Best Single To Double Stroller guide

When you first have a child, you’ll probably need a stroller at some point. There are many types on the market, and they all fit different needs. It can be very confusing at first. Do you need a single-to-double, travel, jogging, bassinet, travel system, umbrella, side-by-side, or maybe a wagon stroller?

Some people might even need multiple strollers; some might choose to have none. Not every baby likes to stay in them, so parents opt for alternative options such as baby-wearing.

Brief dictionary:

Travel stroller: Small, lightweight, has a small footprint when folded. Some can even fit an overhead compartment in airplanes. Since it’s designed to weigh as little as possible, it might lack other helpful day-to-day features. They are less maneuverable, with smaller wheels, smaller basket storage space, fewer recline options, and a fixed handle (no adjustability). It might not always be compatible with a bassinet or infant car seat.

Travel system: The travel system can be any stroller compatible with infant car seats. You can click it right on the stroller frame for short walks. This is an extremely popular option in America since most cities have a car-centric design. However, the car seat puts the baby in a position that is not advised for extended periods and is unsafe for sleep. It poses a risk of positional asphyxiation. For longer walks, it’s safer to use the bassinet attachment.

Single-to-double: Also called tandem stroller/convertible stroller/double inline stroller. At first glance, it is a regular stroller but a bit more robust. It has additional attachments on its frame that can be used to reconfigure it into a double stroller. They tend to be heavier (compared to a regular single stroller), but the extra construction weight is required to accommodate the second child. The important thing here is that it’s a single-lane vehicle, so moving it around through doors, airports, and subway entrance lanes won’t be challenging if you choose to do so. The children in this type of stroller are separated, so it might be a good thing if you don’t want them poking each other or an older sibling messing with a newborn. They are often chosen by expecting parents who plan on having another child close in age.

Side by side double: A favorite of twin parents. It’s two stroller seats, side by side, joined together. By the nature of it, they get pretty wide. 

Bassinet: A flat, enclosed cot space with a canopy that attaches to the stroller frame. Suitable for a baby up to 6 months old. Since newborns should sleep on flat surfaces, this is a safe bet for long walks with your new baby. Some strollers come with them; some need to be purchased separately. A standard in Europe, I found them more popular in walkable areas and cities in America.

Umbrella stroller: Usually inexpensive, lightweight, and easy to fold flat (as an umbrella). They lack many functionalities more robust strollers offer, but they are highly portable.

Jogging stroller: As the name suggests, these strollers are designed for parent running sessions. They feature three large wheels and suspension systems with high maneuverability and control on rougher terrain. They provide more comfort for the child (than a traditional stroller would while jogging), but they are unsuitable for newborns. I’ve seen many parents using them as their primary stroller.

Wagon: A category on its own. A wheeled cart-like vehicle with features that make it comfortable and more fun for children. It offers them more independence and movement flexibility than a stroller and is a common choice for outings to the beach or park. It is popular thanks to its weight capacity, age range, and increased storage.

TANDEM STROLLER – WHO IS IT FOR?

When shopping for a stroller, as a first-time parent, my primary interest was in a single-to-double travel system, as we knew we’d like to have another child close in age to our first. Because of that, I wanted to spend the money once rather than buy a second stroller later. It can even accommodate a third, older child on an added kiddie board attachment. If you are like me, this guide will be helpful to you.

I deployed an Excel spreadsheet once more to understand the market’s offerings and find the best single-to-double stroller.

THINGS TO CONSIDER

With single-to-doubles, there are a few key things to contemplate:

1. POSSIBLE configurations

Most of the strollers I consider here claim you can have around 20 different configurations, which is excellent; however, realistically, you’ll be using 5-6 max. What truly matters is if you’re happy about how the stroller functions on those you need most. For example, when using the bassinet attachment, I prefer an option when a newborn in a bassinet is up top and close to me and a toddler seat up front. The toddler likes to see the world and might want to get up and walk, but with the baby, I constantly check for things like temperature, sleep, comfort, breathing, or the pacifier placement (if you use one).

When our babies were around 6 months old, my mom group’s members started mentioning their babies hating the stroller. Some moms had only travel strollers as their primary stroller, and in this type of buggy, the seat can only face forward, not towards the parent. Seeing the caretaker comforts tiny babies, so they might tolerate the stroller walks better. I also loved talking to my son and describing the world around him. Fortunately, all the strollers’ toddler seats I’m reviewing face both ways.

2. Infant car seat compatibility

It depends on whether you already have the car seat or will purchase one simultaneously with the stroller. Some pushchairs might be only compatible with their brand seats (like Nuna Demi) or just a few select manufacturers, even when using adapters. We wanted a stroller that would work with Clek Liing (an excellent infant car seat).

It’s important to note that strollers are ONLY compatible with infant car seats. Once your child outgrows it (usually before baby turns 1-year-old) and you have to switch to the convertible car seat, you won’t be able to use the stroller as a travel system (then things get a bit tricky, but there are solutions).

3. BASKET STORAGE Capacity

Some people like carrying many items for park outings, day trips, etc. We tend to be minimal but usually walk to the store for grocery shopping. The large basket capacity was also incredibly helpful for us during airport travel. We would store there our backpacks, diaper bag, jackets, and even the travel crib (we used Guava Lotus).

4. SEAT RECLINE OPTIONS

It’s great if the seat is ergonomic and reclines as flat as possible. Stroller naps will happen, and they are often true lifesavers (of course, supervised for safety), especially when traveling. There were also days that nothing worked to get my son to sleep, and we would even walk the stroller in the living room. Good times.

5. Ease of fold

Ideally, we want to be able to fold the stroller with one hand. If not, it should be as easy as possible. I will choose a two-hand one-step fold over a one-hand two-step at any time. To choose the best double stroller for you, I recommend checking in person at your local store to see how you like the specific stroller folding.

6. SIZE & WEIGHT

Double strollers are, by design, heavier, with a more sturdy frame to accommodate the extra child’s weight. But the smaller the weight and the size (especially when folded), the better. It WILL be carried over the stairs and lifted into the car trunk.

On the contrary, the higher the child’s weight capacity for the seat, the longer you can use it.

One thing to keep in mind is that after adding a second toddler seat and kiddie board, any of these strollers become a monster. A functional monster, though.

7. accessories

This is a tricky one because it’s a matter of preference. We tend to stay minimal on our day-to-day park walks; the only accessory we used was a rain cover. Many people use additional cup holders, snack trays, caddies, and organizers. Some accessories might need to be removed before folding. If the accessory doesn’t come with the stroller, you will need to purchase it separately, and things can get expensive.

8. Kiddie board

Having this attachment when your child grows more independent is a nice option to have. Or when you have three kids. But is it essential? I don’t think so. Especially seeing how many little kids ride on their micro-scooters independently.

9. DESIGN QUALITY & AESTHETICS

I haven’t paid attention to strollers on the market since my childhood. My 90s stroller was very…disco. I expected modern strollers to be fun and beautiful, maybe with intricate patterns and fun colors.
But they are all a bit…utilitarian looking. Dark, solid fabric colors (with occasional beige), black plastic, or lightweight silver/aluminum frames. Few companies offer colored, anodized (or powder-coated?) aluminum frame options, which I much prefer to the raw silver aluminum look (it looks low cost to me, but that’s entirely subjective). Leather accents are a pleasant addition that can lift the whole look.
Some brands offer certifications: Greenguard (products that help minimize your child’s exposure to chemical emissions) and JPMA (meets the highest standards for quality, safety, performance, and functionality).

10. price

The value for the price is essential. Not only in terms of accessories you get but also quality, ease of use, and safety.

THE GUIDE

Uppababy Vista V3

https://uppababy.com/strollers/full-size/vista-v3/
When I was pregnant, my husband and I started paying attention to strollers on the street. We were shocked, walking down the Upper East Side for my OBGYN appointment, as 8/10 strollers were the Vistas. It was as if Uppababy had some strange monopoly. And it is a powerhouse of a stroller. Many parents love it, and reselling or purchasing used is easy. The little pretentious gremlins inside of us rebelled and did not want to have what everyone else had.

In all seriousness, we didn’t love it for a few reasons. The newborn bassinet could only go on the bottom in a toddler seat configuration. As a double toddler seat stroller, the additional seat (Rumbleseat V2+) can only hold up to 40 lbs child, compared to the first seat’s 50 lbs. The stroller can only fold with the seat facing forward. If those things are not deal breakers for you, it is a functional, high-quality pushchair.

I’m not convinced this is the best single to double stroller. Still, it is a compact, relatively lightweight, reliable, good-looking product (in the black frame option, as the silver frame look is not my favorite, especially for this price), and it comes with a few useful accessories.

CYBEX GAZELLE S

https://www.cybex-online.com/en/us/p/10094797.html
This German brand’s stroller offers many configurations. It’s very popular in Europe but is gaining market presence in the US for its sleek look, great design, and a bit more affordable price than Vista.

It checked a few essential boxes: compatibility with Clek Liing, bassinet top toddler front configuration, the most compact when folded (in single mode), large child weight capacity, and super spacious bottom basket. It also comes with an additional shopping basket and most essential accessories (rain cover, car seat adapters, cup holder).

It’s a bit bigger than Vista when in use, but I actually prefer it if this means my kid has more room.

I loved the look of Cybex Gazelle, with sophisticated fabric colors and frame options in black or taupe (which looks kind of champagne-bronze to me).

Silver Cross Wave 3

https://silvercrossus.com/product/wave-3-single-to-double-stroller/
This was one of my favourite-looking strollers. The whole design, the frame, and the fabrics look very high-end. But you can only purchase it as a set (frame, toddler seat, and bassinet). It even comes with an extra toddler seat on top of great array of accessories. Both of the seats boast 55 lbs child capacity, which is the best of the reviewed here. However, it is the heaviest reviewed (together with Nuna Demi), the car seat compatibility is a bit limited, and it only folds with the seat facing forward.

Bugaboo Kangaroo

https://www.bugaboo.com/us-en/bugaboo-kangaroo/

It is a beautiful, minimalistic-looking stroller that comes in some fun colors. The most expensive on the list and, at the same time, one of the heaviest and thickest when folded flat. The primary toddler seat holds up to 50 lbs, but the second 40 lbs. And it only comes with car seat adapters (limited to a few main brands) as accessories. Those come at a premium price as well.

Nuna Demi Next

https://nunababy.com/usa/demi-next-stroller
Nuna products are beautiful, and we love their convertible car seat (Nuna Rava) for our son. But I feel like for this price, there are just better options. You can only use it with their own car seats; it is the heaviest while having the smallest storage basket capacity (only 22 lbs). You need to remove the second toddler seat before folding, and when folded flat, it’s almost 2 feet wide, compared to 12.2” in Cybex Gazelle S.

But it has great fabric selections and decent accessories, including a rider board. If purchased separately, their bassinet comes with a stand that can be used as a cot at home.

Mockingbird Double Stroller

https://hellomockingbird.com/products/mockingbird-double-stroller
I didn’t want to dismiss The Mockingbird just based on the looks (it only comes in a silver frame). This stroller, often called a dupe of Uppababy Vista, is a great option and only costs half the price. It is a bit on the bulkier side when folded and doesn’t come with any accessories, but those are also affordable if needed. It is the only one of the reviewed strollers that can be folded with one hand (even in double seat mode).

Many parents genuinely love this stroller, but Mockingbird had to issue a recall in 2022 due to an accident involving a cracked frame, which they now claim was reinforced (https://help.hellomockingbird.com/why-was-the-mockingbird-stroller-recalled-HyXYbYcSs).

Best single to double stroller

We ultimately decided to go with the Cybex Gazelle S stroller and the Clek Liing infant car seat. It seemed to fit our family’s needs and preferences the most. We also just simply liked its design aesthetic.

Note: I’ve updated this research I have done in 2022 before my son was born with the newest versions of stroller models from 2024.