There has been a lot of media coverage over the last year about pushchair safety, and it is worrying to everyone who uses buggies. Anything that can cause harm to your young child is always a great cause for concern. The biggest stories in the news have been about claims that young children have lost their fingers in a dangerous hinge mechanism on Maclaren buggies. This in turn led to a task force looking into all aspects of pushchair safety. They believed the problem was more widespread than initially anticipated and wanted parents to report any dangers.
The problem is thought to be more prominent with certain hinge designs of umbrella fold prams. Most manufacturers are now aware of this potential issue and are taking actions to remedy it. Maclaren themselves have issued free covers for people who already own their pushchairs and have fitted covers to pushchairs not already sold. They had already recalled a million buggies in America to fix the problem.
Parents can be reassured by the knowledge that this problem has now been identified and all manufactures have worked on it as a matter of urgency. Everybody knows how important pushchair safety is and it is good to see the manufactures acting quickly to sort the problem. This should mean that all pushchairs bought in future should be far safer and your child shouldn’t be at risk of getting their fingers caught. It is a shame the action was only brought about after there had already been injuries, but going forward it will benefit all parents when they buy a new pushchair.
There are a few things which you should take into account when considering which twin pushchair you wish to purchase.
1. Safety - Always the first priority – make sure your pushchair meets the British Standard 7409:1996 safety standard for pushchairs. The pushchair should be permanently marked to show that it conforms to the standards.
2. Convenience - Choose a style of pushchair that will be convenient for you. If you are travelling on public transport you will need to take this into account for example a twin pushchair may be difficult to manoeuvre on and off a bus whereas a tandem pushchair will be less bulky. Also take into account the size of your car boot to ensure that the pushchair will fit easily.
3. Strength - You want something that’s going to last and not let you down. You need to choose a durable and hardwearing model which will withstand heavy use.
4. Weight - You’ll have to move the twin pushchair around as well as carrying your baby and therefore a lighter frame may be more beneficial. Generally speaking twin pushchairs are lighter than tandem pushchairs.
5. Wheels - Plastic tyres are fine but rubber gives a smoother ride. Swivel wheels are easier to steer and it is helpful if these are lockable. However, fixed wheels are better for rough, uneven terrain. Double pushchairs come in three or four wheel varieties. Three wheeled pushchairs are more manoeuvrable and good for walking in the countryside or even just on cobbled streets as they don’t wobble on uneven ground. They may however be bulky when folded down.
Side by Side Twin Pushchairs
Twin pushchairs usually have two front-facing seats which are side by side. Most twin pushchairs are suitable for newborn twins or children of differing ages. They usually have adjustable seats with a range of reclining positions. Twin pushchairs are generally suitable for children from newborn to around 4 years old depending on the size of the child. They can be quite compact and therefore fit in most cars.
Side by side twin pushchairs may be more suitable than tandem twin push chairs if you have two children of similar ages. If you have two children of differing ages you may end up having a side by side twin pushchair with only one child in it once an older child no longer requires the pushchair. Tandem twin push chairs often have the ability to remove one seat once no longer needed.
Twin Pushchairs are available with just three wheels which have more stability and therefore can be used for walking in the country or the beach. They tend to have larger wheels which help with the stability. They are suitable for rough terrain but are also as good for everyday use around town.
Tandem Twin Pushchairs
The other kind of twin pushchair you can purchase is a tandem twin pushchair which usually have two seats, one in front of the other. These can be useful for a family who have an older child and a new born as they tend to only have one seat which reclines fully at the back. They are narrower than a twin pushchair, usually around the same size as a single pushchair but they are significantly longer so you should check its size when folded, to ensure that the size is suitable for you. They tend to be a lot heavier than side by side twin pushchairs.
Tandem pushchairs tend to be most suitable for children aged from newborn to 3 years. Some tandem twin pushchairs allow you to remove the back seat and you can therefore use it as a single pushchair. A tandem pushchair which has a removable back seat may therefore be more suitable if you have two children off different ages as in the long run this may be more cost effective as you would not need to then purchase a single pushchair.
Tandem twin pushchairs are available with just three wheels which have more stability and therefore can be used for walking in the country or the beach. They tend to have larger wheels which help with the stability. They are suitable for rough terrain but are also as good for everyday use around town.