What Makes Good Prams?

A pram, also referred to as a stroller, pushchair or a Sling, is the main method of transport for infants and toddlers. A well-designed pram and travel system is a combination of safety, comfort and style to make walking enjoyable for all the 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

You want your baby to be comfortable when you're out with them. There are prams to ensure your baby doesn't feel anything.

All prams featured in this guide let your baby lie flat. This is crucial for newborns as it improves oxygenation and supports their spine and hips. They also have seats that can be converted to a more upright position when your baby is old enough to sit up.

Venicci egg2 is a high-end pram that has a cocoon-like feel for your baby. It features smooth, curvaceous lines, a bucket-shaped seat, which does not recline into a flat position however it does come with an upholstered mattress and liner. It's also a little lighter than most prams on the market at less than 8kg, but it has a sturdy chassis and grained leather detailing 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 design but at a lower price. 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 extendable hood that offers UPF 50+ protection to keep your baby safe and protected.

If you're a first-time parent, we'd recommend considering a travel system bundle that includes a pram and a car seat that can be attached to the same frame. This makes it easier to get your baby out of the car into the pram pushchair without waking them and is ideal for parents on the go. The Bugaboo Dragonfly is a great example of a stylish and useful pram for travel that can be converted easily from a lie-flat 'pramette to a pushchair for toddlers, compatible with the Graco I-Size pushchairs car seats seat.

Safety

The pram should come with a five-point safety harness that will ensure your baby's safety. It must also be free of gaps in which their heads or legs can get trapped. The straps must be cushioned, and easily adjustable as your child grows. You should also inspect the buckles of your harness to ensure that they aren't damaged or showing signs of wear and tear. Each year, many children are admitted to hospitals due to injuries caused by prams and strollers. Tipping over is the most common reason for these injuries. Even the strongest prams can tip over when you strap your bags onto the handles or if the child is wriggling and gets in or out of the seat before the harness has been tightened.

A frequent cause of injury is falling from a pram, or stroller. If a child is not securely secured in, they could fall out of the stroller and sustain neck or head injuries. Therefore, it is important to ensure that the buckle on the harness is clicked into the proper position.

Some good prams also have a canopy that can be reversible to shield your baby from sun in both directions. This is a handy feature since you will not be having to wake your baby up when you are changing their position in the pram or when you are going in and out of shops. There are other features that could be useful, like snacks for your child or toddler and drink holders. There's also an extra shopping basket under the seat.

Never leave a sleeping baby in a pram without being within sight. Babies can be prone to wiggle while asleep and this can cause them to roll out of the stroller or pram. This can lead to strangulation and suffocation. A stroller or pram should not be used as a substitute for the cot. It is best to use it for short periods during the day.

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

Durability

A pram needs to be able to endure a long time of wear. This includes the need to endure the mud-filled walks and numerous car journeys, so you want to be sure your choice can perform the task you want it to. You should ensure that your pram is a color or pattern that isn't prone to fading so you don't look as if you've slipped out of style.

The most reliable prams are made of high-quality materials, and designed to last. You should look for durable fabrics as well as sturdy tires and an efficient suspension system. The best prams are lightweight and fold easily, allowing you to put them in your garage or boot.

All the prams on this list allow a baby to lay flat, which is crucial for infants since it increases oxygen saturation levels and aids in the development of their spine and hips. A lot of them are designed to adapt to your child's needs, with some of them having a carrycot or a fully reclined seat that can be clicked off and back on the frame at a time when your little one outgrows it.

If you are buying a pram for the first time it is recommended to consider a system that has an infant carrycot and a car seat may be of interest. Our tester for parents Jaya was a fan of the Graco Near2Me System that she used with her 10-month old son. It has an innovative feature that lets you raise and lower your child by pressing one button. This lets you maintain eye contact with them and keep them close.

Another alternative is another option is the Bugaboo Fox 3 which our tester Jess Bird used with her two kids, Effie and Boden (pictured above). It's a luxurious pram newborn that converts from a single to double pushchair, with 30 possible configurations and features premium fabrics, an extendable sun canopy, and puncture-proofed tyres. It's not cheap, but you can use it with multiple children, if needed. Similar to our winner model, the iCandy Orange 3 with its included carrycot can be used right from birth.

Style

Newborns should lie flat as much as they can in order to promote development and increase the oxygen level in their lungs, which is why it's essential that all prams permit this. Some models allow for a completely flat position by using the carrycot which is fully reclinable, while others have a seat which can be reclined to a horizontal or a vertical position.

The Graco Near2Me is a great device for the latter as our parent tester Jaya discovered when she tried it on her 10-month-old child. She was enthralled by the fact that she could raise and lower her child with the push of a button and keep him in view and still maintain eye contact and closeness.

The frame is ideal for nipping around town and the puncture-proof wheels permit you to take it off the road or on rough terrain. It's a great choice if you plan to have a second child in the future because it can easily be converted from a single pushchair a twin or double.

The Bugaboo Dragonfly looks and feels like a premium, stylish option. It's ideal for babies since it comes with a carrycot that can be folded flat and is compatible with a car-seat when purchased separately. It can be folded with the carrycot still in place, which is an option that not all prams have. This is time-saving and makes it easier to use.

Its luxurious fabrics, large shopping basket and puncture-proof tires are all the features you'd expect to see on a premium pram and its sleek design 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. While it's not cheap, the quality and versatility of this stroller will save you money in the end by avoiding the need to invest in an additional pushchair for toddlers. It's available in a broad variety of colors, and you can choose one that fits your personal style.