Stroller Safety
Carriages and strollers are a great way to transport young children and should be used for that purpose only. Children have been hurt in carriages and strollers when they are not used correctly.
Strollers should never be used as a replacement for a crib because they do not meet the same safety requirements.
Safety Tips
- Always use the safety harness and/or lap belts. Make sure your child’s head cannot fall forward.
- Stay with the child at all times when they are in a stroller and always keep child in view.
- Do not use pillows or blankets as padding: they can interfere with babies breathing.
- Do not carry additional children in the stroller made for one. Do not carry any items in the stroller unless it is recommended in the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Do not hang bags or other items on stroller handle. This can cause the stroller to tip over.
- Check the stroller often for signs of damage. Do not use the stroller if it is damaged or broken.
- Never use a stroller on stairs or escalators. You may lose control of the stroller or your child may fall out.
- Do not use the stroller as a crib. Strollers are not for infant sleep. When sleeping in the sitting position, an infant’s head can fall forward and their airway can be blocked. It is important to move an infant to a crib, cradle or bassinet to sleep.
- Carriages and strollers made before 1985 may not meet current safety standards and should not be bought or sold.
Tips when Buying Strollers
- Choose a sturdy stroller and follow the manufacturer’s instructions for the child’s weight and height.
- Strollers must come with a lap belt or safety harness that is attached to the frame.
- It is important to buy baby carriages and strollers in Canada as they meet our safety standards.
- Strollers must come with information that tells you the manufacturer, model number and the date it was made.
- New or used carriages and strollers that do not come with a label or instructions may not be safe to use and should not be purchased.
- Check the product label and product instructions
- Visit the manufacturer’s website for information
- Ask the retailer for details
Jogging Strollers
- If using a jogging stroller while walking with an infant, it must have a fully reclining seat
- Infants have weak neck muscles and the impact of jogging can cause harm. It is not recommended to jog with a baby less than 1 year old
- Always use the 5-point harness to secure your baby and prevent a fall
For more information, please visit Healthy Canadians.
http://www.healthycanadians.gc.ca/index-eng.php
Check Health Canadian’s website for Consumer Product Recalls to find out about recalled products. If you would like to receive updates on consumer advisories and product recalls, you can subscribe to the Healthy Canadian's website for recalls and advisories.1
The reproduction is a copy of an official work that is published by the Government of Canada. The reproduction has not been produced in affiliation with, or with the endorsement of the Government of Canada.
Date of creation: January 31, 2013
Last modified on: April 11, 2017