Best Double Buggy for Newborn and Toddler UK 2026

By BabyTravel UK Editorial Team · Last updated August 2026

A double buggy for a newborn and toddler needs to do two quite different jobs. The baby requires a from-birth carrycot, lie-flat seat or compatible infant carrier, while the older child needs a proper seat with enough legroom and a weight limit that will last. Many doubles are excellent for two toddlers but are awkward during those first six months.

The Cybex Gazelle S is the strongest all-round tandem, the Bugaboo Donkey 6 Double is best when side-by-side access matters, and the iCandy Peach 8 Double is the polished premium choice. For a lower spend, the Joie Evalite Duo works well when the older child is happy facing forward and the rear newborn seat suits your routine.

Newborn and toddler double buggies compared

The best double buggies for a baby and toddler

1. Cybex Gazelle S: best overall

The Gazelle is made for changing family arrangements. Start with a carrycot for the baby and the seat for your toddler, then move to two seats when the baby can sit independently. The frame remains about 65cm wide, which makes it far easier than most side-by-side doubles in shops, hallways and older holiday accommodation.

Its many configurations are useful, but they also mean you should try the precise carrycot-and-seat combination before ordering. Some positions preserve better eye contact with the baby; others leave more room for the toddler. The basket is generous in single mode but becomes less accessible once the lower position is occupied.

• Pros: narrow, more than 20 configurations, strong basket and excellent long-term flexibility.
• Cons: heavy when fully loaded; some bundle names include only one seat or carrycot.

View Gazelle S bundles

2. Bugaboo Donkey 6 Double: best side-by-side

The Donkey places your newborn beside the toddler rather than underneath or behind them. Both children are easy to reach, the toddler keeps a good view, and the push remains balanced over uneven pavements. In single mode the frame narrows and gains the useful side basket; in double mode it expands to around 74cm.

This layout works particularly well for long walks and children who dislike the lower seat of a tandem. It requires more planning around narrow doors, public transport and a car boot. The chassis, carrycot and seat are best loaded separately, so count the number of pieces you can realistically manage while supervising two children.

• Pros: both children beside you, excellent handling, converts back to single.
• Cons: wide, expensive and bulky in the car.

View Donkey 6 Double

3. iCandy Peach 8 Double: best luxury tandem

The current Peach 8 Double bundle is specifically arranged for a newborn and toddler. It combines a carrycot and seat on a single-width frame, then transitions into two seat units. The collapsible carrycot takes up less space between trips, and the integrated ride-on board adds another option when your older child becomes ready to stand for shorter stretches.

The Peach feels refined and steers well for a tandem, but its price only makes sense if you will use the double configuration regularly. Compare the complete bundle contents: footmuffs, rain covers, adaptors and accessories can close part of the apparent gap to a cheaper frame with many extras still to buy.

• Pros: designed for mixed ages, collapsible carrycot, integrated board and premium finish.
• Cons: high price and the tandem stack gives unequal positions.

View Peach 8 Double

4. Baby Jogger City Select 2: best modular alternative

The City Select 2 supports numerous seat orientations and can accept a carrycot or compatible infant carrier for the baby. It suits parents who want to assemble a system around equipment they already own, or who prefer to buy the second seat only when the new baby arrives.

Check the exact weight limit for each position and price the second seat, adaptors and newborn element together. It can be excellent value when components overlap with your existing setup, but less compelling if every part must be bought new.

• Pros: versatile seating, single-pushchair width and good availability.
• Cons: full newborn-and-toddler configuration usually costs more than the frame listing suggests.

Check City Select 2 price

5. Joie Evalite Duo: best budget option

The Evalite Duo is far less elaborate than the premium convertible systems, which is part of its appeal. The rear position is the newborn-focused seat, while the older child sits at the front. It is relatively light for a tandem and much easier on the budget.

You give up reversible seating, carrycot-style newborn space and some long-term flexibility. It is best when your toddler is already comfortable facing forward and you need a practical double for errands rather than a full pram system for long daily walks.

• Pros: affordable, comparatively light and narrow.
• Cons: fixed seat roles and less supportive newborn arrangement than a carrycot.

Check Evalite Duo price

How old is your toddler?

The age gap should determine the buggy, not the other way round. A child under two normally needs a full seat for most outings and may still nap regularly. Between two and three, a seat remains useful for long days but a buggy board can cover shorter local trips. Over three, a board or a single buggy plus carrier may be enough unless your child tires easily.

If the older child still sleeps in the pushchair, check the recline with the carrycot installed. Tandem configurations sometimes restrict one seat's recline. Our guide to a travel pushchair for a toddler and baby covers lighter holiday arrangements, while do I need a double stroller? helps decide whether you need to buy one at all.

Carrycot, lie-flat seat or infant car seat?

A carrycot gives a newborn the most pram-like space and is the first choice for long walks. A properly approved from-birth lie-flat seat saves boot space but offers less enclosure. An infant car seat is convenient for short car-to-shop transfers; it should not be used as a substitute for a flatter sleep space during a long day out.

When comparing bundles, make sure “car-seat compatible” does not quietly become the only newborn option. If you walk far more than you drive, spend the money on the carrycot. If you make frequent short car stops, adaptors can be genuinely helpful.

Tandem or side-by-side?

Tandems fit standard doors and usually feel more manageable on buses, trains and in shops. Their length affects steering, kerbs and lift space, and the lower child can feel enclosed. Side-by-sides give children more equal positions and are often easier to push on rough ground, but width becomes the limiting measurement.

For holidays, also consider a single stroller and structured baby carrier. That combination is much lighter for flights and stairs, though carrying the baby all day can become tiring. See our best tandem stroller UK and side-by-side double stroller comparisons for more layout-specific options.

Check permitted sibling arrangements against the manufacturer's current information. The Cybex Gazelle S page lists its duo limits and configurations, while Bugaboo's Donkey 6 information explains the single, sibling and twin modes.

Frequently asked questions

Can a newborn go in a double buggy?

Yes, but only in a position the manufacturer states is suitable from birth. This may require a carrycot, an approved lie-flat seat or a compatible infant carrier and adaptors.

Which child should sit at the front of a tandem?

Follow the manufacturer's permitted configuration. In many mixed-age tandems the toddler sits in the main seat and the newborn uses a carrycot in the other position, but arrangements and weight limits differ.

Is a side-by-side too wide for UK doors?

Some are. Measure your own door rather than relying on a typical figure. A 74cm double may pass a modern external door yet struggle with a narrower porch, shop aisle or lift entrance.

Can I attach a buggy board instead?

A board can work well for a confident child of around two-and-a-half or older on short trips. It is less suitable for regular naps, long walks, busy roads or a toddler who frequently refuses to stand.

Do I need two full-size seats forever?

Probably not. Convertible systems can return to single mode once the older child walks reliably, which is one reason they cost more than fixed doubles.

Which double buggy is easiest for a small car?

A simple tandem can be easier than a premium modular system, but folded dimensions tell only part of the story. Measure the boot opening and test the frame alongside the carrycot because newborn equipment is often the bulky part.

Can I take these double buggies on a plane?

They can normally be checked under an airline's child-equipment allowance, subject to that airline's rules. Premium systems are bulky and vulnerable to damage, so many families use a separate lightweight double for flights.

Our verdict

The Cybex Gazelle S is the most balanced choice for most newborn-and-toddler households because it is narrow, adaptable and available in several useful bundles. Choose the Bugaboo Donkey 6 Double for side-by-side comfort, the iCandy Peach 8 Double for a premium tandem, or the Joie Evalite Duo when price and simplicity matter more than reversible seats and a carrycot.

If you are expecting two babies of the same age, use the separate guide to twin travel systems from birth; the correct product configurations are different.