Trading standards leaflets

Ref: 122609

Selling new and used prams and pushchairs

All prams and pushchairs, both new and used, are required to be safe. One way to ensure this is to comply with a British (or equivalent European) Standard. A label indicating compliance should be located on the frame or seating cover of the pram/pushchair.

There are certain checks you can make on a used pushchair to ensure it is still safe, including checking there are no sharp edges, ensuring the safety harness is in good condition, verifying the parking brake works, and testing the stability of the pushchair.

All upholstered prams and pushchairs (new and used) have to comply with stringent flammability regulatory requirements, too.

In the guide
The legislation
How can I tell if my prams and pushchairs are safe?
Used prams and pushchairs
What about flammability requirements?

The legislation
All prams and pushchairs, both new and used, must be safe. One way to ensure this is by compliance with BS EN 1888:2003. Prams and pushchairs are defined as 'any wheeled vehicle designed for the transport of one or more infants either seated or reclined'. Supplying an unsafe product is a contravention of the General Product Safety Regulations 2005.

How can I tell if my prams and pushchairs are safe?
Look for the label stating that the pram or pushchair complies with BS 7409 or BS EN 1888. These labels are usually found on the frame or seat covering.

Used prams and pushchairs
If prams and pushchairs have been damaged or modified, they may no longer meet the requirements of the standard. The only way to be certain is to have the item tested by a laboratory, which is expensive. However, there are some things you can look out for:

  • the presence of any sharp edges or points
  • the folding chassis must have a primary and secondary locking device - do they both engage and work properly?
  • the safety harness - is it in good condition? - make sure the harness is a secure five-point harness and the straps are not frayed
  • the wheel security, and evidence of any heavy wear on the edges of wheels
  • the parking brake - does it work both forwards and backwards, and does it engage properly?
  • the general stability in all directions (forwards, backwards and sideways left and right)
  • the tubes or linkages - have they been bent by heavy impact with kerbs or stairs?
  • the presence of any finger entrapments - ensure that exposed tubes still have some means of preventing fingers from getting trapped
  • ensure that the pram or pushchair is generally in good condition

What about flammability requirements?
All upholstered prams and pushchairs (new and used) have to comply with the stringent flammability requirements contained in the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988. New prams and pushchairs also have to carry permanent labels and display labels giving information about how they comply with the Regulations. If used items do not have a permanent label with the words 'CARELESSNESS CAUSES FIRE', it must be assumed that they do not comply and therefore should not be sold.

Please note
This leaflet is not an authoritative interpretation of the law and is intended only for guidance. Please contact us for further information.

Relevant legislation
Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988
General Product Safety Regulations 2005

Last reviewed/updated: October 2012

© 2013 itsa Ltd on behalf of the Trading Standards Institute.