Guide To Good Prams: The Intermediate Guide Towards Good Prams

What Makes good prams (why not find out more)?

A pram (also known as a pushchair or stroller) is the main form of transportation for babies and toddlers. A great pram combines safety, comfort and design that makes walking fun for all family members.

The R for Rabbit Poppins Stylish Baby Stroller makes a great stroller for infants to 3 years old. The reversible handle lets you to turn the seat so that your child can face you or the world around them.

Comfort

You want your child to be at ease when you're out with them. There are prams that make sure your baby doesn't feel any sensations.

The prams we've selected in this buying guide let your baby lie flat, which is important for babies who are just beginning to crawl. Lying flat improves oxygen saturation and supports their developing hips and spine. The seats can be adjusted to a more upright position once your baby is capable of sitting up.

For a really high-end experience this Venicci egg2 offers a cozy cocoon feel for your newborn with sleek, curved lines and a bucket-shape seat that does not recline to a lying-flat position, but it does have padding on the mattress and liner. It's also lighter than most prams, at a weight of just 8kg. However, it has a sturdy frame with grained leather details and tyres with air-filled tires that are puncture-proof.

The Minu V2 is a great option if you're looking for something with a similar design but at a lower price. The one-hand steer model, swish, isn't as light as other prams but it does come with a large storage basket. It also has an extended hood that provides UPF 50+ protection, which keeps your baby safe and protected.

If you're new to parenting, we recommend you consider a travel system that includes a car seat and pram that attaches to the same frame. This will make it easier to transfer your child from the car to the pram without disturbing them and is perfect for busy parents who are always on the move. The Bugaboo Dragonfly is a great example of a stylish and functional pram for travel system prams that can be converted easily from a lie-flat 'pramette' to a toddler-friendly pushchair car seat compatible with the Graco I-Size car seat.

Safety

A pram should be equipped with a five-point safety harness to keep your baby safe and free of any gaps that could trap their heads or legs. The straps must be cushioned and easily adjustable as your child grows. It is also important to check the harness buckles to make sure that they aren't damaged or showing signs of wear and tear. Every year, a large number of children are hospitalised because of injuries caused by prams or strollers. The most common cause of these injuries is the result of a stroller tipping over. Even the sturdiest prams can fall over if you hang bags to the handles or if a wriggling child gets into or out of the seat without harnesses being done up.

Another frequent cause of injuries is falling from the pram or stroller. If a child is not properly secured 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 an adjustable canopy that can shield your baby from the sun in both directions. This is a useful feature because it will prevent having to wake your baby awake when you change their position in the pram or when you go into and out of shops. There are other features that can be useful, for example snacks for your child or toddler and drink holders. There is also an extra shopping basket under the seat.

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

The majority of prams require you to disassemble them in order to put them in the boot of your car therefore it's a good idea to familiarise yourself with this process before purchasing one. Find out how easy it will be to put the pieces back together.

Durability

A pram must be able endure a long time of wear. You need to ensure that your pram can handle muddy walks, as well as multiple car trips. You want to make sure that your stroller is in the right color or design that isn't prone to fading to avoid looking as if you've slipped out of style.

The best prams are constructed from high-quality materials and built to last. Look for durable fabrics, sturdy tires, and an efficient suspension system. The most effective prams are small and fold easily so that you can store them in your garage or the boot of your car.

All the prams in this list allow babies to lay flat, which is crucial for newborns because it improves oxygen saturation levels and supports the development of their hips and spine. Some are made to adapt to your child's needs, with some of them having a carrycot or fully-reclined seat that can be moved off and back on the frame at a time when your child outgrows it.

If you are buying a pram for the very first time it is recommended to consider a system that comes with a carrycot and a car seat could be a good idea. We love the Graco Near2Me system that our parent tester Jaya used with her 10-month-old son. It has a nifty feature that allows you to raise and lower your child with the click of a button. This way you can maintain eye contact and keep them close, which she claimed was important to her since he was at an exploratory stage.

The Bugaboo Fox 3 is another option that our test-driver Jess Bird tried with her two children Effie and Boden (pictured above). It's a pushchair that can be transformed from a single pushchair double, with 30 different configurations. It also has sun canopy that can be extended and puncture-proof tires. It's not inexpensive however, it can be used for multiple children if necessary. Like our top pick, the iCandy Orange 3 with its carrycot included, it can be used from the moment of birth.

Style

Newborns must lie flat as much as possible to aid development and increase the oxygen level in their lungs, which is why it's essential that all prams travel system support this. Some models provide a flat position with a fully-reclinable carrycot while others feature a seat that reclines to a flat position.

The Graco Near2Me comes with the latter feature, and it's fantastic at what it does as our tester for parents Jaya found when she tested it with her 10-month-old son. She loved the fact that she could raise or lower her baby at the touch of a button to keep him in sight while maintaining eye contact and closeness.

The frame is perfect for nipping around town and the puncture-proof wheels permit you to drive it off the road or on rough terrain. It's an excellent choice for those who plan to have another child in the future because it can easily be converted from a single pushchair into a double or twin.

The Bugaboo Dragonfly looks and feels like a stylish, high-end option. It's suitable for newborns because it comes with a lie-flat carrycot and is compatible with car seats, if you buy it separately. You can fold it by putting the carrycot in place and it's something that does not happen with all prams which is why it's an easy and time-saving feature.

Its luxurious fabrics, spacious shopping basket and puncture-proof tires are all the features you'd expect to see on a premium pram however, its sleek frame makes it easy to maneuver on any terrain. It's also a great option when you reside in a city and have to navigate narrow streets or crowded sidewalks frequently. While it's not cheap, the quality and versatility of this pram make it possible to save you money in the end by avoiding the need to invest in an additional pushchair car seat for toddlers. It's available in an extensive selection of colors too, so you can pick one that suits your personal style.