Double Strollers: Side by Side or Front to Back

The side by side are difficult to navigate through shopping stores. We have the front/back stroller (graco - target) and love it.

Front to back strollers are easier to get up and down ailes at stores ~ like Kohl's, etc. but side by side strollers make it easier for both children to see (instead of 1 looking at the back of the others head/stroller seat).

I think it kind of depends on where you are going to use it the most and how often. I have both kinds of strollers.

The stadium seated double stroller, one seat in front of the other, is great for the kids. It has visors on it. It's easy to fit through isles when shopping since it is narrow. The seat in the back sits higher than the one in front of it. Some strollers are not stadium seating and they do not allow the child in the back to see what's in front of them. I felt like my boys became more anxious and ready to get out when they were not occupied with things to see. I liked the stadium seating better. The downside is that often those types of strollers are meant for indoors movement only. When trying to push them over rocks, dirt or sidewalks, the ride is more bumpy and it is more cumbersome for the person pushing the stroller. There tends to be less storage space in the back and under the seats for coats, snacks and the diaper bag as well. Additionally, the wheels tend not to have a very good turn radius, so again, this makes it harder to maneuver.

My other double stroller is a jogging stroller that is side by side. I researched multiple brands in stores and online. I liked mine because it had the sun visor, a rain cover, tire pump. It also had easy disassembly to fit in tight sized trunks with removable wheels. There was a foot brake and others have a hand brake... or both. You need at least some sort of brake to prevent the stroller from rolling away. The front wheel is adjustable for jogging or walking... by moving a small pin left to right... to help maintain better control. The jogging strollers are nice because they have plenty of storage below the seats and often have compartments below the handles. Sometimes there are cup holders for sippy cups or your water bottle. The jogging strollers have sturdier wheels that move well over bumpy sidewalks, rocks, mud and grass as well as indoor tiled floors. The side by side is a bit wider, so going through narrow isles at clothing retailers can be a bit more cumbersome. However, overall I absolutely loved the jogging stroller... much more than the stadium seating stroller.

I used to push my boys in the jogging side by side stroller when going to the grocery store. I used the other hand to pull the shopping cart behind me. My jogging stroller has a five point seat harness that is adjustable, so I could tighten it up to keep them from trying to get out. The jogging stroller had a bit of a foot rest over the front wheel and adjustable angle seats. I could recline the seats and the boys could prop their feet up and fall asleep. Otherwise, they could sit up, bend their knees on the foot rest. There was also a safety bar that sat in front of their laps to keep them from leaning over too far.

My jogging stroller really saved me. I could take the boys to the festival, the grocery store, or jogging around the block. As a single mother, it was really nice to have that ability since it's hard to find a babysitter when you want to do things for you.

Hello- I have a 9 month old girl and a little girl that is 2 1/2 years old. We have a front to back double stroller- It is Graco and we love it. I would recommend the front to back because they are easier to handle and the side to side ones- you cannot get thru some door ways with it!!! Hope this helps!!!! Good Luck!!!

A little about me-Stay at home mother of 4 children and hopefully more- My four children's ages are - 8 years old,7, 2 1/2, and 9 months.- M. to the man of my dreams

Hi, M.
I have a side by side for my girls, almost 22 months apart. We can use the infant carseat in it and it maneuvers pretty well. It's a Combi. It is a little wide and sometimes it is difficult to wind through the crowded stores. We decided on a side by side because the front and back strollers wouldn't fit in my car (a CRV). Don't forget to consider that. We are mostly happy with our Combi, but we have had some issues withour two year old doing things to the baby as they ride along. Mostly, in our case, it is aggressive hugging, but I can definitely see the advantage of the front and back stroller, especially if you aren't sure how your toddler is going to react to the new baby. Good luck!

I have a Graco front to back stroller. I like these better for everyday use, since shopping with a side to side stroller would be nearly impossible with those tight isles in clothing stores. I was on your boat not too long ago expecting with a 25 month old instead. I had a front to back in mind where they both sit, and one stroller that the older child stands/or/sits near the handle bar, and the baby sits in front. I can honestly say I wished I would have bought that one instead, but I can't complain when I got my front to back stroller in new condition at a garage sale for $30. Sometimes the stroller is hard to manuveur through tight stores in the mall since it is so long and you have the heavy child in the front so it's hard to turn at times.

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1156420/product_...

This is a link to a review I wrote about my favorite stroller. I LOVE it. My youngest 2 are 2 years and a couple weeks apart in age so it was perfect. I used it as normal double stroller (reclining seats with 5 point harness and sunshades) for about a year until the oldest was 3 and had outgrown the stroller part. Once she turned 3, I just left it as the Sit 'n Stand and she stands on the back or sits facing backwards.

It was definately the best value for us. I didn't want to buy a normal double stroller because I knew it would be outgrown in a year (none of my children have sat in a stroller once they turned 3 -- they'd rather walk/run). This one will last for years.

I recommend the sit-n-stand, but it is kind of pricey, a front to back stroller IS easier to push around, but make sure the baby can go in front! When I had #3 we got a front/back double stroller without realizing that the baby would HAVE to go in the back, but then all of the weight is in the front, making steering VERY difficult, so difficult if fact, that we ended up not using the stroller. With #4 we used the sit-n-stand, and still use it when going to the zoo and like places
Good Luck!
~J.

it's been years since I needed a double stroller. We went through both kinds and the back to back for me was the best when shopping or trying to get through narrow places back to back worked much easier
Good Luck

I have two children 10 1/2 months apart, so I needed a double stroller, too. I used the front to back kind. I saw a few of the side by side ones in use and they are very difficult to maneuver thru clothing racks and such in stores. Good luck!

I am getting ready to have baby #5 and have tried lots of stollers, as my kids are all close in age! We have found a Sit and Stand stroller to be the most useful for us. That way our older child can ride if needed, walk if needed, and nothing is too cumbersome. With the typical double stroller, our older child often outgrew it before they were really ready to have to walk all the time. And those strollers are quite heavy and often difficult to steer with an older child riding. Good luck!

I have had both: front to back and side-by-side. And my suggestion is the side-by-side one. It is easier to push and maneuver around. The con for both is that no matter how hard you try, the kids are still going to annoy eachother while they are in the stroller! I just found that the side-by-side stroller was a lot easier to handle both folding and unfolding and opening it up. But you might want to take your first born and place them in both strollers to see which one you feel comfortable with.... good luck!

you better get the front to back as that oldest child is going to be jealous of the newborn i know i had children close to the same age

Hmmmmmm, I know someone just like you! :) Hopefully you will love the stroller.

I would go with a front and back stroller since you cannot put an infant carseat in the side by side ones. I just had a baby and we got the front and back and then in about a year or so I will sell that one and get a side by side.

I would suggest that for thoughs ages you get an front and back double stroller I had the GRACO Duo Glider they are the best and very reliable any model is fine I had the G Style it is orange and has the word Graco all over it. I have twins and they loved it. All strollers are heavy but like i said the graco stroller is very reliable but a little heavy
Good luck with your choice