A Comprehensive Guide to Pram Safety

It's been a few years since Leo was in a pushchair (I still have to pinch myself when I say that out loud, I mean seriously where has my baby gone!?', but it only feels as though it was yesterday. For the time that my little man did ride around in style, I kept it no secret that I had a real love affair going on with the pushchair world. My partner would point out the latest motorbike...and I.... I would squeal when I saw the latest pushchair rolling down the street. 

I still do it today, it was only yesterday I saw an iCandy Raspberry in Sunflower Yellow (Just like the one I have at home) and got all excited because you just don't see them very often around the Midlands.

A pushchair is perhaps one of the very first purchases that you will make as a new parent, it's definitely an essential that ranks pretty highly at the top of the 'must buy' list. I spent a lot of time researching our first set of wheels for Leo, because it's ultimately going to be something that you use everyday, so you want to know that it is going to be a purchase that you can get on with, and ultimately you want to know that it is safe for your child to ride around in.

Baby nursery specialists Babythingz has everything you need to know to ensure your little one is always safe and secure when they are placed inside a pushchair or pram:

Standards to look out for

First things first, it is important that you always look to ensure that a pushchair has a reference to a safety standard.

This is usually seen by spotting either the code BS 7409 or the mark BSEN 1888:2003 somewhere on the equipment — often found on a label placed around the frame or the seat covering.

The marks in question showcase that the items, whether new or used, comply with either British Standard/European Standard 1888: 2012 or British Standard/European Standard EN 1888:2003.

Flammability requirements

As part of the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988, it is now law that every upholstered pram and pushchair complies with stringent flammability requirements. Again, this is the case whether the equipment is sold as new or second hand.

Therefore, carry out a check of the item to ensure it contains a permanent label with the words 'CARELESSNESS CAUSES FIRE' present.

Your legal rights

As well as all prams and pushchairs being required to comply with the aforementioned safety standards and flammability requirements, there are a number of statutory rights afforded to you, the customer.

Here’s a look at some of the main legal rights for you to be aware of:

·        The trader of the pram or pushchair must have the right to supply it to you. In other words, that have to own the equipment in order to sell it to you in the first place.

·         The pram or pushchair should be as described, with all claimed features present.

·         The pram or pushchair has to be of satisfactory quality. 

When considering if this is the case, look at all of these elements:

- The description

- The condition

- The appearance

- The finish

- The level of safety

- The durability

- The price

- The fact that it should be free of all minor defects

·         If you are provided with a sample of the pram or pushchair, the one sold to you must match the sample.

·         Likewise, if you are provided with a model of the pram or pushchair, the one supplied to you must match that model.

·         If you have requested that a pram or pushchair fits a particular purpose, then the trader needs to ensure your needs are met.

All of your statutory rights can be found in the Consumer Rights Act 2015. However, please be aware that it fails to entitle you to anything if one of the following applies:

·         You knew of any faults before you made a purchase.

·         A fault was so obvious that it would have been reasonable that it would have been noticed on examination ahead of purchase.

·         Any of the damage was caused by you.

·         A mistake was made by you when making the purchase; for instance, if you ordered the wrong colour.

·         You have simply changed your mind about the pram or pushchair that you’ve purchased.

Aspects to check

In order to ensure a pram or pushchair perfectly meets your requirements, work through this checklist and only make a purchase if all aspects have been ticked off:

1.       The brakes: 
Are they easy to apply? 
Do they engage properly when applied?
Do they securely hold the pram or pushchair in place, even when applied on a hill, or when the under-storage compartment is filled with bags?
Do they work both forwards and backwards?

2.       The safety harness
- Does the harness fit easily and securely over a baby’s shoulders?
- Does the harness fit easily and securely around a baby’s waist?
v  Does the harness fit easily and securely between a baby’s legs?
- Do the buckles of the harness easily clip together and then come back apart?
- Are there any tears in the straps of the harness?

3.       The wheels
- Are the wheels securely fitted to the equipment?
- Do they show any signs of damage?
- Is there any evidence of heavy wear on the edges of the wheels?

4.       Injury prevention
- Is there anywhere that a baby’s fingers can get caught inside, such as open-ended tubes or around closing mechanisms?
- Are there any sharp edges present on the equipment?
- Is the equipment’s frame bent anywhere?
- Is the fabric torn at any point?

The Easywalker Mini Review

Easywalker are a brand that I highly recommend. I have tried out a number of their products over the last year and really loved the service that I have received and of course the product its self. You may have already seen my thoughts on the Easywalker June and the Easywalker Duo?  

Over recent months I have been trying out the new Mini stroller. The Mini stroller was born when Easywalker teamed up with Mini and produced this one of a kind pushchair. In true Mini style Easywalker have provided us with a number of different colour ways to reflect the vibrance of the Mini, and it is suffice to say that they are sure to turn the heads of passers by.

Available Colour Packs:

- Union Jack

- Chilli red

- Black Jack

- Laser Blue

The Easywalker Mini as a stroller is suitable for babies from the age of 6 months, but you can also purchase a pram cot separately which opens up the Mini to newborn babies. If I do go on to have anymore children, I will definitely be investing in the pram cot to go with my Mini. The Mini stroller will see your little one through until the buggy days are far behind you, the weight it can hold is up to 30kg which is around the ages of 7-9 years old! Not that you should probably need it into those ages, but if your child is a bit bigger then it is great to know that they won't be outgrowing it in the near future.

I have been road testing the Mini in the Union Jack colour way, it is bright and really fun to look at. I first saw it at the Baby Show back in May and instantly fell in love with it. Of course as soon as it arrived I had to get it all set up and take it out instantly for a joy ride.

What’s in the box?

In the Easywalker Mini box you will find:

- Pushchair Chasis

- Wheels x 4

- Rain cover

- Bumper Bar

- Instructions

You will have a separate box with your colour pack inside.

In this box you will find:

- Hood with extendable canopy

- Seat cover

- 5 point harness with attached belt padding

Setting up the Easywalker Mini

The Mini is relatively easy to get up and running, and is very similar to the assembly of the June. The seat unit comes attached to the chassis as standard, so all you need to do is un-clip the travel lock on the side in order to open out the pushchair. Extend the handle out and put it on its side so that you can attach the wheels, the wheels simply click into place.

The most work for the set-up of the Mini is actually located on the seat unit its self. You need to insert your chosen colour pack seat padding. Thread the 5 point harness and thread the hood onto the zip while getting the hinges to click into place. It was the hood that actually slowed my progress down, but I managed to get the Mini up and running pretty quickly and was ready to get it out on the open road.

Initial Impressions of the Easywalker Mini

I had incredibly high expectations for the Mini, partly because I have loved using the June so much and I knew that this new model had a few more luxuries included.

So what did I think now I had the Mini stood right in front of me? I was really impressed. I loved how it looked, and I was really pleased with the leather handlebar with the Mini logo pride of place in the centre. The Union Jack colour pack for me was the ultimate colour way, and it certainly looked the part against the black frame and white wheel rims.

There are many similarities between the June and the new Mini, and Easywalker seem to have kept everything that I loved about the June and just made it even better.

Putting the Easywalker Mini To The Test

The Easywalker Mini has all the aspects that I love on a off roading pushchair and the size and ease of an urban pushchair. For me it is the whole package. It gives me the freedom to leave the pavements behind and take a short cut across the field without any issues of the wheels getting stuck, and it also lets me nip off around the shopping centre. The size is one of the aspects that really amazes me about this pushchair, it does everything that a full size pushchair should, but is nowhere near as big as other models I have used over the years.

I can fit the Mini down the centre of a train which is a real bonus, if I am heading off anywhere and want to change carriages without actually getting off the train. If I need to collapse the Mini I can do so easily and store it away at the back of the train or with all of the luggage.

The size of the Mini means that it fits in the boot space of many smaller cars including my Peugeot 206 (and of course the boot of the Mini).

Here is a list of cars that the Mini will comfortably fit in:

The Mini is a very sturdy pushchair and when in use I have never felt that it didn't stand up to expectations, the frame is well constructed and you can really feel this in it's everyday use. The suspension is fantastic, just ask Leo as he doesn't seem to realise just how shocking my pram driving still is even 2 years later... And that is down to the Mini.

The Mini is equipped with four suspension and shock absorbing, all terrain wheels. This is why the ride is such a smooth one despite the terrain you are traveling along. These wheels are firm favorites with me as it just means that the Mini takes everything in it's stride.

The leather handle bar is a feature that I really like on the Mini, it makes pushing this pushchair even more like driving a Mini car. The handlebar can be extended or lowered using the clips on either side of the Mini stroller, it caters for both Luke and myself and he likes that he can get the height that he needs out of the Mini.

The comfort hasn't just been thought out for the parents however, the seat unit sits Leo comfortably with the option of having him reclined if he does fall asleep while we are out and about. The lever for the recline is actually situated under the front of the seat unit, it simply requires you to squeeze it and push backwards and it will slide into position.

The Mini logo is embossed on the leather handlebar and has been included in the branding process, if you are looking into this pushchair because of the Mini connection then you really won't be disappointed. While I have been out and about with this stroller it really has turned heads with it's vibrant colours and jet black frame, and people have definitely recognised the Mini connection. While I was travelling on a train with Leo in the Mini, a young couple who had no children were admiring it. It started off as the young lady spotting it and pointing it out to her partner, I heard them talking about how nice it was... and then I heard the man tell his partner that there was no way they were having a baby!

The hood is another great feature on this stroller, you can heighten or lower the hood depending on the babies height or where the sun is currently positioned in the sky. I like to have this flexibility to be able to solve Leo's discomfort if the sun is glaring in his eyes, it is simply a case of  lowering the hood and popping out the sun visor.

The brakes on the Mini are so simple to use, it is a kick on kick off brake that you can use with ease. This means even if you are wearing your flip flops in the height of the summer, you will be able to use this brake with no problem at all. Heck I could even do this in heels if I was brave enough!

The shopping basket is a reasonable size, it's not the biggest but I have always managed to get everything that I need inside. The changing bag sits comfortably on the handle of the stroller so I don't need to worry about storing that in the basket anyway. It is big enough to fit a few bags of shopping in the bottom (of course depending on what you buy).

Collapsing/Erecting the Easywalker Mini

Now opening the Mini up is a really simple task, and only requires you to un-lock the transport lock and pull up the handle so that you can lock it into the open position.

Closing the Mini is something that I sometimes find a really simple task, and others I just can’t get it to co-operate with me. Firstly you need to recline the seat unit, then you need to squeeze the buttons on either side of the frame. Wait until you hear a ‘click’ and then you can collapse the pushchair down. Once the pushchair is collapsed you just need to do up the travel lock.

Conclusion

Over all I really love the Easywalker Mini, it is everything that I need in a stroller. From a practical point of view it's the actual size and weight of the Mini (even with my 2 year old in it) to being able to fit it in my car that score the Mini big brownie points. From a materialistic point of view I love just how it looks, there are so many different ways you can have your Mini looking as you can invest in different colour packs as you go on.

The Easywalker Mini retails at £609.99 and is at the higher spectrum of the stroller market, but I can quite honestly say that the product you receive for your money is fantastic. The quality and materials used to complete the Mini are second to none, I personally love this stroller and it really is my pushchair of choice.

Disclaimer: I was sent the Easywalker Mini for the purpose of this review. All views and opinions expressed are completely honest and my own.

The Simple Things

It is often the simple things that I enjoy the most. 

A day spent in the company of Leo doing those everyday things, 

never ceases to bring a smile to both of our faces.

It could be as simple as a stroll into town,

and popping down to feed the ducks.

Holding Leo's hand as he throws in entire pieces of bread at the awaiting birds.

Holding his hand that little bit tighter when he get's too excited.

Telling Leo to break the bread up and throw it a little bit faster,

as the geese and swans are now jumping onto the path.

Slowly backing away from the cheeky swan's as they get to close for comfort.

Warning Leo that they could bite and getting him to throw faster still.

Watching Leo as he doesn't heed the warnings and continues to smile and laugh.

Fear not crossing his mind at all...

Pulling Leo further back so that there is a little more distance between us and...them.

Smiling at Leo smiling and watching him enjoy our mishap adventure.

Throwing the last of the bread to the birds and hoping they will hop back into the water.

Hoping we can save our abandoned pushchair once they swim away...

And counting our lucky stars that the ducks were being called onto their next feeding spot further down the river.

It's the simple days, doing those simple things when we can just enjoy the here and now. 

It's being able to find the fun in everyday places and watching Leo's eyes glow with delight.

His innocence shines in everything we do, and these simple things that we do are so wondrous and magical to him.

This is why I enjoy the simple things the most... 

The Adventures Of The Easywalker June Continue...

We have been using the Easywalker June for a year now, and I have say that I still love it as much as I ever did. What I consistently love about the June is just how compact it is, after using other pushchairs after the June, I have found a new appreciation for just how compact it is. I can comfortable fit the June in my car and it takes up minimal room, and this for me is a very important factor.

In this adventure I will be telling you all about our trip to the beach, but if you wanted to see the June in the snowy conditions of last year then you can view those images here.

The June has accompanied me many places and even very almost appeared in the Daily Mail after we visited an event last year. Imogen Thomas was having her photo taken just in front of where I had parked my June. So THAT right there is my June's claim to fame!

Back in May my family visited Devon for a weeks break, I took the June along as my choice of pushchair because I had been waiting for a chance to take it to the beach. I wanted to see just how well the June would cope with the sandy terrain, so that is exactly what I did.

Walking down the sea front was as easy as it ever was, the June drove beautifully with a very excited Leo at the helm. As we walked closer to the beach the more sand we encountered on the path, this didn't effect the June in the slightest and we carried on our merry way.

I decided to walk the June down onto the beach just to see if the wheels could cope with such a high volume of sand. As the sand got deeper I started to notice that it was slowly but surely getting harder to push, until I could no longer move it any more. 

This beach had deep sand in places and this is where we struggled taking the June. For the most part though the June handled incredibly well, but I do think that it would probably do better on a pebbled beach rather than such a sandy one like the one we frequented.

Leo is now 27 months old and I still find the June light and easy to steer. It is everything that I need in a pushchair as I have the freedom to go where I please without having to really consider whether or not the wheels can hack it or not. Because the wheels really can hack it.

Back in August we had a little mishap with the wheels... I made the mistake of asking Luke to put some air in all four of them so that they were ready for a trip to Legoland. But Luke somehow managed to put to much air in the wheels which caused one of them to go bang. So make sure you read the instructions before you decide to get a little bit too carried away with the air like Luke did....

The June is now back on the road with a new wheel and is set to go on many more adventures. I am passing the June over to my friend Lucy at Mummy Speaks Aloud to try out with her girls. Lucy will be sharing her personal experiences with the June so that she can give you all a second review. This second review will be an interesting comparison as Lucy has a 2 year old, and a baby under one.

In the June's absence I will be putting Easywalker's latest stroller through it's paces. I am very excited to be trying out the new Easywalker Mini, and I will be sharing our latest and greatest adventures right here on the blog.

Keep your eyes pealed for the full review and see where we end up as we get to know the very smart, and very savvy Easywalker Mini.

The Easywalker Duo Review

Over the last year I have been using the Easywalker June and even now it is my favourite to use. I find Easywalker such a super company, they have always been so quick to help me out if I have any questions or need assistance. Above all else Easywalker offer high quality products to parents, whether they are after a single stroller or a double. 

Of course for me personally I only have the need for a single, and the June has for filled this requirement perfectly. With this said though, my Mum found herself in need of a double pushchair when Leo's little cousin joined him at Granny's house, when his Mum went back to work after her maternity leave.

I had never really had a look at the double pushchair range on the market before this, but with a list of requirements in mind I began having a look online to see what was out there. My Mum actually suffers with Rheumatoid Arthritis so this was something I had to take into account while on the hunt for a double stroller that she would be able to use with the boys.   

Easywalker very kindly sent my Mum the Easywalker Duo in Berry Red to try out, I was very excited to see how this stood up to the June and see how she got on with it.

The Duo is an all terrain pushchair with big air filled wheels that really can take you anywhere and everywhere. It is strong and sturdy and surprisingly higher than any other pushchair that I have ever come across. It comes in 4 different colours, so if the Berry Red is a little bit too bright for you then why not take a look at:

- Ocean Blue

- Coal Black

- Olive Green 

What's in the box?

- Pushchair Frame - with the two seats already attached

- Bumper Bar

- Instruction Manual

The Duo arrived in a big cardboard box, very well packaged to ensure safe delivery. I found the set up relatively straight forward as the seats come attached to the frame so all I really had to do was to attach the wheels and open up the pushchair it's self. 

On first set up I soon realised that there was a problem with one of the buttons that is used to attach the front wheel. The first button had pulled down perfectly and allowed me to simply attach the wheel, but the second button was jammed and there was nothing I could do in order to pull it back out in order to attach the second front wheel. Instead of forcing the jammed button I contacted Easywalker, sent in a photo of my problem and also a little video just to demonstrate what the actual issue was. 

In true Easywalker style I was replied to straight away and the Duo was re-called and a new one issued in it's place. I truly cannot fault the customer service that I received and how I was looked after, it was really efficient and fast.

A new Duo arrived within that same week and in no time at all I had it all set up and ready to go, the new Duo was exactly how it should be and I know that these things can happen every now and again. Ultimately it is how the customer and the problem is looked after that makes the experience, and Easywalker really do look after their customers.

First Impressions

The Duo is actually quite heavy when it is all folded up, and I did wonder how I would manage to get it in and out of my Mum's 4x4 as it is quite a weight to lift into her high boot. I knew there and then that my Mum would struggle with the weight of the pushchair when collapsed. When the Duo is erect and ready to hit the road it is a completely different scenario, it is really light and easy to push around, perfect for my Mum when she was out and about with both of the boys. 

I think it is the wheels and the great suspension that make this heavy double a dream to push around. Even with both boys in the seat their weight is distributed and you wouldn't even know they are in there. Leo is 2 years old and his cousin is just about to turn one, so they are not the littlest of boys anymore.

I love how the Duo looks, it is a very smart pushchair and the big wheels open up a wealth of off road destinations that you can journey too. Air filled wheels are one of my biggest loves on a pushchair and are perfect if you like to go out of your typical urban setting. Visiting the park and trekking across grassy terrain is made a doddle and you experience no resistance as you bumble along. 

The quality in this pushchair is apparent from the offset and is sure to turn many heads on your travels. 

I thought it was easy to put up and down, there is a red button on the right hand side of the Duo that you need to push down, and then you need to push the two clips in order to be able to collapse the pushchair and do up the travel safety clip. As I mentioned above, the Duo is bulky when folded and definitely not the lightest of pushchairs. But to get such a versatile pushchair that has the ability to go to all of these different locations that your average double pushchair would flounder, I really think that it is worth it for these features.

Out and about

Going out and about with two little ones can be a mission in it's self so you really want something that can comfortably sit them both. I absolutely love how much room there is in the Duo seats, especially for Leo as he is really getting big these days. Although Leo is putting on size and becoming a proper little boy, he does still rely heavily on being in a pushchair, so Granny definitely needs a double for when Leo get's tired and of course just to keep him where he is supposed to be. Both Leo and his cousin have so much room in the Duo and even though they are sat right next to each other, they have enough distance to not actively bother each other.

Granny does struggle to put the Duo in and out of the car due to her Arthritis, so this is something I tend to do before I go to work if I know she is going to be using it that day. Putting it in and out of the high boot even for me is a mission because of the weight of it, and dropping it on your feet can leave you with a bit of a bruise (I found this out the hard way). Luckily we don't live too far from town, and it can be a nice walk in the right weather so Granny has mainly taken to walking into the town centre with the Duo and taking the grandkids down to the park to feed the ducks.

If you have a big car with a very roomy boot then you should be able to fit the Duo in, Granny has a Rexton 4x4 and it does fit in the boot with no problems at all. 

We have found that we can fit the Easywalker Duo through our front door into the family home, and it can even sit in the hallway when not in use. It fits through most doorways and hasn't stopped Granny darting around the shops.

I am really impressed with how easy it is to get around with the Duo, and with just how much space the kid's both have at the same time. When the pushchair is up and in use it is so easy to navigate and cruise around, it is even easy to push one handed, and I even struggle with that with my Easywalker June. You defiantly forget about how heavy it is when it is collapsed.

The Duo comfortably and safely transports two children, and is such a practical choice for parents of twins or children of multiple ages. You can add on a carry cot or even two. You can use one travel cot and one seat unit. There is a travel solution for every parent of to two little ones, and I know that Granny is really pleased with the Duo for both of her Grandchildren.   

The seat units have 7 recline positions 

One big positive to having a double pushchair has to be having two shopping baskets. I know when I am out and about I often wish I had more space to store things, especially when I have an over filling changing bag it is nice too be able to overload into the shopping basket. Having two gives you so much extra space and is space that has been constructively used to give us practical storage. 

The baskets are generous in size and have zips at the very front in order to extend them further. I have found that we can fit everything that we need for both boys inside them and still have easy access to everything while out and about. Having the two baskets has even given Granny the chance to leave the changing bag at home on occasion depending upon where they are going.

The breaks are so simple to click on and off no matter what shoes you are wearing. I love the simple ease of using these breaks as they click on as soon as you push the pedal and straight back off again when you kick it back up.

Both of the hoods on the Duo are reasonable in size and have an extra extendable sun canopy that you can just flick out when you need it. When you don't need the extra sun canopy you can simply tuck it back under the hood so that it is out of the way.

Putting the Duo Up & Down

As for the folding and un-folding of this pushchair, it really is easy.

To put it up all you need to do is unlock the travel clip and open up the frame by pulling on the handle.

To put it down you need to push up the black buttons on either side of the frame, and then push down the red button on the right hand side of the pushchair. Then by pushing the frame down it will collapse.

Our Over All Thoughts

Over all we really love our Duo, we find it practical and comfortable for the two wriggle monsters. We adore how sturdy and sound it is. It looks great and has been a real head turner as Granny has taken it out and about. Lot's of people have stopped her to compliment her on her big red wheels and asked all about what brand of pushchair it is. It is safe to say that those who weren't familiar with Easywalker, know all about them know!

I am so impressed that such a big all terrain pushchair can be so light and easy to maneuver. I would highly recommend the Duo for new parents expecting twins or are expecting their second child when they will still need a pushchair.

You can find out more information on the Easywalker Duo via the official website.

If you are looking to purchase the Duo, Pramworld currently have it on sale for £599.00 with free delivery at the point of writing this review.

I will leave you with the video we have put together for the Duo that demonstrates a few of my favourite features.

Disclaimer: I was sent the Easywalker Duo for the purpose of this review. All opinions expressed are completely honest and my own (and Granny's of course).