Tandem Double Stroller
You're expecting twins or you have a two babies around the same age. You're probably thinking and considering whether you want to buy a side-by-side double umbrella stroller or a tandem double stroller. Well, each has their own pros and cons.
One of the main reasons why parents choose a side-by-side double stroller is that both kids effectively get the same view. So, no one needs to sacrifice visibility. This is pretty important, especially when you have twins or kids that are VERY close in age. Neither one will probably want to seat in the back seat of a tandem double stroller. So, good visibility for both kids is a major plus point for side-by-side double strollers.
If that's the case, why would you even consider a tandem double stroller? Well, tandem double strollers are WAY easier to maneuver and can easily fit in doorways. If you've used one of those wide double strollers, you know how hard it is to get them through tighter doorways. Try opening a door of a restaurant with one hand while madly angling and maneuvering a wide double stroller through the door before the door springs back on you. It's crazy!
So, tandem double strollers have better maneuverability as a major plus point. They also normally take way less space in your car's trunk than a side-by-side double stroller. So, if you drive a car with a less than large trunk, a tandem double stroller is the way to go. Heck, you might even find enough space for some small luggage bags in your trunk!
Okay. Now that you're convinced a tandem double stroller is for you, what do you need to look out for? Are there any gotchas or particular brands that you should stay away from?
Of course!
- Make sure baby stroller is easy to maneuver. Some brands are better than others. The Safety 1st Two Way Tandem Stroller has some serious maneuverability issues. Stay away from it!
- Check out tandem strollers with flexible seating arrangements. Buying a tandem stroller doesn't mean one kid needs to sacrifice visibility. There are several affordable tandem strollers that have multiple seating configurations including face-to-face or back-to-back arrangements. This'll solve the "I don't want to seat at the back" argument. Specially check out the Kolcraft Contours Options Tandem Plus Stroller that's affordable yet offers flexible baby seating
- As always, check for build quality. The last thing you want is a baby stroller that falls apart or start missing bits and pieces. With a few exceptions, you normally get what you pay for.
- If you use a Maxi Cosi Cabrio baby seat, look for baby tandem strollers that support the Maxi Cosi adaptor. This makes your tandem pram suitable for even newborn baby use.
- Extras such as a decent sized shopping basket or storage may not be at the top of your mind. However, when you're pushing along a double stroller, the last thing you want to do is carry around shopping bags. So, choose a tandem baby stroller with a decent shopping stowage.
- Although tandem double strollers aren't going to be "lightweight", you should still consider the weight of the stroller since you'll probably need to lift it up when loading into your car trunk and such. Strollers that are lightweight yet stable are the perfect combination. This is where the price sky-rockets.