Car seat/strollers.(Product Update)(Buyers Guide)

WHAT'S NEW

Safety recall. Century Products has recalled 650,000 multi-use strollers. Some are travel systems: an infant carrier, car seat, and stroller. A car-seat adapter could detach or the stroller could collapse, dropping baby to the ground. The recall covers products sold between December 1996 and March 2001 as the Take 2, Travel Solutions, Pioneer, Travelite, and Pro Sport. Owners should keep using the car seat but stop using the stroller until they get a free repair kit from Century; call 800-766-9998.

WHAT WE TESTED, WHAT WE FOUND

We looked at four travel systems not affected by the recall, testing travel system/ stroller safety and ease of use.

Generally high level of safety. The latches that lock the stroller open proved reliable. Still, caution is key. If you inadvertently fail to fully lock the latches when using the car seat, all but the Cosco may collapse. If not using the car seat, the latches of all but the Cosco lock or stay locked under the child's weight. The Cosco folds differently from the others, but it's still safe.

Generally easy to use. However, the Cosco steered like a bad grocery cart when its front wheels swiveled. The Evenflo has an expandable but badly positioned basket; our testers hit their shins against it.

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