double strollers

 

Double Strollers: Tandem or Side-by-side?

Parents of multiple children know double strollers aren’t just for twins. For most independent, on-the-go moms, it is an essential piece of baby gear. Companies have responded by outfitting their models with useful features to make transporting your whole brood a… walk in the park!

A double stroller can either be a tandem or side-by-side. Tandem doubles have front and back (or inline) seating and side-by-side are… you know…. Anyway, which configuration is best for your family? Following are some of the general attributes of each seating style to help you make a good decision for yourself.

Tandems

Many people choose a tandem for a baby and an older child, primarily because most will allow you to safely attach an infant car seat. Tandems are generally easier to maneuver through standard doorways and narrow store aisles. These inline models also incorporate handy features like snack trays for parents and both kids and extra large under seat storage is usually available… two kids come with double the stuff!

On the down side, tandems can be cumbersome to fold and store. Once they are loaded down with children, they can also be a bear to steer. Our experience was that if you have a child in the front seat and no one in the back, making a turn is nearly impossible.

Side-by-Side

The popular choice for twins is the traditional double-wide, where both babies sit beside each other facing the same direction. This style is generally lighter and does fold and store compactly. The separate but equal seating arrangement pre-empts to “who gets to sit in front” argument. But conversely, most side-by-side designs trade in the bells and whistles for lightweight compactness and are often difficult to get through doors.

As you can tell, there are pros and cons to both. In either case, we suggest test-driving a few models and strongly recommend bringing the actual passengers along for the test drive. After all, it’s their ride!