Cosatto You 2 Twin Pushchairs

Last year my sister, thinking it would take as long to conceive as it did the first time,  “accidentally” became pregnant with her second child just a few months after her first was born.  Naturally delighted, she nevertheless instantly realized that having two small children just 13 months apart was going to be a challenge – especially when it came to getting out and about, and especially since they lived two floors up!  It wasn’t long after baby number two arrived that she decided she just had to have a double pushchair.  She had thought that the obvious choice when the baby arrived was to put the baby in a sling whilst still using the single pushchair for the toddler.  Unfortunately, unlike his sibling, the baby hated the sling!  Short trips to the shops became audio assault courses as the baby screamed in the sling and the toddler competed for attention.

As a result I was drafted in to help with babysitting one weekend whilst my sister and brother-in-law went out shopping for a double pushchair.  After the first day of shopping, there was still no pushchair that quite fit their requirements. This might seem crazy to a non-parent, as there appear to be about 2 million pushchairs currently on the market, however it is in fact the case that there are plenty of things that need to be taken into consideration to find the right double pushchair for you.  Luckily, having been through it with my sister, we’ve put together some useful information in this website to help you whether you are looking for a double pushchair for twins or whether its for a baby and toddler combo!

Twin Pushchair vs. Tandem Pushchair

First and foremost you will need to decide whether to go for a twin pushchair or a tandem pushchair.  The difference is that a twin pushchair is where the babies sit side by side; whilst on a tandem pushchair the chairs are arranged one in front of the other.  There are pros and cons to both versions: the main things to consider being weight – any double pushchair is going to be heavier than a single one, but you’d be surprised at how incredibly heavy some of them are compared to others; next, is maneuverability – twin pushchairs can sometimes be very wide whilst tandem pushchairs can be unwieldy; then you need to look at chair reclining positions  – if you have twins and you want to use your double pushchair from birth it’ll be important that both seats can fully recline flat; safety issues are imperative – I can’t think of any pushchairs that don’t now come with 5-point seat harnesses as standard but, particularly with double pushchairs, you will need to check that the chair is evenly balanced so that there is no risk of it toppling over and that the brake function is easy to use; last, but by no means least, how easily will your pushchair fold up and will it fit in you car?

Special Features

Well, there aren’t really any serious special features for pushchairs – none of them come with in built DVD players, which I think is a trick that’s been missed!  Having said that, there are some not-so-exciting features worth considering.  There is a growing trend in the pushchair market for so called “urban” and “off-road” type pushchairs.  These exist in the double format too and include either possibly useful things, like a cup holder for your triple skinny latte (?), or definitely useful things such as extra tough wheels for going on unsealed surfaces – very practical if you live near country lanes or the beach or plan to take the babies hiking.  Both twin and tandem double pushchairs can come with either six or four sets of wheels (twin) or four or three set of wheels (tandem): thus resulting in either a more traditional style or a more sporty style, and claims that the three-wheeler versions are easier to get around with.  Certain models of double pushchairs have compatible carrycots and or car seats that clip onto the pushchair chassis and are (usually) sold separately.   I have also seen a very snazzy tandem chair unit that clips onto a single pushchair chassis but this would presuppose that you had bought that particular brand of single pushchair with the thought in the back of your head that one day you may well have either babies in short succession or twins!

Other Considerations

Like most things you’ll be buying for your babies, you’ll want to know that you‘ve picked a good quality brand – most of the established pushchair brands have double pushchair models – but it also pays to search for reviews online written by actual parents who’ve used them.  If your toddler is a little older, say around three, and soon to be outgrowing a pushchair, there are also a number of alternatives which might work for you, such as the buggy board platform which attaches to the back of a single pushchair for a toddler to stand on.  There’s a lot to consider, so read on for more help with your double pushchair purchase.

The Graco Stadium Duo is conveniently designed to hold two passengers. The stroller or pushchair can accommodate two toddlers or a toddler and an infant with plenty of extra space. The stroller has a convenient storage area underneath the seats that allows you to place shopping bags or a diaper bag and blanket below. The seats come with 2 x 5 point harnesses to secure your children for protection. The large stroller also has a handy tray for the children to use as a play area.

Even though the pushchair is large and roomy, it is easy to handle and maneuver. It also comes with a unique one hand – one second fold feature that allows the stroller to fold in one easy motion. This is an advantage for people that would like to take the stroller with them on outings. It can be compressed to fit in the trunk of a car or inside an SUV or minivan. The backrests on the seats can also be positioned into either reclining or sitting with just one hand. Parents often have their hands full so it is convenient to have items you can operate with just one hand.

The Graco Stadium Duo double pushchair has an automatic locking feature for when the stroller is folded. This means that it will not pop open if you go over a few bumps in the road along the way. Some other features it offers are UV tested canopies for sunshade, transparent hood windows for a child’s ease of viewing outside and an elevated back seat to allow the older child a better view of his or her surroundings. The pushchair is available in black or gray and black with pink seats and trim. It is designed to fit children ranging in age from birth to 3 years.

Is it possible to buy a double pram?

Well, in short, yes it is.  But when you’re looking at twin prams or double pushchair reviews you will have to look at the product description carefully because these days people are confusing the two terms.

You see, back in the long, long ago a pram referred to a rather cumbersome contraption that would allow your newborn baby to lie completely flat when being pushed around.  This is pretty important as in the early months, before baby can sit up unsupported, the spine is still developing and lying flat will ensure that the spine develops well – especially if your baby is going to be spending lots of time in the pram.

In these modern times, traditional baby prams have been replaced with different models of pushchair which have either reclinable seats (which have various degrees of fully flat positions) or the ability to attach a baby carrycot to the pushchair chassis or to the seat unit to have a fully flat surface for baby to lie in.

If you’re expecting twins, it will be very important to find a double pushchair that has two fully reclinable seats or enough space to attach two carrycots.  In general you will find that very few brands make tandem double pushchairs models with the capacity for both seats to do this.  If you’re totally set on a tandem double pushchair, then this will reduce your choice quite considerably.  In fact, in our review of five tandem double pushchairs, only one – the Bebecar Vector Duo – is suitable for twins from birth and coming in at £650 it was the most expensive (and that did not include the two carrycots or footmuffs).  Of course, the other option is  to carry your babies around in a sling for three months until they are ready for a tandem double pushchair – but that is hardly practical, and pretty much impossible if you’re on your own!

However, most twin double pushchair models do have fully reclinable seats or carrycot attachments, which means there is more choice and more chance of you finding one that will suit all your needs.  They are also a lot better value for money.  For example the Tako Duo Driver – which also allows you to have your babies facing you – ranges from £400 – £700 and includes two carrycots, two footmuffs and a matching bag, and the even better value Cosatto You 2 Twin costs around £220 and comes with two head supports (great for small babies), two cosy toes, two chest pads and two bottle carriers.

Graco Stadium Duo Tandem Pushchair – from £120 Suitable: rear seat suitable from birth; front seat suitable from 6 months Weight: 13.6kg

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This is a very good quality, sturdy tandem pushchair from a reliable brand name.  Only the rear seat is suitable from birth, so this pushchair is not ideal if you are expecting twins.  And also the handles are not adjustable, being set at 101cm from the ground, so this might not be great if you’re a little short! However, for the baby and toddler combo, this double pushchair is excellent – it is easy to handle with lockable front wheels, has a large storage basket underneath and and useful one hand fold mechanism. The rear baby seat can be used in conjunction with a Graco infant car seat( sold separately) and another nice touch is that there are play trays on both the front and rear seats, and I like that it comes in a range of colour schemes.

Graco Quattro Tour Double – from £200 Suitable: rear seat suitable from birth; front seat suitable from 6mths Weight: 17kg

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Although this is the sportier-looking tandem double pushchair from Graco, it is a little heavier than the more traditional version.  On the other hand it has a more compact length and height and has a sleeker design with added extras which work well for busy urban parents including a raincover, a large drop down basket, two cupholders, a parent’s storage pocket and a play tray for the back seat.  Unfortunately, again, this double pushchair from Graco is not suitable for twins from birth as only the rear seat is adaptable for newborns.  The Quattro Tour Double is also compatible with Graco car seats from infant to 12 months (sold separately).

Obaby XI Double Tandem – from £300 Suitable: main seat suitable from birth; extra seat suitable from 6 months
Weight: 15 kg
Phil & Teds Vibe Pushchair & Double Kit – from £500 Suitable: main seat suitable from birth; double kit seat suitable from 6 months Weight: 11.7kg

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The Obaby and the Phil & Teds tandem pushchairs are quite similar, the difference in prices seems to reflect the perceived cachet of each brand and neither can be described as cheap tandem pushchairs – though it could be argued that the Phil & Teds pushchair has a more streamline look and is the lightest tandem pushchair on the market.  Both pushchairs are of the three-wheel urban/ sporty/ off road style and both are best suited for baby and toddler combo, as only the main pushchair seat is suitable from birth.  The main thing to be aware of with these models is that the extra seat essentially attaches to the main pushchair seat (either below the main seat or above it) – this is quite practical as, when your toddler has outgrown a pushchair, you can easily revert to a single pushchair for the now also older baby; however some parents may not like the fact that the second seat rides quite low to the ground.

Bebecar Vector Duo Tandem Pushchair – from £650 Suitable:  from birth  Weight: chassis only 10.5kg.

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The Bebecar Vector Duo isn’t cheap, but if you can afford it, the versatility it offers is very much worth it and makes it the best tandem pushchair we could find.  Not only is this a very good looking tandem double pushchair, it has all the useful features you need including a compact lightweight, folding chassis, front swivel wheels, one-touch wheel lock button and adjustable handle height.  It is the only tandem pushchair on this list that is suitable for twins from birth – and if you`re expecting twins it makes sense to spend that little extra to ensure you have a durable, versatile pushchair that will see you right through from birth to beyond toddler phase. The best thing for me though, is that the lovely padded seats have four recline positions (including flat) and are fully reversible, so you can have your babies facing you, facing away or facing each other.  And the chassis is compatible with the Bebecar Easymaxi infant car seat and the Bebecar Minibob carrycot (both sold separately) – so you can configure it with any double combination of chair, carrycot or car seat that suits you.

Buying a pushchair for just one baby can be a minefield – there are so many different models and brands to choose from – so you would think that buying a double pushchair would be even more confusing.  Well, yes and no.  It is more tricky because you have to make sure all your needs are catered for – especially if you’re buying a double pushchair for a baby and a toddler to share.  On the other hand there are some simple decisions you can take quite quickly which will narrow down your search considerably.

The first decision is whether to go for a tandem or twin pushchair.  Below I’ve compiled a handy list of the pros and cons of each type.  Once you’ve decided which type to go for, then you will need to consider a few more essential questions that are relevant for both twin and tandem double pushchairs.  These are:

• Does it comply with safety standards? All pushchairs should now be fitted with a 5 point harness to keep your little ones secure in their seat.

• Will it fit through the door/ in your car/ into the storage area in your home? Make sure you measure your car boot space etc, before you buy.

• Does it have adequate undercarriage shopping basket storage? Do not underestimate just how much stuff your little darlings will need!

• Do you want one that is compatible with infant car seats and/or carrycots? Very few double pushchairs have this feature which is fairly standard with single pushchairs.

Twin Pushchairs – where the seats are arranged next to each other

Pros

• Usually lighter than the tandem ones

• More likely to be suitable from birth (see below)

• Some parents feel this style allows them to be closer to both children whilst with the tandem one you can feel like the front seat is very far away

Cons

• Can be difficult getting through doors, onto escalators and lifts as they are wider than tandem versions

• Some models have quite narrow seats which is not great if you have an older toddler

• Children sit next to each other, which is fine if they are nice to each other!

Tandem Double Pushchairs – where the seats are arranged one in front of the other

Pros

• Easier fit through doorways

• More difficult for toddler (usually in the front seat) to annoy baby

Cons

• Can be tricky getting onto escalators and lifts as they are longer than twin versions

• Usually quite heavy and can be difficult to manoeuvre

• Usually quite bulky, even when folded

• Fewer models are suitable from birth for twins

Attention if you’re expecting twins!

Almost all the twin double pushchairs I’ve seen are suitable from birth, whereas with the majority of tandem double pushchairs you will find that only one of the seats is suitable from birth – so if you’re determined to go for a tandem, you may be limited in your choice.

OBaby Apollo Twin Pushchair – from £90

Obaby Apollo Twin

suitable: from 3 months to 3 years weight: 13.6 kg

This is the cheapest product in this list and that is just as well, since it cannot be used from birth and therefore will only be useful as a secondary holiday pushchair when your babies are a bit older. However, as a holiday pushchair, it is great! It’s not too heavy, has a compact umbrella folding mechanism and a handy carry handle for getting it in and out of storage. The seats adjust separately, the hoods are detachable, there is a decent sized shopping basket and a matching rain cover.  It also comes in a range of colours including black, pink, brown, blue & pink.

Graco Duo Sport – from £140

suitable: from birth to 3 years weight:10.2 kg

Graco Duo Sport

This is a very practical lightweight cheap twin pushchair from the trusted brand Graco and is quite affordable.  Absolutely the best thing about it is that it is really compact when folded – great if your car or house is already jam packed with baby stuff! – and it folds down quite easily with one hand and stands on its own when folded which is handy too.  It also has independently adjustable seats, the sun canopies can be removed if you want, and there is a large undercarriage shopping basket to carry all their things!  My only gripe is that it only comes in this navy blue colour and, frankly, I’m not completely in love with the plain, slightly utilitarian feel of the design.

Cosatto You 2 Twin Pushchairs – from £220

suitable: from Birth weight: 11.3 kg

Cosatto You 2 Twin Pushchairs

There are two really great things about the Cosatto You 2 Twin Pushchairs – one is the great value price and the other is the free 4 year guarantee (when you register with manufacturer within 28 days of purchase).  I also really love the  funky/ fun designs which include 2 Peas in  Pod, Sugar & Spice, You & Me, and Sis & Bro.  It is suitable from birth and the seats operate separately from each other with  three recline positions and there are two independent removable canopies.  Included as standard are matching two head supports (great for small babies), two cosy toes, two chest pads, two bottle carriers, two undercarriage baskets and a rain cover.  Finally I think the fact that the wheels have a lockable swivel function is great – it’s easy to negotiate normal ground and sturdy enough to tackle rougher terrain too. Really great value, headache free and one of the few twin pushchairs from birth!

Out n About Nipper Double 360 – from £300

suitable: from birth to 4 years weight: 10 kg

Out n About Double Pushchair

This has got to be one of my favourite twin  pushchairs as it is one of the lightest on the market – at just 10 kg, it fits through most standard doors and the front wheel turns a full 360 degrees making it more easy to manoeuvre, all of which means that it is ideal for quick trips to the shops, getting in and out of the house and negotiating escalators and lifts!  It is also suitable from birth, which is great for twins.  I also like that the multi position recline seats work independent of each other and that there is a viewing window in the canopy so you can keep an eye on your babies. However, whilst it is sold with a rain cover as standard, depending on the retailer you may have to buy other extras separately such as the undercarriage shopping basket, footmuff, fleece, and shade/ mosquito mesh. Another complaint is that the air-filled tyres can puncture easily, so it is worth also getting a repair kit!

Tako Duo-driver 2 in 1 Double Pram & Pushchair – from £400

suitable: from birth weight: 26 kg

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The Tako Duo-driver has got to be the king of all twin double pushchairs – especially if you are indeed expecting twins as this is a seriously sturdy bit of kit which will get you through any terrain from birth and beyond.  It is pricey – I have seen it on offer from as little as £400 but also as much as £750 – but as you can see from the image, the versatility if offers by being easily adapted from pram style to pushchair style and the added extras as standard which are often sold separately with other brands makes it pretty cost effective. The added extras are two snug  footmuffs, two carry cots with removable hoods and soft cotton lining, a mosquito net, a rain cover and large matching nappy bag.  Other great aspects are the built in safety and ventilation features, the huge undercarriage shopping bag, the adjustable handle height and position and the easy fold mechanism.  Plus I personally quite like the fun colour schemes – I have also seen it in grey/cream, olive green/ cream, and cream patterned versions.  The only downside is that it is rather hefty at 26 kg – but hey, that’s really going to help keep you fit so that you’re able to keep up with your little ones!