Side by Side vs. Tandem Stroller

Last updated on September 30th, 2021 at 10:18 am

Side by Side vs. Tandem Stroller? Wondering which one is better? Let Nat show you which one may be best for your family.

Side by Side vs. Tandem Stroller

Hey it’s Natalie Diaz with Twiniversity. We are going to talk about the differences between a tandem stroller and a side-by-side stroller today for your twins.

A lot of families asked, “Which one should I buy?” You know what? There’s a lot of questions that you have to ask yourself first.

Number one – Where are you using the stroller? Are you getting this in-and-out of the car? Are you driving it around on cobblestone and dirt and grass? Where are you pushing your stroller? The width of your doorway at home, the width of your elevator at home – how big is your entry way?

It’s not as cut and dry as “I like this stroller,” “I want to use this stroller.” You have to make sure that the stroller you like not only is going to be good for your twinnies but is going to fit in your home.

A lot of people think that when you live in a metropolitan city you have to go with a more narrow stroller because I have to get through the aisles of the drugstore. Or if I’m on line at Starbucks, I have to make sure that I fit.

Guess what? This side-by-side stroller is only four-inches wider and it complies with all the ADA regulations which means it’s not much different than a wheelchair and it has to fit down the aisles.

Some of the benefits of a side-by-side are, number one, it pushes really, really easily. The weight is very centered so it turns easily and it pushes easily. Another feature is that you have very quick access to both of your kids. Say they need a pacifier, say they need some snacks – it’s all right there.

With a tandem, if I have to attend to my kids, I can’t just go and attend to kids. I may be able to help this guy closer to me, but for the guy in the front I have to stop what I’m doing. Get him his pacifier, give him some snacks, and do what I got to do. Here in New York City, occasionally I’m a little frustrated by tandem strollers because I feel that the baby in front isn’t a turn-knee away.

One of the great features of the City Select is that I can face this baby to me, providing a little bit more security and protection for them but it’s one of the issues that people complain about a tandem stroller.

If you’re comparing a side-by-side and a tandem and you’re talking about pushing down a sidewalk, when you’re going up and down the sidewalk, when you jack this up and you put it back down, its really easy to push. However, when your babies get a little bit bigger and you’re using a tandem, that guy in the front is going to make it very difficult to jack up your stroller and go on the sidewalk.

If you want your twins to interact more, the tandem stroller – specifically, the City Select – is the way to go. They could face each other, play pat-a-cake, trade snacks, do whatever they have to do and they could see each other. Whereas the side-by-side, they will only always be next to each other.

If you do live in a small apartment or a small home or you’re renting and you really don’t have a lot of room for storage, the tandem is always going to win. It’s actually going to fold much flatter than a double one.

A big difference, also, between a side-by-side and a tandem is the way that it turns. This guy, the side-by-side, is going to turn much quicker and much easier. And if you’re looking, it’s not really going very far. Whereas this guy, it’s a pretty significant turn. It’s much wider. You have to take that into consideration when you’re turning around a corner or just making a sharp turn to the mall.

If you’re wondering which stroller is best for you, honestly, I’d love to tell you but I can’t. You guys have to figure that out on your own.

Grab your measuring tape, measure every dimension in your home of which this stroller will live. Go to your local store, push them around. See which one you would like best.

I always say, if you can, go for the air tires. Even if it’s an upgrade for your stroller, it is well-worthy investment. I promise you.

When you’re going through your baby store and you’re pushing your stroller, one thing you should always do is load up your stroller. Don’t push an empty baby stroller. You will never get an accurate feel of what that’s going to feel like when your kids are in there.

Put in a case, two, three of formula and then push it and then you will have an accurate estimate of what that stroller’s going to feel like in reality.