What Makes Good Prams?
A pram, also known as a stroller,
folding pushchair or a Sling, is the most popular mode of transport for infants and toddlers. A great pram is a combination of comfort, safety and design that makes walking enjoyable for all the family members.
The R for Rabbit Poppins Stylish Baby Stroller makes a great stroller for infants to three years old. The Reversible handle lets you flip the seat to face your child or the world.
Comfort
When you're out and around with a baby, you need to ensure that they're safe. There are prams that ensure your baby doesn't feel any sensations.
The prams we've chosen in this buying guide let your baby lie flat, which is essential for infants as lying flat improves oxygen levels and supports their developing spine and hips. They also have a seat which can be transformed to an upright position once your baby is old enough to sit.
Venicci egg2 is a top-of-the-line pram that has a cocoon-like feel for your baby. It features smooth, curved lines as well as a bucket-shaped seating, which does not recline into an upright position however it does come with padding on the mattress and a liner. It's also lighter than most prams, weighing under 8kg. However, it still has a sturdy frame with finely textured leather and tyres that are air-filled, which are puncture-proof.
If you're looking for something a bit less expensive but with the same style Minu V2 (minus carrycot) is another excellent choice. The stylish, one-hand steer model isn't as light as the other prams we tried however it comes with a big storage basket and an the ability to extend the hood, which comes with UPF 50+ protection, which will keep your baby protected and shaded.
If you're the first parent of your child we suggest you look into a travel system bundle which includes a pram and car seat that attach to the same frame. This makes it easier to get your baby from the car into the pram without waking them and is perfect for busy parents on the go. The Bugaboo Dragonfly travel system is a stylish and functional pram that is able to be easily converted from a 'pramette,' or lie-flat 'pramette,' into a toddler-friendly stroller compatible with the Graco iSize car seat.
Safety
The pram should come with a five-point safety harness that will ensure your baby's safety. It should also have no gaps where their legs or heads are likely to get caught. The straps should be padded, and easily adjustable as your child grows. You should also examine the buckles on your harness to ensure that they are not cracked or showing signs of wear and tear. Many children are admitted to hospitals every year due to injuries caused by strollers or prams. Tipping over is the most common cause of these injuries. Even the sturdiest prams can tip over if you hook bags to the handles or if a wriggling child can get in or out of the seat without harnesses being secured.
A common cause of injury involves falling off a pram or stroller. If the harness of a baby is not secured properly it could cause them to fall from the stroller, causing neck or head injuries. This is why it is important to ensure that the harness buckle is always locked in place.
Some
good prams also have a reversible canopy that will shield your baby from sun in any direction. This is a useful feature since you will not be having to wake your child up when you are changing their position in the pram, or when you go into and out of shops. Other useful features include a snack tray and drink holders for your baby or toddler, a shopping basket underneath the seat, and a handlebar that can be locked into place when you're not using it.
Never leave a sleeping baby in a pram without having them in sight. Babies tend to wriggle while asleep and this may cause them to roll off the stroller or pram and could result in strangulation or suffocation. A stroller or pram is not an alternative to a crib and should only be used for brief periods during the day.
It is necessary to disassemble most prams in order to place them into the trunk of your car. This process must be mastered before you purchase a pram. Also, check how it is easy to put the different sections back together before putting to put them back together.
Durability
A pram must be durable enough to withstand several years of wear and tear. This includes surviving walking in the rain and many car journeys, which is why you must ensure your choice can perform the task you want it to. Also, you want your pram to be in the form of a color or print that isn't prone to fading quickly so you don't end up looking like you've gone out of fashion.
The best prams are made with high-quality materials. They are built to last, so you should look for strong and durable materials, robust wheels and a well-designed suspension system. The best prams are compact and fold easily, so you can put them in your garage or the boot of your car.
All the prams in this list allow the baby to lie flat. This is crucial for babies, as it helps them develop their hips and spine, and improves oxygenation levels. Some are made to grow with your child and some having a carrycot or fully-reclined seat that can be moved off and back on the frame when your little one outgrows it.
If you are buying a pram for the first time, a
travel system prams system that comes with the carrycot as well as car seats could be a good idea. Our tester for parents Jaya was a fan of the Graco Near2Me System she used with her 10-month old son. It comes with an innovative feature that allows you to raise and lower your baby with the touch of a single button. This allows you to keep your eyes on your child and keep them close.
Another option is another option is the Bugaboo Fox 3 which our tester Jess Bird used with her two babies, Effie and Boden (pictured above). It's a pram that can be transformed from a single pushchair a double with 30 different configurations. It also features sun canopy that can be extended and puncture-proof tires. It's not cheap, but you can use it for more than one child, if you need to and, as with our winner the iCandy Orange 3, can be used from birth using the included carrycot.
Style
All prams should allow newborns to lie flat as they can. This will help with their development and improve oxygen saturation in the lung. Some models allow a completely flat position with a fully-reclinable carrycot, while others have the seat that can recline to a flat position.
The Graco Near2Me has the latter feature, and it's fantastic in this regard as our tester for parents Jaya found when she tested it with her son of 10 months. She loved the fact that she could raise or lower her little one with the press of a button, keeping him in view, while still maintaining eye contact and a closeness.
It's a great choice for those who wish to travel around town without hassle since the frame is an ideal size for maneuvering, and the puncture-proof tyres allow you to take it off road and on to rough terrain. It's also a great choice if you're planning on having another child in the near future since it can easily be converted from a single pram to a
twin pushchair or double pushchair.
The Bugaboo Dragonfly is a stylish premium option that is both stylish and comfortable. It's suitable for babies because it includes a carrycot which can lie flat and it's compatible with a car seat if purchased separately. It is able to be folded with the carrycot still in place It's an option that not all prams have. This saves time and makes it simpler to use.
Its luxurious fabrics, large shopping basket, and puncture-proof tyres are the kinds of features you'd expect to find on a pram of the highest quality however, its sleek frame makes it easy to maneuver on a variety of terrains. It's also a great option if you live in a city and have to navigate narrow streets or crowded sidewalks regularly. This pram is not cheap but its versatility and quality could save you money in the long run by avoiding the purchase of a separate stroller for toddlers. It's available in an extensive selection of colors too, so you can pick one that suits your personal style.