Shopping for the best double stroller for infant and toddler is hard work. It can take as much research, effort, and time as shopping for a car.
A great baby stroller that you can rely on makes going out with little ones a lot easier. Especially when you have two children. You’ll really appreciate something that can take them with you quickly, safely and with the minimum amount of fuss!
To make things a bit easier for you; here is our review for the best double strollers on the market today.
Our Recommendations
Table of Contents
Things To Consider Before Buying That Double Stroller
If you want to buy the best double stroller, there are a few things you need to consider.
Firstly, you’ll need to think about where you’ll actually be using it the most. If you reside mostly in the suburbs, making sure that it fits in the trunk will be an essential feature for you. Does it fold down compact enough to fit where you need it to go?
Next, a key consideration is how well the double stroller maneuvers. If it’s too big and bulky to get through crowds, doorways and grocery store aisles, you’ll end up using it less.
The best double strollers fold and compact nice and easily. A lightweight stroller that uses just one hand are the best, especially when you have two kids! Using both your hands means you won’t have one free for your infant – or to stop your toddler from running off!
Strollers for Twins or an Infant and Toddler?
Does your double stroller need two full-size seats? Or are you looking for one that can grow with your family?
Parents of twins will need the two full-size seats in their twin stroller. This is because their children will be at the same developmental stage at the same time. You can find a great twin stroller on our page “Choosing the best double stroller for twins“.
Those with an infant and toddler should choose a model with a smaller second seat. If you’re looking for a baby stroller, a 5-point harness is also better than a 3-point harness. It’s also important (especially with newborns) that at least one of the seats fully reclines, too.
Some may wonder if they should just buy a triple stroller as they plan to have a third child. Our recommendation is nothing is guaranteed in life. Even if you got pregnant today, that’s 9 months of lugging around, folding and unfolding a heavy triple stroller. We say skip the triple stroller, even if you have that third child, to see if you really, absolutely, feel the need to have all 3 kids in a stroller at the same time.
Is An Umbrella Stroller Good Enough?
There are two kinds of strollers, a full-size or an umbrella stroller. We bought a full-size stroller at first and were very happy with it. That is until we traveled and went to Disneyland. We just didn’t feel comfortable having baggage carriers throwing around our $500 stroller, or letting it sit at the entrance to a ride at Disneyland totally unattended!
Our recommendation, before you travel or go to a theme park, pick up the cheapest, well-rated umbrella stroller you can find. Buy a lightweight stroller that is cheap enough that you won’t be that mad that someone stole it at the theme park.
Is The Double Stroller Safe?
There’s no real way to tell by looking at a stroller if it’s safe, other than it having the JPMA sticker (Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association).
If that is on there, that is the best indication it’s gone thru rigorous testing.
Is the footrest safe?
Whether you have a tandem or a side-by-side stroller, make sure the footrest goes across the entire width of the stroller. If you’re little ones feet dangle and can’t reach the ground, that doesn’t mean it can’t get snagged underneath the stroller.
They may try to climb out or do some awkward position, that extends their feet to the ground. And most shoes have some grip to them, making it easy to trap their foot between the ground and the stroller. Making for a very painful situation and a bunch of drama.
So for less drama and safety, just make sure the footrest goes across the entire width of the stroller.
What Kind Of Terrain Will You Use The Stroller On?
The common types of terrain your stroller may go over include hard terrain, grass, dirt, or bumpy.
If you plan to only use the stroller on hard terrain like hard floors, any sort of wheels will work fine.
But if you plan to be on grass, dirt, or bumpy terrain, it’d be ideal to get a double stroller with all-terrain type of wheels for grip, and possibly a suspension so the smooth ride is more comfortable for the infant and toddler.
Can The Double Stroller Carry Everything?
This is one thing we never thought about when we bought our first stroller. Of course you’ll want to store the diaper bag on it. A way to hang your purse off the handles is something that we also wish we had.
And don’t forget about extra space to store shopping bags. If you walk the shopping mall you’ll end up with a bunch of bags, and you need your hands free to push the stroller!
Special Features Unique To You?
Double strollers can be optioned out like cars, such as a cup holder, trays, and cell phone holders.
Like cars, you probably won’t find the one you want that has every feature you want! Or they may not have the quantity you need, such as a double cup holder feature on the handlebar.
One feature you may not be able to get in a double stroller is a lightweight stroller. Just by it’s very function makes it heavy!
We suggest you pick out your “must have” features and built a short list of strollers that have those features.
Does The Handlebar Height Fit Both Parents?
If you expect both spouses to spend some serious time pushing the stroller, make sure the handlebar height is comfortable for both of you.
Most people will like the handlebars at waist level or somewhere near there.
If you find yourself in a situation where one spouse is 5′ tall and the other 6′ 3″, for example, you may not find a double stroller comfortable for both of you. So guess which one will push it 80% of the time, and go find one comfortable for that person.
Are The Brakes Good?
Most strollers don’t have a brake system, but ones such as joggers do have them when you need that extra control. Test it and make sure it is easy to engage and disengage.
You may not need one with a single stroller carrying a single child, but when you have two kids in a double stroller, you could have up to 100 pounds of kid weight in there! So for a single stroller, no, you could get away without a brake on a jogging stroller, but we highly recommend a top notch brake on a double stroller.
Also make sure when it’s fully loaded the way you like it, that you can still get to the brake handle.
Do I Need A Reclining Seat?
This is one of those features that makes you wonder if the added weight and complication are worth it. But if you find a double stroller you love and it comes with a reclining seat or reclining seats, you might want to check if it’s a single reclining seat, two seats that recline together, or two seats that recline independently.
Just by it listing reclining seats isn’t enough detail. This is just to make sure you know what you’re paying for and if it will fit your situation with your kids.
Does Folding A Double Stroller Give You Anxiety?
One thing I hate about strollers is folding and unfolding them. I don’t know of any parent that says they love this chore! The best I’ve heard is, “it’s not bad”, which is about the best compliment you can give to a stroller.
When looking at double strollers, this is even a bigger chore than with single strollers. Pay close attention to this and what other reviewers have said before making a purchase.
Best Double Stroller for Infant and Toddler
Britax B-Lively Review
If you are having twins, you may want to pass on this one. However, if you are looking for a stroller for your growing family, the Britax B-Lively is perfect for you!
This side by side double stroller can fit a toddler and an infant easily. The only drawback is it can only fit one car seat adapter. This makes it a deal breaker for families of twins.
Having said that, there’s a lot of storage for parents with multiple kids. Britax made the storage basket bigger and more accessible in the 2017 version. There’s also a lot of pouches and pockets for wipes, a cup holder for bottles and all the parent paraphernalia you need on a trip outside.
Many parents love this model’s easy maneuverability, due in part to it’s super-lightweight aluminum frame. It can easily fit through doors and around tight corners. If you’re a tall girl or have a tall partner, there’s an adjustable handlebar to make things easier.
This Britax double stroller also has a quick fold down design making it easy to compact and fold away. But as with many double strollers, it will need a large trunk space to be stored in.
At just 26lbs, it could well be the best lightweight double stroller on the market today.
Pros
- Lightweight
- Quick Fold Design
- Easy to Maneuver
- 5-point harness and head pad
- Seats can Recline
- Lightweight
- Storage basket
Cons
- Can only hold one car seat
- Bulky when folded
Graco Modes Stroller, Duo Double Review
The Graco Modes Duo Double Stroller was one of the top rated double tandem strollers by parents in 2020. The rear seat is especially handy.
One of the best things about this design is it can be folded easily using only one hand. It also has stadium-style seating to ensure that both children have a good view especially the one in the rear seat. Another great feature is the extra storage, which is really desirable when you are out with two little ones.
Unfortunately, this model only features a 3 point harness. While this may be okay for older children, many with infants prefer a 5 point harness as it helps keep them secure and in place better. As it is a front to back double stroller, it should fit in most SUVs and vans, but it might not fit smaller sedans.
You need to take all this into consideration, but no stroller is perfect. At its current price point, the Graco DuoGlider is still a good buy.
You can find today’s price on Amazon here.
Pros
- Top rated by parents
- One hand folding
- Extra storage space
- Stadium-style seating
- Rear Seat Reclines Flat
Cons
- Hard to fit into smaller trunks
- 3 point harness
Baby Trend Sit N Stand Review
The Baby Trend Sit N Stand is great if you have twins or if you just need it for your growing family.
There are multiple riding positions making it accommodating to your older child at any age or developmental stage. Older kids will love the ability of the sit and stand feature. They can easily walk if they want to or hitch a ride on this tandem stroller.
The drawbacks with this model are the same that many front to back double strollers have. While you don’t have any worries about getting through doors or around people, the turn capability and maneuverability is a bit more difficult.
The Sit N Stand stroller is definitely not one that you would be able to push with one hand. It also doesn’t compact down as neatly as one would like making it too bulky to fit in some trunk spaces.
At a fraction of the cost of other strollers on the list, we believe this is one of the best budget double strollers. You can click here to check today’s price on Amazon.
Pros
- Allows older child to stand on the rear platform
- Multiple riding positions
- Accepts a big range of car seats
- Large Storage basket
- Both seats have snack trays
- Tandem Stroller
Cons
- Does not compact and is bulky
- A bit harder to maneuver
- Basket is large but can be hard to access
Baby Jogger City Select with Second Seat Review
For a versatile, double jogging stroller that has great maneuverability, it’s hard to beat the Baby Jogger. It has a generous 16 different configurations! This will allow you to mix and match different seats, bassinets, and even car seats.
You can also place the seat so you can look at your baby or they can see where they’re going. This is an important feature that a lot of tandem strollers just don’t have.
The Baby Jogger is truly designed with the growing family in mind. It has a telescopic handle bar for better comfort and convenience. This is another great feature as it adjusts to your height when pushing the double jogging stroller. Which is great for you if you have a partner on the tall side! It also compacts very slim and can fit in most trunks of cars.
The biggest drawback with this double jogging stroller is it’s still a bit bulky and a hassle to fold down. This is because you need to remove the seats completely to fold it.
The other major drawback is the price. It’s much more than others on our list, but should last until your eldest is 4 years old (or around 45 lbs ).
Pros
- Mix and Match seats, bassinets, and car seats
- Quick Fold Technology
- Telescopic handle bar
- Large canopy
- Compact when folded and fits in most car trunks
Cons
- Very heavy
- Hard to fold
Delta Side by Side Review
If you are looking for the best lightweight double stroller for travel, this may be the perfect model for you.
In general, umbrella strollers are great for airports and theme parks. They are lightweight, compact and easy to tote around.
The Delta Side by Side Stroller has all the great features of a regular umbrella stroller and more. It has a 5 point harness and two storage bags which are uncommon with umbrella strollers. It’s probably the best lightweight double stroller for travel. Though it has its drawbacks!
One is that the visor is too small. The canopy barely covers the seat. Another is that the seats are not anchored to the stroller. If you have a restless child who is always looking for a way to break free, they can easily pull themselves forward even though they are strapped in.
Still, for its budget price, the Delta Side by Side double stroller is perfect for travelling tots!
Pros
- Lightweight and easy to travel with
- Two storage bags
- 5 point harness
- Folds Easily
- Economical Price
Cons
- Visor is too small
- Seats not anchored
Frequently Asked Questions
Do You Need a Double Stroller?
If you have an infant and a toddler, two separate strollers are ideal. One spouse can push one and the other spouse can push the other.
But if you’re like most families, mom runs errands to the grocery store, post office, toys-r-us and other stores all by herself. No way she can manage having the kids in two separate strollers with only 2 hands. So if you find yourself in this situation at least once a week, we recommend you also have a double stroller that can seat an infant and a twin at the same time.
What is a double stroller for infant and toddler?
This type of stroller is pretty common if you see a double stroller. You just need to make sure it is sized to fit both an infant and a toddler!
How Many Wheels?
Strollers come in single wheel per axle or double wheels per axle. In our testing, if the load is light such as a single child and no diaper bag or other accessories loaded on to the stroller, single wheels work the smoothest and best. There’s less effort steering especially in tight situations. And there so much lighter when you have to fold and unfold.
On the other hand, if you have an infant and toddler in the stroller at the same time, with your purse, diaper bag, and other required baby things, that stroller is heavy. Stability and steadiness are top concerns and we’ve found that having double wheels is the best design.
That’s why our #1 Editor’s Choice has dual wheels on the two front axles.
Best Double Stroller Summary
Double strollers come in various configurations but when you’re shopping for one that can fit an infant and a toddler, things get a big trickier. They can be categorized as Side-by-side, tandem, as well as umbrella and joggers.
In our brief product review, we lumped all the different types of double strollers together, and came up with the 5 best we could find.
Our Top 3 recommendations listed at the top of the article have been re-posted below. We think you can pick any one of these 3 confidently.
