Guide To Good Prams: The Intermediate Guide Towards Good Prams

What Makes Good Prams?

A pram, also referred to as a pushchair stroller, stroller or a Sling, is the most popular method of transport for infants and toddlers. A well-designed pram is a combination of comfort, safety and style to make walking enjoyable for the entire family.

The R for Rabbit Poppins Joy Stylish Baby foldable stroller is a great pram for newborns up to 3 year old children. 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 want to ensure that they're safe. There are prams that will ensure your baby doesn't feel anything.

All prams featured in this guide allow your baby to lie flat. This is crucial for newborns as it improves oxygenation and strengthens their spine and hips. The seats can be adjusted to an upright position when your baby is capable of sitting up.

Venicci egg2 is a high-end pram that offers a cocoon-like feel for your baby. It features smooth, curvaceous lines and a bucket-shaped seat which doesn't recline into an upright position however, it does come with a padded mattress and liner. It's also lighter than most prams on the market at less than 8kg but has an extremely sturdy chassis and grained leather detailing, plus air-filled tyres that are puncture-proof, and can handle more rugged terrains.

If you want something more budget-friendly but with a similar design Minu V2 (minus carrycot) is a great option. The sleek one-hand steer model isn't as lightweight as the other prams we've tested but it does have a big storage basket and an the ability to extend the hood, which comes with UPF 50+ protection that'll keep your baby safe and shaded.

If you are a first-time parent We suggest you consider the travel system that includes a car seat as well as a pram that attaches to the same frame. This makes it easier to transfer your child from the car into the pram without waking them and is ideal for busy parents who are always on the move. 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 stroller that is toddler-friendly compatible with the Graco ISize car seats.

Safety

The pram should come with five-point safety harnesses that will keep your baby safe. It must also be free of gaps in which their heads or legs could get stuck. The straps must be cushioned and easy to adjust as they expand. You should also check the harness buckles to make sure that they aren't damaged or showing signs of wear and tear. A lot of children are hospitalized every year due to injuries caused by strollers or prams. The main cause of these injuries is the result of a stroller tipping over. Even the most sturdy prams can tip over when you hang bags to the handles or if the child is wriggling and gets out or in the seat before the harness is tightened.

A common cause of injury involves falling from a pram, or stroller. If a baby's harness is not fastened properly it can cause them to fall out of the stroller, causing neck or head injuries. This is why it is important to ensure that the buckle of the harness is always secured.

Some good prams also have an adjustable canopy that can protect your baby from sun in any direction. This is a handy feature as you can avoid having to wake your baby up when you are changing their position in the pram bags, or when you go into and out of shops. Other handy features include a tray for snacks and drink holders for your baby or toddler, a basket for shopping underneath the seat, and a handlebar that can be locked into place when you are not using it.

Never leave a sleeping baby in a pram if you are not within reach. Babies tend to wiggle while asleep and this can cause them to roll off the stroller or pram and can lead to strangulation or suffocation. A pram or a stroller is not a substitute for the crib. It is best to use it for short periods during the day.

The majority of prams require you dismantle them to fit them into the car's boot so it's an excellent idea to familiarize yourself with the process before you buy one. Also, consider how it is easy to put the different parts back together before putting them into place.

Durability

A pram and travel system should be able to last through several years of wear and tear. This includes surviving muddy walks and getting through many car journeys, so you need to ensure that your choice can fulfill the tasks you require it to. You also want your pram to come in an image or color that isn't prone to fading quickly to avoid looking like you've gone out of fashion.

The top prams are constructed of high-quality materials and are designed to last, so you should look for durable fabrics, sturdy wheels, and a well-designed suspension system. The best prams will also have a compact fold, so they can be easily stored in your garage or in the boot when not being used.

All the prams in this list allow your baby to lie down on their backs. This is important for newborns, because it aids in the development of their spine and hips and improves oxygenation levels. Many of these prams are designed to expand with your child. Some have a carrycot, or a fully-reclined chair that can be snapped on and off when your child is outgrowing them.

If you are buying a pram for the first time, a travel system that comes with a carrycot and car seats could be of interest. Our tester for parents Jaya was a fan of the Graco Near2Me System that she used with her 10-month-old son. It comes with a clever feature that raises and lowers your child with the click of a button so you can keep eye contact and keep them close which she described as being important to her as he was in an exploratory stage.

The Bugaboo Fox 3 is another option that our tester Jess Bird tried with her two babies Effie & Boden (pictured above). It's a luxurious pram that converts from a single to double pushchair and has 30 possible configurations and features premium fabrics, an extendable sun canopy, and puncture-proofed tyres. It's not cheap but you can use it for more than one child, if you need to and, like our winner the iCandy Orange 3, can be used from birth with the included carrycot.

Style

Newborns need to lay flat as much as possible to aid development and increase the oxygen level in their lungs, so it's essential that all prams support this. Some models permit an entirely flat position using the carrycot which is fully reclinable, while others feature a seat that can recline to a horizontal position.

The Graco Near2Me works great for the latter as our parent tester Jaya discovered when she tried it on her 10-month-old daughter. She loved the fact that she could raise or lower her child with the push of a button, keeping him in sight, while still maintaining eye contact and a closeness.

It's a great choice for those who want to get around town with ease as the frame is a great size for maneuvering, and the puncture-proof tyres allow you to move it off the road and onto rough terrain. It's an excellent choice when you are planning to have a second child in the future since it can be transformed from a single pushchair stroller to a twin or double.

The Bugaboo Dragonfly looks and feels like a stylish, high-end option. It is suitable for newborns since it comes with a carrycot that can be folded flat and is compatible with a car seat if purchased separately. You can fold it by putting the carrycot in place and it's something that does not happen with all prams, so it's a time-saving and hassle-free feature.

The pram's luxurious fabrics large basket, spacious interior, and puncture-proof tires are all features you would expect to see on a premium model, but the sleek frame makes it simple to maneuver over various terrains. This is an excellent choice when you live in a city and must navigate narrow streets and crowded paths on a regular basis. It's not cheap, but its versatility and quality could save you money in the long run by avoiding the purchase of a separate toddler stroller. It's available in a broad variety of colors, and you can pick one that matches your personal style.