What Makes Good Prams?

A pram (also called a stroller or pushchair) is the main form of transport for infants and toddlers. A good pram combines safety, comfort, and style to make walking enjoyable for all the family.

The R for Rabbit Poppins Stylish Baby Stroller is a fantastic stroller for babies to three years old. The reversible handle lets you to turn the seat so that your child can face either you or the world around them.

Comfort

You want your child to be at ease when you're out with them. The good news is that there are prams specifically designed to ensure your little one does not feel anything.

The prams we've selected in this buying guide all allow your baby to lie flat, which is essential for newborn babies as lying flat improves oxygen saturation and helps support their growing spine and hips. The seats can also be adjusted to an upright position when your baby is capable of sitting up.

For a really high-end feel it's the Venicci egg2 offers a cozy cocoon feel for your newborn with smooth, curved lines and a bucket-shape seat that doesn't recline into a lie-flat position, but has padding on the mattress and liner. It's also a little lighter than other prams, weighing less than 8kg, but it has a sturdy chassis and grained leather details as well as tyres with air-filled tires that are puncture-proof, and can handle more rugged terrains.

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

If you're a first time parent We suggest that you look into the travel system that includes a car seat and pram that are attached to the same frame. This allows parents to transfer their baby from the car to the pram without having to get them up. The Bugaboo Dragonfly is a great example of a fashionable and practical pram for travel that can be converted easily from a'pramette' lying flat into a toddler-friendly pushchair 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 legs or heads. The straps must be padded and easily adjustable as your child grows. Examine the buckles on the harness to make sure they're not cracked and have signs of wear. Many children are admitted to hospitals each year because of pram or stroller-related injuries. The most common reason for these injuries is the result of a stroller tipping over. Even the strongest prams can tip over if you attach bags on the handles, or if a child with a wriggling can get in or out of the seat without harnesses being properly secured.

Another common cause of injuries is falling from the stroller or pram. If the harness of a baby is not fastened properly it could cause them to fall out of the stroller and suffer neck or head injuries. This is why it is vital to make sure that the harness buckle is always clicked into place.

Some good prams also have a canopy that can be reversible to protect your baby from sun in any direction. This is a great feature since you will not be having to wake your baby up when you are changing their position in the pram, or when you go to and from the shops. There are also other features that can be useful, such as an eating tray for your toddler or child and drink holders. There's also a basket for shopping underneath the seat.

Never leave a sleeping baby in a pram without having them in sight. Babies are known to wiggle when asleep and this can cause them to roll off the pram or stroller and could result in suffocation or strangulation. A stroller or pram is not an alternative to a cot and 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 trunk of your car therefore it's recommended to familiarize yourself with the process before you buy one. Also, consider how easy it is to get the various sections back together and click them in place.

Durability

A pram needs to be able to endure a long time of wear. This includes surviving the mud-filled walks and many car journeys, so you must ensure your choice can do the job you need it to. You also want your pram to come in a print or colour that won't date quickly so that you don't end up looking like you've fallen out of style.

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

All the prams in this list allow babies to lie down flat. This is important for infants as it helps them develop their hips and spine and improves oxygenation levels. A lot of them are designed to grow with your child, with some of them having a carrycot or fully-reclined seat that can be moved off and on the frame when your child outgrows it.

If you are buying a pram for the first time you should consider a travel system that includes both an infant carrycot and car seats could be of interest. Our parent tester Jaya loved the Graco Near2Me System she used with her 10-month old son. It comes with a clever feature that allows you to raise and lower your baby at the touch of a button, so you can keep your eyes on them and keep them close, which she said was really important for her son as he was at an exploratory stage.

Another alternative is another option is the Bugaboo Fox 3 in 1 pram 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 to double pram pushchair and has 30 different configurations, and comes with premium fabrics, an extendable sun canopy, and puncture-proofed tyres. It's not expensive however, you can use it for more than one child if you need to. And like our winner, the iCandy Orange 3 with its carrycot is a great option to use from the moment of birth.

Style

All prams should allow newborns to lie as flat as they can. This will help with their development and boost oxygen levels in the lung. Some models allow an entirely flat position using a carrycot that is fully reclined, whereas others have a seat which can recline to a horizontal position.

The Graco Near2Me comes with the latter feature, and it's fantastic at that as our tester for parents Jaya found when she tested it with her son of 10 months. She was thrilled that she could raise or lower her child with the push of a button to keep him in the view of others and still maintain eye contact and a closeness.

It's a great choice for those who wish to nip around town with ease as the frame is a great size for maneuvering, and the puncture-proof tyres permit you to take it off road and into rough terrain. It's an excellent choice if you plan to have a second child in the future, as it can easily be transformed from a single pushchair a double stroller or twin.

The Bugaboo Dragonfly is a stylish premium option that is both stylish and comfortable. It's ideal for babies because it includes a lie-flat carrycot and is compatible with a car seat in the event that you purchase it separately. It can be folded while the carrycot still in place, which is something that not all prams have. This is time-saving and makes it easier to use.

The pram's luxurious fabric large basket, spacious interior, and puncture-proof tires are all features you'd expect to find on a high-end model however, the sleek frame makes it simple for you to maneuver on diverse terrains. This is a great option if you live in the city and must navigate narrow streets or crowded pathways regularly. The pram isn't cheap stroller, but its versatility and quality can save you money in the long run by avoiding the need for an additional stroller for your toddler. You can choose from a range of colors to match your personal style.