Prams and strollers mandatory standard

Products the mandatory standard applies to

A pram is a wheeled vehicle with a body of box-like or boat-like shape designed to carry a baby or child weighing up to and including 9 kg. The child is primarily in a fully reclined position.

A stroller is a wheeled vehicle designed to transport a child in a seated position. The stroller may also be adjusted to a semi-reclined or fully reclined position.

Combination prams and strollers which can seat children in upright, semi-reclined and fully reclined positions are also covered by the mandatory standard.

Convertible tricycles used for transportation are strollers for the purpose of the mandatory standard if they can transport a child in a seated position. They are covered under the standard if designed for children under 24 months and have one or more of these key features not typically found in traditional tricycles:

• a high backrest for the child
• a harness for the child
• ability to disengage child steering
• ability to disengage or remove the pedals
• ability to semi-recline or recline the child’s seat.

Children under 24 months are unlikely to be able to independently operate a tricycle as they don’t have the motor skills necessary to steer or pedal even with parental assistance.

Products the mandatory standard does not apply to

Strollers and chairs designed for children with a disability aren’t covered by the mandatory standard.

These medical devices are regulated by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA).

Complying with the mandatory standard

The mandatory standard outlines the design, construction, performance, testing, safety warnings and labelling for prams and strollers. Certain safety requirements only apply to strollers and not to prams.

Design and construction for prams and strollers

Parking device

Prams and strollers must have one or more parking devices that limits the pram or stroller moving.

The release mechanism of the parking device must be located so that a child can’t access it when they’re properly restrained in the pram or stroller.

The colour of the part of the parking device used to activate the parking mechanism (actuator) must be red. The surrounding framework and mouldings must be a contrasting colour.

Tether strap

Prams and strollers must be supplied with a suitable tether strap that allows the operator of the pram or stroller to be tethered to it while it is in use.

The standard specifies that the tether strap should be designed to reduce the possibility of it being a strangulation hazard for infants inside or outside the pram or stroller. The length of the strap should be as short as practical, with any loop in the strap having a perimeter less than 360 mm.

Testing

The mandatory standard specifies testing to make sure prams and strollers comply with the requirements for impact, strength, load, durability and stability. Suppliers should organise product testing through specialist testing laboratories.

Strollers have additional testing requirements that don’t apply to prams.

Additional design and construction for strollers only

These requirements are additional to the ones for prams and strollers above.

Safety harness

Strollers must have a permanently attached harness assembly that includes waist and crotch straps for each occupant. Strollers designed for more than one child must meet this requirement for all seating positions.

The harness should be adjustable so it fits the range of occupants for whom the stroller is designed.

Waist straps

Waist straps must have a minimum width of 20 mm. Waist straps and fittings for waist straps must be secured to the frame of a stroller either directly, or to a seat which is attached to the frame of the stroller.

Crotch straps

The crotch strap must:

• have a minimum width of 20 mm
• be linked to the front waist strap
• be located not more than 200 mm from the backrest.

Head barrier

Strollers with a backrest that reclines to an angle greater than 150 degrees horizontal when in the fully laid-back position must have a barrier provided that doesn’t create a head entrapment hazard.

Head barrier requirements also apply to strollers with multiple or double seating and reclining positions where the head is at either end of the stroller.

Safety warnings for prams and strollers

Prams and strollers must be permanently marked with a warning notice using the following words:

Tether straps must be permanently marked with the following warning:

* Use either the term 'pram' or the term 'stroller' as appropriate.

The warning notice must be in a prominent position.

Safety warnings for strollers only

These requirements are additional to the ones for prams and strollers above.

Harnesses for all strollers

Stroller harnesses must be permanently marked with the following warning:

Non-reclining strollers

If a stroller's backrest is not adjustable to recline to an angle of more than 130 degrees horizontally, it must be permanently marked with an additional warning:

Informative labels for prams and strollers

Prams and strollers must be permanently marked with:

• the registered trade name and address in Australia and New Zealand of either the manufacturer, importer or supplier
• the model name or model number of the pram or stroller.

When a product does not comply

Fines and penalties may apply for failure to comply with a mandatory safety or information standard. For more information, see fines and penalties.

Suppliers may need to recall a product when it doesn't meet the mandatory standard or is potentially unsafe.

See also

Prams and strollers consumer guidance