What Makes Good Prams?

A pram, also referred to as a pushchair, stroller or Sling, is the main method of transport for infants and toddlers. A good pram is a combination of safety, comfort and style that makes walking enjoyable for all family members.

The R for Rabbit Poppins Stylish Baby Stroller is a great stroller for infants to three years old. The adjustable handle can be turned around to allow you to turn the seat to face your child or the world.

Comfort

When you're out and about with a baby, you need to ensure that they're safe. The good news is that there are prams designed to ensure that your baby doesn't feel a thing.

All the prams in this guide let your baby lay flat. This is important for newborns since it improves oxygenation and supports their spine and hips. The seats can also be adjusted to an upright position when your baby is able to sit up.

Venicci egg2 is a high-end pram that offers a cocoon-like feeling for your baby. It has smooth, curving lines, a bucket-shaped seat, which doesn't recline into flat however, it does come with padding on the mattress and a liner. It's also a little lighter than most prams, weighing less than 8kg, but it has a sturdy chassis and grained leather accents and air-filled tyres that are puncture-proof, and can be used in more rural environments.

The Minu V2 is a great option to consider if you're looking to buy something with a similar design but for a lesser price. The stylish one-hand steer model isn't as light as some of the other prams we've tested but it does have a large storage basket and extended hood with UPF50+ protection to keep your baby protected and shaded.

If you are a first-time parent, we recommend that you look into a travel system prams system that includes a car seat and pram that can be attached to the same frame. This will make it easier to get your baby from the car into the pram without waking them and is perfect for busy parents who are always on the move. The Bugaboo Dragonfly is a great example of a fashionable and practical travel pram system pram and car seat that converts easily from a'pramette' that lies flat into a toddler-friendly pushchair, compatible with the Graco I-Size car seat.

Safety

A pram must have a five-point safety harness to keep your baby safe and free of any gaps that could trap their legs or head. The straps should be padded and easy to adjust as they expand. It is also important to inspect the buckles of your harness to ensure they aren't cracked or showing signs of wear and tear. Each year, many children are hospitalised because of injuries caused by prams or strollers. Tipping over is the main reason for these injuries. Even the most sturdy prams can topple when you hang bags to the handles or if a child is wriggling or squirming and falls into or out of the seat before the harness has been tightened.

Another common cause of injury is falling off the pram or stroller. If a baby isn't securely fastened in the pram, they could fall out of the stroller and sustain head or neck injuries. This is why it is important to ensure that the harness buckle is always clicked into place.

Some good prams also have a reversible canopy that will shield your baby from sun in any direction. This is a great feature since you will not be having to wake your baby awake while you change their position in the pram or while you are into and out of shops. There are other features that could be useful, like a snack tray for your toddler or child and drink holders. You can also find a basket for shopping underneath the seat.

It is not advisable to leave a child sleeping in their pram unless you are within their reach at all times. Babies tend to wiggle while asleep and this may cause them to roll off the pram or stroller and can lead to strangulation or suffocation. A pram or a stroller is not an alternative to the cot. It should only be used for short periods of time during the day.

The majority of prams require you to disassemble them in order to fit them into the boot of your car so it is recommended to familiarize yourself with this procedure before you buy one. Check how easy it will be to put the sections back together.

Durability

A pram must be durable enough to endure several years of wear and tear. This includes the need to endure the mud-filled walks and many car journeys, so you need to ensure that your choice is able to do the job you need it to. It is also important for your pram to be in an image or color that doesn't get outdated so that you don't end up looking like you've fallen out of fashion.

The best prams will be made of high-quality materials, and built to last. You should look for durable fabrics as well as sturdy tires and a well-designed system of suspension. The best prams are compact travel pram and fold easily, allowing you to store them in your garage or even the boot.

All prams on this list allow your baby to lie flat. This is important for babies, because it allows them to develop their hips and spine, and boosts oxygen levels. Some are made to grow with your child and some having a carrycot or fully-reclined seat that can be clicked off and back on the frame at a time when your child is no longer using it.

If you are buying a pram for the first time, a travel system that includes both a carrycot and a car seat may be of interest. Our parent tester Jaya loved the Graco Near2Me System that she used with her 10-month-old son. It comes with a clever feature that can raise or lower your child with the click of a button, so you can keep your eyes on them and keep them close, which she described as being important to her since he was at an exploratory stage.

Another option is another option is the Bugaboo Fox 3 which our tester Jess Bird used with her two kids, Effie and Boden (pictured above). It's a luxurious pushchair that can be converted from a single pushchair to double pushchair and has 30 possible configurations. It also comes with luxurious fabrics, an expandable sun canopy, and puncture-proof tyres. It's not inexpensive, but it can be used for multiple children if necessary. And like our winner iCandy Orange 3, the iCandy Orange 3 with its carrycot is a great option to use right from birth.

Style

Newborns need to lay flat as often as they can to help develop and improve oxygen saturation in their lungs. Therefore, it's essential that all prams support this. Some models allow for an all-flat position by using a carrycot that is fully reclined, whereas others feature a seat that reclines to a horizontal position.

The Graco Near2Me has the latter feature, and it's fantastic at that as our tester for parents Jaya discovered when she tried it with her son who was 10 months old. She was thrilled that she could raise and lower her child with the push of a button to keep him in sight, while still maintaining eye contact and a closeness.

This frame is perfect for nipping around town and the puncture-proof wheels permit you to drive it off road or on rough terrain. It's also a smart choice if you're planning on having another child in future since it is able to convert from a single pram to a twin or double pushchair.

The Bugaboo Dragonfly looks and feels like a premium, stylish option. It's ideal for babies because it includes a lie-flat carrycot and is compatible with a car seat when you purchase it separately. It can be folded while the carrycot still in place, which is a feature that not all prams provide. This reduces time and makes it simpler to use.

Its luxurious fabrics, large shopping basket, and puncture-proof tyres are all the things you'd expect on a premium pram, but its sleek frame makes it easy to maneuver on a variety of terrains. It's also a great choice when you live in a city and have to navigate narrow streets or busy sidewalks regularly. The pram isn't cheap, but its versatility and high-end quality can save you money over time by avoiding the purchase of an additional stroller for your toddler. You can pick from a range of colors to match your style.