Toddler riding in The Stroller Sling hammock seat on a stroller, with labels showing the seat hanging inside the stroller frame and the parent's hands on the handlebar

Will a Stroller Hammock Tip My Stroller? What Actually Causes Tipping

If you have read a parenting forum thread about stroller hammocks, you have seen the word "tippy." It is the number one question I get, and it is a fair one. This is a product that holds your child.

So here is the full picture, including when the answer is "don't use one."

Toddler riding in The Stroller Sling hammock seat on a stroller, with labels showing the seat hanging inside the stroller frame and the parent's hands on the handlebar
Where the weight sits: inside the stroller frame, with a hand on the handlebar.

The short answer

On a compatible stroller, used as intended, The Stroller Sling is designed to keep your older child's weight inside the stroller's frame. On the wrong stroller, any add-on can make things unstable. That is why we publish a list of strollers it does NOT fit, and why checking your model is step one.

What actually makes a stroller tip

Strollers tip backward when too much weight ends up behind the rear wheels. The usual causes:

  • Heavy bags hanging on the handlebar. This is the classic one, with or without a hammock.
  • An empty main seat. With no weight up front, the balance point shifts back.
  • A child climbing in or out while no adult is holding the handlebar.
  • A frame that was not built for extra weight, or a setup that goes past the stroller maker's limits.

How The Stroller Sling is built around that

  • No rear overhang. The seat hangs within the stroller's footprint, not out behind it.
  • Bottom hooks. They bring the center of gravity toward the front and bottom of the stroller.
  • A four-point attachment to your stroller frame, so the seat is held at four corners.
  • A 45 lb limit for the rider.
  • Independently safety tested.
  • Tested on real strollers. We have tested 100+ models, and the ones that failed are named publicly.

Strollers you should NOT use it on

Doona, GB Pockit, Cybex Libelle, Cybex Coya, Evenflo Dualride, Nuna Tavo and Bugaboo Ant. If you own one of these, please do not buy a stroller hammock for it. Check every other model here.

Stroller hammock seat hanging inside the stroller frame, with a note that the bottom hooks bring the center of gravity toward the front and bottom of the stroller
Save this one for later, or send it to the friend who asked.

5 habits for a steady ride

What I do with my own kids: "I always load my smaller child in the front seat first to balance the center of gravity, and I always try to keep my hands on the handlebar when both my kids are riding together."

  1. Front seat first. Load the main seat before the hammock, and take the hammock rider out first.
  2. Keep a hand on the handlebar any time a child climbs in or out, and whenever both kids are riding.
  3. Keep heavy bags off the handlebar. Use the basket.
  4. Stay within your stroller's own limits. A hammock never raises what your stroller manufacturer allows.
  5. Stay with them, and stop if something feels off. Active adult supervision, every ride. If your child looks unstable or uncomfortable, take them out.

The full rules are in our safety and intended use guide.

See it on your own stroller

The best test is your own stroller, your own kid, your own sidewalk. Every US order has free 30-day returns with a prepaid label, so you can try it and decide. How returns work.

Shop The Stroller Sling

FAQ

Are stroller hammocks safe?

The Stroller Sling is independently safety tested. Safe use also depends on a compatible stroller, the 45 lb limit, a child who can sit upright on their own, and an adult supervising.

Can my baby ride in the main seat while my toddler rides in the hammock?

That is exactly what it is for, as long as the total stays within your stroller manufacturer's limits.

What age can use it?

About 1.5 to 5 years. See the age and weight guide.

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