What to Look For in a Compact Double Buggy
Kerry says this side-by-side is small enough to fit through most doorways and can take two car seats or carrycots. It folds up self-standing and a handy carry strap for easy schlepping.
The canopies are also easy to move and lift up and down the stairs. The canopies are large and feature peekaboo windows.
Size
A large shopping basket as well as front and rear suspension are key features to look out for in a double buggy. It is also advisable to consider whether it's a travel system, or the possibility of adding an infant car seat or carrycot. These are crucial considerations if you are required to take your children on public transport, or on long journeys.
If you're looking for a compact double buggy that you can use from birth look into the Leclerc Kooper X2. This clever model is a side by side buggy with an adjustable frame that can expand widthways in order to accommodate two children. The seats can be reclined and positioned independently. This lets you let one child unwind and sleep while the other is observing the surrounding. There is also a huge UPF 50+ canopy and the ability to peek into the future.
Mountain Buggy Duet is another excellent alternative for twins. It is the thinnest twin pushchair that is available on the market. It is only 63cm in width, so it should fit through most doors. It can be used with two car seats or a carrycot, and comes with lying-flat seats that can be used from birth.
Tandem double buggies, which have the children positioned side by side, are a popular choice for twins or for parents of a baby and toddler. They do have a larger footprint than single-seaters and are more difficult to maneuver through narrow doors or on pavements.
The iCandy Orange tandem buggy is a popular tandem that can grow with your family. It comes with 30 different seating configurations. It can be used with twins or a baby and a toddler or three kids when you purchase iCandy's "PiggyBack" board (which is available separately). It has soft suspension that can take care of kerbs and can be used in mono or double mode. You can attach one stroller to the top for extra storage.
Weight
A great double buggy should be light and easy to push. It should include an ample shopping basket, front and back suspensions to aid the child to maneuver through more difficult terrain, and also be suitable for twins and other siblings of different ages.
Many compact double buggies come with frames specifically designed to accommodate infant car seats and come with branded adaptors to match popular models from Cybex, BeSafe and Maxi-Cosi. These are great options when you are looking to avoid using separate strollers for your younger children who have medical needs.
They are generally larger than buggies that are side-by-side, and are harder to fit into doorways and on public transport. If this is important to you, make sure to check the product's specifications to see what alternatives are available.
If you're looking for the smallest double pushchair available, check out the Mountain Buggy Duet. It's the slimmest side-byside on the market at just 64cm wide. It is suitable for twins who are just born or one toddler and one baby. It has robust engineering and superior performance thanks to its large air-filled tyres, which are all-terrain but just as happy nipping around the town.
Another great choice is the UPPAbaby Vista 2, which can carry twins with one baby and one toddler or two kids using a piggy back board (which you'll need to purchase separately). It folds up with a self-standing design and carry strap that makes it a breeze to transport and comes with rear and front suspension to help you cope with rougher terrain. It's heavier than the Joie Evalite Duo, but lighter than the majority of trifold buggies. This is a great option for older children.
Folding
The Baby Jogger City Select 2 is a great option for storing the double buggy. This model is a side by side and has a smooth fold. The frame expands when you fold it, making it smaller than the standard stroller. This makes it much easier to get around doorways and on public transport, while it also means you don't need an additional vehicle to transport the buggy around.
It's a great choice for parents with twins since it can be used with two seats, and car seat adaptors. It can also hold an additional passenger on the buggy's "piggyback board, and provides a great range of configurations with an elevated stadium-style seating option that allows each child a view of their surroundings. There's even a brake on the handlebar that can be adjusted that makes it easier to push it up and down hills.
Mountain Buggy Duet is another great alternative. It has the smallest footprint side-by-side available with a footprint of 63cm. This makes it a great choice for parents who are worried about fitting a double-doorway on public transport, and it can still take on rough terrain like an off-roader. It can accommodate twins or a toddler with a baby, or two children of the same age. Each seat can recline independently, ensuring that children are comfortable.
The iCandy Peach is a good option. It can be utilized in a mono mode, and can be used with 2 car seats/seats, or a carrycot with the option of a toddler seat. It's a bit larger than other doubles but it is extremely maneuverable, especially on smooth surfaces. This is a fantastic option for those who want an attractive and practical buggy.
If you're on a tight budget there are plenty affordable double buggies available, such as the UPPAbaby Vista 2. This small side-by-side can accommodate a newborn in the carrycot, even a toddler in the seat, or even three children if you add a PiggyBack ride on board branded with pizazz. It comes with a self-standing fold, a huge canopy that offers protection for both children and the ability to peek inside. It's also fairly light for a double buggy and includes a larger undercarriage storage basket for shopping.