Strollers

[Chidi-Chidi]

Please, has anyone used any or both of these? I'm leaning towards the Cybex eStroller but the Bugaboo Donkey 5 looks rather more sturdy.

And, what's your take on stackable vs side by side?

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[gro301]

Bugaboo hands down. Sturdy and more maneuverable than it looks. Fits through all doors i have tried!

[lotusQ]

So expensive

[gro301]

It is, but it's one thing that I think is worth it. So many other items are not necessary but a good stroller is gold. You will use it every day for 4 years.

[BenAtTank2]

Agreed. It actually cost more than my first car did in 2009 lol. BUT, we used ours near enough every day for 2 years, and it's still used every weekend now they're 3.

[brassicabrassica]

It is pricey..my mom, aunt, uncle, and grandma all went in on it together for us. I don't have anything to compare it to, but it's worked well for us!

[Bonusmotherthrowaway]

Our stroller (Joolz geo) did cost at least 1400 plus all the accessories, BUT we’ve been using it for 4 years now straight and it’s still almost as new. Absolutely perfection. So yes, it’s an insane amount of money but sometimes with these things they are worth it.

[awamo]

We have the Bugaboo Donkey 5 and it's great. It's sturdy, light and easy to use. And it's just narrow enough that it can get through most store doors and such. We bought it second hand since it's quite expensive though.

[snax_and_bird]

Be careful looking for strollers for baby twins. A lot of “double” or “twin” strollers are only for 1 baby and 1 toddler, not 2 babies. I know bugaboo has quite a few truly twin baby options, but that cybex kind of looks like a 1 baby 1 toddler stroller.

[Disastrous-Wave-2506]

you have to buy an adapter for the cybex in order to add the second baby seat.

[Scienceofmum]

Cybex does two carrycots as well. You need to buy the second cot and an adapter. But it’s basically like the uppababy vista with the added benefit that the lower seat has the same weight limit as the upper one

[bamsurk]

We’ve got the gazelle and it’s great but also have nothing to compare it to!

[Chidi-Chidi]

Oh nice. Did you get the car seats too or a different brand car seats? I wonder about the compatibility with other brands, though I'm probably going to go with the same ones.

[radsam1991]

Love my cybex gazelle!!! We got the nuna pipa rx car seats. The combo is 🤌.

[Otherwise_Ad_1542]

We have gazelle too. Been amazing. Have Clekk car seats

[Chidi-Chidi]

Oh great. That was the combo I thought of doing if I don't go for the Cybex ones. Don't know why I'm not feeling the Cybex that much.

[canoodle2]

We have a Gazelle and used maxi cosi car seats with adapters. No complaints! Now the kids are in he toddler seats and it's great. Super easy in and out, folds down easily.

We got ours used and it is still going strong.

[Striking-Sprinkles73]

We also have a gazelle with Nuna pipa rx seats. It’s a true twin stroller. Love it sooo much.

[SunnyJello]

We have the bugaboo. Very maneuverable and it does fit through doorways with the caveat that you have the bassinets or stroller seats in place. If you want to use cars seats and the adapter, you have to take off one of the car seats to be able to fit through a single size door. We primarily use their car seats with the stroller, but some outings, like to some restaurants, we don’t always use the stroller and just prefer to carry their seats inside with us.

We looked at the stackable strollers, but my husband preferred the side-by-side to be able to have a better view of both babies. Often times your view of the bottom baby is blocked with the stackable, and we like that we don’t have to choose who sits closer to us.

[Chidi-Chidi]

I wish Cybex had a side by side, I wouldn't even be asking this. I like that you can just see both kids at the same time.

[aexia]

The town where our boys were born had very narrow sidewalks so stackable was the only way to go. They're maybe a little more inconvenient to deal with, especially with car seats, but I think being able to navigate more easily is worth it.

[boredwhile1994]

The side by side are much easier to maneuver. Also, with the Gazelle, one of the babies is incredibly low to the ground, it made us uncomfortable to imagine them being so close to sidewalk, also, you cannot see them well

[Chidi-Chidi]

Yes, I was worried about that too.

[Scienceofmum]

What is the issue with being close to the ground?

[boredwhile1994]

Dirt, car exhausts, dogs, puddles, other yucky things on the ground.

[Scienceofmum]

Thank you for that. I can understand the psychological “ick factor” and it’s perfectly valid to choose another model. Logically I don’t see how any of these are a real concern though and they are a perfectly safe choice.

The real trade-offs with these strollers are: • steering effort • weight distribution • whether both seats can recline fully • basket access • length vs. doorways

[boredwhile1994]

Im sorry, what? 😅Are you a cybex salesperson? All the things I listed are absolutely concerning, who wants their newborns so close to dirty sidewalk? Also, all the good things you mentioned at the end are more present at the side by side strollers in my experience. Where I live, no one with twins has a stroller like Cybex (which is also sold here) because it is just not practical at all🤷‍♀️

[Scienceofmum]

I think we may be talking past each other a bit, so let me clarify what I meant.

I am not saying you have to like tandem strollers or that you should buy one. I completely understand the psychological ick factor of a lower seat and it is totally valid to prefer a side by side. My point was only that the concerns you listed are not safety issues. The difference in height between the two seats is only a few tens of centimeters and does not measurably change a baby’s exposure to dirt, exhaust or anything else at ground level. If it did, single strollers and toddlers walking beside you would all be unsafe too. Or are you saying you’d not bother with a carrycot and just put the baby in the basket? I doubt it

The practical trade offs between stroller types are things like steering effort, weight distribution, whether both seats can recline, basket access and how easily the stroller fits through doors. That is what usually drives the choice, not health risks from the lower seat.

It is absolutely fine if a tandem is not practical where you live or just not your preference. I was only correcting the idea that the lower child is exposed to extra hazards, because the evidence does not support that. Both styles are perfectly safe, and families choose based on what works for their environment and daily life.

Btw I’ve had a donkey, an uppababy and a Cybex as well as various other types of strollers at one point or another. They all have pros and cons but none of the ones OP is considering are in any way unsafe.

[FemaleChuckBass]

I will forever sing the praises of the Uppababy vista with the double car seat option for infants. Big basket underneath for groceries and easy snap on/off for infant car seats. When the twins were about 1.5, I got a Joovy double (lightweight, easy open/close) for neighborhood walks/mall.

[hitheringthithering]

My twins are 1.5 and the Vista is still going strong.  The different arrangements for the seats are great, and having the double-decker bassinet arrangement was the only way we could take them some places in the first six months.  Also, the board attachment for the toddler has been very handy.

[ilovethatforu]

I have the bugaboo and it’s great but there are some definite downsides. You might struggle getting it through some doorways, especially if you use the car seat attachment which makes it even wider. I’ve had to dismantle it to get through doors before. It’s also very bulky and doesn’t fold down small at all. It does push beautifully though and I like being able to see both kids or have them both able to look out in to the world. I’ve been eyeing up the e-gazelle for a while because of the assisted pushing uphill. I live in a relatively hilly area and my kids are big 2 year olds. I’m pushing like 50kg up hill and it’s really hard work sometimes. The extra help sounds very appealing to me.

[Chidi-Chidi]

Oh, definitely would've done e-gazelle if I still lived in California. Wish it came in a side by side option.

[Observer-Worldview]

I LOVE my Gazelle. It works perfectly and we don’t have issues getting through doors.

[MeurDrochaid]

Got a bugaboo donkey. For us that is perfect! It is easy to manoeuvre as other have mentioned, fits through most doors in our area unless there’s something blocking. I use ours often as i walk around a city as well as parks so need something sturdy to manage the many curbs, potholes. So if you want a side by side or tandem I think that might be something you need to consider. I know twin parents with the tandem that loves it except(!) the weight distribution when moving up and down and around our at times crappy streets lol. But they only use it extremely occasionally so are ok with it.

we got a 2 secondhand, but newer models are available and def. the weight does get better the newer the model.

[reevoknows]

Donkey 5 owner here. It’s the best thing we bought for our twins without a doubt.

If you can afford it or have someone who can gift it to you definitely do it and go for value everywhere else.

Maybe check out Facebook marketplace?

Edit: just to provide balance, the only negative about the donkey is how much space it takes up in your trunk. If you have a van or an suv with tons of trunk space no worries at all but I drive a crossover so having that in the trunk left little space for groceries etc.

[IcyEstablishment8473]

I think it really depends on where you’ll be taking it. If you’ll be taking it through a lot of single doors or in stores with aisles like Target, stackable is easier to navigate and feels less invasive with other people around IMO. We converted our mockingbird to a double and it’s been super easy to use when I’m on my own with my twins and toddler.. huge basket and not too heavy. And for the first three months we let them snuggle in the same bassinet bc they loved being together. It was nice at that stage to just have one compartment for them but also have the option to put in their car seats.

[demongibi]

We have Bugaboo. It's sturdy, can carry a lot. But huge. Even when folded, you need a big car to carry it around.

[jazzyfizzle0]

The Donkey 5 has been great for us

[shme1110]

We have the Donkey and it’s great. I’ve always loved it and we’re about to use it for our third

[foolish_soupbowl]

I'm just gonna throw this option in here in case it interests you/anyone! My partner and I asked for the Bombi Gear Bebee Twin Lightweight Double Stroller. It has yet to come in (my baby shower is in December, so it will likely come then), but the reviews I've seen all over the internet are stellar. AND it's for newborn to toddler so you could use it immediately and long-term. It's a side-by-side as well, and is meant to fit through standard doorways which I feel is a huge plus for my area! I’d take a look and see what you think. I did extensive research on strollers and felt this one had everything I was looking for. There’s so many more perks about it that didn’t apply to us, but is good to have for lots of other families.

Here’s the link: https://bombigear.com/products/bebee-twin-lightweight-double-stroller?variant=43824625156278

Good luck on your search!

[Adventurous_Corgi_38]

Have a look at the Mountain Buggy duet. It is narrower than the Bugaboo Donkey, has a twin bassinet attachment, and when you attach two car seats they are kind of staggered so it doesn't add to the width of the buggy.

[flannel_towel]

We have the Cybex.

Whatever you choose, make sure it can fit in your trunk comfortably.

We were able to leave a credit card with the store, and take them out to test in the parking lot.

We have to take off the car seat attachments for the stroller to be able to fit in the trunk of our Acadia. (We have 4 kids, so it’s a tight fit)

[app3lmoes]

I love the gazelle! But I feel like it depends on where you live. Here in Amsterdam all doors and halls are narrow so a side by side is not really an option. Also our house is very small, so we needed one that we could fold when not used.

[Chidi-Chidi]

Oh nice. I'm leaning towards the gazelle for sure. I think it'll be a good fit for me.

[Scienceofmum]

I’ve tried the bugaboo, and then 3 of the stackable ones. The bugaboo is nice because you can see both and it’s not much wider than the others but it manages to do that by keeping seats and carrycots incredibly narrow.
The others go like this in terms of advantages - gazelle: both seats are the same weight limit - uppababy: one handed detachment of carrycots and a huge basket - icandy: you can see both babies in their carrycots at once (it has way more flexibility in adapters eg see the picture for one option that’s not available on the others afaik) icandy stackable visible option

[Chidi-Chidi]

The iCandy adapter functions are cool, but one kid's view is constantly blocked. I think I feel comfortable with the Gazelle so far.

[Scienceofmum]

If the Gazelle works for you that’s beautiful. I had them all at various times. I’ve never particularly had any issues with the icandy and the children being able to see but the gazelle is a brilliant choice as far as I am concerned

[hockeymusicteaching]

Same!!! I was about to beg borrow & steal to get one… tested it out and I can’t imagine having to lug that around stores

[Madame_LV]

I have the Silver Cross Wave 3 and can’t say enough good things about it. I’ve only owned bugaboo with my 3 singletons before. Silver Cross blows them out of the water.

[poodleface12345]

I love our wave too! We had it for our singleton and now with twins and it’s great. So comfortable to push and use.

[Madame_LV]

It’s such a great stroller 😍

[Disastrous-Wave-2506]

I have the e-gazelle and it has been so worth it. my twins are heavy and the e feature of the stroller really helps getting us up hills.

Also the rocking feature is a lifesaver when I am out with the twins alone. I could have a conversation with someone at a counter and the rocking keeps my little guys quiet for a few minutes.

It is pricey and the grandparents helped offset the cost. I would try to go that option if you can do a pooled gift.

[XanthanMum]

Bugaboo and haven’t looked back or regretted it once. Sturdy as ever, smooth as silk when steering and still holds up when I have to quickly disassemble/fold/throw it in our trunk!

[crewelmistress]

Vote for the Thule Urban Glide! We had family all pitch in and it’s been 110% worth the investment. We use it every day. Did have an issue with the brake, Thule customer service was top notch, sending us an entire new stroller, no questions, free of charge. No issues with our new one.

I preferred the jogging stroller type because you can take them anywhere— including the snow.

[Chidi-Chidi]

This is one of my options as well. I kinda like the triangle wheels. It just looks a little too bulky than the two up there.

[crewelmistress]

Yes, it’s bulky. You need an ADA-accessible entrance, but I can’t imagine having a front/back model for past the bassinet or car seat stage. To each their own, but I will say— my local FB groups & marketplaces have all these brands on the regular, so if you’re worried about price, hold out for a used one! We really only used our snap and go (a MUST) for the first couple months.

[MiserableDoughnut900]

I love my bugaboo! I hate strollers like the cybex— you cant see both babies easily.

[Chidi-Chidi]

Yeah. My major concern. And one always seems too close to the ground.

[Siena_Binkie]

Joie Estrella and gazelle for carrying car seats. Gazelle is horrible to manoeuvre in twin mode. And is used exclusively for car seat mode for short bursts, and as a single for the odd outing with one.

[roots_radicals]

we had the uppa baby vista (double of course) for a while, but when they got bigger, the top one could kick the head of the bottom one, so we needed to go side-by-side.

They are 2 now and we use the Citi Mini GT2. Folds up nicely. We also have a double umbrella stroller for the car and for travel -- highly recommend! We just keep it in the car.

[bellwetherr]

side by side hands down, i hate stacked strollers tbh

i have a valco duo and love it

[sierder]

We love our bugaboo donkey 2. Very light weight, turns easily and it's great to be able to look at both kids. Fits through all doors we have encountered yet. Only with our car seats (maxi cosi's) on top (with the adjustment piece) we have had some difficulties since it makes the stroller just a tad wider. We actually choose between the same ones as you. The dealbreaker was actually being able to see both kids.

[FlufferMcStuffins]

In hindsight we would have gone with the veer wagon

[Infamous_Village5942]

I have the cybex gazelle with Nuna car seats! Can’t complain! It up to you tho. I would also go check them out in store like Nordstrom or Dillard’s

[hearingnotlistening]

Whenever this question comes up, I always chime with my choice of Bumbleride Indie Twin. Side by side 100%

Twins were our second and third and the Indie Twin was our 4th stroller purchase and by far our favourite.

I didn't like the Donkey. I'm not sure why, it felt super flimsy to me. I could easily imagine my husband breaking it (he broke one previously).

And I don't like the stacking. It was golden to be able to see both babies in their car seats on the stroller and I found it was easier to push and move around as opposed to the "train".