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Triple Stroller Seating Designs

Here is a list of the advantages and disadvantages of the two different triple 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
children sitting in back and middle may have restricted view and leg space	easier for toddlers to get out of stroller by themselves
not all the seats can fully recline for sleeping	all seats may fully recline
can be heavy and hard to fold	may have less features than tandem stroller
seat positions can be changed in certain models (ex: children can face you or face the front)	children have more space and better view
children in back and middle seats may have restricted space when seat in front of them is reclined	easy maneuvering with triplets or children of similar weight
some models can accommodate two or three infant car seats	don’t fold as compactly as tandem
children in back and middle seats may bother the one in front of them	parent has easier access to all children
may cause arguments about who sits in front seat	triple jogging strollers come in this style
difficulty making turns due to length
can be used for a baby and two older children (due to fully reclining back seat)
fold more compactly than side-by-side

What Are Your Lifestyle Needs With Triplets or Three Children Close in Age?

As you can see, there are various advantages and disadvantages to both the tandem/inline and side-by-side triple stroller seating designs. It is important for you to think carefully about what your lifestyle will be like once you have three children of the same age or very close in age (although this may be difficult to do before actually living through it!), and plan accordingly.

Some parents of triplets or multiple 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. 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?

From the research I’ve done on triple stroller seating designs, it seems parents find both the tandem and side-by-side strollers to be useful. That said, most seem to feel that the side-by-side design is best for the peace it keeps between children, even though it's more difficult to maneuver through store aisles and impossible to get through standard doorways.

In order to not limit the types of activities you can do with your children, the solution might be to buy one tandem stroller that’s as compact and portable as possible for shopping and one 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.

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