Stroller safety – from newborn to toddler

At Thule, safety is more than a feature. It’s what informs our product development every step of the way. At the Thule Test Center™ products go through extreme tests before they can bear the Thule logo.

We spoke to Marie Louise, otherwise known as @the_modern_midwife, a qualified midwife and mother who has worked for 12 years delivering babies. We asked her for her advice for new parents.

Read on to learn about what we do to ensure that our strollers are as safe as possible for your little one. Also, get tips about how your child can ride their stroller in the safest possible way!

In this article

Newborn strollers and safety
When can my baby sit in a stroller?
When can my baby sit in a front-facing stroller?
Are the materials in Thule strollers safe for newborns?
How are Thule strollers tested?

Newborn strollers and safety

“The key is ensuring a product has met all safety standard testing. In particular for sleep, as babies often fall asleep in the pram” advises says Marie Louise.

“The importance of safety testing is why all Thule products are designed to meet or exceed all international safety standards. Our rigorous internal testing ensures our products can handle the toughest conditions. We go for the highest standards when it comes to design, flexibility, safety, and quality of newborn strollers. So should you!

A mother observes her baby inside the bassinet of a Thule baby stroller.

When buying a stroller for a newborn, it is important that they are comfortable and that their head and neck are supported.

“The carrycot needs to lay flat, some may offer an incline as a feature but it should lay flat,” explains midwife Marie Louise, “Research suggests this is important to protect the developing spine. Ensure the pram has the soft newborn insert to support the baby but make them feel safe and cocooned. Any hoods need to be larger to ensure the baby’s face can’t become covered.”

Bassinets or newborn accessories are a great way to make sure that your newborn is lying comfortably and their neck is supported. The Thule Shine Newborn Nest and the Thule Shine Infant Inlay, for example, are inserts that you can add to the toddler seat of your Thule Shine stroller that are approved to be used with newborns. It creates a cozy, lie-flat surface for your baby. These accessories are all approved to be used by newborn babies.

Thule newborn nest

newborn nest black

$119.95

When can my baby sit in a stroller?

“All babies are different but most sit around the 5 to 7 month mark,” explains Marie Louise, “That’s a good guide to go by as they can hold the weight of their head.”

If you are unsure, please consult with your pediatrician.

A baby sits inside a blue Thule stroller with a blue water bottled attached to the bottle holder.

When can my baby sit in a front facing stroller?

“Your baby can sit in a front-facing stroller as soon as they are able to sit up unassisted. It really depends more on when they feel that they want to gain more independence.

As Marie Louise explains, “It’s individual again, some babies prefer to see their mom and others are more interested in the world around them. No baby is the same, so I would go by your instinct. Many say the earliest should be around 5 months as babies are slightly more vulnerable before then and less able to control their head.”

Once your baby has reached this age, they express more excitement in exploring the world around them. This is the perfect time to switch the toddler seat around so they can explore the world around them!

Are the materials in Thule strollers safe for newborns?

Yes, they are. Our strollers and accessories all use textiles that are OEKO Tex certified. This is the highest standard used to test all textiles that are used in baby and kids’ products.
At Thule, we have a strict Restricted Substances List (RSL) list to ensure that our strollers – as well as all our products – do not contain harmful substances.

How are Thule strollers tested?

At the Thule Test Center™ in Hillerstorp, Sweden, our rigorous internal testing ensures our products can handle the toughest conditions. After all, our strollers are made for the most important people in the world. Below are just some of the many tests we conduct.

A Thule jogging stroller being tested in the Thule test center on a durability test.

Durability tests

Used to evaluate the performance under conditions such as those that might be encountered during use on rough or uneven terrain.

Tipping and parking brake tests

Evaluates the stability of the product and its ability to remain upright under various conditions. Also, it checks the product’s ability to hold stationary when it is not in use.

Impact tests

This test drops the product down a slope with a specific impact force, in order to simulate the types of forces that might be encountered while the product is in use.

Two women observe the materials used on a Thule stroller.

Only the safest materials

All our strollers and accessories are made of textiles and materials free from harmful substances, so that you can feel confident using them with your newborn.

Article contributor

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Marie Louise
Midwife and mom known as The Modern Midwife online

Marie Louise has 12 years of professional experience as a certified midwife under her belt. She is also a mother of two children. Her goal is to make it easier for mothers everywhere to advocate for themselves by educating and informing. She spends a lot of her time online simplifying daunting medical jargon that can make parenting seem difficult.

Follow Marie @the_modern_midwife on Instagram