What Makes Good Prams?

A pram, also known as a stroller, pushchair or a sling, is the primary method of transport for infants and toddlers. A quality pram blends comfort, safety and design to make walking enjoyable for the entire family.

The R for Rabbit Poppins Stylish Baby Stroller is a fantastic stroller for infants to 3 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 your baby, you need to be sure they're comfortable. The good news is that there are prams designed to ensure your child doesn't feel a thing.

All the prams listed in this guide allow your baby to lie flat. This is essential for babies as it increases oxygenation and helps support their spine and hips. They also have a seat that can be changed to more upright positions when your baby is old enough to sit.

For a luxurious experience it's the Venicci egg2 offers a cozy cocoon-like feel for your baby with sleek, curved lines and a bucket-shape seat that doesn't recline into a lie-flat position but does have a padded liner and mattress. It's also lighter than many prams, with a weight of less than 8kg. However, it still has a sturdy chassis with the grained leather accents and tyres with air-filled tires that are puncture-proof.

If you're looking for something a bit more affordable, but still with the same design Minu V2 (minus carrycot) is another excellent choice. The one-hand steer, swish model isn't quite as light as other prams, but it does come with a large storage basket. It also comes with an hood that can be extended, which provides UPF 50+ protection, which keeps your baby safe and protected.

If you're a first-time parent we recommend a travel system bundle that includes a folding pram and a car seat that attach to the same frame. This makes it much easier for parents to move their child from the car to the pram without having to awake them. The Bugaboo Dragonfly is a great example of a fashionable and practical pram that can convert easily from a'pramette' that lies flat' to a toddler-friendly running pushchair that is compatible with the Graco I-Size car seat.

Safety

A pram must have a five point safety harness to ensure your baby is safe and free of any gaps that could trap their legs or heads. The straps must be padded, and easily adjustable as your child grows. Examine the buckles on the harness to ensure they are not cracked and have signs of wear. Each year, many children are admitted to hospitals due to injuries caused by prams or strollers. The main cause of these injuries is the result of a stroller tipping over. Even the strongest prams could tip over when you strap your bags onto the handles or if a child is wriggling or squirming and falls out or in the seat before the harness is tightened.

A frequent cause of injury is falling off a pram or stroller. If a child's harness isn't secured correctly, it could cause them to fall from the stroller and sustain head or neck injuries. This is why it is important to ensure that the harness buckle is always locked in place.

Some good prams also have an adjustable canopy that can protect your baby from sun in any direction. This feature is helpful since you don't need to wake up your baby when you change their position in the stroller or when you go in and out of stores. There are also other features that can be useful, such as an eating tray for your child or toddler and drink holders. There is also a basket for shopping underneath the seat.

It is not advisable to let a child sleep in their foldable stroller unless you are within sight of them at all times. Babies are susceptible to wiggle while asleep and this can cause them to roll out of the pram or stroller. This could lead to suffocation and strangulation. A pram or a stroller should not be used as a substitute for the cot. It is best to use it for short periods during the daytime.

Most prams require you to take them apart in order to fit them into the trunk of your car so it's recommended to familiarize yourself with the process before purchasing one. Also check how it is simple to put the different sections back together and then click them in place.

Durability

A pram should be durable enough to withstand many years of wear and wear and tear. You should ensure that your pram can handle slippery walks, as well as multiple car trips. It is important to ensure that your stroller is in a colour or print that isn't prone to fading so you don't look like you've fallen out of style.

The best prams are made with high-quality materials. They are designed to last, so you should look for durable fabrics, sturdy wheels and a well-designed suspension system. The best prams are lightweight and fold easily, allowing you to put them in your garage or even the boot.

All prams on this list allow babies to lie flat. This is essential for newborns, because it aids in the development of their hips and spine, and boosts oxygen levels. Many are designed to grow with your child and some featuring a carrycot, or a fully reclined seat that can be moved on and off the frame for when your child outgrows it.

If you are buying a pram for the very first time, a travel system that includes both a carrycot and car seats could be worth a look. We are awestruck by the Graco Near2Me system which our parent tester Jaya used with her son of 10 months. It comes with an innovative feature that allows you to raise and lower your child by pressing one button. This allows you to keep eye contact with the baby and keep them in close proximity.

The Bugaboo Fox 3 is another option that our test-driver Jess Bird tried with her two kids Effie and Boden (pictured above). It's a luxurious pram that can be converted from a single pushchair to double pushchair and has 30 different configurations, and comes with premium fabrics, an extendable sun canopy, and puncture-proofed tyres. It's not expensive, but it can be used for more than one child if you need to. Similar to our winner iCandy Orange 3, the iCandy Orange 3 with its included carrycot can be used right from birth.

Style

Newborns must lie flat as much as possible to aid development and improve the oxygen saturation of their lungs, which is why it is essential that all prams support this. Some models provide a flat position using a fully reclineable carrycot, while others have a seat that reclines to an upright position.

The Graco Near2Me is a great device for the latter, as our parent tester Jaya discovered when she tried it on her 10-month-old child. She was thrilled that she could raise and lower her baby at the push of a button to keep him in the view of others while maintaining eye contact and a closeness.

It's a great stroller for those who want to nip around town easily as the frame is a good size for manoeuvring, while the puncture-proof tyres allow you to remove it from the road and into rough terrain. It's a great option if you plan to have a child in the near future, as it can easily be transformed from a single pushchair to a double or twin.

The Bugaboo Dragonfly looks and feels like a premium, stylish option. It's suitable for babies since it includes a carrycot which can lie flat and it's compatible with a car seat when purchased separately. It is able to be folded with the carrycot still in place, which is something that not all prams offer. This saves time and makes it simpler to use.

The pram's luxurious fabrics large basket, spacious interior, and puncture-proof tires are things you'd expect to find on a high-end model, but the sleek frame makes it simple to maneuver over different terrains. It's also a great choice for those who live in a large city and must navigate narrow streets or busy sidewalks regularly. Although it's not inexpensive, the quality and versatility of this model mean that it can save you money in the end by avoiding the need to purchase an additional pushchair for toddlers. You can choose from a wide range of colors that will fit your style.