Buying a Tandem Double Buggy
If you have twins or children close in age, a tandem double buggie is a fantastic option. They are a bit smaller than side-by-side buggies and are perfect for narrow spaces like doors, public transport and terrain that is rocky.
Many also transform into travel systems that take 2 carrycots or car seats. However, they can be heavier and longer than single pushchairs and may not be as stable when bumping up the kerbs.
Convertible
There are many options to add a second seat or converting a single stroller to double. The UPPAbaby V2 is a large, beautiful stroller. It is easily converted from a single to a double by adding a rumble seat. However, it's pricey and less mobile than other double strollers due to the fact that the second seat is located behind the front seat. Nuna Demi Grow provides a similar choice, but it lacks storage underneath the seat when it is used as a double stroller.
Other options include all-terrain twin buggies and fixed-wheel joggers which can be used to accommodate two children. They are more expensive, however, they are designed to last longer on rough terrain and have a higher resale price.
Independent recline of the seat
If you need a double buggy to carry children of different age groups, then you'll want one that has recline independent for both seats. This allows your older child to rest while the baby is in a bassinet, and vice versa.
Take into consideration the width of your stroller and consider how easy it is for you to get through doors and public transportation. If you have very narrow doors, it could be worthwhile to consider a side-by-side pushchair such as the Mountain Buggy Duet which has the benefit of having a footprint comparable to a single buggy however it can accommodate two seats and car seat adaptors.
Tandem buggies tend to be longer than side by side models, and therefore are more difficult to maneuver up and down kerbs. However they can also accommodate a wider range of combinations of seats/carrycots/car seats and are a great option for twins and siblings of various age. They are also more expensive than single-to-double buggies but are a good investment if you intend to keep it for a long time and will retain a decent amount of resale value in the event that you decide to sell it off when your children have grown out of it.
Another important feature to look for is if the backs of the seats can recline independently from one another because this allows you to put your child in the best position to nap or observe. This is especially important when you have a child younger than in the rear seat, who will want to lie back and take a snooze while the more mature child wants to sit up and look around their surroundings.
A few brands have a unique design for their seats that allows the back seat to fully recline to an almost flat position which is perfect for newborns. For instance, the iCandy Orange has raised stadium-style seating and can recline both the toddler seat included and the add-on RumbleSeat to multiple positions, to give your kids a the option of where they want to sit, as well as offering an excellent UPF 50+ canopy with windows that peek out.
Wider than twin buggies
There's no need to have twins to benefit from a larger double buggy. They're perfect for siblings of various age groups and let you get around without having to worry about your children touching each other. They're typically a bit longer too with one seat placed behind the other and usually offering a fully-flat recline for newborns (or an upright position for toddlers).
A popular choice is the Mountain Buggy Duet, which is the tiniest side-by-side model available and features the same footprint as a single buggy. It also comes with an adjustable handle, which makes it easy for parents of different heights to push as well as a handbrake that can be useful when you have to climb difficult hills. It is suitable from birth and is compatible with a range of car seats and carrycots, which means it's a great travel system.
The iCandy Wave is another option. It folds in either mono or duo mode in a single click. all terrain double buggy can be expanded to allow for a second seat and can be used with up to two carrycots or car seats which makes it an ideal option for older siblings that want to sit in a group and share the view. It's a little longer than other models, but it's light to steer and comes with soft suspension to tackle the kerbs.
There are also a variety of 3-wheeler inline tandems that are available such as Phil and Teds' inline models or iCandy's Peach and Pear buggies for instance that offer stability and swift steering. Most of them can be folded down to the size of one buggy, which is helpful for those who struggle with storage at home or frequently need to transport it into and out of your car when using public transport.
It's worth bearing in mind that a wide double buggy will feel bulkier and heavier than a compact single buggy Make sure that it's what you need before you buy. It is likely to be used on buses, trains and subways frequently, so it should be easy to use and manage. You may also need to juggle it onto and off the car seat when taking your children to nursery or school so you'll need to know it can be easily manoeuvred within small spaces.
From your birth, you are a suitable candidate
There will be a need for a pushchair for the whole family, whether you're expecting twins, or if you have a child after you've had your first. Double buggies tend to be heavier and bulkier as well as more expensive than single strollers. However, they are more maneuverable in narrower doors, or around obstacles like curbs. Many double buggies are compatible with piggyback boards (available from the manufacturer or as an add-on). double seat stroller lets you transport three children at once.
Tandem pushchairs put one child in front of the other, so they're often a better choice if you have two kids who are similar in age to be able to live well together. But they're not completely safe: Siblings in side-by-side seats could kick or punch each other, and children on different heights can squabble over who should sit higher. A tandem high-low model can solve this problem by elevating the seat at the rear, preventing your older child from sitting on the bottom and not having much of a view.
The iCandy Wave is a great alternative for parents who want an easy-to-use convertible double buggy that can fit both a newborn in a carrycot and an older child in the main seat. It has a clever frame that can be expanded in width when you add a second seat and folds down flat to make it a compact storage. The cushioned straps, buckles, and seats are all of the best quality we have seen in any of our tests. The seats can be reclined independently and the canopy is big and spacious with UPF 50+ protection and windows that peek out.
The only drawback to the iCandy is that it's expensive but a high-quality tandem will last for a long time and will retain its resale value. So you'll probably get back some of the cost in the long run. It doesn't come with the same variety of seating options as some of our other top choices however, the iCandy is a good choice for families who don't wish to shell out a lot of money.