The government-funded advice service Consumer Direct received 1219 complaints about baby transport in the three month period to the end of February 2009, an increase of 67 per cent on the same period in the previous year.

A significant number of the complaints were about products which were faulty on arrival or which developed faults soon after their first use. Customers reported steering faults, wheels falling off and buggies collapsing, as well as problems such as badly fitting hoods and footrests.

Tips for people buying buggies and pushchairs are available on the Consumer Direct website.