Guide To Good Prams: The Intermediate Guide Towards Good Prams

What Makes Good Prams?

A pram (also called a pushchair or stroller) is the most popular form of transport for infants and toddlers. A well-designed pram is a combination of safety, comfort and design to make walking enjoyable for the whole family.

The R for Rabbit Poppins Joy Stylish Baby Stroller is a wonderful pram for newborns up to 3 year old children. The reversible handle lets you turn the seat to face your child or the world.

Comfort

When you're out and about with a baby, you need to be sure they're comfortable. The good news is that there are prams designed to ensure that your baby isn't apprehensive.

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 assists in the development of their spine and hips. They also come with a seat that can be converted to a more upright position when your baby is old enough to sit up.

For a really high-end experience it's the Venicci egg2 has a cosy cocoon-like feel for your baby with sleek, curved lines and a bucket-shape seats that doesn't recline to a lie-flat position, but it does have a padded mattress and liner. It's also lighter than the majority of prams for sale on the market at under 8kg but still has an extremely sturdy chassis and grained leather details and air-filled tyres that are puncture-proof and can be used in more rural environments.

If you're looking for something more affordable, but with the same style Minu V2 (minus carrycot) is a good option. The one-hand steer, swish model isn't quite as light as other prams but it does come with a large storage basket. It also has an extendable hood that offers UPF 50+ protection to keep your baby safe and shaded.

If you're a new parent we suggest you look into the travel system bundle that includes a pram and a car seat that attach to the same frame. This makes it much easier for parents to transfer their baby from the car to the pram without having to wake them up. The Bugaboo Dragonfly is a great example of a fashionable and practical travel system pram that converts easily from a'pramette' that lies flat to a pushchair for toddlers, compatible with the Graco i-Size car seat.

Safety

A pram should be equipped with a five point safety harness to keep your baby secure and should not allow any gaps that could trap their legs or heads. The straps should be padded and easy to adjust as they expand. Check the buckles on the harness to ensure that they are not cracked and show signs of wear. Every year, a large number of children are admitted to hospitals because of injuries caused by prams or strollers. The main reason for these injuries is the result of a stroller tipping over. Even the strongest prams can tip over when you strap bags to the handles or if the child is wriggling or squirming and falls in or out of the seat before the harness is tightened.

Another frequent cause of injury is falling off the stroller or pram. If a baby isn't securely fastened in, they could fall out of the stroller and sustain head or neck injuries. Therefore, it is important to make sure that the buckle on the harness is securely clicked into the proper position.

Some good prams also have an adjustable canopy that can shield your baby from the sun in either direction. This is a handy feature as you can avoid having to wake your child awake while you change their position in the pram or when you go into and out of shops. There are also other features that can be useful, such as snacks for your toddler or child and drink holders. You can also find a basket for shopping underneath the seat.

You should never leave a child sleeping in their pram unless you are within sight of them at all times. Babies are susceptible to wriggling while sleeping, which could cause them to fall out of the pram or stroller. This could result in suffocation and strangulation. A pram or stroller is not an alternative to a crib and should be used only for short periods during the daytime.

The majority of prams require you to dismantle them to fit them into the trunk of your car so it's a good idea to familiarise yourself with this process before you buy one. Also, check how it is easy to put the various sections back together and then click them in place.

Durability

A pram should be able to last through several years of wear and wear and tear. You want to make sure that your pram can handle slippery walks, as well as multiple car trips. You want to make sure that your pram is in a colour or print that isn't prone to fading so that you don't appear like you've fallen out of fashion.

The most effective prams are constructed with high-quality materials. They are built to last. So, look for strong and durable materials, robust wheels and an efficient suspension system. The best prams are lightweight and fold easily, allowing you to put them in your garage or even the boot.

All the prams in this list allow a baby to lie flat, which is essential for infants since it increases oxygen saturation levels and aids in the development of their spine and hips. Many are designed to grow with your child and some having a carrycot or fully-reclined seat that can be moved off and back on the frame when your little one outgrows it.

If you're purchasing a new pram for the first time, you might be interested in a travel set which is a bundle that includes a lie-flat carrycot and car seat. Our parent tester Jaya was a fan of the Graco Near2Me System that she used with her 10-month-old son. It comes with an innovative feature that lets you raise and lower your baby by pressing a single button. This lets you maintain eye contact with your child and keep them close.

The Bugaboo Fox 3 is another option that our tester Jess Bird tried with her two babies Effie & Boden (pictured above). It's a luxury pram that can be converted from a single pushchair to a double pushchair with 30 possible configurations and features luxe fabrics, an extendable sun canopy, and puncture-proof tyres. It's not cheap however, it can be used for more than one child if you need to. And like our winner model, the iCandy Orange 3 in one pushchair with its carrycot included, it can be used from the moment of birth.

Style

Newborns must lie flat as much as they can to help develop and increase the oxygen level in their lungs, which is why it's essential that all prams permit this. Some models provide a flat position using a fully reclineable carrycot, while others have the seat that can recline to an upright position.

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

This frame is perfect for city trips and the puncture-proof wheels allow you to take it off the road or on rough terrain. It's a great choice for those who plan to have another child in the future, as it can easily be converted from a single pushchair a twin or double.

The Bugaboo Dragonfly looks and feels like a high-end, stylish option. It's ideal for infants as it comes with a lie-flat baby carrycot and is compatible with car seats when you purchase it separately. It can be folded while the carrycot still in place, which is something that not all prams have. This saves time and makes it easier to use.

Its luxurious fabrics, large shopping basket and puncture-proof tires are all the things you'd expect on a pram of the highest quality however, its sleek frame makes it easy to handle across a variety of terrains. This is a great option when you live in a city and have to navigate narrow streets or crowded paths on a regular basis. It's not cheap, but its versatility and quality can save you money in the long run by avoiding the purchase of a separate stroller for toddlers. You can choose from a range of colors to match your style.