Popular strollers that rate high according to ProductReview.com.au are found to be unsafe in Choice tests.

News Corp Australia has discovered four of the five top-ranked strollers on productreview.com.au failed safety testing by Australia’s leading product reviewer, Choice.

Four were “not recommended”. The other had not been tested.

Choice defines “not recommended” as meaning “failed at least one major safety or durability test”.

The four reviewed strollers had at least one major safety failure.

Choice said major failures included “strangulation hazards from the harness, head entrapment and tendency to tip over”.

ProductReview managing director Elmar Shar said “user ratings provide a great source of information when choosing the right product but just like with any publication consumers should be looking at multiple sources for information when making a purchasing decision”.

“It’s important to note that productreview.com.au doesn’t simply provide an overall rating for a product but requires users to justify their ratings, and explain any shortcomings a product may have,” Mr Shar added.

Choice would not comment. It recently began soliciting user reviews.

The prams include -

Maclaren Techno XLR/XLR Elite Not recommended — failed safety test

From Choice –
• Failed safety tests: When the straps are adjusted to their longest and shortest settings, loops created pose a potential strangulation hazard. The ends of the shoulder and wasit straps do not become disconnected from each other and from the buckle after actuation of the buckle and following their release from the buckle they require effort to separate.
• Minor failures: The tether strap is not permanently fixed to the frame. The harness did not meet all the requirements for securing the child.
• Very minor failure of information requirements.
• Quite difficult to adjust the harness straps.
• The bottom basket is almost inaccessible when the backrest is fully reclined.
• The head barrier was hidden on purchase (difficult to notice).

BabyZen YoYo Not recommended — failed safety test

From Choice –
• Failed safety test: When the harness straps are in their longest and shortest settings, loops created pose a potential strangulation hazard.
• Failed safety test: The head barrier is inadequate to prevent the child falling out the back of the stroller.
• Minor safety failure: The harness straps are positioned such that there are large gaps which may make a smaller child less secure.
• No front bar or tray
• The harness straps might not be long enough to fit a bigger child

UPPAbaby Alta Not recommended — failed safety test

From Choice –
• Stroller can’t be folded if seat is rear-facing.
• Failed safety tests: The ends of the shoulder and waist straps do not become disconnected from each other and from the buckle after actuation of the buckle and following their release from the buckle they require effort to separate.
• Failed stability test: When loaded at the maximum recommended weight limit (23kg), our sample tipped over before reaching a 12 degree slope when the seat was in reverse position for both upright and reclined modes across the slope. • Minor safety failures: Release handles for the seat are accessible by the child at the sides of the seat and require minimal force to operate. The harness has gaps which may let a smaller child less secure.
• Very minor failure of information requirements.
The manufacturer disputes our findings and has provided us with an independent test report stating that it has passed all relevant safety requirements and product safety standards.

Rozibaby Pram Not recommended — failed safety test

From Choice –
• Failed safety tests: When the straps are in their longest and shortest setting, loops created pose a potential strangulation hazard. There is no head barrier to prevent the child falling out the back of the stroller. When tested for durability the front left wheel was observed to shake intensely at times; and the front right wheel no longer smoothly rolled or swivelled.
• Minor safety failures: The release buttons for the latching devices for the removable seat are accessible at the sides of the seat and require minimal force to operate. The shoulder straps don’t have provisions for adjustment. The crotch strap is attached to the seating surface at a distance from the backrest which is greater than what’s considered to be a distance that’s able to prevent the child sliding forward. The tether strap is not permanently fixed to the frame.
• Very hard to operate the seat recline mechanism when a child is on the seat.
• Hand-operated brakes are tight to apply and very tight to release.
• When unfolding, the handle/frame needs to be well aligned or the levers can’t be released, and the front wheels (4 wheel configuration) need to be tucked properly or they could clash and tangle with the handle/frame.
• When folding, the handle/frame needs to be well aligned or the levers can’t be released, the front wheels (4 wheel configuration) interfere with access to the levers, and the bottom basket interferes with folding. During testing it resulted in one velcro strap at the rear breaking.
• Substantial chafing of the backrest fabric at about shoulder level as a result of the test load rubbing against it during durability testing.

Share your comments below.

Main image- stock photo