10 Key Factors About Good Prams You Didn't Learn At School

What Makes Good Prams?

A pram (also known as a stroller or a pushchair newborn) is the most popular form of transportation for babies and toddlers. A good pram combines comfort, safety and design that makes walking fun for the entire family.

The R for Rabbit Poppins Joy Stylish Baby Stroller is a great pram for newborns 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

Your baby should feel comfortable when you're out with them. The good news is that there are prams specifically designed to ensure your child does not feel anything.

The prams we've chosen in this buying guide let your baby lie flat, which is crucial for newborn babies as lying flat improves oxygen saturation and supports their developing 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 premium pram that offers a cocoon-like feeling for your baby. It features smooth, curving lines and a bucket-shaped seat which doesn't recline into a flat position however, it does come with an upholstered mattress and liner. It's also a little lighter than the majority of prams, weighing less than 8kg, but it has an extremely sturdy chassis and grained leather accents, plus air-filled tyres that are puncture-proof and able to handle more rugged terrains.

The Minu V2 is a great choice if you're looking for something with a similar design but at a lower price. The sleek, one-hand steer model isn't as light as some of the other prams we tried however it comes with a large storage basket and extended hood with UPF50+ protection, which will keep your baby shaded and protected.

If you are new to parenting we suggest that you consider a travel system that includes a car seat and pram that are attached to the same frame. This makes it much easier for parents to move their child from their car to the pram without having to awake them. The Bugaboo Dragonfly is a great example of a fashionable and practical foldable pram for travel that can be converted easily from a'pramette' that lies flat' to a toddler-friendly pushchair (Article) that is compatible with the Graco i-Size car seat.

Safety

The pram should be fitted with five-point safety harnesses that will keep your baby safe. It must also be free of gaps where their legs or heads could get stuck. The straps must be cushioned and easily adjustable as your child grows. Examine the buckles on your harness to make sure they're not cracked and show signs of wear. A lot of children are hospitalized each year because of injuries caused by strollers or sale prams. The primary reason for these injuries is the result of a stroller tipping over. Even the most robust prams could tip over if you attach bags to the handles or if a child who is wriggling can get in or out of the seat without harnesses being secured.

A frequent cause of injury is falling from a pram, or stroller. If a baby is not securely fastened in, they could fall out of the stroller and suffer neck or head injuries. This is why it is crucial to ensure that the harness buckle is always locked in place.

Some prams with good quality also have a reversible canopy that will shield your baby from the sun in either direction. This is a handy feature since you will not be having to wake your baby awake when you change their position in the pram or when you go into and out of shops. Other useful features include a tray for snacks and drink holders for your baby or toddler, a basket for shopping under the seat, and the handlebar locks in place when you are not using it.

It is not advisable to leave a child sleeping in their pram unless you are in their sight at all times. Babies are susceptible to wiggle during sleep and could cause them to roll out of the pram or stroller. This could lead to strangulation and suffocation. A pram or stroller is not an alternative to a crib and should only be used for short periods of time during the day.

It is necessary to disassemble most prams in order to fit them into the trunk of your car. This procedure must be mastered before you buy one. Also, consider how easy it is to get the different sections back together and then click them in place.

Durability

A pram must be able stand up to the wear and tear of many years. You should ensure that your pram can handle the mud of a walk as well as a variety of car trips. It is also important for your pram to come in a print or colour that doesn't get outdated so that you don't end up looking like you've gone out of style.

The most effective prams are constructed of high-quality materials and are designed to last, so look for strong and durable materials, robust wheels and a well-designed suspension system. The best prams are lightweight and fold easily so that you can store them in your garage or even the boot.

All the prams in this list allow the baby to lie down on their backs. This is crucial for babies, because it allows them to develop their spine and hips and improves oxygenation levels. Many of these prams have been designed to expand with your child's. Some include a carrycot, or a fully-reclined chair that can be removed and snapped on when your child outgrows them.

If you are purchasing an infant stroller for the first time, a travel system that comes with the carrycot as well as car seats could be a good idea. We love the Graco Near2Me system which our parent tester Jaya used with her son of 10 months. It comes with a clever feature that can raise or lower your baby at the touch of a button so you can maintain eye contact and keep them close which she said was really important to her as he was at 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 pushchair that can be transformed from a single pushchair double, with 30 different configurations. It also comes with the sun canopy which can be extended and puncture-proof tires. It's not cheap stroller, but you can use it for more than one child if needed and, just like the iCandy Orange 3, can be used from birth thanks to the carrycot included.

Style

Newborns should lay flat as often as they can to help develop and improve oxygen saturation in their lungs. Therefore, it is essential that all prams support this. Some models permit an all-flat position by using a carrycot that is fully reclinable, while others feature a seat that can recline to a horizontal position.

The Graco Near2Me is brilliant for this, as our parent tester Jaya discovered when she tried it on her child who was 10 months old. She was enthralled by the fact that she could raise or lower her little one with the push of a button, keeping him in sight while maintaining eye contact and closeness.

The frame is perfect to take a stroll around town, and the puncture-proof tires permit you to take it off road or on rough terrain. It's also a good choice if you're planning on having a second child in the 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 suitable for babies because it includes a carrycot which can be folded flat and is compatible with a car seat if purchased separately. It can be folded by putting the carrycot in place which is something does not happen with all prams which is why it's an efficient and easy feature.

The pram's luxurious fabric large basket, spacious interior, and puncture-proof tires are features you'd expect on a premium model, but the sleek frame makes it easy to maneuver over various terrains. It's also an ideal choice when you live in a city and need to negotiate narrow streets or overcrowded sidewalks regularly. It's not cheap, but its versatility and quality could save you money over time by avoiding the purchase of an additional stroller for your toddler. You can choose from a variety of colors to suit your personal style.