Transporting more than one small child does not come without its challenges, especially when we all live busy lives which involve juggling work, socialising and travelling. Comfort, size and manoeuvrability are all key aspects parents and carers look for when choosing a buggy, and this becomes even more important when a double buggy is required.
As with everything to do with buying items for children, it can feel like there’s a baffling amount of choice out there and of course, the price and quality varies hugely. Luckily, the double buggy market has really grown in the last few years and there are great options out there for every budget.
What do I need to consider when buying a double buggy?
There are a number of things to consider when choosing the right buggy for your family - the size of your home, do you live in an urban area or the countryside? The age of your children - are you having twins or is it for a baby and toddler? Some double buggies are very light and compact whereas others are much heavier and can be tricky to adapt. Some are also travel systems which means you can also put car seats on them and most brands sell carrycots or bassinets separately.
What are the different types I need to look out for?
The two main types of double buggy you will find are either side-by-side or tandem buggies. A tandem buggy can be a great choice if you’ll be using it to go through narrow spaces such as your front door, or on public transport or shops. However, this type can be quite long and heavy to push. They also involve ‘stacking’ your children on top of each other which some parents don’t like. Many single buggies convert into doubles by adding an extra seat or bassinet on the top or bottom.
Side-by-side buggies are exactly as the name suggests - your children are in bassinets or seats next to each other. They are popular with twin parents because you can see both of your newborns easily and many of them are lighter to push which is a benefit when you are recovering from childbirth. They can be problematic if you have a small home but there are some really narrow options available which fold quite compactly.
Whether you’ve got a baby and toddler, newborn twins or three-year-olds who walk slower than a pair of tortoises, we think we’ve included something for everyone.
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Mountain Buggy Duet
This side-by-side double buggy is the slimmest on our list at just 63cm wide and is popular with parents because it’s easy to push. It’s an all-terrain buggy with four air-filled tyres which can handle any surface you use it on. Mountain Buggy cocoons can be purchased for maximum comfort when you’re transporting newborns and the brand has even designed a cocoon especially for twins! The unique shared twin cocoon enables the babies to lie together and feel the closeness of their sibling even when out and about.
Another unique feature of this buggy is that it has a hand-operated brake on the handlebar which is really useful if you are using it on more uneven or rugged terrain. At 14.5kg it’s not a light buggy and it’s also quite large, even when folded down which may put off some parents. But its manoeuvrability and adaptability for children of all ages make this a really popular buggy with twin parents and other parents. Plus, the price is really reasonable.
Buy now £699.00, Amazon
Mountain Buggy Nano Duo
Life with twins, or two children close in age, can be stressful enough without adding a complicated or heavy buggy to the mix. Enter, the Mountain Buggy Nano Duo which is a fantastic double buggy at a great price. Weighing just 9kg and at 73cm wide, it will suit families who live in urban areas and who may be restricted space-wise at home. You might not expect this buggy to be as versatile as others on this list because of the price, but you’d be wrong. For parents choosing this buggy for the newborn stage onwards, it’s handy to know it can be used as a travel system with car seats or with Mountain Buggy’s cocoons for infants. The comfortable seats also fully recline for those all-important naps when you’re out and about, whether you’re pushing babies or toddlers.
This buggy could also be a great choice for people who travel a lot as it’s so light and compact. It’s wider than the other double Mountain Buggy we have on this list because it’s been created by putting two of their original Nano single buggies together. One of the (very few) drawbacks parents have highlighted for this buggy is that the seats cannot be reversed to face you if you want to be able to see your babies when they’re still very young.
Buy now £485.00, Amazon
Baby Jogger City Tour 2 Double
This double buggy is another great option for anyone who is a bit tight for space as it’s narrow at 66.5cm wide and compact when folded down. It weighs just 10.5kg and will fit easily into car boots and won’t take up too much space in your home. It’s nippy to steer around town and lightweight, even with two toddlers sitting in it. While it’s smooth on pavements, its small wheels may not fare so well on uneven ground. Other buggies on this list might be more suitable for country walks if that’s one of your requirements. Also, some parents have said the straps can be hard to do up, which might cause an issue if you’re in a hurry or grappling with wiggly children.
The Baby Jogger carrycots are suitable from birth up to 9kg but have to be bought separately from the double buggy itself. The bassinets include carry straps, a UV50 canopy, a mattress pad and adaptors.
Buy now £509.00, Amazon
Uppababy Vista V2 Double
This is a stylish twin buggy which manages to combine versatility over all terrains with easy steering and a good amount of storage. It’s a great choice for twin parents or people planning to expand the size of their family. One of the biggest pros of this buggy is that it can be used in many configurations. It can be used for newborn twins, but also for a newborn and toddler or two toddlers. It can also accommodate a buggy board for a third child if required, although this can make it quite heavy to manoeuvre.
Although this is a tandem buggy – where one child is stacked on top of the other – there is still plenty of space and visibility for the child on the bottom. The seats are wide and comfy and have a 5-point harness which is easy to use. The basket on the Uppababy Vista is huge whatever combination of seats is being used, which is another reason why it’s so popular with parents. The handle is extendable so it suits adults of all heights and the canopies are extendable with UPF 50+ protection.
Buy now £1099.95, John Lewis
iCandy Peach 7
iCandy is a British brand which likes to name its buggies after fruits, for example Apple, Peach and most recently Orange. The Peach is one of its most popular lines of buggies because it converts from a single to double while still remaining narrow and comfy for your children. It can be used from the twin newborn stage with two bassinets or with two seats when they are older. The seats are roomy and comfy and the hoods give good coverage. The buggy is great on most terrains and easy to push, thanks to its larger rear wheels.
A drawback with the iCandy Peach is that it’s one of the heavier double buggies (14.2kg) and is quite bulky even when the seats are removed and it’s folded down. When it’s used to transport two children the space underneath pretty much disappears which is another downside.
The price of this buggy may also put some people off as iCandy’s products tend to be more expensive than other brands.
Buy now £1099.00, Baby Planet Online
Out N About Nipper Double
This is a hugely popular double buggy with parents of twins and people with two children who are close in age because of its excellent price and versatility. It’s a light (12.8kg) and slimline buggy (72cm wide) which makes it a good choice for people with narrow front doors to consider and for those who use public transport regularly. It has three wheels, including a lockable 360 swivel front wheel, suits all terrains and it is easy to push one-handed. The seats recline separately so it can be used in a flat position for newborns if you haven’t bought the carrycots. The hoods include pockets which are great for storing essentials like keys, wipes and snacks. A raincover and bumper bar are also included in the price.
One downside of the Nipper is that it isn’t a travel-system compatible so there’s no option to use car seats with it.
Buy now £545.00, Amazon
Bugaboo Donkey 5 Twin
This is a stylish double buggy which comes with a big price tag. But we’re sure you’ll get your money’s worth as it’s suitable from birth to age four (22kg max weight per seat).
As with other buggies on this list there are many seat combinations you can choose. You might begin with twin carrycots before moving to seats which can be both forward and rear-facing, or one of each if they want to wave to each other! If your children are different ages they can be easily accommodated next to each other.
Some criticisms of this buggy are that it’s heavy and bulky and it can be difficult to fold down. It’s not the most narrow side-by-side on our list but at 74cm-wide it is still quite slender. It has an adjustable handlebar, raincovers are included and it’s travel-system compatible.
Buy now £1660.00, Bugaboo
Joie Air Double Pushchair
This is one of the lighter double buggies on the market (12kg) but at 76cm wide it may cause some issues for people looking for a more slimline side-by-side product. It’s the cheapest stroller on our list and that does mean it comes with fewer design and usability features. However, it’s easy to fold down flat with one hand and is quite compact for a double buggy. It has a decent-sized storage basket underneath but this can be hard to access if the seats are reclined. There is no carrycot option but the seats do recline fully if you’re using it with newborns.
The seats are not as comfortable as others on this list and it can be a bit of a bumpy ride for children due to the size of the wheels. However, there’s no arguing about the price and some families may want to use it as a second buggy to store in your car boot for day trips or to use for holidays.
Buy now £175.00, Argos
Joolz Geo3 Duo
Tandem buggies are definitely at the more pricey end of the double buggy market and the Jools Geo3 Duo is no exception. However, with the extra cost comes a buggy which is easy to manoeuvre and highly adaptable. It’s another product which can grow with your children from the carrycot stage to toddler seats with a maximum recommended weight of 15kg per child.
Plus points for the Joolz Geo2 Duo include wheel suspension and puncture-proof tyres, a height adjustable handlebar and the fact it’s easy to fold. However, this is another buggy which can be heavy to push and the basket underneath is not accessible when it’s used as a double. Moreover, the ‘duo’ part of the buggy has to be bought as a separate attachment.The carrycots also have to be purchased separately which does mean the costs for this product can mount up.
Buy now £1079.00, Pushchair Expert
Bumbleride Indie Twin
This double buggy makes it easy to stay on the move with two children and is also a great choice for planet-conscious purchasers. The fabric is made from 100 per cent recycled PET (a plastic called polyethylene terephthalate) and 25 per cent of its plastic components are sourced from ocean plastics.
The Bumbleride Indie twin is another great buggy for all terrains with its all wheel suspension and easy handling. It’s car seat compatible and can be used with both bassinets (sold separately) and seats. At 76cm it’s one of the wider side-by-side buggies on the list which might make it more suitable for families who don’t rely on public transport or who are restricted for space at home. It has a good-sized storage basket which also contains a pocket for an air pump for the tyres (included).
Praise for the Bumbleride Indie Twin also includes the good sized canopies and peekaboo windows on the top. The seats are suitable for newborns if you choose to buy their infant inserts instead of the bassinets.
Buy now £749.99, Bumbleride
Verdict
We’ve chosen the Mountain Buggy Duet as our best double buggy because it’s easy to push, narrow for a side-by-side pram and comfortable. It can be used from newborn to age four and suits families with twins or siblings close in age. It’s perfect for both city or countryside dwelling with its four all-terrain wheels which have great suspension. The fabric seats mean the buggy is lighter than others on this list and make the frame easy to fold down. The seats lie flat to accommodate newborns but also provide the space needed for your children to grow with the buggy.
We also think the Bumbleride Indie is a great choice for its environmental credentials and comfort.
