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.

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 double 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 – 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.  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 twin or a tandem style double 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 Double 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 style 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.