Twin pram buying guide for Australia

Think Twins researcher Danielle Murrihy has put together a comprehensive list of most twin and triplet prams available in Australia. Download your free 16 page guide here.

Other useful tools to use when buying a twin pram

One of our favourite sites, Babyology.com.au has a Product Chooser tool which allows you to shortlist prams which meet your buying criteria. It shows your shortlisted products side by side so you can make a quick comparison.

Another great tool is the Bubhub.com.au review section where they invite people to review baby products they have purchased. The Pram & Stroller Review (Twins/triplets) area has more than 30 twin and triplet prams - many of those mentioned in our pram buying guide appear here in this review section.

StrollersAndPrams.com is another terrific site which aims to provide information for those looking to buy a new stroller as well as a place for enthusiasts to share their knowledge. The site includes stroller images and specifications, reader reviews, forums and detailed images and reviews of the latest strollers on the worldwide market.

CHOICE REPORT: The big pram question side-by-side or tandem?

CHOICE released a report in 2006 with advice for parents shopping for twin prams - they have kindly allowed Think Twins to reproduce an excerpt of that report.

Side-by-side
These have the two seats next to each other.

The strollers are wide and in some cases difficult to fit through doorways and narrow supermarket aisles. They can take up a fair amount of space on footpaths too. The side-by-side models on test ranged in width from 73 to 83 cm, compared to 48 to 62 cm in our most recent test of layback strollers. It's easier to see both children at once.

On all the tested side-by-side models both seats can recline independently, making them suitable for either two babies, two toddlers or one of each. Babies under six months shouldn't be placed in a stroller seat unless the backrest can be reclined more than 130° to the seat. All the seats on the tested side-by-side models recline far enough to suit young babies.

Tandem
These have one seat in front of the other.

This keeps the stroller narrow; the tandem models on test ranged in width from 52 to 57 cm, similar to many single-seat models. However, although they can be easier to get through a doorway, their length means you could have trouble reaching the door to open it; you'd probably have to back in through the door and pull the stroller after you. The larger side-by-side models can present the same problem.

Their extra length can also make them harder to steer our tester said steering a tandem stroller felt like trying to drive a car from the back seat.

Their length and weight can also make it difficult to get the stroller up a step or kerb by pushing down on the rear handle, though this can also be true for some side-by-side models.

It's a bit harder to keep an eye on the child seated up front. The back seats of all the tandem-style strollers recline far enough for a baby under six months.

What to look for

Essentials
If you've got newborn twins, you'll need both seats to be fully reclinable, meaning some tandems won't be suitable. Otherwise, it's a matter of personal preference. Try different types in the store with the children in them, if possible to get the feel of which is best for you.

Weight, size and width. Double strollers tend to be heavier than single strollers. The strollers in this test ranged in weight from just over 8 kg to nearly 16, compared to a range of just over 7 kg to nearly 13 in our last single stroller test.

The lighter the stroller, the easier it is to carry up and down stairs or on buses and trains. Double strollers also tend to be very bulky, even when folded; you'd need a large car boot to fit most of the tested models.

Wheels
Bigger wheels tend to be better than smaller ones over rough ground, kerbs and stairs. However, they can also be harder to fit into a car boot. Some models have inflatable tyres, which are good at absorbing jolts and bumps, but you'll need to adjust the tyre pressure occasionally with a tyre pump.

Swivel wheels at the front make steering easier. All the tested models have lockable swivel front wheels. The locks should be within easy reach of your foot.

Handle
Check the handle to make sure it feels comfortable to grip. If you're particularly short or tall, you may need a model with adjustable handle height. None of the tested models has reversible handles; presumably these are too hard to incorporate in a double stroller.

Brakes
Some strollers have individual brakes on each wheel; others have brakes linked by a bar, so you only push down on one mechanism to activate them.

Harness
Look for a five-point harness on each seat (two shoulder straps attached to the backrest at shoulder level, a waist strap and a crotch strap). The waist strap in particular should be securely linked to the stroller's frame, so the child can't lean out and tilt the stroller. Give the harness a tug to check the seat doesn't pull away from the frame. Make sure the straps are easy to adjust and the buckles easy to fasten and unfasten (for you, not your child).

Features
All the tested strollers have a canopy or hood on both seats, which is sometimes detachable, to protect your child from sun or rain.

A front bumper bar or tray acts as a barrier and provides a hand-grip for the child. It's often detachable, so don't use it to lift the stroller. For tandem models, a bar is less important on the rear seat as the front seat acts as a barrier.

The backrest of both seats on all the side-by-side models and two of the tandems can either be upright or fully reclined (the recommended position for babies under six months or for sleeping toddlers). Most can also be semi-reclined in one or more fixed positions; some have a variable adjustment allowing any position.

An adjustable leg rest and footrest help accommodate your child's growth, as well as keeping your child's feet clear of the ground and wheels.

A basket or tray underneath the stroller should be easily accessible when the seats are in both upright and reclining positions, roomy enough to hold a few essentials and deep enough to stop items falling out. The tested models have either one large basket or two smaller ones (one under each seat). Don't overload them or the stroller may become unstable and hard to move.

Pockets or pouches on the back or sides of the stroller are useful for holding small items like keys or a purse.

A boot or leg cover is a bag-like attachment you pull over the bottom of the stroller to protect your child's legs from rain, sun or cold. For side-by-side models, this can be a single cover that accommodates both children.

A raincover is designed to protect your child in wet weather. It's usually an optional extra.

Reprinted from the August 2006 edition of CHOICE Magazine - with permission from CHOICE.