Looking for a Safe Stroller? Consider These 5 Features Before You Buy.

Each year, our stroller testing team evaluates dozens of strollers for performance, ease of use, and maneuverability, assessing all of the features a parent will be using. And, crucially, we conduct comprehensive safety tests, patterned after standards set by the ASTM (formerly known as the American Society for Testing and Materials). The ASTM standards include safety performance requirements, test methods, and labeling requirements for strollers to minimize hazards to children.

In our labs, we place a weight simulating a child in each stroller and navigate the strollers along our indoor test course, steering around S-curves, between cones, up and down a curb, and over rough terrain—obstructions that mimic grass, mulch, and tree roots. We also subject each stroller to CR’s custom-designed stability and braking tests.

With the best stroller safety features, even in the event of a sudden stop, impact, or other accident, your child will remain securely in the stroller’s seat, and the stroller itself will retain its structural integrity. Here are some of the safety features that help accomplish that. (You can also see our stroller buying guide for more information on what makes a stroller safe, and see our stroller ratings for details on specific models’ features.)

Your stroller should have a sturdy, adjustable five-point safety harness, which consists of a waist strap (which is really two straps), a crotch strap, and two shoulder straps. Though some strollers have three-point harnesses, we don’t test these; CR strongly recommends a five-point restraint system for strollers.

It’s crucial to use the harness every time you head out. “Always make sure your child is strapped in, even if it’s just for a quick stroll,” says Joan Muratore, test program leader for baby products at Consumer Reports. “If an accident should happen, the harness can protect them from a worse fall.”

Look for buckles on the harness that are easy for you to operate but difficult for small hands to unfasten. If you’re shopping in person with your baby, check the harness to make sure it’s strong and durable and fits snugly around your child.

Check that any stroller you intend to buy has good parking brakes that are convenient to operate and that lock both rear wheels. Parking brakes on two wheels provide an extra margin of safety. Some two-wheel parking brakes are activated in a single stroke by a bar or pedal in the rear of the stroller frame. Others require two actions and have foot-operated tabs above each rear wheel. When brakes are activated, plastic cogs engage with the sprockets of the rear wheels.

Avoid models that can hurt your feet when you engage or disengage the brakes with light shoes or bare feet. In testing, CR looks at real-world situations, such as whether brakes are flip-flop-friendly. Along with parking brakes, most jogging strollers have bicycle-type hand-operated brakes—important to help you slow down when cruising at a fast clip. Some strollers have hand-operated brakes for the rear wheels. For strollers with two brake pedals, always use both—never rely on pressing just one brake to keep the stroller stopped.

Some strollers offer large wheels and a rugged, off-road appearance. The larger the wheels, the easier it is to negotiate curbs and rough surfaces. But big wheels eat up trunk space and can add weight to a stroller. Some jogging strollers with larger wheels have air-filled tires, which can provide a smooth ride, but checking and filling the tires with air adds a maintenance chore for parents.

Most strollers have double wheels on the front that swivel to make steering easier. The front wheels of some strollers feature two positions: a full swivel for smooth surfaces, or one that’s locked in a forward-facing position for rough terrain. Some strollers, however, have non-locking front wheels, so they’ll always swivel, meaning they might be trickier to handle on rough terrain and pose some risks. Some three-wheel strollers have a front wheel that doesn’t swivel; these can also be hard to maneuver. So before you buy a stroller, consider where you’ll most often be taking it (the park? the city sidewalks? the trails?) to figure out what kind of wheels are best for you.

Misaligned and loose wheels are also a chronic stroller problem, and a malfunctioning wheel is a safety risk. Be sure to keep an eye on your stroller’s wheels, and don’t take your child out for a stroll if you notice anything awry.

Carriages and strollers designed for newborns or young infants must have two things: the ability to fully recline (because babies’ muscles aren’t fully developed yet, they need extra support and to be able to lie flat in the stroller), and the ability to enclose the foot area to prevent an infant from slipping through. Manufacturers can use a raised seat frame, a bassinet-style enclosure, mesh or fabric shields, or hinged, molded footrests that raise and clamp over the leg holes. According to the industry’s voluntary standard, a stroller with leg holes that can’t be closed shouldn’t be able to fully recline. That’s meant to prevent its use with a newborn.

A canopy is a must-have for protecting your baby, especially in glaring sunlight or inclement weather. Canopies range from a simple fabric square strung between two wires to deep, pull-down versions that shield almost the entire front of the stroller. Reversible canopies protect the baby from the sun or wind from ahead or behind. Some canopies have a clear plastic or mesh "peek-a-boo" window on top so that you can keep an eye on your baby while you’re strolling. The window (or viewing port) is a nice feature; you’ll use it more than you’d think.

On top of great performance in terms of maneuverability and ease of use, the single, double, and jogging strollers below all earned our top score for safety.