Turning into a mother of two was one of the crucial difficult seasons of my life. Not solely did I’ve an lively toddler to maintain up with, I had an toddler in tow who, by default, had no selection however to affix my 2-year-old son and me on our day by day outings to the park, seashore, or playground. Earlier than my daughter was even 2 months previous, I rapidly realized that one of the best double stroller must be snug, sturdy, and simple to maneuver, and that it will be very important to my day by day life as a mother of two.
From getting a stroll in whereas my youngsters napped of their stroller seats to transporting each youngsters from the automobile into the grocery retailer, my double stroller was greater than only a solution to get from level A to level B. It was our ticket to freedom, a approach for my kiddos and me to step out of the home and get some recent air, which was so vital throughout these early months whereas I tailored to having two little people to take care of.
As a result of we’re an lively household, investing in a double jogging stroller made essentially the most sense for us. I additionally carried round a double umbrella stroller in my trunk for these occasions after I wanted to run a fast errand with the youngsters. To decide on my very own double strollers, I relied on my greater than three years of expertise as a parenting author and numerous conversations with fellow mothers.
At Mother and father, we additionally spent the final three years rigorously testing all kinds of double strollers, each in our lab and with actual mother and father of their on a regular basis lives. And, to find out what mother and father ought to search for in a double stroller and the security precautions they need to comply with when utilizing one, we spoke with Lyndsey Garbi, MD, a pediatrician and mother who makes use of a double stroller along with her personal youngsters. In case you are a mum or dad on the lookout for a double stroller, we suggest these prime 4, which now we have loved utilizing at house with our personal little ones.
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Why We Like It
After I image side-by-side strollers, I consider a large, clunky contraption that could be a beast to lug round. However that’s not the case with the Zoe the TwinV2. Weighing simply 23 kilos (which is lower than the typical 2-year-old), this compact stroller suits by normal doorways with room to spare and is simple to maneuver round with two kids seated in it. It could accommodate as much as 60 kilos of weight per seat and comes pre-equipped with a automobile seat adaptor, which makes it tremendous handy so that you can load your toddler within the stroller with out eradicating them from their automobile seat.
Since side-by-side strollers are wider than different configurations, we put our Zoe the TwinV2 to the check within the busiest, most crowded place we may consider: an airport. After loading the stroller with two youngsters and a number of luggage, our tester strolled by safety with ease and located it fast and simple to unfold after touchdown at their vacation spot.
This stroller additionally accompanied our tester on a visit to Disney Springs on the Walt Disney Resort in Orlando, Florida. Due to the Twin, she had no hassle weaving by crowds and stampedes of working kids. The beneficiant cargo house allowed her to conveniently retailer a diaper bag, jackets, and different requirements.
What Mother and father Say
“We completely beloved the large canopies on this stroller, and it was actually superior to navigate so simply. The youngsters have been very snug and neither complained.”—Alison, mother of a 4-month-old and 2-year-old
However Take Word
Due to its side-by-side configuration, this stroller isn’t preferrred for slender metropolis sidewalks or venturing down the aisles of a small retailer. When our tester took it into a neighborhood pharmacy, she needed to transfer just a few in-aisle shows to stroll round.
The Particulars:
- Sort of stroller: Facet-by-side
- Stroller weight: 23 kilos
- Dimensions (unfolded): 33 x 30 x 43 inches
- Weight restrict: 60 kilos per seat
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Why We Like It
In the event you plan to develop your loved ones, the Uppababy Vista V3 is the stroller for you. It comes with a reversible all-weather toddler seat that may journey ahead, backward, upright, and reclined. Mother and father can even use an Uppababy automobile seat, bassinet, or toddler cosy seat to move their child on this stroller, and switching between modes is as straightforward as pushing a button.
Though it’s bought as a single stroller, the Vista V3 can accommodate as much as three kids without delay by snapping on an extra seat under the primary and a ride-on board to the again body (every bought individually). Plus, this stroller has beneficiant cargo house, which allowed our tester to take a diaper bag, snacks, a handbag, a jacket, a child service, a bottle cooler, and toys alongside for the journey. In whole, the V3 has greater than 30 completely different configurations to permit mother and father to personalize it for his or her rising household, whether or not they want a double stroller for a new child and a toddler, a single to double stroller, or two toddlers and an toddler.
The V3 can be impressively straightforward to maneuver. Throughout testing in our lab and on the streets of New York Metropolis, it dealt with turns and gaps within the pavement fairly effectively regardless of being on the heavy facet. In accordance with our tester, the Vista V3 is a “workhorse” value each penny, which she confirmed day by day as she picked her toddler up from college with an toddler in tow and pushed it up stairs and bumpy cobblestone hills.
What Mother and father Say
“This stroller is rock strong. We have beloved it exhausting within the months we have had it, and I am trying ahead to utilizing it by our stroller years.”—Cecily, mother of a 6-month-old and 3-year-old
However Take Word
Our tester observed that the brake would stick a little bit when releasing it from the locked place. This was a bit difficult when hustling to meet up with their toddler they usually wanted the stroller to maneuver rapidly.
The Particulars:
- Sort of stroller: Convertible
- Stroller weight: 27 kilos
- Dimensions (unfolded): 36 x 25.7 x 39.5 inches
- Weight restrict: 50 kilos
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Why We Like It
This stroller is a fraction of the price of the others on our checklist however ranks excessive in sturdiness, maneuverability, and luxury. After utilizing it with our personal youngsters for 2 months, we have been impressed to see that it held up remarkably effectively—even after doing loads of sandy walks on the seashore. We particularly love that we will steer it with one hand and that it glides by doorways and round tight corners with ease.
When it comes to consolation, this stroller has a wide range of noteworthy qualities. We like that each seats recline independently, which was useful for when one child wanted a nap however the different didn’t. The seats can lie nearly flat and the calf rests regulate as effectively, making it a comfy spot to get some shuteye.
Whereas nice for day by day use, this stroller can be appropriate for journey due to its light-weight, compact body. It’s straightforward to arrange, collapses in only one step, and robotically locks, which is one much less factor for folks to fret about when wrangling wiggly youngsters.
What Mother and father Say
“I like how compact and simple to make use of it’s. It makes it a lot simpler to take walks and buy groceries with my three kids, who’re very snug on this stroller.”—Laura, mother of a 6-month-old, 2-year-old, and 5-year-old
However Take Word
The seats on this stroller are slender and are greatest for smaller kids. Additionally, the space for storing is comparatively small and has a vertical bar down the center, which makes it not possible to retailer a diaper bag.
The Particulars:
- Sort of stroller: Jogger
- Stroller weight: 23.21 kilos
- Dimensions (unfolded): 37.2 x 26.1 x 40.3 inches
- Weight restrict: 33 kilos per seat
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Why We Like It
As a mom of two, among the best investments I made in child gear was my Bob Jogging Stroller. Its mountain bike-style suspension system permits it to glide over each sort of terrain, from sand and mountain climbing trails to cracked, uneven sidewalks. It’s a superb selection for avid runners and walkers alike and supplies an equally clean journey for youths.
Whereas jogging along with her kiddos in tow, our tester additionally observed that the BOB’s air-filled tires gave this stroller superior shock absorption and traction. Her youngsters have been all the time blissful to journey in it, remarking that the BOB was “extra snug” and “much less shaky” than their single jogging stroller. For the reason that handlebars regulate to 9 completely different ranges, our tester was in a position to place herself ergonomically whereas working, which allowed her to run additional and longer with much less effort.
To prime it off, the BOB has one of the best canopies we’ve ever seen on a stroller. They’re made with breathable UPF 50+ material and supply a ton of shade. Plus, they lengthen far sufficient to fully cowl a baby’s legs, which is right for mid-day outings when the solar is at its peak.
What Mother and father Say
“This stroller is a dream. My first impression of working with two youngsters was the unbelievable ease, lack of effort, and smoothness of the journey. It was simpler to push this than my single working stroller!”—Eliza, mother of a 1-year-old and 6-year-old
However Take Word
Bob strollers are notoriously heavy and difficult to fold. If we may add something to this stroller, it will be a cup holder for folks in order that they don’t need to cease mid run to seize a drink.
The Particulars:
- Sort of stroller: Jogger
- Stroller weight: 33.1 kilos
- Dimensions (unfolded): 48 x 30.5 x 45
- Weight restrict: 50 kilos per seat
Different Double Strollers We’ve Tried & Beloved
How We Examined Double Strollers
Over the previous three years, we’ve examined a wide range of double strollers, together with jogging and convertible, each at house with our personal kids and within the Mother and father Lab. For every stroller we examined, we targeted on the design, maneuverability, worth, and ease of setup, folding, and cleansing. We weaved the strollers by impediment programs, crammed the cargo baskets to the brim with child necessities, and headed down bumpy paths and miles of jogging trails to get a really feel for what it will be like to make use of every stroller in the actual world.
As a mother of two who used my double stroller repeatedly for greater than three years, I additionally relied alone expertise to assist make clear our findings.
Our Specialists
To study extra about what to search for in double strollers and perceive the security precautions mother and father ought to take when utilizing one, we spoke with the next medical skilled:
- Lyndsey Garbi, MD, pediatrician, mother, and chief pediatrician at Blueberry Pediatrics
Double Stroller Security Ideas
When selecting a double stroller, Dr. Garbi recommends on the lookout for one which accommodates the person wants of every baby, particularly if they’re completely different ages. For instance, she factors out that infants have particular seating necessities, comparable to the correct amount of help for head management and loads of room for his or her legs. Mother and father ought to all the time have the ability to view their child once they’re seated within the stroller, and it must be outfitted with correct solar protection to guard a child’s pores and skin.
When utilizing a double stroller, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) advises mother and father to:
- Securely fasten toys throughout the stroller
- Apply the brake everytime you cease
- Select one with a large base to forestall tipping
- Shield a baby’s fingers when opening/closing the body
- Keep away from hanging luggage from the handles
- Buckle a baby in with a five-point harness
- Have eyes on their baby always
- Ensure the footrest extends throughout each seats
- Be conscious of the load pointers, particularly with older kids
Who We Are
Laura Lu, MS, is a journalist who makes a speciality of well being and parenting content material. Along with writing for organizations like Mayo Clinic and College of California, San Francisco, her work has appeared in Mother and father, Well being.com, The New York Occasions, and Media Psychology. As an lively mother of two, Laura beloved buckling her youngsters up in her BOB Gear Jogging Stroller and exploring the native mountain climbing trails surrounding her Newport Seashore, California, house.