The safe passage of kids

Joanne Cocks test drives pushchairs and finds that buying a stroller is no walk in the park and almost as complex as purchasing a car.

Parents have different lifestyles after they have their baby. Some go back to their career soon after the child is born; others spend more time enjoying long walks either on our promenades, or even in a country lane. For this reason, there are pushchair systems to suit everyone’s lifestyle.

Brands are classified like cars by the distributors, who might compare a particular model to a ‘compact’ vehicle and another to the ‘Jaguar’ of pushchairs

So much so that whoever thought that buying a pushchair was going to be easy can think again. For not only is the market inundated with different brands, but the companies themselves come up with varying makes and models, accessories and features.

Brands are classified like cars by the distributors, who may compare a particular model to a “compact” car and another to the “Jaguar” of pushchairs.

Some models are suited to parents who return to a fast, busy life in an urban environment, while others are designed for those who have the privilege to enjoy their baby in various activities.

Listen to advice from a new mother, but do not let it influence you in your decision when buying your pushchair Trio system, which includes the carry cot/pram, car seat and stroller.

There are many features that expectant mothers should look out for: the weight of the carry cot, car seat and stroller, and safety features, such as good head and back support, among others.

Conrad Muscat, director of Babyline in Swatar, believes that parents should do their homework well and should never skimp on safety.

“People are being very careful because of the economic situation. However, it is never good to place a child’s safety in jeopardy,” he says.

Mr Muscat feels that the four main brands on offer at his outlet, BebeConfort (French), Jané (Spanish), Bugaboo (Dutch) and Concord (German), are not only full of safety characteristics, but also have different features that make them more appealing, even if sometimes slightly more expensive than the average.

Most carry cots can now be strapped in a flat position in the car’s back seat; the newborn can be released from hospital in it and is not made to ‘sit up’ for more than necessary. Most have material that can easily be removed and washed, while nearly all have good ventilation systems that allow air to circulate freely.

After a few months, a child can be placed in the car seat, which also comes with a number of safety features, such as good head and back support.

There are different characteristics to make life easier on the carrier. Designers are always trying to make them as light as possible without sacrificing on style and safety. It is always important that the seat, which generally also attaches to the pushchair chassis, is easy to release and lock back into place.

Weight is an important factor in travel systems. A couple who lives in a second-floor apartment, without an elevator, would definitely need the lightest equip­ment to carry the baby up and down the stairs. On the other hand, a mother who does not have to worry about distances could look at three-in-one systems with larger wheels and better suspension. These are amazing to push and offer the child exceptionally smooth first rides on our pavements, which are not exactly perfectly surfaced.

But newborns do not remain so forever; they grow fast. Within a few months, it’s time to start pushing them around in strollers. Some brands give parents the option to change the direction of the seat: when the child is still relatively young, he can face whoever will be pushing the pushchair; and when he gets somewhat older and more curious, it’s important that he faces the outside world.

Parents can opt to go for the traditional four or eight wheels, but various brands now offer three-wheelers, which had started out as joggers. On some, the main handlebar can change direction so that the larger wheels end up in the front, ensuring a better grip on rugged terrain. Others can be brought into what is known as a two-wheel position, which makes it easy to pull over snow or sand.

One thing is for sure, the choice out there is vast, and doing your homework well is the best recipe to avoid disasters. After all, prevention is always better than cure.

Tips to travel safely

• Always use a car seat that suits your child’s weight and height.

• Make sure you install the car seat correctly. Some brands make it difficult or impossible for a seat to be installed in a car if not in the right way.

• Choose a seat that grows with a child.

• Children should always be strapped in, even for short trips.

• Change any car seat that has been damaged or that has been in a crash.