5 Ways to Ensure Baby Stroller Safety

When a new baby comes along parents always struggle to find the best gear for their baby. Hand-me-downs may be convenient, but with product recalls and changing safety laws, sometimes it's best for parents to do their research on the newest products that will be safe for baby. Strollers are a must have when it comes to outdoor trips with baby, especially during the spring when mom and dad want to take their little one on a walk in the park. While it's important for parents to look for the safest stroller for baby, the good news is that the CPSC has approved a new federal safety standard that requires all strollers to be made, tested and labeled to minimize hazards. Here are five tips on baby stroller safety.

Tip #1: Choose an age appropriate stroller.

The stroller you have for a toddler may not be appropriate for a newborn infant. Newborns aren't able to hold their heads up or sit up so they need strollers that recline. Many strollers fully recline or can be used with infant-only car seats. An umbrella stroller on the other hand most likely does not provide the head and back support that is needed by younger babies. Another thing to keep in mind is that jogging strollers aren't typically designed to recline so you shouldn't use one until your baby is at least 6 months old.

Tip #2: Look for weight guidelines.

All strollers have different weight guidelines which includes weight limits and minimum weights. Umbrella strollers are for babies of a certain age and weight while other strollers will only carry babies up to a certain weight. Check with the manufacturer to find out the weight guidelines for the specific stroller you are interested in purchasing.

Tip #3: Use the correct safety features.

Strollers have special features for baby's safety include shade from the sun, brakes and wheel locks, and buckles. Make sure to always buckle baby into the stroller securely and try to look for a stroller with brakes that are easy to use and have a lever that is out of baby's reach. If baby is fussy in his stroller, check that the buckle is used correctly.

Tip #4: Be careful of what goes on the stroller.

If you hang toys from your stroller for baby to play with, make sure the toys are fastened securely. Also be careful not to place a heavy diaper bag on the handle bar which can lead to the stroller tipping over. Any heavy bags should be placed in the storage basket.

Tip #5: Always keep your eye on baby.

As a parent, you never want to leave your baby unattended or let the stroller out of your sight. Keep one hand on the stroller at all times to that it doesn't tip over or start to roll away which can lead to danger.

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Written by Stephanie Parker from Sleepingbaby.com, inventors of the Zipadee-Zip

The motto for Sleeping Baby, makers of the Zipadee-Zip, is: "Inspiring Dreams One Night at A time," and that, in a nutshell, is how it all started…with one little dream that has since become the Parker family's reality. When Brett and Stephanie Parker's daughter, Charlotte, was born, the feeling that welled up inside of them was indescribable; they never realized until first looking into those baby blues of hers that they were even capable of that kind of love.

When it was time to transition baby from swaddling, the Parkers tried every sleep sack on the market and every swaddle weaning trick they could find for nearly two weeks and nothing worked to get baby Charlotte to fall and stay asleep.

Stephanie became determined to restore sleep and sanity to their household and set out to find a solution that would soothe Charlotte's startle reflex and provide her the cozy womb-like environment she loved so much but still give her the freedom to roll over and wiggle around in her crib safely. Out of sheer desperation and exhaustion, the Zipadee-Zip was born. The first Zipadee-Zip(R) Stephanie put together on her little sewing machine worked like magic!

To date tens of thousands of Zipadee-Zips have been sold and all from word-of-mouth marketing. It is so rewarding for the Parkers to see other parents and babies getting the sleep they both need and deserve!

For more information, visit sleepingbaby.com.

Interested in writing a guest blog for Sleeping Baby? Send your topic idea to pr@sleepingbaby.com.

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