Imagine this; you are in the prime of your life; you are, as the saying goes, “young, wild and free.” You cruise through life without an ounce of care in the world, and bam! You have a baby on the way.
DEFCON-1!
Once your baby comes along for the ride, all notions of risk and tomfoolery get thrown out of the window. It’s time to get rid of your ‘no time for caution’ mentality and buckle up for a long ride of safety, caution, patience, and responsibility. Do not get anxious, though; it is not something you cannot handle with a little bit of information and a possible prep level.
Your little one will soon become ready to step into the outside world and take a stroll along with their mommy or daddy. Ideally, you should have a completely functional and fully equipped stroller prepared to go when it comes to that point.
(For the best prams and strollers in New Zealand, visit: https://www.baccaniprams.co.nz/)
Modern strollers often come equipped with the best safety features. They are manufactured according to international safety standards and are compelled to follow many guidelines before being made available for purchase. It’s all good, yes. But regardless of the guarantees provided by the manufacturer, you, as a parent, have a part to play in this ordeal as well.
Let’s look at a few tips on how you can handle your stroller in the safest way possible:
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Check for Standard Requirements by the Manufacturer
When you purchase your stroller, you are given assurance of the standard safety requirements from the manufacturer. These standard requirements include the locking mechanism in the wheels and the seats, a proper harness, belt and safety mechanism, and the required warning labels.
Read our locked-and-loaded-the-ultimate-pram-stroller-safety-guide to learn more about standard stroller safety requirements.
With that out of the way, here are some tips on what you can do from your end to ensure your baby’s safety:
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Keep Your Baby Close
It has been scientifically proven that your baby is more comfortable when you are within their range of vision. It provides them with a psychological boost and has a calming effect. This goes both ways as well. For you as a parent, it is always better to have your baby within your sight to remain as calm and as comfortable as possible. It reduces the level of anxiety on your part, and you can obviously concentrate better with the rest of your work, knowing that your baby is safe and sound.
When handling your stroller, you must place one hand on it at all times. However, it is understandable that this is not always possible. But, whenever it becomes difficult, we recommend that you exercise enough caution to place yourself at a range where you can grab the stroller or your baby in case the need arises. It can be an emergency or just the simple act of consoling your baby when they burst out in tears. Regardless of the situation, however, keep your baby close.
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Exercise Caution With Toys
Giving your baby a small toy to keep them entertained is a great way to stimulate them and minimize the fuss. You may either use a small, vibrant toy or a noise-making toy to achieve this purpose.
However, you should exercise caution when handling toys because certain toys can cause a choking hazard depending on the baby’s age. Just keep on the safe side; avoid giving them any toys with removable parts or small enough to swallow.
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Double Check the Harness
To ensure that your baby is safely tucked into the stroller, you should double-check that your baby’s safety harness is firmly fastened. Howsoever, if you are busy and are in a hurry, a pro tip we can give you is to listen to the click of the harness. If it clicks without an issue, you can rest assured that your baby is safely strapped in.
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Park Your Stroller Safely
Be cautious where you park and leave your stroller. Do not park it in any place that may cause potential harm to your baby.
Always ensure that it is parked on a flat surface and that the stroller wheels are correctly locked. However, even though the stroller wheels might be locked, we cannot rule out the chances of the stroller tipping over or sliding if it is left on sloped terrain. Avoid leaving your stroller on such a landscape at all costs!
Apart from this, always keep your baby attended when you are not on the move.
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Do Not Leave the Stroller Under the Sun
Don’t do it. Just don’t do it. As it is with rainy and windy conditions, prolonged periods under the sun can cause harm to your baby. We understand that you can’t keep moving all the time and that you need to catch a breather. However, find some shade to place your baby, even if the canopy is pulled out.
Especially during the warmer months, it is quite natural for you to head towards a park or a pool. When doing so, always use the canopy and keep your baby covered from the sun’s rays. And as we said earlier, avoid prolonged periods under the sun as it can heat the metal components of your stroller very quickly and hurt your baby’s sensitive skin.
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Do Not Leave Your Baby Overnight
Do not let your little baby sleep in the stroller overnight. They might be comfortable in it, but it is unpredictable, and the chances of your baby suffocating in the stroller would increase if left unattended.
While strollers can be extremely comfortable for babies and can make for an excellent short-term bed for supervised naps, they are absolutely not meant for a whole night’s sleep. They are probably not as comfortable as an actual crib/cot or toddler bed, and there is also the risk of your baby falling out or the stroller tipping over from the baby shifting too much.
Always put the baby in a proper bed for a full night’s sleep.
There should be a warning sign on this fact on the label of your stroller.
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Do Not Fold Your Stroller Near Your Baby
Your baby is curious, and it’s beautiful. However, their curiosity does come with some cons if left unattended. When your little one becomes curious and fiddle around the stroller, it may damage their fingers. Make sure that the stroller is folded securely and is kept far away from your baby. The more unreachable it is, the better.
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Place Your Bags Accordingly
You have to make sure that you keep all the bags in the compartment designed explicitly for that purpose below the seat bottom. It is convenient to hang your purse or small bag around the handles of your stroller. However, do not do this as it increases tipping risk and creates an inconvenience in maneuverability. Keep them in the storage space provided below the stroller, and you can mitigate any risk associated with it.
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Maintain Your Stroller Regularly
Wear and tear are as dangerous as they come. You always have to ensure that your stroller is in tip-top condition to guarantee your baby’s safety. Read our article on pram and stroller maintenance here.
Pro Tip: When the grip of your handle starts to wear off, the best thing that you can do at home is to use tennis racket grip tape to wrap around your handles when the material begins wearing off. The tape is made for people to have a good, comfortable grip, and it comes in a variety of colours.
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Pay Attention To Recalls
Return the stroller warranty card so that you will be duly notified in case of a recall. If you’re considering buying a used stroller, check that the stroller hasn’t been recalled.
In conclusion, the safety of your baby lies in the hand of two parties: yourself and the manufacturer. Purchasing the best stroller possible is vital and playing your part in ensuring your baby’s safety follows in a parallel motion right next to it.
You can visit our website to purchase the highest quality strollers and prams in New Zealand. If you’re a reader from overseas, follow our blog and immerse yourself in previous articles we have published to learn all about making the proper purchase for your growing family.
With that note, let us bid your adieu. Do go through these instructions again, and do not shy away from doing a bit of additional research on your own. It’s the 21st century, and Google is your friend. To you and your bub, hope you are well. Good luck and stay safe!