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.

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!