Product Hazards – Strollers

In 2009, an estimated 14,000 children under age 5 were treated in hospital emergency rooms for injuries associated with strollers, according to CPSC Nursery Product Reports. Most of the injuries were caused by falls and almost 90 percent of those were head injuries. On average, one child dies each year from stroller related injuries according to data from 2005-2007. Many of these deaths occur when babies are left to sleep with the stroller’s back rest in the reclined position. They may slip feet-first through a leg opening until their head is trapped and they are strangled — at least 11 deaths are associated with this hazard. Be aware that infants only a few weeks old can creep or move when asleep. The youngest victim of a stroller was an infant just 7 weeks old.

Since 2007 there have been 14 stroller recalls totaling more than 4.5 million units and involving 4 deaths.

A recall or a corrective action has been issued for strollers for various reasons including:

  • Folding mechanisms on locks that could break during use, causing the stroller to suddenly collapse
  • Laceration or amputation risk
  • Restraint buckles that could unlatch
  • Seat belts that may not restrain properly
  • Breaks that may not hold when locked
  • Risk of injury from falling if seat detaches and falls to the ground
In November 2009, Maclaren recalled one million strollers after twelve reports of fingertip amputations

More Information on Strollers

Stroller entrapment risks
KID’s Stroller Safety Brochure
Infants Can Die When Their Heads Become Trapped in Strollers