7 Secrets About Tandem Double Buggy That Nobody Will Share With You
Buying a Tandem Double Buggy
If you have twins or children very close in age, a tandem double buggie is a great choice. They are narrower than side by side buggies, and are great for tight spaces like doorways, public transport and rocky terrain.
Some can be converted into travel systems that use two carrycots or child car seats. They can be heavier, longer and less stable than a single pushchair.
Convertible
There are many options to add a second seat or changing a single stroller into double. The UPPAbaby Vista V2 is a large, gorgeous stroller that easily converts from a single to a double by adding the rumble seating (available separately). It is more expensive and less maneuverable due to the fact that the second seat is located on top of the first seat. Nuna Demi Grow is a similar model, but it lacks storage underneath the seat when used as a double stroller.
Other alternatives include all-terrain twin buggies, as well as fixed-wheel joggers that can accommodate two children. They are more expensive however, they are designed for long trips on rough terrain, and come with higher resale prices.
Independent recline of the seat
If you want a double stroller that can accommodate children of various age groups, you'll require one with an independent recliner for both seats. This will allow your child's older to relax in the back while the baby is in the bassinet, and vice versa.
You'll also have to think about the size of the pushchair, as this will impact the ease of traverse doors and public transport. If your doorways are very narrow, you might think about a side by side pushchair such as the Mountain Buggy Duet. It has a footprint similar to a single stroller, but can still accommodate two seats and car seat adaptors.
Tandem buggies are typically larger than side-by-side models, and therefore are more difficult to maneuver up and down kerbs. However, they can accommodate more combinations of car seats, carrycots and seats and are a great option for twins and siblings of different ages. They are also more expensive than single-to-double buggies but are a good investment if you plan to keep it for years and will retain a decent amount of resale value if you decide to sell it off after your children have grown out of it.
This feature allows you to put your child in an ideal position for naps or to observe. This is crucial for children who are in the back seat and wants to rest while the older child prefers to sit up and observe the surrounding.
Certain brands have a unique design that allows the back of their vehicles to recline into a position that is nearly flat, which is ideal for babies. For lightweight double pushchair has raised stadium-style seating that can recline both the toddler seat included as well as the optional RumbleSeat into various positions so your kids can have a choice of where to sit, as well as providing an excellent UPF 50+ canopy that has peekaboo windows.
Larger than twin buggies
They are great for siblings with different ages, and you can move about without worrying about your children touching. They're typically a bit longer, with one seat behind the other. The seats can be reclined fully for infants, or put in an upright position for toddlers.
A popular choice is the Mountain Buggy Duet, which has the slimmest side-byside design on the market and has a footprint similar to a single buggy. It also comes with an adjustable handle, which makes it easier for parents of various heights to push as well as an adjustable handbrake, which can be useful when you have to climb steep hills. It is suitable to use from birth and can be used with a variety of car seats and carrycots.
The iCandy Wave is another option. It folds in either mono or duo mode with just a single click. Its clever frame expands widthways to allow for a second seat and can be used with two car seats or carrycots so it's an excellent choice for older siblings who want to sit together and share the view. It's a bit longer than other models but still feels easy to steer and has soft suspension to tackle kerbs.
There are also plenty of 3-wheeler inline tandems available such as Phil and Teds inline models, or iCandy's Peach and Pear buggies, for instance - which offer stability and swift steering. Most of them can be folded down to size a single buggy which is useful when you have trouble storing it at home or need to lug it in and out of the boot when you travel on public transport.
It's important to remember that a large double buggy will feel heavier and bulkier than a compact single buggy So make sure it's what you require before purchasing. You'll have to get it on and off subways, trains and buses often, so it should be easy to operate and manage. It is possible that you will need to move the car seat in and out when you take your child to school or to nursery.
From birth, you are an ideal 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 are typically slightly heavier, bulkier and more expensive than single strollers, but they are also easier to maneuver through narrower doors or around obstacles like curbs. Many double buggies are compatible with piggyback boards (available from the manufacturer or as an accessory). This allows you to transport three children at the same time.
Tandem pushchairs place one child in front the other. They're a good option if your children are close in age and are able to get along. They're not 100% secure. Siblings sitting side-by-side can kick or punch each other, and children of different heights could argue over who sits higher. A tandem high-low model could solve this issue by elevating the seat at the rear, preventing your older child from sitting on the bottom and not getting the best view.
The iCandy Wave is a good option for parents who are looking for an adjustable double buggy that can be converted into a carrycot that can fit both infants and an older child. It has a clever frame that can be expanded in width when you add a second seat and folds down to flattish storage. The padded seats, straps and buckles are all of the best quality we have encountered in any of our tests. The canopies have a generous size, UPF 50+ protection, as well as a windows that peek out. Both seats can be reclined independently.
The only downside to the iCandy tandem is that it's a bit expensive. However, a quality tandem will last for a long time and will have an attractive resale value which means that in the end, you'll likely recoup a portion of the cost. It doesn't have the same variety of seating options as some of our other top picks, but the iCandy is a great choice for families that don't want to spend a lot.