Todays Parents Now

Tips for Baby Stroller Safety

Strollers have been used for decades due to the fact that they offer convenience to parents on the move. As with many products on the market that are designed for infants and toddlers, many safety alerts and red flags have been raised.

Because it is heart rending to hear of a baby and/or toddler subjected to strollers that may cause injury, and potential death, the following information has been compiled to aid parents in knowing and understanding what safety enhancements are most important when selecting baby strollers.

In our effort to provide data concerning the dangers that are associated with these devices, as well as some basic safety features that are important to the health and life of your child, we hope to help you gain the reassurance of determining if a product is safe before purchasing it for your child.

Dangers Associated With Stroller Use

According to Pediatric Emergency Care, there were a number of stroller related injuries responded to in the year of 2004 to the year of 2007 by the 911 Response Team in just one community. The statistics of this particular study indicated the following:

During the approximately three and a half years that this study was conducted, 241 different incidents occurred that were specific to those involving shopping carts and strollers, with 121 of those related to strollers.

The ages of the children that were involved in the stroller related injuries averaged between 0 months and 6 months of age.

The largest number of the injuries reported were due to falls, resulting in a percentage of 47.5% of all the cases.

59% of the injuries that were connected to stroller related injuries were attributed to the head area.

At least 18% of the children monitored also sustained an injury directly related to the facial area.

At least 77% of the children evaluated were transported to the local emergency treatment center by the use of an ambulance.

It is estimated that a little over 8% of all the children involved were hospitalized for further treatment and evaluation of their injuries.

It is believed that as parents become aware of steps to keep their children safe in their strollers, there will be less likelihood that injury or death will occur while employing the convenience of the stroller. Based on the information obtained from this study, medical professionals determined that education should be an emphasis when it comes to parents who implement them.

Stroller Safety Measures

The following details some of the safety measures for stroller use. If you have purchased a stroller, or you are considering purchasing a stroller, it is important that you know and understand the basic safety measures that you can take in this situation. Below are some effective strategies that have been found to enhance the safe use of strollers.

1. There is a reduced opportunity for tipping and accidental falls, if you ensure that the stroller you purchase has a base that is relatively wide. Its a known fact that narrow strollers tend to have the most complications when it comes to leaning and tipping over.

2. There are many situations in which parents may be tempted to hang things on the stroller handles, such as purses and diaper bags. It is important to avoid the temptation to do this. By doing so, you are presenting the possibility of causing the stroller to tip over and result in injury.

3. There is a seatbelt that is attached to the stroller. It is absolutely imperative that you use the seatbelt at all times. This will add security to the device for the child.

4. It is equally important to use the wheel locking devices when the stroller is not in movement as it is to ensure that you take the time to use the device that locks the stroller into place while in use.

5. you should never leave the baby stroller unattended. It is when a child is left unattended that the most injuries occur.

6. Thoroughly check the stroller before and after each use to ensure that the parts are all secure - especially the seat area and the wheel area. If you find that any parts are loose, do not place your child in the unit prior to fixing these components; or purchase a new unit altogether.

7. Compare your stroller to the lists of product recalls that are issued on a regular basis as a result of known safety issues. Then simply discard it or follow the appropriate instructions on the recall list, if you find that your stroller is listed.

Conclusion

It is imperative to ensure that you learn as much as you can regarding what can happen, and how to prevent these situations from occurring. If you do this, it is almost a guarantee that your child and/or children will remain safe as both parent and child enjoy the use of these convenient forms of transport.