The most popular pram safety questions answered for you

The Babybee Customer Service team provides support to thousands of Australian parents and expecting parents each year. Some of the most common questions we get asked are about safety and for good reason!

Common questions about pram safety

Ensuring your pram not only complies with Australian Safety Standards, but exceeds them is key to ensuring you are buying the best possible quality pram. Common questions to ask when purchasing a pram include:

• What are the Australian safety standards?
• Can I use a stroller seat with my newborn?
• How do I know if my pram is safe?
• Can I cover my pram with a blanket or wrap?

It can all be quite confusing, especially for first-time parents unaware of common pram features.

So, we’ve put together a guide to our most frequently asked safety questions (and some common misconceptions) to give you an easy to read run-down of what is considered safe pram use and why.

Newborn Pram Safety: What is the safest position for newborns?

When it comes to newborn safety and your pram, the best way to position your baby is flat on their back on a relatively firm surface. At this young age, your baby’s spine is developing rapidly. This flat, firm surface offers the best position for spine development as well as reducing the risk of SUID (Sudden Unexpected Infant Death – formerly called SIDS). It also ensures that their airways remain clear.

In any type of inclined or curved seat or capsule, there’s a risk that your baby’s head may fall forward or their chin press against their chest and blocking their small airway. For this reason, any type of inclined seat or even car seat that puts your little one in a curved shape should be limited while they are very young.

When is it safe to move your little one from bassinet to seat?

Once babies are able to sit up unassisted (usually around 6 months of age but will differ for every baby), they will have the correct head and neck control to support themselves and stop their head from falling forward.

What can I do if my baby likes to sit upright or look around while in a pram?

While your little one might appear to be engaging with the world around them, the truth is before six months of age a baby’s range of vision is still quite limited. Optometrists and paediatricians suggest that babies can only see around 30cm in front of them until they reach around 6 months.

Using the bassinet is still recommended is always recommended until your bub is able to sit up unassisted. If your baby does like to see more of the world, you can open up the canopy a little more and let them experience all of the new colours, sounds and smells that the outside world has to offer.

What is the best way to position a baby to help with reflux?

If your baby has reflux, sitting them up used to be the go-to move. However, the most recent Red Nose advice has debunked the myth that elevating your little one actually assists with their reflux.

The consensus is that it is best to keep your newborn in the bassinet until they are able to sit up unaided, regardless of reflux. If you’re really worried about reflux, consult your doctor or health care professional and always follow their advice.

What's a 5-point safety harness

Once you do start using the seat, you’ll find it’s fitted with a 5-point safety harness (an Australian Safety Standard requirement). The strap lengths, force required to open the buckle and loop sizes are all precisely designed and rigorously tested to not only keep your little one in place but to also prevent potential strangulation hazards caused by the harness itself.

What's the safest way to avoid anything terrible happening?

Always strap your little one into the seat using the 5-point safety harness and ensuring it's correctly adjusted to your baby's size. When they’re not seated in the pram, always store your stroller with the harness unbuckled.

Why don't bassinets have a safety harness?

Pram bassinets in Australia are not required to have a harness installed. They can in some instances actually become a strangulation or entrapment hazard if your little one wriggles around too much. So don’t worry, a bassinet is just as safe without a 5-point safety harness.

How do I use my pram's brake safely?

This one might sound obvious but the foot brake is there for one very important reason: to keep your pram from rolling into danger. Please make it a habit from day one to press that brake whenever you stop, even on flat surfaces. It only take a split second to ensure your bub is safe by using the brake and it only takes a strong wind or an accidental push for your pram to roll. So, let's make a team effort to be safe from day dot when it comes to your pram's brake.  

Foot brakes tend to be easy to engage (especially when you’ve got your hands full!) but all Australian prams by law need to include a red coloured brake for maximum visibility.

Should I use the tether/wrist strap on the pram?

We often get asked what 'the loop hanging off the handlebar 'is?

The tether/wrist strap found on your pram handlebar is a required safety feature of all Australian prams. This strap is another safety measure and we recommended making a habit from day one to put your hand through the strap before you start strolling. If you trip while walking or someone else falls and pushes your pram, having your wrist through the tether strap will prevent it rolling too far.

Is it safe to hang bags on a pram or stroller handlebar?

Say it together now: hanging a bag from your pram handlebar is a big no-no!

We all have so much to carry when we take our little ones out, however when it comes to safely using your pram there should never be more than 1kg of weight placed on any pram handlebar (unless the pram specifically advertises otherwise). Some brands of prams offer handlebar bags that allow for small amounts of essential items to be safety stored on the pram handlebar for ease of use. All prams that comply with the Australian Safety Standards have been tested for tipping risk and will not tip over if used correctly, but given the right conditions (on a hill or incline, children not secured, heavy bags on handlebars) any pram can potentially tip.  

Another risk with excess weight on the handlebar is to the stroller frame itself. Stroller frames tend to be made from lightweight, durable materials like aluminium to keep the overall pram weight as light as possible. Over time, any excess weight may bend your frame either slightly or in a more obvious way depending on the amount of weight and how long it has been used.

Is it safe to use muslin wraps over your pram?

In short, nothing should be placed over or on top of your prams canopy that is not provided with your pram bassinet or stroller.

Pram fabrics need to be dense enough to protect your child from the sun, as well as strong enough to last, so inevitably they will be thick and not very breathable. Adding anY additional covering to your pram can reduce the amount of airflow, creating the potential for overheating and drastically reducing the amount of oxygen available. Babies and young children can’t regulate their body temperature as well as adults can, which is why it's super important to keep them in an open pram and allow air in. Even a thin muslin cloth over your pram can be enough to cause your little one to overheat.

Accessories that come with your pram (or can be purchased from the manufacturer separately) will be safe to use as they generally will have ventilation panels and be made from appropriate, breathable fabrics.

Now that you are across the key safety features of all Australian prams...

There is a lot to be aware of when it comes to pram safety, but it doesn’t have to be scary! Prams sold in Australia should comply with the Australian Safety Standards, which test both the safety and durability of your pram.

As a good place to start, we recommend you always read your user manual cover to cover to ensure you understand the specific risks and safety features associated with your pram or stroller.