Safety Tips for Baby Stroller Use

The use of baby strollers has offered a convenience to parents on the go for decades now. Do we keep aware of the many red flags and safety alerts that accompany products designed for our infants and toddlers?

No loving parent wants to learn of any baby or toddler that may have suffered injury, or potentially death, from the use of a baby stroller. As a result of such accidents many safety tips have been compile, a few of them listed here, to assist parents in learning and understanding safety enhancements that are most important to consider when selecting a baby stroller.

Parents, like yourself, need to take the time to determine if the product is safe when purchasing a unit for your child. We have tried 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.

Dangers Associated With Stroller Use

During the years of 2004 through 2007, a 911 Response Team in just one community reported a number of stroller related injuries, according to Pediatric Emergency Care. Data from this particular study showed the community the following:

The study was conducted for approximately three and a half years. During this time, 241 different incidents occurred that were specific to those involving shopping carts and strollers. The amount of stroller related injuries came to a number of 121.

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 coming from 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.

While there were no deaths, it is estimated that a little over 8% of all the children involved were hospitalized for further treatment and evaluation of their injuries.

Based on the information obtained from this study, medical professionals determined that education should be an emphasis when it comes to parents who implement the use of baby strollers. It is believed that if parents are aware of the steps to keep their children safe in strollers, there will be less likelihood that injury and even death may occur while using this type of device.

Safety Measures for Stroller Use

If you are considering purchasing a stroller, or have purchased a stroller, it is important that you know and understand the basic safety measures that you can take. Below you will find a few effective strategies that have been found to enhance the safe use of strollers.

1. Fact: Strollers that are narrow tend to have the most complications when it comes to leaning and tipping over. It is essential to ensure that you purchase astroller that has a base that is relatively wide. This way, there is a reduced opportunity for tipping and accidental falls.

2. It is often tempting for an adult to hang things on the stroller handles, such as purses and diaper bags. It is important to understand though, that by doing so you are providing the possibility of causing a stroller to begin tipping over, and this can result in injury.

3. It is absolutely imperative that you use the seatbelt that is attached to the stroller 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. When using the device, you should never leave it unattended. It is when a child is left unattended that the most injuries occur.

6. It is important to ensure that you 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. You should always evaluate the product that you have compared to the product recalls that are issued on a regular basis due to safety issues. If you find that your stroller is listed, simply discard it or follow the appropriate instructions on the recall list.

Conclusion

While strollers offer a number of benefits to the parents, these devices can also pose a danger to the children that are placed in them. 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.

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