What Makes Good Prams?

A pram, also known as a pushchair newborn, stroller or a Sling, is the main mode of transport for infants and toddlers. A good pram combines safety, comfort and style to make walking enjoyable for the entire family.

The R for Rabbit Poppins Stylish Baby Stroller is a great stroller for babies to 3 years old. The adjustable handle can be turned around to allow you to turn the seat to face your child or the world.

Comfort

If you’re out and about with a baby, you’ll want to ensure that they’re safe. There are prams that will make sure your baby doesn’t feel any discomfort.

All prams featured in this guide let your baby lie flat. This is crucial for babies as it increases oxygenation and helps support their spine and hips. The seats can be adjusted to a more upright position once your child is capable of sitting up.

Venicci egg2 is a premium pram that offers a cocoon-like feel for your baby. It features smooth, curving lines, a bucket-shaped seat, which does not recline into an upright position however it does come with padding on the mattress and a liner. It’s also lighter than most prams, at a weight of just 8kg. However, it has a sturdy frame with grained leather details and tyres with air-filled tires that are puncture-proof.

If you want something more affordable, but with a similar design, the Minu V2 (minus carrycot) is a good option. The swish-looking, one-hand steer model isn’t as light than some of the other prams we tested but it does have a large storage basket and extendable hood with UPF 50+ protection, which will keep your baby protected and shaded.

If you’re a first-time parent, we’d recommend considering the travel strollers system bundle that includes a pram and car seat that attach to the same frame. This makes it easier to get your baby out of the car into the pram without disturbing them and is perfect for busy parents who are always on the move. The Bugaboo Dragonfly is a great example of a stylish and useful pram for travel that can be converted easily from a’pramette’ lying flat to a pushchair for toddlers that is compatible with the Graco I-Size car seats.

Safety

The pram should come with five-point safety harnesses that will keep your baby safe. It must also be free of gaps in which their heads or legs can get trapped. The straps should be padded and easy to adjust as they expand. Examine the buckles on the harness to make sure they’re not cracked and have signs of wear. Each year, many children are admitted to hospitals because of injuries caused by prams and strollers. The most common cause of these injuries is tipping over. Even the most sturdy prams can topple when you hang your bags onto the handles or if the child is wriggling and falls into or out of the seat before the harness has been tightened.

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

Some good prams also have an adjustable canopy that can shield your baby from the sun in both directions. This feature is helpful since you don’t need to wake up your baby when you change their position in the stroller or when you go into and out of stores. There are other features that are useful, like an eating tray for your child or toddler and drink holders. There is also a basket for shopping underneath the seat.

It is not advisable to let a child sleep in their stroller unless they are within sight of them at all times. Babies are susceptible to wriggling while sleeping and this can cause them to roll out of the stroller or pram. This could result in suffocation and strangulation. A stroller or pram is not an alternative to a cot and should be used only for short periods of time during the daytime.

The majority of prams require you to dismantle them to put them in the car’s boot so it is recommended to familiarize yourself with the process before you buy one. Also check how it is simple to put the different sections back together and then click them in place.

Durability

A pram bag must be able to last through several years of wear and wear and tear. This includes the need to endure the mud-filled walks and many car journeys, so you need to ensure that your choice can do the job you need it to. Also, you want your pram set to come in an image or color that won’t date quickly to avoid looking like you’ve fallen out of fashion.

The most effective prams are constructed of high-quality materials and have been designed to last, so look for robust fabrics, sturdy wheels and an efficient suspension system. The top prams have a compact fold, so you can store them easily in your garage or boot when not in use.

All prams on this list allow babies to lie flat, which is crucial for infants since it increases oxygen saturation levels and supports the development of their spine and hips. Many of these prams are designed to expand with your child’s. Some include a carrycot or a reclined seat that can be removed and snapped on when your child outgrows them.

If you are purchasing a pram for the very first time it is recommended to consider a system that comes with the carrycot as well as a car seat may be a good idea. Our tester for parents Jaya was a fan of the Graco Near2Me System she used with her 10-month-old son. It comes with a handy feature that raises and lowers your baby at the touch of a button. This way you can keep eye contact and keep them close, which she said was really important to her since the baby was still at an exploratory stage.

The Bugaboo Fox 3 is another option that our tester Jess Bird tried with her two babies Effie and Boden (pictured above). It’s a luxury pram that can be converted from a single pushchair to double pushchair, with 30 possible configurations and features premium fabrics, an extendable sun canopy, and puncture-proof tyres. It’s not expensive but it can be used for multiple children if necessary. And like our winner, the iCandy Orange 3 with its carrycot included, it can be used as early as.

Style

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

The Graco Near2Me works great for both as our parent tester Jaya discovered when she tried it on her child who was 10 months old. She was thrilled that she could raise and lower her baby at the touch of a button, keeping him in sight while maintaining eye contact and a closeness.

It’s a great choice for those that want to travel around town with ease as the frame is a good size for manoeuvring, while the puncture-proof tyres permit you to move it off the road and into rough terrain. It’s also a smart option if you’re thinking of having a second child in the future because it easily converts from a single pushchair to a double or twin pushchair.

The Bugaboo Dragonfly is a stylish and high-end product that looks and feels impressive. It’s ideal for infants as it comes with a lie-flat carrycot and is compatible with car seats, if you buy it separately. It is able to be folded with the carrycot still in place, which is an option that not all prams provide. This reduces time and makes it simpler to use.

Its luxurious fabrics, spacious shopping basket and puncture-proof tires are the kinds of features you’d expect to find on a high-end pram however, its sleek frame makes it easy to maneuver on any terrain. This is a great choice for those who live in the city and have to navigate narrow streets and crowded paths regularly. It’s not cheap, but its versatility and quality could save you money over time by avoiding the purchase of an additional stroller for your toddler. You can pick from a wide range of colors to suit your style.