Pushchairs(view report contents)
How to stay safe
Safety standards
All prams and pushchairs sold in the UK must, by law, comply with the safety standard BS 7409: 1996, so look for this label on them. You might also see the marking EN 1888, which is a similar European standard.
Accident prevention
One of the most common accidents with pushchairs is lightweight ones
tipping backwards when shopping is hung from the handles.
These are the accidents that the safety standards should prevent with
prams and pushchairs:
- folding up with the child in it, possibly trapping them or their head, legs, arms or fingers
- moving with the child in it when the brake is on
- tipping over
- collapsing while being used
- the handles breaking
- a harnessed child climbing out of a pushchair or falling out of a pram
- the body of a pram or the seat of a pushchair detaching from the chassis
Do’s and don'ts of pushchairs
Do
- read the instructions supplied
- make sure that when the pushchair is unfolded, it is locked into position before you put your child in. Check both the automatic and the second lock, which can be automatic or manual
- check the seat is secure before putting your child in a seat that you have changed to face the opposite direction, or removed to use a car seat in its place
- check that the car seat is fitted securely to the chassis
- always use the child’s harness except for very young babies lying flat
- adjust the harness to fit your child, taking into account whatever clothing they are wearing. Pay particular attention to fitting the waist strap snugly, as this is the main part that will secure your child. Also make sure their legs are either side of the crotch strap, to stop them slipping forward out of the seat
- use the brake when the pushchair is stationary
- hold your pushchair firmly in windy places and also at road crossings and on railway platforms
- remove any plastic rain cover indoors - to stop your child overheating
- check the pushchair regularly for any damage and defect that may make it unsafe. Use replacement parts only from the manufacturer/supplier of the pushchair
- follow any maintenance instructions
Don’t
- use a pushchair without a reclining backrest if your child is under six months old
- use a pushchair for long periods of sleep. Young babies are best laying flat to sleep
- hang shopping from pushchair handles. Use any shopping tray provided, likely to be under the seat
- use the car seat handle to manoeuvre or lift the pushchair
- replace the mattress that was originally supplied with a thicker one: this would reduce the depth of the sides that help keep your child in
Report Contents
About
this guide
Types of pushchair
- Buggy
- Forward-facing
- Two-in-one
- Three-in-one
- Travel system
- Double side-by-side
- Double tandem
- All terrain
What
to look for
Favourite
features
How
to stay safe
Buying
guide
Helpful
organisations
Suppliers'
details
