About our tests

Our tests are based on the joint Australia/New Zealand standard AS/NZS 2088:2000. This standard is voluntary in New Zealand.

The standard was revised in 2009. But in some parts of it – such as the specifications for locking mechanisms – the revised rules have been added to the existing rules rather than replacing them.

Our lab tested to both sets of rules. It also concluded that most manufacturers are not yet ready to meet the revised requirements.

We assessed the strollers’ safety by looking for gaps where a child’s head or limbs could be trapped and for sharp edges or points. We also checked the safety harness, the locking mechanisms that stop the stroller folding with the child in it, the strollers' stability, and the brakes.

To test their durability we put the strollers on a “rolling rig” for 64 hours at a speed of 5km/h. As well each stroller was attached to a machine that continuously simulated the action of mounting a kerb.

To test ease of use we put the strollers through their paces in real-life situations – over rough terrain, up and down stairs, and through doorways. We checked how easy it was to make adjustments to the safety harness, recline the seats, fold and unfold the stroller, apply the brakes, and lock the front wheel.

See the test results for single and double strollers for details of how they performed.