds easily and has all the features parents would want to enjoy a day out with two children.
The UPPAbaby Vista v2 Double is another model that our test subjects loved especially for its sleek design and ease of use. It can accommodate two infant car seats or a toddler's bassinet as well as a seat without the need for adapters. Its rear seat can be removed to turn it into a triple or quad stroller. It comes with a large basket for storage, and can be upgraded by adding an organizer for parents and all-terrain tires, as well as side storage bags.
Billingsley states that the best double stroller for a toddler is one that supports different options for customization, including a removable seat or bassinet. This is because toddlers typically have little endurance, so the stroller with an attachment for a bassinet will give them a safe place to rest for a nap. She says a double stroller should also have a good harness system and recline positions, as well as plenty of storage space for snacks and toys.
The ZOE Twin+ is popular among parents due to its lightweight and versatility. It is gate-check-friendly for airlines, fits through most doorways (without removing the wheels on the front) and can be expanded into a quad or triple stroller by adding an add-on tandem. The near-flat, independently reclined seats and the extra-long, adjustable sun canopies are among the other features. A large underseat basket as well as cup holders for both parents and children make up this impressive feature set. One drawback according to Taylor, is that it doesn't have a small footprint when folded and can be difficult to stow.