What are the priorities to consider when buying a stroller? The safety and comfort of your child or its ease of use since you're the one who'll be pushing it.
To assess the performance of strollers or pushchairs in these 2 crucial areas, the Consumer Council has conducted a test, in collaboration with the ICRT (International Consumer Research and Testing), on 19 models priced from $1,490 to $14,860.
First and foremost, the safety of your baby, 2 models were found to have gaps or holes in non-compliance of the European Standard (BS EN 1888:2012) requirement: there should be no gaps or holes that may trap the child's fingers or toes.
Another 2 samples were found to be faulty in the folding design in respect of the secondary safety lock which failed to re-engage automatically after the stroller was opened and unfolded for use. In the extreme scenario, this could result in the stroller suddenly being folded and shut closed trapping accidentally the baby already sitting in it.
Equally important is the effectiveness of the brakes (parking device) and their engagement. In 3 samples, the brakes on both rear wheels had to be applied individually rather than being activated simultaneously by a single lever.
The strollers were also tested for compliance with a new requirement in the European Standard - the bite test in light of propensity of young children to chew on anything nearby. 3 samples were considered unsatisfactory in that some material in the bumper bar was found to fall off after the test, posing choking hazards to the child.
Besides putting all models to the test against the European Standard, 3 of the models which claimed to be in compliance with the American Society for Testing and Materials Standard (ASTM F833), were also tested against the ASTM standard.
However, it turned out that one sample had its crotch restraint failing the ASTM pull test. It is important that a child is securely restrained; a defective crotch restraint obviously could not be relied on to effectively provide the needed protection.
Furthermore, in 2 samples, the seat enclosure was not sufficiently sturdy and resistant to prevent an infant's foot from forcibly stretching out and through the enclosure thus leaving the foot exposed and unprotected.
Secondly, the assessment on ease of use included: daily operation, maneuverability and performance during motion, folding and unfolding mechanisms, reclining functions of the backrest and convenience while travelling in public transport.
Ease of use consideration is probably of more importance to city dwellers such as Hong Kong's, who rely on MTR, buses, minivans and taxis. You'll need a lightweight but sturdy stroller that folds quickly and is compact to use on public transport.
For parents with a car, a light, basic travel system (one that the seat unit can be removed and replaced with a carrier cot or car seat) is also worth considering but whichever stroller you choose, make sure it fits into your car trunk easily. Highlights of the assessment included:
- When moving over bumpy, uneven surfaces, 3 samples shook unsteadily during the ride. In 3 samples, extra effort was needed to push the stroller over grass and stone gravel surfaces. And, in 1 sample, it was difficult to maneuver when negotiating around obstacles in the test.
- 7 out of the 19 samples could be folded single-handedly, leaving the other hand free to hold the baby. The folding design of 1 sample was found to be particularly cumbersome involving many steps to do the task.
- 2 double strollers (with 2 seats), were big in size and heavy, that would be difficult to carry up the stairs or board public transport. Indeed the models varied vastly in weight from 4.7 kg to 17.3 kg.
Some safety tips in the use of strollers or pushchairs:
- Never travel up or down the stairs or escalators with baby in the stroller; use the lift instead.
- Always fasten the baby with the seat belt or harness straps.
- Always apply the brakes and hold the stroller firmly with your hand when stopping on an incline surface.
- Do not hang shopping bags or heavy items over the back of / on the stroller to prevent accidental overturning.
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- 2014.06.16