Mastering the use of strollers to be more mobile with your infant or toddler is an important milestone that opens up many possibilities in your journey through life. Perhaps you’ve already chosen your ideal stroller but are nervous about putting it to the test with your child, or are still sussing out your options and keen for some advice to avoid mishaps during your outings together. Truth be told, from the moment they learn to sit up on their own unassisted, to the boisterous toddler years, hitting the pavement with your child and navigating in and out of cars is not always smooth sailing. That said, parents and caregivers can prepare themselves by accessing the right information now to ensure safer, happier outcomes.
Thankfully, our friends at Britax are here to help, drawing on their 50+ years’ experience helping families transport their little ones safely to their next destination. With an extensive range of innovative, industry-leading car seats, capsules and carriers, travel systems and strollers, they have first-hand knowledge of the typical situations parents and caregivers can encounter with a stroller, and useful tips to prioritise safety and provide peace of mind
Double check your child is restrained
The most obvious but crucial step, learning to restrain your infant or toddler properly is stroller safety 101. It’s important for you and other family members who will be operating the stroller to get it correct from the start so you don’t adopt bad habits. To comply with Australian law, strollers must have a 5-point harness (2 shoulder straps, 2 waist straps and a crotch strap) to secure the child. Although it might seem excessive – particularly for infants – you’d be surprised at how much your child could move around and potentially slip out of the seat altogether if this safety system wasn’t in place. Straps should be tightened so there is no slack, and they should sit flat without twists. If the worst were to occur and your child took a tumble, loose or twisted straps can heighten the risk of injury.
Once you get the hang of this to the point it becomes second nature, vigilance is key. Parents get exceptionally busy and are exposed to numerous distractions, particularly when other children are in tow, so try to take a moment to double-check before you set off. And don’t forget to provide refresher training to any caregivers who are infrequent users of the stroller.
Your brake and tether straps are your best friends
Just like the 5-point harness, using the brake on your stroller needs to become an automatic process whenever you are stationary — especially near roads, traffic, or other hazards. A runaway stroller might make for a dramatic movie moment, but it is a terrifying real-world scenario for parents and caregivers. Brake mechanisms differ between manufacturers, so choose one that feels intuitive and easy to lock and release, as you’ll use it constantly throughout the day.
Of course, carers are not immune from accidents, and in the event the stroller does get away from you, a back-up mechanism is crucial: the tether strap. This reinforced strap connects your wrist to the handle of the stroller and is not an optional extra — it is a mandatory design feature in modern strollers across Australia and New Zealand. Following a history of tragic incidents where strollers rolled away from caregivers, tether straps became a safety requirement in 2008.
Even the most attentive caregiver cannot guarantee the brake will be applied every single time — especially if you need to act quickly to protect another child. With the brake and tether working together, you get that essential layer of protection and peace of mind. Just remember to slip the tether over your wrist as early as possible.
Dont overload your strollers
A quality stroller is designed to be robust and balanced to compensate for a wriggly infant or toddler, but that doesn’t mean you should push its limits. Avoid hanging shopping bags, backpacks or parcels from the stroller handles — even momentarily — as this can make the stroller unstable and cause it to tip backwards. Strollers tipping over due to heavy bags is one of the most common stroller-related injuries in Australia. It only takes a split second and a moment of distraction for a dangerous spill to occur. Instead, always use the basket underneath the stroller to store items safely and evenly.
Children themselves can also contribute to overloading as they grow and test boundaries. Try to educate them early not to stand up, climb, or lean excessively out of their stroller, as this also increases the risk of tipping.
Consider who is operating your stroller
User error plays a major role in stroller-related incidents, and this can be influenced by the type of stroller and the physical capability of the person using it. Larger, feature-rich travel systems are easy for many able-bodied adults to manage but may pose challenges for older adults or grandparents, particularly over long distances or on steep inclines. Britax recommends considering a lightweight travel stroller if grandparents or older caregivers will be using it regularly, as they are easier to manoeuvre, lift and fold. The Britax Flylite Travel Stroller is one such example.
Observing car parking safety and etiquette
Keeping track of two or three young children is always more complicated than managing one, and the challenge increases in crowded car parks. If you have one walking child and one in a stroller, it can be tricky to determine who to secure first when returning to the car.
Generally, the more mobile child poses the greater risk, which is why Britax recommends securing the walking child in the car first. Then transfer the younger child from the stroller into their car seat. Children are safest once they’re strapped in, giving you the freedom to load your shopping and organise the car without distraction.
A final tip: avoid leaving the stroller directly behind the car or close to moving vehicles. Even with the the rear of the car and adjacent to the path of cars if you can avoid it, as even if your brake and tether strap prevent rolling, they will not safeguard against being clipped by another vehicle that has approached too close.
Watch for sleep and don’t leave your child unattended
It’s important to remember that strollers are not designed for unsupervised sleep. If your child nods off while you’re out, it’s fine to let them rest, but always stay within arm’s reach. Leaving your child unattended — asleep or awake — increases the risk of falls, entanglement or suffocation, even in a seemingly stable stroller.
There’s no doubt that using a stroller involves a learning curve for new parents and can still present challenges even for seasoned caregivers. But by keeping the above safety tips in mind, you’ll be better equipped to handle outings with confidence. For more helpful information and to view the Britax range of travel safety products, visit the Britax website.
