Front or Rear facing?

What’s that all about?

You may have heard of terms like parent facing, rear or back facing and forward or front facing seats when you started your journey into the stroller world.

While it is one thing to figure out what that means, it’s another story to know what’s best for you and your baby.

Did you know which way your baby or toddler faces in their stroller impacts both you and them? A parent facing position benefits you both especially when the kids are under 2 years old. It helps keeping you and your baby connected, encourages more interactions and is developmentally better as well as physically safer for your little one. It also provides you peace of mind as you can keep a close eye on them.

As they get older you may want to turn them front facing so they can see more of the world around them which also benefits their learning and development. Many quality strollers offer seats that can be used both parent- and front-facing and can easily be switched on the go.

We would recommend those strollers that let you pick. You and your little one should be in the driver’s seat, not the stroller manufacturer. However, being able to switch the direction is only important for the seat. If you are using a bassinet or carry cot during the first few months of your baby’s life you always want to keep it parent-facing to make sure your baby is safe and sound in it.

Starting to use your new ride?

Here are the Do’s and Don’ts of using the stroller with your baby or toddler.

Do’s

• Always buckle up! ALWAYS!! Make sure the harness is properly in place and the space for their little legs doesn’t allow them to slide through. The harness should be buckled snuggly. What is snuggly, you ask? If you can slide your flat hand between the straps and your little one’s chest it’s perfect. When it’s too loose, it can become a strangulation risk.

• Secure your coffee! That liquid gold, your life line - a daily necessity, always at hand. But please don’t carry hot liquids that can easily spill into your stroller cup holder. Babies' skin is so sensitive and can burn very easily.

• Keep it dry. Store your stroller indoors in a dry environment and away from wet floors to prevent mold in the soft materials and avoid rust on the frame. Same applies to cleaning the stroller. Use a damp cloth with mild soap and water solution free of any harsh chemicals when cleaning the fabric and make sure it is fully dried before storing or using it again.

• Use an age appropriate stroller. Don’t place your baby in a stroller seat too early. Ensure your little one has full head and neck control which they generally do around 6 months before transitioning to a standard stroller seat. Checking the guidelines of your particular stroller or even checking in with your paediatrician if you aren’t sure may be helpful.

• Be careful with toys. If you hang toys from a stroller bumper bar to entertain your little one, make sure that the toys are securely fastened and any strings like for teething chains are not longer than 8 inches to avoid strangulation.

• Check for recalls. Fill out and return the stroller warranty card that comes with your new stroller so that you'll be notified in case of a recall. If you're considering a used stroller, check that the stroller hasn't been recalled.

• Watch those little fingers. Even though strollers are designed to minimize the risk of pinching when folding, keep your baby away from the stroller as you fold and unfold it. Double check whether the stroller is properly locked in the unfolded position before you put your child in it.

Don’ts

• Don’t forget the brakes! Engage the stroller brakes whenever you stop the stroller - whether you are reaching for their favorite snack in the storage bag, making sure your little one is comfortable or tying your shoelaces. Even the slightest slope can cause a runaway stroller. 

• Don’t leave your baby unattended in his or her stroller. Stay close by or make sure somebody else who you trust can watch them. 

• Don't hang heavy bags from the handlebar. Use the storage bag in the bottom of the stroller for heavy items. Hanging those off the handlebar can make a stroller tip over.

• Don’t leave the stroller out in the sun. Outdoor time is great for those tiny humans, but don't let your baby's stroller sit in the sun for long periods of time. Some plastic and metal pieces could become hot enough to burn your baby. If you left the stroller empty in the sun, check the stroller's surface temperature before placing your baby in it.

• Don’t use covers on the stroller. You may feel tempted to cover the opening of the stroller with a blanket to block out distractions for your little one. Don’t do it. If you can’t avoid it, always make sure that there is sufficient air flow into the stroller and keep in mind that it can get incredibly hot in there really quickly when closed off. 

• Don’t use the car seat for long stroller walks. If you move your baby's car seat from your vehicle to a stroller base, you might be tempted to let your baby finish naps in the car seat. However, it is not recommended to use car seats for sleep when not traveling. Experts suggest not letting your child sleep or relax in the car seat for more than two hours.

• PRO TIP: Don’t use small and hard snacks on stroller rides. Avoid anything chokable like grapes, blueberries, nuts or hard candy. A bumpy ride could quickly turn into a choking hazard with those types of foods. 

Health-e Pediatrics
The virtual pediatric clinic on your phone

Medically reviewed by
Kelly Ochoa, MD.

Kelly is Double Board Certified in General Pediatrics and Pediatric Emergency Medicine and has seen various stroller related injuries throughout her career. As a mom of 4 little girls (wow!), she also has had her fair share of experience using strollers and avoiding any injuries for her little ones.

Kelly is now running Health-e Pediatrics, a virtual evening and weekend pediatric practice in California for parents who need medical advice after hours. She also publishes many useful tips on kid's health on her website and blog. 

Follow @healthepediatrics on FB and IG.

Kelly Ochoa, MD
Mom of 4 girls & Expert stroller user

Looking for the safest stroller?

Here is what we want you to know about stroller safety.

You are obviously looking for the best stroller possible for your little one, that’s how you got here in the first place 😉.

We have been in your shoes and were overwhelmed by the many options available. It’s hard to know what the RIGHT stroller for you and your family is, not to mention making the decision for THE ONE. It will accompany you through big parts of your parenting journey - from those first few months of getting to know this tiny human throughout the toddler years when the calm moments of stroller naps are becoming few and far between.

We are working hard on our smart stroller “Ella” who will take care of some key safety concerns of current strollers. While we are not quite ready for launch just yet we want to share some important safety tips with you to keep in mind when choosing a stroller right now.

Key Stroller Safety Features

If you are anything like us or many of the parents we interviewed over the past year, you are at the very least confused by this new world you are exploring - the stroller market. Many of the popular models come with big price tags and don’t vary all that much when it comes to functionality. However, there are a few things we would like you to keep in mind when choosing your baby’s first ride, especially when it comes to their safety.

Brakes!

You really want to be able to trust those. The good news - most quality strollers have brakes that lock both wheels which is the safest option. Others may only lock one wheel or even just apply pressure to the tire which may wear out over time. Also make sure a toddler sitting in the stroller can’t reach the brake lever and release the brake by themselves. 

Generally speaking, the foot actuated brake paddle can be found near the rear wheels. Some strollers, however, also come with hand brakes similar to bikes.

Seat belt!

Your stroller should have a 5 point harness to keep your little one safe and sound. Test it and make sure it is easily adjustable to grow with your baby and doesn’t become a hassle for you when using it multiple times a day.  

Lay flat position!

If you are planning to use the stroller for a newborn make sure it allows you to put it in a lay flat position. Until around 6 months babies can’t sit up and safely hold their head by themselves. During this time they should lay flat, a position that also supports their spinal development.

We would recommend choosing a stroller with a bassinet where the newborn doesn’t require to be strapped in with a seat belt. It’s the safest and most comfortable sleeping position for those little ones and believe us, you will be happy for any additional minute of sleeping bliss you can get.

Many quality strollers offer modular systems that come with a bassinet and a separate seat for the stroller. The added benefit, some bassinets are even rated safe for overnight sleep.

Wheel base!

Choose a stroller with a wide wheel base for increased stability. You still want to comfortably fit through standard doors (usually 30”) but a wider wheel base reduces the risk of strollers tipping over which is one of the main reasons for stroller related accidents.

Storage capacity!

As small as those babies are, sometimes you may feel like you are heading for a weekend getaway rather than a trip to the neighbourhood park telling from the size of the bag you are bringing along.

Make sure the storage bag fits your diaper bag and also offers some room for other items (e.g. your baby’s favorite stuffed animal). It should be close to the ground and not reach beyond the back wheels to ensure a safe weight distribution when loaded.

Compatibility with your car seat!

If you are not going for a travel system (stroller and car seat from the same brand usually sold as a bundle) make sure your stroller is compatible with the car seat you have or want to buy. Stroller brands note on their websites which car seat models they are directly compatible with and also whether they offer adapters for other models to ensure a safe connection between the car seat and the stroller chassis.

Comfort for the parent!

Lastly, make sure the stroller is comfortable for you too. A comfortable stroller equals a safe stroller. The easier it is for you to use the stroller, the less struggling you will encounter when the stroller is fully loaded. The adage of “A dull knife is a dangerous knife” applies similarly to strollers.

Remember to try the stroller and ensure they are comfortable for you too!

These are just a few aspects for you to consider.

Try and picture how your every day life will look like.

• Will you be moving the stroller in and out of the car often?

• Use it for quick trips to the local grocery store?

• Ride on bumpy forest and park trails?

• Get your exercise in while jogging with your little munchkin?

• How much space do you have at home to safely store it?

The better you know how you will use the stroller the easier it will become to make a decision based on functionality.

Let us know whether you are interested in a full list of questions we wished we had asked ourselves when we were stroller shopping.