Welcoming twins into your family is an exciting journey, filled with double the joy and, of course, double the gear! One of the first and most important items you'll need to decide on is a double stroller because it helps you and your family get out and about in the world. Navigating the world with two little ones in tow presents unique challenges, so choosing the right twin stroller can make all the difference in your daily life. Here's what you need to know to make an informed decision, from a twin mom.
When it comes to twins, not all strollers are created equal. You'll primarily find two configurations:
Tandem (Inline): Tandem strollers have one seat in front of the other. They're narrower and easier to maneuver through tight spaces. The trade-off is that one child sits behind the other, which can lead to disputes about who gets the front seat. It’s also harder to see both babies at the same time. I’ve heard from some twin parents that tandem strollers can be harder to maneuver.
Side-by-Side: These strollers have seats next to each other. They offer equal views for both children, making interaction between your twins easier. As your twins get older, it will prevent fighting between them about who has to sit in which seat. Personally, my twins love being able to see each other and play peek-a-boo with each other in their strollers. However, their wider frame can be tricky to navigate through narrow doorways or crowded areas.
Consider what will be your primary use of the stroller. Will you be using it day-to-day, for jogging or running, or for travel? Day-to-day and jogging strollers tend to be heavier, but offer more comfort. Travel strollers, like the popular Zoe Twin, are lighter weight, but the tradeoff is often comfort for your kiddos. If you’re traveling, you'll likely be handling the stroller multiple times a day, so a model that folds compactly and can stand on its own when folded will save you time and effort.
Consider how easy the stroller is to fold, lift, and store. Double strollers take up a lot more room, so if you’re planning to transport it by car, make sure the measurements fit your vehicle’s trunk. Weight is another important factor; a lightweight stroller makes for easier lifting into cars and navigating curbs.
Your twins will spend a significant amount of time in their stroller, so comfort is key. Look for strollers with padded seats that recline independently, adjustable footrests, and ample canopy coverage to protect from the sun and elements. Safety features such as a 5-point harness, effective brakes, and a sturdy frame are non-negotiable. Always check that the stroller meets current safety standards.
One thing that can contribute quite a bit to comfort for the kiddos is the type of wheel. Larger air-filled tires tend to offer the smoothest ride, easily absorbing bumps and uneven surfaces, making them ideal for both urban and off-road adventures. These types of wheels ensure maximum comfort for your baby, providing a gentle, cushioned experience regardless of the terrain.
One thing to consider is whether your stroller is compatible with your car seats. With newborn twin babies, you’ll likely visit the pediatrician at least 6-7 times before their first birthday. This means a lot of trips hauling two babies back and forth from the car or public transportation to the doctor’s office, which only gets harder as they get heavier. If you’re planning to be out and about a lot, this will save you a lot of time for quick store runs.
Some strollers offer the option to snap the car seat directly and securely into the stroller with adapters, simplifying the process of getting out and about. Plus, it’s a lot easier to be able to transfer sleeping babies from the car to the stroller without the hassle of unbuckling and rebuckling the baby and waking them up.
Please note that most car seat manufacturers and medical professionals recommend that a baby should not be in a car seat for longer than 2 hours within a 24 hour time period for safety reasons, especially when the babies are sleeping.
One thing that our stroller didn’t offer was the bassinet option, and this is one thing I wish I had considered. A bassinet option allows the baby to lie fully down, and you’re able to see the baby while pushing the stroller. Our stroller was almost a full recline and had an infant insert, but since the seats were configured to face the way we were walking, we couldn’t see them other than through the peek-a-boo window on top. For a new parent, this was a bit anxiety inducing. Given that we really wanted to get out and about all the time for walks, we really wish we had gotten a stroller with a bassinet option when the kids were newborns. Now they’re older, it doesn’t really matter as much.
Choosing a stroller that can withstand the test of time (and the rigors of daily use with twins) is a smart investment. Look for high-quality materials and construction, and check reviews for long-term durability insights. Consider the terrain you'll be navigating most often and select a stroller designed to handle it, whether it's city sidewalks or country trails.
It’s not exactly a durability tip, but DON’T get a light-colored stroller. It may help with heat, but strollers get so dirty over time, especially when your kids become toddlers, and they’re hard to clean! This is definitely something I wish I had known when looking at strollers.
With twins, you'll be carrying twice as much gear, so ample storage space is essential. A large, easily accessible under-seat basket can be a game-changer. Additional features like cup holders, snack trays, and parent organizers can also make your outings more enjoyable, but you can also buy add-ons if your stroller doens’t come with it.
Double the passengers mean a heftier price tag. Strollers for twins can be a significant investment, with prices ranging widely based on brand, features, and quality. Determine your budget beforehand, but also consider the stroller's cost-per-use. A more expensive model that fits your lifestyle and is built to last might offer better value over time than a cheaper, less durable option.
Many larger cities have very active twins or parents of multiples groups that have great secondhand sales or hand-me-downs, which make a double stroller much more affordable. If you’re located in the United States, you can search for your local parents of multiples club on the Multiples of America site here.
When we were buying strollers, there were a few options that we heard of time and time again from fellow twin parents and parents of multiples. Here’s a quick summary of their pluses and minuses (ordered by approx retail price)
Baby Jogger City Tour 2 (~$430) - Side by Side
Pros: Easy to maneuver with one hand. It's also lightweight and folds compactly. Good for travel and comes with a carrying bag.
Cons: Can have a bumpy ride and doesn't stay folded up unless you hold it by the carrier strap in the middle. Canopy is small.
Zoe Twin V2 (~$530) - Side by Side
Pros: Fits through most doorways, folds down small, and lightweight (23lbs). Makes a great travel stroller.
Cons: May lack some of the advanced features available in higher-priced models.
Mockingbird Single to Double (~$450 for the single stroller + $145 for the 2nd seat kit) - Tandem, In-Line
Pros: Transforms from a single to a double stroller seamlessly, offers a variety of seating options, and isn't too bulky. Steering is smooth and some have said it feels very similar to the Uppababy.
Cons: Some users find it hard to turn. You can’t recline both seats when they’re facing forward.
Baby Jogger City Mini GT2 All-Terrain Double Stroller ($719) - Side by Side
Pros: Large canopies and hand-operated break. Large wheels with suspension.
Cons: Cannot fit two car seats at the same time and can be heavy to push.
Mountain Buggy Duet (~$770) - Side by Side
Pros: All terrain, slim, and easy to maneuver. Folds well, fits well through doorways and has a bassinet option.
Cons: Parents either love it or hate it. It can be heavy and the basinette option gets very mixed reviews.
Valco Baby Trend Duo (~$750) - Side by Side
Pros: Lghtweight (26 lbs), easy-fold design, maneuverability, and smooth pushing experience. Has a large canopy and has a bassinet add-on option.
Cons: The wheels are plastic and there’s no suspension, so the ride can be stiff.
Cybex Gazelle (~$800)- In-line. Requires the purchase of a second seat ($230)
Pros: Smooth and maneuverable ride, sturdy fabric
Cons: Limited leg room, hardnesses can be hard to adjust.
Bumbleride Indie Twin ($899) - Side by Side
Pros: Smooth and maneuverable ride, sturdy fabric, great suspension and air tires. Fits well through doors. Has an additional bassinet option for $219.
Cons: It can be heavy and doesn’t have a full seat recline.
UPPAbaby Vista V3 Stroller ($960) - Tandem, In-Line. Requires the purchase of a second seat ($219) and/or bassinet ($199)
Pros: Features full recline and bassinet options. Easy to click in car seats You can leave car seat adapters in when folding the stroller. Smooth ride and easy to maneuver with one hand.
Cons: Its premium price and size might be prohibitive for some families. A lot of twin parents don't realize the lower, front seat has a lower weight and height limit, so something to keep in mind if your twins grow at different speeds. There’s no way to have two toddler seats, only one toddler seat (which comes with the stroller) and a Rumble Seat (which only fits the lower position). The toddler seat has a weight capacity of 50 pounds and height limit of 40", while the RumbleSeat V2+ holds a child up to 40 pounds and 36" in height, whichever comes first. The previous model RumbleSeat (2015-2023) holds a child up to 35 pounds.
Bugaboo Donkey 5 Twin (~$1,989) - Side-by-side
Note Bugaboo has two different side-by-side stroller options, the Bugaboo Donkey Twin and the Duo. The Duo is meant for kids of different ages and only comes with one bassinet.
Pros: Easy to maneuver, good storage, comes with different configuration options including single to twin mode, and reversible seats. Has large wheels and comes with a bassinet option.
Cons: One of the most expensive options. Can be heavy, bulky, and wide and doesn’t always fit through doors. The black reportedly bleaches from the sun, so twin parents recommend getting the gray.
We actually went with two strollers for two different use cases.
We have the Bumbleride Indie Twin for everyday. We love it because it’s durable, has inflated tires which are great for comfort on all surfaces (I’ve even jogged with it; what a workout!), easy to push, and maneuverable. It lays almost flat, so our kiddos can nap in it well and has a good deal of storage. We used infant inserts when they were babies and it has car seat adapters for our Nuna Pipa infant car seats. However, it is heavy (36 lbs, although I think in line with most double strollers) and takes up a good deal of room in our mid-size SUV, so we don’t bring it for travel.
We have the Zoe Twin for travel. We love it because it’s so light (23 lbs) and easy to push. It folds down decently compactly and has decent storage. What we don’t love about it is that it can’t handle bumpy roads well, it doesn’t lay as flat as our Bumbleride, and the footrest isn’t as long as our day-to-day stroller. Our kiddos don’t seem to complain about it and love it. We also love that it has a bumper bar, so we can attach a food tray for the kids to use to put their drinks and snacks on.
Double strollers are expensive. Keep an eye out for sales such as Prime Day, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Black Friday, etc. We ended up buying our Bumbleride Indie Twin and the accessories 5 months before the twins came because there were supply chain issues and we wanted to make sure they came in time. We were on the waitlist for a Zoe Indie Twin because they had sold out. That probably isn’t as much of an issue, but if you can take advantage of sales, why not?
Another thing that made buying a stroller easier was keeping an eye on discounts via cashback portals sites such as Rakuten or Mr. Rebates. For example, Albee Baby has a bunch of sales all the time, and if you buy through the Rakuten or Mr. Rebates rebate portal, you can get an additional 2% cash back on top of any sales discounts.
If you have a baby registry going, don’t hesitate to put it on your baby registry and make it a group gift. If it doesn’t get purchased, most registries give you a baby registry completion discount code for anywhere from 5%-15% off your registry. For example, Amazon gives Prime Members 15% off for your baby registry completion discount to be used 60 days before your due date for up to 90 days after.
Choosing the right stroller for your twins is about balancing your specific needs with the features that matter most to you. I remember as a first-time parent and parent of twins being super stressed out about optimizing for everything. Learn from me and come to terms that you can’t get everything right and every double stroller will have some sort of compromise. The kiddos won’t remember what stroller they spent time in, but will remember all the adventures and walks they go on with you and the hugs they got when you lifted them out from the stroller. Remember, the right stroller should support the comfort and safety of your little ones AND make life easier for you, you amazing twin parent. Happy strolling!
