How to Choose the Best Double Pram

With over a decade experience helping parents choose the best pram, baby carriers and car seats one of the most fun and fascinating things for me is helping someone choose the best double pram for their family.

That said it’s probably one of the hardest purchasing decisions I’ve seen parents agonise over.

Because there’s no perfect option, and with twice the seats there are twice the compromises to be made. 

So let’s start by unpacking what your options are and why you might choose one over the other. 

Alternatively skip straight to recommendations and reviews – Best Double Prams Australia

Full Sized Side by Side Double Pram

Popular Models – Baby Jogger city mini GT2, Mountain Buggy Duet, Bumbleride Indie Twin

Pros: 

• Easiest to push. With the weight of both children directed over the rear wheels you’ll have the best experience walking, steering, popping up over the curb, manoeuvring around. 

• Bigger Seats. Typically* side by side double prams are able to accommodate taller children and may offer a higher weight limit per seat than the other types of double pram. 

• All in one fold. Typically* side by side double prams can be folded all in one without needing to remove both seats to load in and out of the car. 

• Good for twins or siblings. A full sized side-by-side double pram is often going to be the best option for twins for most families, but due to the overall size, weight and sturdiness of a full sized pram they will also be able to accommodate children of different size and weight. 

Considerations: 

• Width. While even the widest side by side double prams should still fit through a standard external doorway (as long as you go pretty straight on) you might struggle with internal doorways and also supermarket checkouts. 

• Lightest Lifting Weight. The total weight of a pram is often not the key number you should be looking for, you want to think about what is the lightest weight I will actually be lifting to load the pram in and out of the car. Typically* with a side by side pram you can’t remove the seats so the total weight is the weight you’ll have to lift up to put into your car.

• Forward facing seats. Typically* the seats in a side by side double pram are fixed to the frame, which is why you have the all in one fold and bigger seats. Some side by side double prams will have the option of a parent facing cot/bassinet, but you won’t be able to have a 6 month seat facing you. 

*The above describes a typical side by side double pram. The exceptions to this are prams like Bugaboo Donkey and Valco Baby Snap Duo Ultra, with modular seats on a side by side frame. Benefit of this is the option of parent facing, however the seats will be narrower and shorter than a pram with fixed forward facing seats. Although you can/have to remove the seats to load and unload from the car which can be both a positive and a consideration, depending on how you look at it. 

Compact Side by Side Double Stroller

Popular models – Baby Jogger city tour 2, Mountain Buggy Nano, Joie Aire Twin Stroller

Pros: 

• Smaller footprint. Compact side by sides are going to be both narrower and shorter than most other styles of double pram.
• Compact when folded. Perfect if you have limited boot or storage space.
• Lightweight. The all in one fold shouldn’t be an issue with a compact side by side double pram because they typically weigh around 10-12kgs, making them about the weight of an average single pram. 
• Most affordable. Because features add weight, compact and lightweight strollers are stripped right back to basics to keep that weight down, which means they’re cheaper to manufacture and so more affordable to buy. 

Considerations

• Weight distribution. If you have a double stroller that weighs 11kgs and a toddler that weighs 14kgs in one side and a infant that weighs 5kgs in the other you are going to feel the unbalanced weight when pushing and steering. 

• Small wheels and no suspension. Big rubber wheels and decent suspension through the frame are two of the heaviest things on a pram, so you won’t find these on a lightweight stroller. Which means these strollers won’t compete on performance. 

• Fewer features. You likely won’t find features like an adjustable handlebar, one handed recline, deeply padded seats on a lightweight stroller. 

• Smaller seats and lower weight capacity. Typically lightweight double strollers will have a weight limit of 15kgs per seat. And the width of the seats will be narrower than full sized options. 

In-Line Double Prams (front and back)

Popular Models: UPPAbaby Vista, Baby Jogger city select, Redsbaby Nuvo

Pros – 

• Single to Double. In almost all cases this style of double pram can be converted from single to double so can be the best options for siblings of different ages, as well as twins.

• Most Configurations. With the extra space you can often have multiple different configurations with the two seats so you can arrange your pram in whatever way suits your family or your day.
  
• Biggest basket space. Because the back seat is positioned higher above the basket and the front seat is lower down in front of the basket you often have full access from the back and the ability to really load up with everything you need for your little ones and more.
  
• Width of a single pram. You can confidently fit through supermarket checkouts, doors and not feel like you’re taking up the whole footpath. 

Considerations

• Steering and weight distribution. With one child positioned over the front wheels you are going to feel drag as you steer left to right.
  
• Limited configurations when using a cot/bassinet. While you do absolutely have more options there will still be some limitations if you’re using a cot. 
• Cost. These can be the more expensive option and there can also be hidden costs in the form of adapters and additional pieces to build up your double pram as your family grows. 

Stacked in-line Double (Top/Bottom)

Examples: Joolz Geo3, Nuna Demi Grow, Edwards & Co Olive

Pros 

• Smaller footprint. Typically a bit narrower but longer when compared to a compact side by side but overall similar dimensions.
  
• Exceptional weight distribution. This is the easiest style of pram to push and steer with the weight stacked and directed over the rear wheels. 

• Converts Single to Double. Great option for siblings, some models may be suitable for twins. 

Considerations

• Limited basket space. The second seat is essentially positioned in the basket you lose most, if not all, of the basket space to the second seat.

• Limited configurations. Bottom seat/cot can only face forward, the top seat may also be limited to only face forward. And may also be restricted to which child can sit in which seat based on age/weight.

• Limited visibility. The child in the second seat is not going to be able to see forward. Which is fine for a newborn in a bassinet and may also be suitable to a little one who enjoys a bit of quiet time or a nap in their pram, but not suitable to a child who wants to look around at the world when out and about. 

Final thoughts

Ultimately, the best double pram for your family depends on your specific needs, lifestyle and budget. Consider factors such as the age difference between your children, your available space, and how much you’ll be needing to lift your pram into the car or if you’re mostly going from long walks from home. 

The goal here isn’t to find the perfect double pram, but to find the one with the compromises you can live with.

And if you’re having twins it may not be unreasonable to consider two prams. One lightweight compact stroller that lives in your car for regular errands and full sized pram (whether side by side, in line or stacked) for bigger adventures. 

Whichever option you go with the best thing you can do at this point is get into a store and start playing, folding, lifting and comparing in person because the overall size, weight and proportions is the biggest factor to consider when choosing the right double pram for your family.