Double Pushchair Reviews – Tandem Pushchairs

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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.

August 9th, 2009 Comment (0) Double Pushchair Reviews, Tandem Pushchairs

Twin Pushchair vs Tandem Pushchair

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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.

August 8th, 2009 Comment (0) Tandem Pushchairs, Twin Pushchairs