UK stroller maker Maclaren has led the headlines this week due to a safety concern for their umbrella strollers. The headlines were astonishing, as it mentioned 12 children’s finger tips had been amputated and a million strollers being affected by a U.S. Consumer Safety Commission recall. 

Mainstream media has represented a rather one sided story – and has not reported the fact that the potential for injury occurs during the opening and folding of the stroller when the child should not be near it.  It probably goes without saying that any stroller (as well as many other hinged products) can present the same risks to a toddler if their fingers are clutching the hinge area when the parent is trying to fold it up.

As I have worked for a consumer products company for twenty years, I understand that it is the utmost responsibility of corporate America to offer safe and reliable products.  I can still think back to the Pepsi syringe PR nightmare, which ultimately was found out to have been orchestrated by a consumer – not a manufacturing line mishap. Regardless, Pepsi took swift action to act responsibly, and take responsibility.

I have used a Maclaren stroller for all four of my children. They are the sturdiest most durable stroller on the planet.  To me this becomes a question of personal responsibility vs. corporate responsibility. Maclaren has taken the right approach to stand up and initiate and orchestrate a very costly recall. But let’s not forget, there are many innocent dangers lurking in our household – and while we trust that the products we buy are safe beyond reproach, we also have to exercise our own good judgement to keep our kids safe.