Double Travel Strollers for Two Young Children: How to Choose

<p>With two small children the stroller becomes your luggage trolley, nap room and only way through the airport hands-free. A double also meets problems a single doesn't: narrow doors, tight lifts and a large folded size. This guide looks at the main types and the numbers that matter most.</p>

Last reviewed: November 2026. Specs come from manufacturers’ own pages and airline rules from airline websites. They can change and may differ by market. We haven’t tested these strollers and don’t rank them. Models mentioned are examples we researched, not recommendations.

Travelling with two small children changes the stroller question completely. One child can be carried and the bag can go on your shoulder. With two, the stroller becomes your luggage trolley, your nap room and your only way of getting through the airport with your hands free. A double stroller also runs into problems that a single doesn’t: narrow doors, tight lifts, cramped restaurant aisles, and a folded size that may not fit on a train. This guide looks at the options and the numbers that matter most.

Quick answer

• Tandem (one behind the other): usually the narrowest option, and the one that fits through doors, but longer and harder to steer.
• Side-by-side: both children get an equal view and it’s easy to turn, but check the width against the doors you will meet.
• Single stroller plus second seat or ride-on board: a flexible choice when one child can walk some of the time.
• Two small strollers: an underrated option if there are two adults.
• Always check: overall width, folded dimensions, each seat’s weight limit, and your airline’s rules. The word “double” may matter to the airline.

Decision table by type

What makers state

These figures show how much difference a design choice makes. They come from each maker’s own page, and may change.

The Thule at 80 cm wide is close to the 32-inch (81 cm) minimum clear width that US accessibility standards require for accessible doorways, while older buildings can be narrower. The YOYO setup at 44 cm is about the same width as a single. That’s the core trade-off: a narrow in-line stroller gets through old hotel doors and packed restaurants, while the wider ones offer a more comfortable ride on rougher ground and easier handling.

Width: the number to check first

Ask where you will need to get through. Hotel lift doors, shop doors, train doors, metro barriers, and aisles in small restaurants can all be tight, especially in historic European cities. Before you buy, take a tape measure to a doorway you know is a problem, or check your typical destinations. A side-by-side can be very comfortable on wide resort paths and theme park avenues but a nuisance in old town lanes.

Wider strollers are also more awkward on escalators and stairs, so plan to use lifts. Metro and train stations don’t always have them. Check a route’s step-free information before you commit to a city plan with a double.

Airlines and doubles

Most airline rules we found refer to one item of equipment rather than the specific type, but read the wording for your own airline:

• easyJet carries up to two items of child equipment free per child, and its list includes double buggies.
• Delta says strollers and car seats are free and don’t count toward your baggage allowance, and can be checked at the counter or gate.
• Virgin Australia says that larger strollers can be gate-checked free of charge.
• Qantas treats a stroller as a free infant or child item, but limits cabin strollers to 56 x 36 x 23 cm and 7 kg.

No double stroller we looked at fits the Qantas cabin limit as one piece, and even the YOYO’s two parts are each wider than the 36 cm dimension. Babyzen says the set is accepted as cabin luggage by most airlines, but it adds that rules vary. Plan to gate-check unless your airline confirms otherwise. Read our guides to gate-check bags and cabin-size strollers, and remember that your children will need to walk or be carried at the other end until it comes back. Some airlines return strollers at the aircraft door, and others at the baggage hall. Ask at check-in.

Ages, seats and limits

• Twins or two under two: check that both seats suit your younger child’s age. Babyzen’s bassinet setups are for newborns, but they add weight. Thule says the Urban Glide can be used from birth with its bassinet or infant car seat adapter, both sold separately.
• A baby and an older toddler: look at a seat that faces you for the baby, or a clip-on board for the toddler, within the limits in the manual.
• Weight balance: tandem models can tip if a heavy child sits in one position and a light child in another. Check the manufacturer’s loading instructions. Don’t hang heavy bags from the handle.
• Country limits: Babyzen says that some countries cap its double setup at 15 kg per child. Rules like this can be market-specific, so check the current manual.

For sleep, feeding and flying with two, see our guide to travelling with twins or two children under two.

Alternatives to a double

A double isn’t always the best answer. Consider:

• A carrier plus a single stroller. Particularly good with a baby and a toddler, and it works for stairs and cobbles. Follow the TICKS safety rule from The Lullaby Trust, and read our guide to carriers in the heat.
• Two compact strollers, if two adults are travelling. You can split up for naps, and each folds small.
• Hiring at your destination. Many theme parks hire doubles. Check theme parks with a toddler for ideas before you bring your own.
• A compact single, a walker and a plan. A nearly-four-year-old may only need a ride for the last part of the day.

What to avoid

• Buying on folded size alone. Check the width when open too, because that’s what you will live with.
• Assuming the car boot is big enough. A folded side-by-side can be nearly 80 cm wide, which may not fit in a hire car alongside your cases. Measure your car class in advance.
• Using parts from other brands. Stick to the maker’s approved adapters and boards.
• Forgetting shade and airflow. The Lullaby Trust warns against covering strollers with blankets or cloth because it stops airflow. Use the canopies.
• First-time practice at the airport. With two children, you won’t have a free hand. Practise at home, and know who holds what.

Shopping by category

These Amazon searches cover the main types: tandem double strollers, lightweight side-by-side strollers, stroller ride-on boards and double stroller travel bags. We haven’t tested these products and don’t rank them.

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Read our affiliate disclosure.

Next steps

Still deciding between stroller types? Read best travel strollers by trip type and family travel gear by age.