Side-by-Side vs Tandem: A Double Pushchair Buying Guide for Twins and Siblings

Choosing a double pushchair is harder than choosing a single, because you’re balancing two children, two different ages or needs, a car boot, your front door and your own arms. The biggest decision is the layout: side by side or tandem (one seat behind the other). This guide compares the two, explains which suits twins, a newborn and a toddler, or two under two, and covers the checks that matter before you buy, including whether you need a double at all. If you’re still at the very start of your search, our pushchair guide is a good place to begin.

EDITOR NOTE: Babymore’s pushchair and travel system ranges currently contain no double, twin or tandem models, so this guide is written as impartial buying advice and its CTAs point to the single pushchair range. If Babymore adds a double, add product links in the “What to look for” section and the Final Thoughts.

Quick Answer

Choose side by side if you want both children to have the same view, plenty of storage and a simpler set-up for twins, and you can live with the extra width. Choose tandem if you need to get through narrow doorways, shops and pavements and don’t mind a longer, often heavier pushchair with one child sitting behind the other. For twins, side by side is usually the easiest. For a newborn and a toddler, check that the seat for the baby can lie flat, and consider a single pushchair with a buggy board if your older child can walk part of the way. Whatever you choose, measure your tightest doorway and your boot before you buy.

First: Do You Actually Need a Double?

A double pushchair is a big purchase, so it’s worth checking before you commit. Which? says that for twins you’ll probably need one, but otherwise it suggests thinking about your older child’s age and willingness to walk, how far you go, whether you use public transport and where you’ll store a bulky pushchair.

There are three common alternatives:

• A single pushchair plus a buggy board. Which? says most buggy boards suit children aged around two to five, with weight limits from about 20kg up to 25kg on some models. They take up less room than a double and are easier in crowded places, but you need to check the board is compatible with your pushchair, and shorter adults can find them awkward to use.
• A single pushchair and a baby carrier. If your baby is small and your toddler walks short distances, a carrier keeps one hand free for the toddler.
• A convertible pushchair that starts as a single and adds a second seat later. This is a good middle ground when the age gap is small. If you’re comparing how pushchairs adapt as children grow, see our 2-in-1 vs 3-in-1 pram pushchair guide.

A compact, lightweight single pushchair can also be a useful second pushchair once your older child is walking more. Our guide to choosing a compact pushchair explains what to look for, and the Yara compact stroller is one lightweight option. Take a look at Babymore’s prams and pushchairs if you need a single.

Side-by-Side Pushchairs Explained

In a side-by-side double, the seats sit next to each other, like two singles joined together.

Pros

• Both children get the same view and can see and talk to each other.
• Storage is usually generous, and the basket is often easy to reach.
• It’s often simpler to fit two newborns, as each seat has the same features.
• Basic umbrella-fold models tend to be lighter, according to Which?

Cons

• They’re wide. Which? warns that some narrow doors will be a struggle, and that they’re not really suited to public transport.
• They’re less flexible if you often go out with only one child.
• They can be harder to manoeuvre around shop aisles and tight corners.

Best for: twins, two children of a similar age and weight, and families who mostly use wide pavements, parks and the car.

Tandem Pushchairs Explained

In a tandem (or in-line) double, one seat sits in front of the other.

Pros

• They can be as narrow as a single pushchair, so they fit through standard doors and shop entrances more easily.
• A sleeping baby in the back seat is less likely to be disturbed by an older sibling.
• Good for a baby and a toddler, because the older child can sit at the front.

Cons

• They’re longer, which can make turning and parking harder, and the chassis is often heavier.
• The child in the back may have a restricted view.
• Storage is often limited.
• Not every tandem suits two newborns, since some have only one seat suitable from birth.

Best for: narrow doorways, busy pavements and shops, and families with a baby and a toddler.

Side by Side vs Tandem: Quick Comparison

Best Double Pushchair for Twins

For twins, a side-by-side is usually the most practical choice, because both seats have the same recline, hood and harness set-up, and both babies can lie flat from birth. Which? points to side-by-side twin travel systems with car seat and carrycot options for newborn twins. Things to look for:

• Two lie-flat or carrycot options from birth, or two compatible car seats.
• A width that suits your home. Check your front door and the tightest door you pass through every day.
• Weight and fold. Can you lift it into the boot on your own?
• Easy-reach storage for two sets of essentials.

If you’re planning to use infant car seats on the chassis, our guide to choosing a car seat explains the stages, and it’s worth checking how two car seats will fit in your car before you buy. Setting up for two at home as well? Our guide to the best nursing chair for twins covers feeding two babies comfortably.

Best Double Pushchair for a Newborn and a Toddler

This is the trickiest scenario, because your children have very different needs: a newborn who needs to lie flat, and a toddler who wants to sit up and see. Our guide on how to choose a pushchair for a newborn explains what a baby needs from the very first weeks.

• Check the newborn seat. Some tandems have only one seat suitable from birth, so check which seat takes the carrycot or car seat. Newer convertible models may need adaptors to fit a newborn and an older child.
• Check the weight limit for the older child’s seat. Limits vary by model, and a toddler can outgrow a seat’s weight limit or legroom sooner than you expect, so confirm the figure with the manufacturer.
• Think about how long you’ll need it. Many toddlers begin walking longer distances by two or three, which is why some parents prefer a single with a buggy board, or a convertible that goes back to a single. Our travel system lifecycle guide shows how long each stage typically lasts.
• Consider the single-child mode. If you’ll often have just one child, make sure the pushchair is still pleasant to use as a single.

Double Pushchair for Two Under Two

If your children are close in age, you’ll likely need two proper seats for a while, and the best choice is often a convertible or a tandem that suits your older child’s size. Make sure both seats are suitable for the age they’ll be used at, that you can steer it comfortably with a full load, and that it’s easy to fold with one hand while holding a child. Expecting a second baby? Our tips to prepare older kids for a new sibling may help the transition.

What to Look For Before You Buy

For general checks that apply to any pushchair, see what to consider when buying a pram. For a double, add these:

1. Width. Measure your narrowest doorway. In the UK, the most typical internal door leaf is about 762mm wide in England and Wales, and the clear opening is slightly narrower than the leaf, so compare the pushchair’s width on the spec sheet with your actual gap, not just the door size. Don’t forget the front door, the lift and shop entrances.
2. Weight and fold. Lift it, fold it and put it in the boot, ideally while holding something heavy. Check it fits with your usual car luggage.
3. Boot and car fit. Measure the boot, and check how it folds (flat, upright, or in sections).
4. Newborn suitability. Look for carrycots or lie-flat positions for every seat a baby will use.
5. Seat weight limits. Check them for each seat, not just the headline figure.
6. Storage. A big basket matters more with two children, and Which? includes storage in its tests.
7. Steering and handling. Test it with weight in both seats, on a slope and around a tight corner. If you often walk on grass, gravel or rough paths, read our guide to pushchair wheels for uneven ground.
8. Brakes, harnesses and covers. Check that both seats have secure five-point harnesses, easy brakes and compatible rain covers and sunshades.
9. Budget. Which? has found a simple side-by-side can cost about £120, high-scoring doubles around £300 to £400, and premium travel systems up to about £1,500, so decide what matters before you shop.
10. Test in person. Try it with both children if you can. A pushchair that looks fine online can feel very different with two real passengers.

Safety Tips for Double Pushchairs

• Don’t overload the handles. Hanging heavy shopping bags on the handlebar can make the pushchair tip, particularly with a child in the back seat of a tandem. Use the basket instead.
• Use harnesses every time, and check both are adjusted to the child.
• Apply the brakes whenever you stop. This matters most at parks and play areas, so see our tips on pushchair safety at the playground.
• Keep within each seat’s weight limit.
• Watch for overheating. Two children in one pushchair can get warm quickly, so see how to keep your baby cool in a stroller or pushchair.

Looking after it matters too. Our guides on pushchair maintenance, how to clean a pushchair and how to store a stroller compactly are useful for keeping a bulky double in good shape, and our article on pram and pushchair accessories covers rain covers, footmuffs and more. As the weather turns, see how to get your pushchair ready for autumn and weatherproof your pushchair. If you’re planning a trip, see our guide to taking a pushchair on a plane, because a wide double can be harder to travel with, and our tips for half-term travel with a pushchair and choosing a travel pushchair.

Not Sure What Type You Need?

If you’re still working out the differences between prams, pushchairs, strollers and travel systems, our guide to the difference between a pram, buggy, pushchair, stroller and travel system is a good starting point, and pram vs pushchair explains which stage suits your baby. If your older child is about to move to a single pushchair, or your newborn needs a travel system, browse Babymore’s baby travel systems.

Final Thoughts

The right double pushchair depends on your children’s ages, your home and the places you go most. Side by side suits twins and wide-open routes. Tandem suits narrow spaces and a baby with a toddler. And if one child can walk or stand, a single pushchair with a buggy board may be all you need. Measure, lift, fold and test before you buy.

Browse Babymore’s prams and pushchairs for single pushchairs, or explore our baby travel systems, including the MeMore travel systems.

Frequently Asked Questions