What Makes Good Prams?

A pram, also referred to as a stroller, pushchair travel system or a sling, is the primary form of transport for babies and toddlers. A well-designed pram is a combination of safety, comfort and style to make walking enjoyable for the whole family.

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

Comfort

Your baby should be at ease when you're out with them. There are prams to ensure your baby doesn't feel any sensations.

The prams we've selected in this buying guide all let your baby lie flat, which is crucial for babies who are just beginning to crawl. Lying flat improves oxygen levels and helps support their growing hips and spine. They also come with a seat that can be changed to an upright position once your baby is old enough to sit up.

For a luxurious feel, the Venicci egg2 offers a cozy cocoon-like feel for your baby with smooth, curved lines and a bucket-shape seats that doesn't recline into a lie-flat position but does have an upholstered liner and mattress. It's also lighter than many prams, with a weight of less than 8kg. But it has a sturdy frame with grained leather details and tyres that are air-filled, which are puncture-proof.

If you want something more budget-friendly but with the same style Minu V2 (minus carrycot) is a great option. The one-hand steer model, swish, foldable Pram isn't as light as other prams, 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 consider a travel stroller system that includes a car seat and pram that can be attached to the same frame. This makes it easier to get your baby from the car to the pram without waking them and is ideal for parents on the go. The Bugaboo Dragonfly is a great example of a stylish and functional pram that can convert easily from a lie-flat 'pramette to a pushchair for toddlers, compatible with the Graco i-Size car seat.

Safety

The pram should be equipped with five-point safety harnesses that will ensure your baby's safety. It must also be free of gaps where their legs or heads are likely to get caught. The straps must be cushioned and easy to adjust as they grow. Check the buckles on the harness to make sure they're not cracked and have signs of wear. A lot of children are hospitalized every year due to injuries from strollers or prams. The main reason for these injuries is the result of a stroller tipping over. Even the strongest prams can topple if you hook your bags onto the handles or if the child is wriggling and falls out or in the seat before the harness is tightened.

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

Some good prams also have a canopy that can be reversible to shield your baby from the sun in any direction. This is a great feature because it will prevent having to wake your child up when you are changing their position in the pram, or when you go in and out of shops. There are also other features that can be useful, like an eating tray for your toddler or child and drink holders. You can also find a basket for shopping underneath the seat.

It is not advisable to leave a child sleeping in their pram unless you are within sight of them at all times. Babies are known to wiggle when asleep and this may cause them to roll off the stroller or pram and could result in strangulation or suffocation. A pram or stroller is not an alternative to a cot and should only be used for brief periods during the day.

It is necessary to disassemble most prams in order to put them into the boot of your vehicle. This procedure is something you should know before you purchase one. Consider how easy it would be to put the parts back together.

Durability

A pram needs to be durable enough to endure several years of wear and tear. This includes having to deal with the mud-filled walks and many car journeys, so you need to ensure that your choice will do the job you need it to. It is also important for your stroller to have a print or colour that won't date quickly so that you don't end up looking like you've gone out of fashion.

The best prams will be made of high-quality materials, and designed to last. Look for durable fabrics, sturdy tires, and a well-designed system of suspension. The most reliable prams feature a compact fold so they are easy to store in your garage or the boot when not in use.

All prams on this list allow babies to lay flat, which is crucial for infants since it increases oxygen saturation levels and supports the development of their hips and spine. A lot of these prams are designed to grow along with your child's. Some come with a carrycot, or a reclined chair that can be snapped on and off as your child grows.

If you are considering buying a pram for the first time it is recommended to consider a system that has an infant carrycot and car seats could be a good idea. We love the Graco Near2Me system that our parent tester Jaya used with her 10-month-old son. It is a revolutionary feature that allows you to raise and lower your baby by pressing a single button. This allows you to maintain eye contact with the baby and keep them in close proximity.

Another alternative is the Bugaboo Fox 3 which our tester Jess Bird used with her two kids, Effie and Boden (pictured above). It's a luxury pram that converts from a single pushchair with car seat to double pushchair, with 30 possible configurations. It also comes with luxe fabrics, an extendable sun canopy, and puncture-proofed tyres. It's not cheap stroller however, you can use it with multiple children, if needed. And like our winner iCandy Orange 3, the iCandy Orange 3 with its carrycot is a great option to use right from birth.

Style

Newborns should lay flat as much as possible to aid development and improve the oxygen saturation of their lungs. Therefore, it's essential that all prams permit this. Some models allow a completely flat position using a fully reclineable carrycots, while others have a seat that reclines to a flat position.

The Graco Near2Me features the latter feature and is fantastic in this regard, as our parent tester Jaya found when she tested it with her son of 10 months. She was thrilled that she could raise and lower her baby at the press of a button and keep him in the view of others while maintaining eye contact and a closeness.

The frame is ideal to take a stroll around town and the puncture-proof tires permit you to drive it off the road or on rough terrain. It's also a great option if you're thinking of having another child in 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 newborns because it comes with a lie-flat carrycot and is compatible with car seats in the event that you purchase it separately. It can be folded with the carrycot still in place This is a feature that not all prams offer. This saves time and makes it simpler to use.

Its luxurious fabrics, large shopping basket, and puncture-proof tyres are the kind of features you'd expect to find on a high-end pram, but its sleek frame makes it easy to maneuver across a variety of terrains. It's also a great choice for those who live in a city and have to navigate narrow streets or overcrowded sidewalks regularly. Although it's not inexpensive, the quality and versatility of this pram make it possible to save you money in the long run by avoiding the need to invest in a separate pushchair for toddlers. You can choose from a wide range of colors to suit your personal style.