Toy Updates: March 2026

Between toy tricycle and pushchair: exploring safer hybrid designs

We are all familiar with toy tricycles equipped with a handle that allows parents to push a young child until they can ride independently. Over the past decade, these products have evolved significantly to offer greater comfort and a stronger feeling of safety. They now provide a fully passive transportation function for young children and increasingly resemble pushchairs. For this reason, Technical Specification (TS) 17876 was published in 2024 to identify and mitigate the potential hazards associated with the use of these products.

What is meant by ‘a passive transportation function’?

This means that the young child is transported in a product that provides secure seating, protecting them from falls and other potential injuries. The young child remains entirely passive, i.e. there is no need to steer or pedal. In this sense, the level of support and restraint offered is comparable to that of a pushchair, where the young child is also safely seated and fully dependent on the caregiver for both movement and direction.

At what point can a tricycle be considered to provide a ‘passive transportation function’?

To determine whether a tricycle provides a ‘passive transportation function’, two primary features must be present:

1. A pushing handle that allows the caregiver to control the movement of the product
2. A backrest offering adequate support for a young child, meaning it has a minimum height of 250 mm to ensure proper back support

In addition, the tricycle must incorporate at least one of the following pushchair-like features:

• Bumper bar
• Ability to semi- or fully recline the child’s seat
• Option to reverse the child’s seat
• Footrests
• A mechanism allowing caregivers to override the child’s steering of the front wheel

Since both products are similar, how can we determine that a tricycle is not classified as a pushchair, and therefore that the pushchair standard EN 1888 does not apply?

Marketing plays an essential role: if the tricycle is marketed as a pushchair, it must comply with all relevant safety requirements of the EN 1888 standards. However, TS 17876 applies to tricycles that are not marketed as pushchairs but still provide a pushchair-like function through specific features.

This document is published as a technical specification (TS). What does that mean?

A deliberate choice was made not to introduce a disruptive change to the market nor to reclassify products that have traditionally been regarded as toys. A TS sets out requirements but remains a voluntary document. Its purpose is to allow stakeholders to evaluate the relevance of the requirements, build practical experience and support a smooth transition toward a future full standard.

Are the requirements the same as those in the EN 1888 standard for pushchairs?

The overall safety philosophy and approach are aligned with EN 1888. However, the strength and durability requirements have been reduced to reflect the less intensive use of these products in real-world conditions. Additionally, several requirements and test methods have been adapted to account for the specific design characteristics of these tricycles.

Will this technical specification be published in the Official Journal of the EU (OJEU)?

No. Only standards can be published in the OJEU. However, using TS 17876 to demonstrate that tricycles providing a passive transportation function are safe remains the most relevant and practical approach.

The intention is for this TS to be developed into a full standard in the future, which would then allow for potential publication in the OJEU.

For more information, please contact your local SGS expert:

Chris Walker (UK)
t: +44 127 430 3080

Laurent Suisse (France)
t: +33 6 16 39 09 29

Thomas Ziegler (Germany)
t: +49 6128 8724753

Sanda Stefanovic (Netherlands/Global)
t: +31 6 51542190

Piyush Shah (US)
t: +1 (973) 461-7953

Julian Kwok (China/Hong Kong)
t: +852 6018 5919

Raymond Cheng (China/Hong Kong/France)
t: +852 2204 8358 (ext. 1358)

Catherine Follin-Arbelet (France/Global)
t: +33 (6) 28 50 25 88

Melody Zhang (China)
t: +86 21 6107 2702