side by side vs tandem double stroller

Djcieply

I saw this on the baby gear board and wanted to ask the moms on this board.

I originally wanted a side by side stroller, I had my eye on the Mountain Buggy Duet. After having to rent a double stroller at the zoo this week and watching the fights that transpired between whichever 2 kids (we rotated between DS, my niece and my friends DS) were in the stroller together, its now making me rethink getting a side by side. 

Im considering the Baby Jogger City Select as my tandem option, I like that you have so many different way the kids can sit and that the back seat sits high enough so the rear child can still see. I know all kids are going to fight at some point especially if they are hot and tired but I just wanted to hear pros and cons of both. 

ETA: Pros and Cons of any brand side by side or tandem stroller are welcome. I just threw in what I was considering.

fernane

I love our tandem. I think it's a Graco, and it has a lot of storage space underneath for more than one diaper bag. The only complaint I have is that the front seat is not covered, and the smallest child usually rides up front because it's a smaller seat. So when we do outdoor things, the baby sits in the sun. We just have to remember hat and sunscreen! I have never tried a side by side, but I could imagine it's probably a little harder to get through smaller spaces and doorways as well.

Everyusernameistaken

Ooh I'm interested in this as well, great question!

Djcieply

Everyusernameistaken said:

Ooh I'm interested in this as well, great question!

Im actually really glad I rented that stroller at the zoo. I was pretty set on a side by side, I never even thought about the kids not wanting to sit right next to each other!

TheNutt

I had a side by side with a 2 and 3 year old set of boys. And they would NOT STOP TOUCHING!!! EVER!!! I finally got the Joovy Ergo Caboose which is more of a sit/stand but with a seat that faces rear and it was a life saver. I cannot tell you how many times I would say "Stop touching!!"

Also, pusihng the side by side thru racks at the mall was hell.

MrsLaLaBug

*following, same boat*

CplusJ=S

I was originally going to pass on getting a double stroller due to the expense, but then I saw that the sit and stand options aren't too bad. I think I'm going to get the Joovy Caboose that someone mentioned after doing some research.

Djcieply

Thanks for the feedback so far ladies! 

suitern

Grace0609. I think the front seat is limited on what it can do because of the carseat. I imagine I will have the baby facing me alot of the time in the second seat when old enough, so I am hopeful that it will make the front seat more usable. So I will see, but from the few tiems we have used it, it has been great. I also found it on sale a few weeks ago since the 2013 models are now on sale.

Djcieply

Grace0609 said:

I am copying and pasting from my other BMB my eval of my City Select that I have had for three years now. City Select -- this stroller is one I have a love/hate relationship with. I thought it would be awesome. All the options for moving seats around, etc. Except that I have only found really 2 seat configurations to be practical. So all that money for not much option. You can't recline the front seat when used as a double unless they are facing backwards toward you b/c it hits the seat behind it or the back seat kid's legs. My bigger kid does not need to ride all the time in a stroller, so I like to have him in the front seat b/c it is low to the ground and he can hop in and out... except that he is the heaviest-- so then you have a super front heavy stroller that is really hard to push. I also hate the handle for some reason. I wish it was rounded like the BOB's. And I hate the parent cupholder thingy they sell and have not found a great generic other option that stays on well b/c of the shape of the CS handle. It sucks. It does have a huge basket. And it has a carseat attachment. But, again, it is REALLY crammed to get the carseat on and have another kid in the front seat. I do not want the little baby in the front seat, furthest away from me, I want him int he back seat, close to me, so it is really crowded and again you can't recline the front seat then. It just gets advertised as this option filled thing, but I haven't really found any "options" that work well other than two. The tires go over most terrain pretty well, but it is a tandem, so it is harder to push than a side by side. I do like that the seats come off so you can fold it up easily. My favorite stroller to use is our MacLaren side by side. But it doesn't have a car seat attachment. My dream would be to trade in my CS for a Bumbleride Indie double. Alas. I just have to use the CS till this guy can sit up a bit and then I will be ditching that thing!!!

The highlighted part was my biggest concern with the City Select. Your whole review is very helpful! Stroller shopping can be so frustrating and Im already an indecisive person to begin with. I just want to get all the info I can so I dont regret my purchase.

Djcieply

mamakate12345 said:

Just wanted to add that tandem causes fights too and makes the kid in the front at a big disadvantage.  My kid in the back would pull the other one's hair or kick the back of the seat.  Bottom line....strapped in and close to someone always causes drama.  At least for my little monsters!

This was why I originally wanted to go with a side by side, my mom said my sister and I were always trying to pull each others hair. 

Djcieply

mamakate12345 said:

Djcieply said:

mamakate12345 said:

Just wanted to add that tandem causes fights too and makes the kid in the front at a big disadvantage.  My kid in the back would pull the other one's hair or kick the back of the seat.  Bottom line....strapped in and close to someone always causes drama.  At least for my little monsters!

This was why I originally wanted to go with a side by side, my mom said my sister and I were always trying to pull each others hair. 

Oh yeah, misread your first post. But mine fought side by side too.  I still have to separate my boys in the car at ages 9 and 11.  They are brutal. But my girls never really fought like my boys.

Im thinking that the main part of the problem with the fighting at the zoo was my friends DS, he kept pinching my DS and smacking his juice cup out of his hand. Im hoping my DS and LO will get along better than that, but seeing how annoyed they got sitting next to each other it just made me want to revisit my stroller options.

AmandaR204

I wouldn't want a side by side, because the bulkiness and trying to fit threw doors would be a hassle.

megs2011

I have both. I have a baby trend sit and stand and a joovy scooter X2. I love my joovy. It's small and fits through doors just fine. I have never had an issue with the kids bugging each other but it sort of is kind of divided a bit. The tandem I found was fine when I had car seats to snap in but it's bulky to me. The front kid has a crappy shade that barely shades. I also found that the back kid kicked the front seat. I'd definitely go with a side by side but that's me. I highly recommend the joovy. Love it.

DandelionAZO

We have one of each. Like both for different uses. The side by side is easier to push because it's a jogger , but the tandem works better in tight spaces.

an02102

I just bought a baby trend sit and stand.  I like that I can put the baby in the car seat in the back and have ds sit in the front, or put the car seat in the front and ds can sit or stand on the back.  He mainly walks anyways so it is more for when we are at the zoo or somewhere else with alot of walking.  I tried out the joovy and felt it was cheap feeling, it just didn't feel as solid to me.

bumpuser5078523

I ultimately chose to go with the single Chicco umbrella stroller and an Ergo baby carrier. Logan will ride in the stroller or cart and one of us will wear the new baby.

The double strollers are huge, even folded and super heavy. The more experience I had with them, the more I hated them.

andthatmakes4

We have both and use them for different occasions. Anything at the mall, is the tandem. Everything else is the double city mini. Love it!! But DS is just getting big enough to be in it without the car seat so it may become the favorite for all occasions. Someone gave us their old tandem. It's really nice to have the choice.

Irisheyes1247

I have a Joovy Scooter x2, and a Joovy Caboose Ultralite. I like them both, for different things. I've never had an issue with them sitting side by side in the stroller, but like PP mentioned, this stroller has them kind of divided (and they fight in their car seats all the time, so it isn't like they don't fight). I've never had an issue getting through doors with the Scooter, but it seems like childrens' clothing stores all have pretty tight areas, so that can be a little tough. If we are going somewhere we have a lot of stuff to carry, or where I want the option for them to both lay back and relax, I like the side by side. If we are going to be in and out, or I think it is likely they will want to walk but I think we should have a stroller just in case, I like the sit n stand.

They both have good sized baskets and canopies - the scooter's basket is HUGE. I've been really happy with both of them. The only thing I would do differently was I got the green Scooterx2 because it was a several month wait for the black one and it shows dirt and stains like crazy!