Out and about with a buggy: practical safety tips for parents

A buggy is the piece of baby kit you'll probably use more than any other. It goes to the shops, the park, the station and the school run, often with a nappy bag, a coat and the weekly shop hanging off it. Most of the time it's just part of the routine, which is exactly why a few simple habits are worth building early.

This guide pulls together advice from RoSPA, the NHS, the HSE, The Lullaby Trust and other recognised safety organisations, so you can head out with a bit more confidence.

The two habits that matter most: harness on, every time, and brake on whenever you're not moving. RoSPA advises keeping your child harnessed at all times and never leaving them unattended in a pushchair.

Brakes, harness and never leaving baby alone

• Brake on whenever you pause. Ground that looks flat often isn't. The Rail Accident Investigation Branch looked into a pushchair that rolled off a station platform onto the track while a parent was buying a ticket, with the brake off. The platform sloped gently towards the track, and the parent hadn't noticed the pushchair moving. Its advice is that carers should brake pushchairs whenever they're stationary on or near platforms.
• Make it a habit everywhere. The same applies at ticket machines, cash points, shop counters, while waiting for a bus and on any slope. A brake only helps if it's on.
• Use the full harness on every trip, even for a short hop to the shop. RoSPA advises that harnesses should have five straps.
• Never leave your baby unattended in a buggy, even for a moment while you nip back for something.
• Use a wrist strap on hills. Brake suggests a strap that loops around your wrist and the buggy handle, so the buggy can't roll away if you slip and let go.

Bags, shopping and buggy tipping

It's so tempting to hang the nappy bag, your handbag and a couple of shopping bags off the handlebar. RoSPA is clear on this one: don't hang coats or bags on the buggy, and don't use the handles to carry shopping, because overloading can be dangerous and extra weight can make it tip over. A buggy is most likely to tip backwards at the exact moment you lift your child out and the weight of the bags is no longer balanced.

• Put heavy shopping in the basket under the seat, which keeps the weight low and central.
• Check your pushchair's instructions for its maximum basket load and any guidance on what can go on the handles.
• Take bags off the handle before you lift your child out, so the buggy isn't left top-heavy.
• Avoid accessories your pushchair maker hasn't approved, which RoSPA also advises.

A note on buggy clips, including ours. Buggy clips are handy for keeping a light bag within reach, and they're one of the products we sell. Each of our aluminium clips is designed to hold up to 5kg, but that's a limit for the clip, not for your buggy. The weight your pushchair can take on its handles is set by the pushchair maker, so follow their guidance first, keep anything on the handle light, and put the heavy things in the basket. If your pushchair's instructions say nothing should hang from the handle, go with that.

Hot weather, sun and covers

Draping a blanket or muslin over the pram to keep the sun off feels like the caring thing to do, but official advice says don't.

• Don't cover the pram with a blanket or cloth. The NHS warns this could lead to overheating. The Lullaby Trust explains that covering a pram blocks air from circulating, which raises the chance of SIDS, and it also makes it harder to spot that your baby is getting too hot.
• Use a clip-on sunshade or parasol instead. The NHS, HSE and The Lullaby Trust all recommend this.
• Keep babies under 6 months out of direct sunlight, as the NHS advises, and keep older babies out of the sun as much as possible between 11am and 3pm. The HSE advises keeping babies under 12 months in the shade when outdoors.
• Use clothing and shade first. The NHS doesn't recommend sunscreen for babies under 6 months. From 6 months, the NHS advises at least SPF 30 with UVA and UVB protection, while the HSE recommends SPF 50+ with high UVA protection for children. Add a wide-brimmed sunhat and loose, lightweight clothing.
• Plan around the heat. The Lullaby Trust suggests avoiding peak-hour public transport on very hot days if you can, and ducking into somewhere air-conditioned, like a shop or cafe, to cool down.
• Never leave a baby in a parked car, which the NHS specifically warns against.

Cold weather and pram naps

In cold weather it's natural to wrap up well, but babies can overheat once you head indoors. The Lullaby Trust's cold weather advice is to remove your baby's hat or hood indoors and in the car, since babies lose heat through their heads. To check if your baby is too warm, feel their chest or the back of their neck rather than their hands and feet, which often feel cool anyway. If they're sweaty or clammy, take a layer off.

Plenty of babies nod off on a walk, and that's fine. The Lullaby Trust says babies are safest sleeping flat on their backs, and if a baby is going to sleep in a pram it should be in a completely lie-flat position, on a firm, flat mattress. It advises against sleeping babies in a seated or inclined position, such as in a pushchair or buggy seat. If your baby falls asleep sitting up, move them to a firm, flat sleep space such as a cot or Moses basket when you can. For safe sleep at home, see the bedroom section of our room-by-room checklist.

Kerbs, roads and car parks

• Keep the buggy back from the kerb. Brake advises keeping the buggy well back from the edge of the road while you get ready to cross, rather than nosing it out into the road to see past parked cars.
• Strap your child in before you cross, and use proper crossings where you can.
• Bring older children in close. Brake suggests an older child holds the buggy and walks on the inside, away from the traffic.
• Take extra care in car parks. NHS road safety advice for younger children highlights busy areas like car parks, where drivers reversing out of spaces may not see a low buggy. Keep the brake on while you load the car.

Trains, buses and public transport

• On platforms, brake on and stay close. After the platform accidents it investigated, RAIB noted that some train operators began asking carers to apply brakes and park chairs parallel to the railway, rather than facing the track.
• Watch out at ticket machines. RAIB found that carers are most easily distracted when they have to let go of the buggy, for example to buy a ticket.
• On buses and trams, park in the buggy space with the brake on and follow the operator's guidance and the driver's instructions.

Check your buggy regularly

RoSPA recommends a few quick checks, before first use and as part of regular maintenance:

• Test the brakes by locking them, unlocking them, then pushing.
• Make sure the frame is fully unfolded and locked together correctly before your child goes in.
• Keep little fingers clear when folding and adjusting. RoSPA notes finger entrapment is a known cause of injury, so make sure children are well away from moving parts.
• Look for damage, such as sharp edges or torn fabric.
• Look for a safety standard. RoSPA advises checking for BS EN 1888-1 or BS 7409. For second-hand buggies, also check for recalls, a five-point harness, and remember non-reclining seats aren't suitable for babies under six months.

The bottom line

No buggy, product or routine can make outings completely risk-free, and nothing replaces keeping a close eye on your child. But a few habits go a long way: harness on, brake on whenever you pause, heavy bags in the basket, a sunshade rather than a blanket, and a flat surface for proper naps. Build them in now and they'll soon become second nature.