Got two under 5? If so, don’t overlook the Britax B-Lively Double Stroller to get around town. This stroller carries on the tradition that started with its predecessor, the B-Agile Double, but with a few upgrades. Parents agree: this stroller is a real contender for the best full-featured, lightweight, side-by-side stroller, so we’ve been very excited to write this Britax B-Lively Double stroller review.
Like Chevy vs. Ford, its big competitor is the Baby Jogger City Mini Double. All things considered, the B-Lively stroller edges out the City Mini in three main ways: weight (~ 3 lbs lighter), slightly better storage, and an adjustable handlebar. However, it loses in the car seat department in that it’s only compatible with Britax brand car seats.
Maneuverability / Wheels / Handlebar
With a 29 lb aluminum frame, the B-Lively Double is pretty goshdarn lightweight for a full-size double (most are 26-32 lbs), making it very easy to push and to lift over curbs and into your trunk. The only side-by-sides lighter than this are the Valco Baby strollers: the Snap Duo and the all-new Slim Twin.
It also has all-wheel suspension for a nice, smooth ride — yet, it’s important to note that even with all-wheel suspension, this stroller still works best on smooth terrain — paved sidewalks and such. The wheels are not air-filled — they are foam-filled. Pro: they’ll never go flat. Con: they’re not going to roll well over rougher terrain, especially when loaded down with heavier kiddos. No, it’s not an all-terrain situation; for that, look to the City Mini GT2 Double.
Unlike the Baby Jogger City Mini 2 Double, the handlebar on this bad boy is adjustable, so parents who are particularly tall and short (like me!) find it comfortable to push. You won’t find an adjustable handlebar on the regular City Mini 2 Double, but you do find it on the GT2 Double version.
Fold
The B-Lively Double offers a quick and simple self-standing fold — something we absolutely love. Simply press the round button on the side of the stroller, and then, similar to the Baby Jogger City Mini Double, pull the straps in the crease of the seat upward; and just like that, the stroller folds in half (cue to 0:12 of this one minute video to watch the process) .
Once folded, it doesn’t take up a lot of space, which makes it easy to store and transport. Here it is in the back of a minivan:
For a side-by-side stroller, that’s as small as it gets (outside of a double umbrella stroller, like the UPPAbaby G-Link2).
Car Seat Compatibility
Here’s the Achilles heel: The B-Lively Double accepts one infant car seat, with the use of an adapter (sold separately), and that car seat must be either Britax or Bob brand. Believe it or not, this is an improvement; the last version of the Britax B-Agile Double did not accept any car seats, and everyone was super pissed about it. So consider yourself lucky.
Just to be clear, if you own another brand of infant car seat, like a Chicco or a Graco, you will NOT be able to use this stroller with your car seat.
Huge bummer.
However, if you’re in the market for a new infant seat, the good news is that Britax’s B-Safe is a pretty darn good option. Britax car seats paired with Britax strollers are generally a winning combination.
Seats
If you find yourself in a car seat incompatability situation, don’t worry: you can still (theoretically) use this stroller from birth. The seats recline fully flat, like a pram, so you can place newborns (from 5 lb and up) directly in the seat. Both seats have nice 5-pt harnesses and can hold kiddos up to 50 lbs per seat (100 lbs total).
Storage
The storage is one of the best features of this stroller — there are just so many options! The B-Lively Double has an extra large under-seat basket that you can access from the front or back of the stroller. This is pretty awesome! Compared to the City Mini/GT Double, you’ll find better storage (and better access to it) here, though it’s not as generous as the storage basket on the Joovy Scooter x2.
In addition to the under-seat storage, the B-Lively Double also has six easy-to-access back pockets for all your must-haves — wallet, keys, phone, snacks, baby wipes, etc. And they zip closed, which is a nice touch (harder for someone to yank your wallet that way, eh?).
That said, if you’re looking for extra amenities — like a parent organizer and double child tray — you’ll have to purchase those separately. Yes, it’s annoying that you have to pay extra for these things, but trust us, it’s soooooo worth it to add functionality and convenience factor to your stroller over the years.
Canopies
The large independently-operated canopies are UV 50+ and have breathable mesh ventilation windows to keep your kiddos cool (and so you can keep tabs on them!). If awesome canopies are non-negotiable for you, you’re in luck.
Brake
The B-Lively Double has a linked braking system. Simply step on the single brake lever, and it locks both wheels simultaneously — so easy. You can also lock the front swivel wheels by clicking down the front brake pedal as well.
Britax B-Lively Double Stroller Review — Bottom Line: The new Britax B-Lively Double is a solid choice for a side-by-side double stroller. It’s lightweight, comfortable for kids, has decent storage, great canopies, an adjustable handlebar, is easy to fold, and rides really well. The only major complaint is that it only works with Britax car seats. Britax delivers great value and this stroller is no exception.
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Thanks for the review, such great information. Just wondering, with adding the infant car seat it requires an adapter, does the adapter need to be removed every time you fold it down? Or does it stay attached?
Hi there, Danielle! Yes, I believe the stroller CAN be folded with the adapter still attached.
Minneapolis! You must be a hockey fan, Go Wild! 🙂
Thanks, very helpful. Could you recommend other double stroller options for a newborn & 1 year-old, compatible with a Britax Endeavours travel system car seat, especially in-lines rather than double wides?
Hey Barry!
Yes — go Wild! 🙂
So if you have a Britax Endeavours car seat, you can get these adapters, and use them with the Contours Options, Contours Options Elite or Contours Curve. All great double tandems. You can read our Contours Options Elite stroller review here. Or you can pair your Endeavours car seat with the Britax B Ready G3 Stroller without the use of extra adapters. It utilizes a “Click and Go” system, and you just click the car seat into place. Good luck!
~ M
Do you know if the bassinet will fit on the double stroller for britax?
Hi Sue! You can use one bassinet when the stroller is in double’s mode, and it has to be on top.
I hope this helps!
Does this stroller meet Disney size requirements?
Hi Kristen!
Unfortunately, it’s about a half an inch too wide and thus, doesn’t meet Disney size requirements. SUCH a bummer, I know.
~ M