Strollers need new buckles

A recall of some versions of the Baby Jogger City Mini stroller is being planned by the company after testing by Consumer Reports showed that the stroller's harness buckle released too easily. During our recent tests of 19 strollers, we found that the Baby Jogger City Mini Single had a harness buckle that released when the harness straps were pulled by forces as weak as 2 pounds. That's considerably less than the pulling force of a typical-sized child who might be riding in that stroller.

The situation can pose a safety risk because once the buckle releases, a child is no longer properly restrained and could fall from the stroller. Models manufactured on or after Feb. 8, 2009, are equipped with a redesigned buckle that remained intact during our subsequent tests. Independent of our test findings, Baby Jogger told us they had recently redesigned the buckle after receiving about 100 consumer complaints that their buckles broke, which the company attributed to incorrect use.

In late June, Mark Zehfuss, president of the Baby Jogger Corporation, said in an e-mail statement that the company will initiate a voluntary recall of the stroller. Consumers Union has contacted the Consumer Product Safety Commission about the buckle. At press time in early July, a CPSC representative confirmed that the agency had begun discussions with Baby Jogger. If you own that stroller or the City Mini Double model and it was made on or before Feb. 7, 2009 (you can check the date on the box), contact the company to learn what remedy it is offering. Go to www.babyjogger.com/contact_us.aspx, call 800-241-1848, or write to Baby Jogger Company, 8575 Magellan Parkway, Suite 1000, Richmond, VA 23227.