• Brakes. If possible, get a stroller with some form of brakes, and use them when you stop for more than just a moment.



• Safety strap. Most jogging strollers come equipped with a safety strap you can slip around your wrist. Using it can help prevent a runaway stroller.



• Seatbelts. You may think that they are only for infants or when you're strolling quickly, but using seatbelts actually prevents many types of injuries. Get in the habit of always buckling up your child.



• Stability. Look for a model that is well designed and sturdy so it's not prone to tipping over. Lightweight umbrella strollers are by their very nature less sturdy than standard strollers, but you'll still find that some models are more stable than others. One simple test: Try hanging something (such as a purse) on the back of the stroller and see which ones tip over most easily.



• Sitting properly. Even the best-designed stroller can be put to the test by a child who decides to face backwards or lean over the sides. Not sitting properly is an accident waiting to happen. Train your child from the start to sit sedately--well, as sedately as possible!--when he's riding in the stroller.



• Toting extra items. Even if your child is sitting properly in his seat, some strollers are still relatively easy to tip over backwards if you hang anything on the back. Instead, look for under-the-seat baskets to store extra items such as a purse, toys, snacks, shopping bag, or jacket. Many strollers come with such a basket, and you can buy a basket accessory for others.



• Parking lots. Never leave your child in the stroller behind a parked car. The reason is obvious if you stop to think about it. Always keep your child's stroller right next to you while you're getting out your keys and unlocking the car door, and buckle her into her car seat before dealing with groceries, packages, etc.



• Crossing the street. In your former life (i.e., before parenthood), you may have been in the habit of stepping off the curb while waiting for the light to turn green. This really isn't a great idea as far as pedestrian safety is concerned, especially when you're taking your little one out for a walk. When waiting at crosswalks, always stop with the stroller fully out of the street and safely up on the curb.



• Collapsible strollers. Make sure that your stroller is fully locked or correctly snapped into the open position before putting your child in it.



• Stopping on a hill. Don't rest with the wheels pointing downhill and don't forget to set your brakes, even if you're just stopping for a moment!

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