Parts of Carriages and Strollers

Axles

rods to which wheels are attached.

Body

the enclosed bed of the carriage where the baby sits or lies.

Body Attachments

connectors which allow carriage body to be removed from frame or to be rotated to face toward or away from handle

Boot

apron or skirt which attaches around lap and/or leg portion of stroller seat or carriage bed to provide protection from weather.

Bow

arms on hood (usually of metal) which allow hood to be locked into open position. Releasing the bows allows the hood to open and lie in a folded position.

Brake

usually a foot-controlled lever which keeps carriage from rolling when it is applied either to tire, or inserted into spokes of wheels.

Coach-Built

refers to a style of perambulator; these prams are built like the coaches which preceded them in history. Wide, high bodies with large folding hoods are characteristic, as is a traditional suspension either using springs, spring leaves, or leather straps to suspend the body of the pram on the frame.

Detachable Wheels

removable wheels which have a locking mechanism at the hub allowing them to completely detach from the axles, resulting in a more compact unit for storage or transportation in a car, etc.. It's critical to engage the locking mechanisms completely when putting the wheels back on the frame. Be sure to spin the wheels by hand as they are attached, to make sure that they cannot spin off.

Frame

components (usually metal) which support and transport the body of a carriage or the seat of a stroller. Includes the handle, body supports, the wheels and the axles.

Hand Brake/Brake Lever

brake controlled by hand; on traditional models, the control will extend up into the handle area for ease of application.

Handle

bar used to push carriage.

Harness

system of straps, usually somewhat like a vest, used to keep baby or toddler anchored in stroller, pram, or carriage. May be built into the vehicle, or may be a separate accessory. Separate harnesses often have walking reins which allow a toddler much more freedom, but keep him or her attached to mom or dad using a wrist strap.

Harness Rings

integral rings which allow a baby harness to be attached to the carriage body.

Hood

enclosure over head of carriage bed; almost always collapsible.

Hub

point at which wheels join the axles. Often covered with Hub Caps

Hub Caps

decorative or functional coverings for axles; usually metal in older carriages and plastic in newer ones.

Landau

in France, a baby carriage with a folding hood: a pram. From Landau, in Germany, for a horse-drawn carriage with a folding hood.

Latch

usually a 'locking mechanism' which prevents a frame from collapsing while in use, but could also refer to a catch which might hold a seat back up (or release it) or allow other adjustments.

Locking Mechanism

a catch on one side or both of frame to prevent frame from collapsing while in use. Normally must be manually disengaged to fold frame. Some wheels may also have locking mechanisms, allowing the wheels to be completely detached from the axles.

Locking Ring

a ring attached to the frame, usually designed to fall into place when the frame is unfolded. Prevents carriage from folding if lock disengages accidentally.

Porter's Stroller

Defined in the book The Alice Crimmins Case, by Kenneth Gross, Ballantine Nonfiction, 1975. " . . . What is known as a porter's stroller - a converted baby carriage with a box mounted on it."

Perambulator

British English for "baby carriage," especially an old-fashioned, traditional style carriage. In British usage, usually refers to a classic, "coach-built" carriage.

Pram

short for "perambulator"; sometimes used more casually in the USA (for example, by The Virtual Pram Museum!) to mean "old-fashioned baby carriage."

Pushchair

British English for "stroller."

Ribs

supports for a carriage or stroller hood. Usually, but not always, internal (they can be felt, but not seen). Normally made of metal, but can be made of plastic or nylon as well. A hood will usually have from one to four ribs supporting the fabric and giving the hood its distinctive shape.

Shield

cover over the open top of carriage body, usually fabric or vinyl or a combination of both, offering protection from rain, snow, wind or cold weather.

Tires

the rubber or vinyl which surrounds the wheels.

Waist Belt

strap to keep baby in place in carriage; goes around baby's hips or waist.

Wheels

supports for tires, which connect to axles. In carriages, usually made with wire spokes. See also Detachable Wheels

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