The Best Double Stroller

who should buy a double stroller?

There are generally two groups of parents who will shop for double strollers: parents expecting multiples, and parents with a toddler and an infant. While both sets of parents certainly have different needs, we found that the Baby Jogger City Select reasonably accommodates both groups. For these parents, a double stroller belongs on the “must have” list as a way to shuttle the youngest family members safely when outside the home. The prices of double strollers run the gamut, from as inexpensive as $150 to as high as $2000. While a top-of-the-line, high-ticket double stroller is not necessary for all families, it’s important to remember that this investment will be paying for itself for several years to come (and could even have an extended lifespan if you have more children).

Julie Vallese is a consumer safety expert for the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA) and she says that parents should take three major areas into consideration before deciding on a double stroller:

• Lifestyle. How do you plan to use the stroller? Do you need something to roll down the sidewalks of your neighborhood, or inside stores? Or are you looking for something you can take off-road occasionally? How often will you use the stroller? These factors are important to picking out the one that will ultimately fit the needs of your family and will be able to hold up for several years.
• Budget. Not all growing families can afford the high prices of some strollers, but even ones that seem to have a steeper price tag should be considered. “A stroller is an investment. It is one of the more expensive items parents will buy,” said Vallese. “If you want it to last from birth to age 4, and then even longer for other kids, you need to do your research and decide how much upfront you can afford.”
• Comfort. For some families, a stroller that does the bare minimum is more than enough. For others, a larger storage basket, or adjustable handlebars, or even technology accommodations like places to plug in smartphones or mp3 players could all feel necessary to fully enjoying the purchase.

“All of the strollers on the market must pass the same exact safety standards and regulations, so that is a given,” said Vallese. “So families should take the time to really think about what they are going to need, and not just at birth, but as the child grows—really up to age 4.”

The JPMA does offer some tips on things to double check when buying a stroller and outlines some safety reminders for secure use of the strollers.

There is one other piece of advice Vallese says she always shares with parents buying a stroller or double stroller: Be sure it actually fits in the trunk or back of your car.

“The first double stroller that I bought would not fit into the trunk of my car, so that was a problem,” she said. “You should be able to test drive your stroller. Ask to take it out to the parking lot, practice folding it and putting it in your car. It’s an investment so really try to treat it that way.”

Stephanie Gaitan is in charge of product and sales support at MacroBaby, an independent baby gear retailer located in Orlando. At any given time, the store has four side-by-side and four tandem double stroller assembled and on the sales floor, along with several single models that come with a second seat option (like our pick, the City Select) and a few stand-and-sit models. She says that the City Select is her top recommendation for parents who are shopping for twins or multi-age children.

“Many parents appreciate that the seats are basically on the same level, so one child never feels tucked behind another and they both have the same views of the world,” said Gaitan. “Plus there are so many configurations. You can put in a bassinet, or a car seat, and both seats recline.”

Like Vallese, Gaitan says it is important to do plenty of research and testing of double stroller models before deciding on the final purchase.

“I tell parents that they should feel good about spending a little more on a stroller, or double stroller, because if they go the cheap route, they will end up needing to invest again,” she said.

How we tested the best double strollers

We went to a baby gear superstore where we had the opportunity to push and fold around a dozen of the most popular double stroller models, including our top three. When using them right after each other, it became apparent that the City Select was lighter, easier to navigate and overall more comfortable for the parents pushing it. We were also able to remove the second seat in under a minute and fold up the entire stroller in about 10 seconds. We asked the store experts to help us in the folding process and to show us the features (like the large storage basket and handbrake) that we had read so much praise about online.   

From there, we went online to compare their responses to a wider audience of parents who have purchased, used and loved double strollers in recent years. After reading through hundreds of reviews, we compared notes between what models parents recommend and what features they most often said they wanted or appreciated in a double stroller. We ruled out some of the lower-priced models early on, deciding that we wanted to recommend a stroller with long term durability, even if the price tag was higher than base models.