Guide To Good Prams: The Intermediate Guide For Good Prams

What Makes Good Prams?

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

The R for Rabbit Poppins Joy Stylish Baby Stroller is a great pram for newborns to 3-year-old kids. The adjustable handle can be turned around to allow you to turn the seat to face your child or the world.

Comfort

You want your baby to feel comfortable when you're out with them. The good news is that there are prams made to ensure your child does not feel anything.

The prams we've selected in this buying guide all let your baby lie flat, which is important for babies who are just beginning to crawl. Lying flat improves oxygen levels and helps support their growing hips and spine. They also have a seat that can be converted to more upright positions when your baby is old enough to sit.

For a truly luxurious feel this Venicci egg2 offers a cozy cocoon-like feel for your baby with smooth, curved lines and a bucket-shape seating that does not recline to a lying-flat position, but it does have padding on the liner and mattress. It's also lighter than other prams, with a weight of less than 8kg. But it has a sturdy frame with grained leather details and air-filled tyres which are puncture-proof.

If you want something more budget-friendly but with a similar style Minu V2 (minus carrycot) is a good option. The swish-looking, one-hand steer model isn't as lightweight as some of the other prams we tested however it comes with a large storage basket and extendable hood with UPF 50+ protection to keep your baby safe and shaded.

If you are a first time parent, we recommend you consider a travel system package which includes a car seat and pram that can be attached to the same frame. This allows 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 stylish and useful travel system pram that converts easily from a lie-flat 'pramette' to a toddler-friendly pushchair, compatible with the Graco I-Size car seat.

Safety

A pram must have a five point safety harness to keep your baby secure and should not allow any gaps that could trap their heads or legs. The straps must be cushioned and easy to adjust as they grow. It is also important to examine the buckles on your harness to ensure that they are not cracked or showing signs of wear and tear. Many children are hospitalised each year due to injuries from strollers or prams. The primary reason for these injuries is the result of a stroller tipping over. Even the strongest prams pushchairs can tip over if you attach bags to the handles or if a wriggling child can get in or out of the seat without harnesses being properly secured.

Another common cause of injury is falling off the pram or stroller. If the harness of a baby is not secured properly, it could cause them to fall from the stroller and sustain neck or head injuries. This is why it is crucial to ensure that the harness buckle is always locked in place.

Some good prams also have an adjustable canopy that can protect your baby from the sun in any direction. This feature is helpful since you don't need to wake up your baby every time you change their position in the stroller, or when you go in and out of shops. Other handy features include a snack tray and drink holders for your infant or toddler, a shopping basket under the seat and a handlebar that locks in place when you are not using it.

It is not advisable to leave a sleeping child in their stroller unless they are in their sight at all times. Babies tend to wriggle while asleep, which can cause them to slide off the stroller or pram and could result in suffocation or strangulation. A stroller or pram is not an alternative to a cot and should only be used for brief periods during the daytime.

It is essential to disassemble the majority of prams to place them into the boot of your vehicle. This procedure must be mastered before you purchase one. Find out how easy it will be to put the parts back together.

Durability

A pram needs to be able to stand up to the wear and tear of many years. This includes the need to endure muddy walks and getting through numerous car journeys, so you want to be sure your choice is able to perform the task you want it to. You also want your pram to come in the form of a color or print that isn't prone to fading quickly so that you don't end up looking like you've gone out of style.

The best prams will be constructed of top-quality materials and are designed to last. You should look for durable fabrics as well as sturdy tires and a well-designed system of suspension. The best prams will also have a compact fold so you can store them easily in your garage or the boot when not when not in use.

All the prams in this list allow babies to lay flat, which is vital for newborns because it improves oxygen saturation levels and supports the development of their hips and spine. A lot of these prams are designed to grow with your child's. Some have a carrycot or a reclined chair that can be snapped on and off when your child outgrows them.

If you're looking to purchase a brand new pram for the first time, you might be interested in a travel system that is a complete package that includes a lie-flat carrycot and car seat. We are awestruck by the Graco Near2Me device that our parent tester Jaya used with her son of 10 months. It is a revolutionary feature that allows you to raise and lower your child by pressing one button. This allows you to maintain eye contact with them and keep them close.

The Bugaboo Fox 3 in one pushchair is another option that our test-driver Jess Bird tried with her two babies Effie & Boden (pictured above). It's a luxurious pram that can be converted from a single to double pushchair, with 30 different configurations, and comes with premium fabrics, an extendable sun canopy, and puncture-proof tyres. It's not cheap, but you could use it for more than one child if needed and, like our winner the iCandy Orange 3, can be used from birth with the included carrycot.

Style

Newborns need to lay flat as much as they can in order to promote development and increase the oxygen level in their lungs, so it is essential that all prams support this. Some models permit an all-flat position by using a carrycot that can be fully reclinable, while others feature a seat that can be reclined to a horizontal or a vertical position.

The Graco Near2Me comes with the latter feature and is fantastic at that, as our parent tester Jaya found when she tested it with her 10-month-old son. She was enthralled by the fact that she could raise and lower her little one with the press of a button, keeping him in view and still maintain eye contact and a closeness.

It's a great choice for those that want to get around town easily as the frame is a good size for maneuvering, and the puncture-proof tyres let you take it off road and onto rough terrain. It's a great option if you plan to have another child in the future because it can easily be transformed from a single pushchair into a double or twin.

The Bugaboo Dragonfly looks and feels like a premium, stylish option. It's suitable for babies since it includes a carrycot that can lie flat and it's compatible with car seats when purchased separately. You can fold it by putting the carrycot in place - something that not all prams can do, so it's a time-saving and hassle-free feature.

Its luxe fabrics, spacious shopping basket and puncture-proof tyres are the kind of features you'd expect to find on a pram of the highest quality however, its sleek frame makes it easy to maneuver on a variety of terrains. It's also an ideal choice for those who reside in a city and have to navigate narrow streets or crowded sidewalks regularly. This pram is not cheap but its versatility and quality could save you money over time by avoiding the need for an additional stroller for your toddler. You can pick from a range of colors that will fit your preferences.