Double and Twin Stroller Seating Designs

Tandem	Side-by-Side (SBS)
slim enough to get through doorways and down narrow store aisles	often too wide for regular doorways and store aisles (but some models have become narrower)
may limit interaction between children (which may be good or bad!)	permits more interaction between children
child sitting in back may have restricted view and leg space (some models have an elevated rear seat)	easier for toddlers to get out of stroller by themselves
not all the seats can fully recline for sleeping	parent has easier access to all children
can be heavy and hard to fold	may have less features than tandem/inline stroller
seat positions can be changed in certain models (ex: children can both face you or face each other)	all seats may fully recline
each seat may have its own child tray	easy maneuvering with twins or two children of similar weight
some models can accommodate infant car seats	don’t fold as compactly as tandem
child in back seat may bother the other	may attract more attention to twins
child in back seat may have restricted space when front seat is reclined	children have more space and better view
may cause arguments about who sits in front seat	double jogging strollers come in this style
easier to maneuver with one hand
difficulty making turns due to length
ideal for a baby and an older child (due to fully reclining back seat)
fold more compactly than side-by-side
may attract less attention to twins

What Are Your Lifestyle Needs With Twins or Two Children Close in Age?

Some parents of twins or children who are of similar age use a tandem stroller when the babies are less mobile and don’t yet interact much with each other, then switch to a side-by-side model when they’re toddlers. (That's what I did with my own twins and it worked out really well.)

Some want both designs starting when the babies can sit upright on their own so that they can have more options regarding the activities they can do with them (shopping, jogging, etc.)

What Is the Solution?

In order to not limit the types of activities you can do with your children, in my opinion, it's best to buy either a tandem or side-by-side stroller that is compact and portable for shopping (they're making side-by-sides very narrow now), as well as a side-by-side stroller that’s comfortable and all-terrain (with better wheels and suspension than a tandem) for taking long walks and special outings, both the best that you can afford (keep in mind that double strollers take twice the abuse of single strollers).