SBS or Tandem?

Me and my husband went to Baby's R Us last weekend to pick out a stroller. We didn't realize how hard this would be. We both had panic attacks and left the store completely clueless!!! Can someone offer any opinions as to which is easier, SBS or tandem. We will be using the strollers mainly for shopping (not jogging). Also, are there any brands that are better than others?

 

We just bought the Graco (tandem) Duo Glider...it fits two infant car seats on top. I like the tandem b/c I've read that the SBS don't fit well through doors and around corners, etc. when shopping. We just put this stroller together. It's kind of heavy and big--- but that's b/c I'm comparing it to single strollers (we also used a similar Graco stroller for my daughter). Hope that helps!

 

What is the difference between tandem and SBS and what is does SBS stand for?

 

JMO but I would go with a SBS (side by side) . I had the graco duoglider and it was great b/c you could just snap the car seats in it, but it was so heavy and took up so much space. If I were you I would get a SBS and maybe a double snap & go if you want something that the car seats will fit in. After the first couple of months, I didn't leave them in the car seats anyway. GL!!

 

QUOTE(mystich @ Mar 12 2008, 08:07 AM) [snapback]664955[/snapback]
What is the difference between tandem and SBS and what is does SBS stand for?


SBS=Side by Side
Tandem= Front/Back

 

I have both. I prefer the tandem for shopping because it does manuvear better in the stores but love my SBS for outdoor stuff like walks, festivals, etc. The tandem is much bulkier and heavier than the SBS though.

 

I think its personal preference. We have both and I use the tadem all the time because it can easily fit thru doors and store checkout aisles. But the downside is girl in the back sometimes kicks the girl in the front. When you go to the store try opening and closing them (or if you are too pg, have Dh do it) and wheel them around a little bit so you can get a feel for it. GL!

 

We have the Graco DuoGlider and a SBS Jogging stroller. Honestly, I wouldn't get the duoglider, I would get a double snap and go for those first 4 months or so (when you still use the infant carseats in the stroller). Now, I almost always use my jogger even to go shopping (it fits through doors just fine, but it is hard to maneuver around cluttered stores wich clothing racks and stuff that are close together but I just deal =). When I go grocery shopping, I put one in the front carrier (I have a Bjorn) and one in the infant carseat and snap it on top of the grocery cart. Pretty soon, they will be able to do well enough to sit in the cart on their own.

If I try to use the Duoglider, one is always kicking the other in the back and they can't see you at all and the one in the back can't see much. With the jogger, they are side by side and may steal each other's toys but have equal viewing pleasure =) Also, all they have to do is look up and they can see me (unless the sunshade is pulled). HOWEVER, that all being said, once they are better at Cheerios and the like ... I may take this all back and say that I like the DuoGlider b/c it has snack and drink trays ...

Clearly, I was no help at all =) Good luck to you! You could always do like we did and suck it up and get both (actually with showers and all we got the jogger from my SIL and had enough GC money to get the DuoGlider so you never know!)

 

Big fan of SBS. Would never buy FB, but it's also quite uncommon here in Europe (even though my kids were all born in the States). I think SBS is nice for them, next to eachother and it's easy to manoever. I can do mine with one hand and 3 kids (one on a board ... 100lbs of kid). I personally think it doesn't matter that much as long as you buy good quality. IMHO, many of the tandem strollers have too much plastic for my taste.

 

I borrowed a well worn double Snap-n-Go for the first 7 months or so. It was convenient but it had seen better days so it was hard to manuever. If I had a do-over I would've bought a new one for the 100 bucks and I think I would have been way less frustrated with steering it. It was lightweight and I liked the big basket underneath.

I absolutely LOVE, LOVE, LOVE my Combi Twin Savvy. It's a SBS, super-light, easy to fold...I can even turn it with one hand. The drawbacks are there is no adult cup holder and the baskets underneath are small. But I can push it in Walmart with one hand and pull a shopping cart with the other. I also use it to mall walk 3 times a week and I can really get moving with it. I haven't had problems fitting through doors, except for regular fitting rooms which is a problem you would have with a tandem anyway.

I think this stroller is fabulous!

 

There are some situations I prefer the side by side, some the tandem, so we have both. If we go to a public place, sometimes the tandem is better as the width of the side by side can be a pain to get through crowds.

If I had to pick one, for the beginning, I'd get the snap'n'go or the Graco Duoglider. I would not spend a lot of money until the babies are past 4 months and then you can decide what stroller you really want/need.