Need to know
- The results of our latest double prams and strollers test again demonstrates the dangers of Australia's lax safety standards
- Prams and strollers sold in Australia must adhere to basic mandatory safety standards, but we believe these standards are outdated and not as strict as they should be to prevent serious injury
- Many baby products sold in Australia, such as bassinets, highchairs and playpens, don't legally have to adhere to a safety standard – we recommend you check our reviews before buying any children's products
A double stroller is a necessity if you have double trouble in the form of twins, or it might be an option worth considering if you have two little ones close in age.
Either way, you want to choose a pram that's not only going to be easy to use, but also safe for you and the bubs. Surely a manufacturer wouldn't sell you a product for a child that's potentially unsafe, right?
Unfortunately, of the 47 double prams we've tested from 2012 to 2019, 40 have failed the safety tests conducted in our CHOICE labs. That's a shocking 85%, and it includes leading brands such as Phil & Teds, Baby Jogger and Joie.
In our latest test, 15 of the 24 models failed our safety tests.
"There is a mandatory safety standard that pram manufacturers in Australia must adhere to," says CHOICE baby product expert, Rebecca Ciaramidaro. "However, it's outdated. A newer version was written in 2013, but it's only voluntary and manufacturers aren't obliged to adhere to it."
"We believe the 2013 version should be made mandatory, so our test experts go above and beyond, by not only testing against the mandatory requirements but also testing against the voluntary standard and basing our recommendations off of it," she says.
Why are double prams failing safety tests?
Some of the prams had serious safety failures such as straps that posed serious strangulation risks or designs that have entrapment hazards. Other prams had minor safety failures, such as if the harness does not meet all the requirements for properly securing the child.
We carry out various tests on all the prams, including checking that the harness straps are adjustable and of adequate length; the child is securely restrained; folding mechanisms are safe and secure; and there are no sharp edges or possible entrapment points for fingers or limbs. We also test the stability of the stroller and that the brakes work well. A stroller that meets these crucial tests is worth considering.
The latest double prams that fail our key safety tests
- Thule Urban Glide 2
- BOB Revolution Pro Duallie
- Baby Jogger City Mini GT Double
- Babyhood Doppio 2018 model with Second seat
- Joie Aire Twin
- Phil & Teds Sport Buggy (+ double kit)
- Vee Bee Doubletake
- Baby Jogger City Select Lux
- Baby Jogger City Mini Double
- Love N Care Hi-Rise Tandem
- Silver Cross Wave with Tandem seat
- Phil & Teds Dash V6 with Double kit V6
- iCandy Orange
- Phil & Teds Dot V6 with Double kit V6
- Phil & Teds Dot with Inline double kit for Dot
View full reviews for all these models and to find out which models we recommend, see our double pram and stroller reviews.
CHOICE expert Matthew testing strollers and prams in our labs.
What to look for when buying a safe stroller
- Look for certification to Safety Standard AS/NZS 2088, preferably the 2013 version, which is the latest and safest.
- Check for sharp or protruding parts or ones that could pose a choking risk, and gaps that could trap fingers or limbs.
- Check that the child can be securely restrained in the harness with no gaps they can slip through and a buckle that's not too easy to undo.
- Folding mechanisms that are safe and secure.
- Is there a child-resistant mechanism for locks?
- Is the stroller stable enough not to tip easily?
- Neither child in the stroller should be able to reach any moving parts like wheels or brakes. If the pram/stroller comes with wheel guards to help prevent this, be sure to install them.
Stock images: Getty, unless otherwise stated.
