Can Parents Prevent Baby Stroller Injuries?

Data collected by Nationwide Children’s Hospital claims that strollers are causing an increase in childhood brain injuries. According to researchers, almost 361,000 children aged five and under were involved in stroller accidents that required a trip to the emergency room. In 1990, only one in five of these accidents resulted in traumatic brain injuries. By 2010, 42 percent of children and 53 percent newborns involved in stroller accidents suffered traumatic brain injuries. The majority of accidents were caused by strollers tipping over or children falling out.This is important news because traumatic brain injuries at a young age can have long-term consequences. A study of 1.1 million people in Sweden discovered that childhood traumatic brain injuries were associated with low educational attainment, use of welfare and early death. Children with severe brain injuries had worse outcomes in adulthood. It is therefore extremely important to prevent baby stroller injuries.

6 Tips That Can Help Prevent Baby Stroller Injuries

Parents can prevent baby stroller injuries by staying vigilant and being informed.

• Be aware of product recalls: Like most consumer products, baby strollers can be recalled. In some cases, there are structural defects that make strollers unsafe to use. For example, Dorel Juvenile recalled its Safety 1^st strollers due to a fall hazard. The folding mechanism on the stroller can disengage on one side when paired with an infant car seat. Once parents become aware of recalled strollers, there are several options. They can contact the manufacturer for a free repair kit or simply stop using the stroller. We recently wrote a blog on how you can find information on product recalls.

• Buy the right kind of stroller: Strollers have specific weight and age guidelines. Certain strollers are made for specific age and weight groups. Deviating from these guidelines can cause injuries. For example, newborns should be placed in strollers that can recline, since they are unable to sit up on their own.

• Be careful when folding: Stroller hinges are hazardous to young children. Fingers can become caught in the hinges if children are placed in strollers before they are locked open. Some strollers may have extremely dangerous hinges. In 2014, Graco recalled its strollers because the hinges posed an amputation and laceration hazard.

• Make sure children are buckled up: Make sure your children are safely strapped in before going for a stroller ride. Children who are not fastened in can fall out and suffer injuries. Even slight bumps or stops can be hazardous when safety harnesses are not used.

• Use your brakes: Engage the brakes every time you come to a stop. Failure to do so can cause the stroller to roll away. Also make sure that your children cannot reach the brake levers.

• Be careful with bags: Some strollers can tip over when bags or other items are placed on the handles. Ways to prevent this include simply not placing bags on the handles, or to buy strollers with a wider base.

If product defects are to blame for a stroller accident, parents should be aware that they may have legal options to hold the manufacturer accountable. The Texas personal injury attorneys at Mike Love & Associates, LLC will hold stroller manufacturers accountable when their products cause injuries.