What Makes
Good Prams?
A pram, also referred to as a pushchair,
foldable stroller or Sling, is the most popular mode of transport for infants and toddlers. A quality pram is a blend of safety, comfort and style that makes walking enjoyable for all the family members.
The R for Rabbit Poppins Joy Stylish Baby Stroller is a wonderful stroller for newborns and 3-year-old children. The reversible handle lets you to turn the seat so that your child can either face either you or the world around them.
Comfort
When you're out and about with a baby, you want to be sure they're comfortable. The good news is that there are prams made to ensure your child doesn't feel a thing.
The prams we've chosen in this buying guide all let your baby lie flat, which is crucial for infants as lying flat improves oxygen levels and supports their developing hips and spine. They also have seats which can be transformed to more upright positions when your baby is old enough to sit.
For a really high-end experience it's the Venicci egg2 provides a warm cocoon-like feel for your baby with smooth, curved lines and a bucket-shape seat that doesn't recline to a lie-flat position, but it does have a padded liner and mattress. 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 details as well as tyres with air-filled tires that are puncture-proof, and can be used in more rural environments.
If you want something less expensive but still with the same style, the Minu V2 (minus carrycot) is another excellent choice. The stylish one-hand steer model isn't as light than some of the other prams we've tested however it comes with a large storage basket and extendable hood with UPF 50+ protection, which will keep your baby shaded and protected.
If you are a first time parent We suggest you consider a travel system package which includes a car seat as well as a pram that can be attached to the same frame. This allows parents to move their child from the car to the pram without having to wake them up. The Bugaboo Dragonfly travel system is a stylish and functional pram that is easily converted from a 'pramette, or a lie-flat 'pramette' into a toddler-friendly stroller compatible with the Graco ISize car seat.
Safety
The pram should come with a five-point safety harness that will keep your baby safe. It should also have no gaps where their legs or heads are likely to get caught. The straps must be padded, and easily adjustable as your child grows. Examine the buckles on the harness to ensure they are not cracked and have signs of wear. Every year, a lot of children are hospitalised because of injuries caused by prams or strollers. Tipping over is the most common reason for these injuries. Even the most sturdy prams can topple when you hang your bags onto the handles or if a child is wriggling and falls into 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 pram and suffer neck or head injuries. It is therefore important to make sure that the buckle on the harness is securely clicked into the proper position.
Some good prams also have a reversible canopy that will shield your baby from the sun in either direction. This feature is helpful because you won't have to wake your baby every time you alter their position in the stroller or when you enter and out of stores. There are other features that can be useful, like a snack tray for your child or toddler and drink holders. There's also an extra shopping basket under the seat.
You should never leave a child sleeping in their stroller unless you are within sight of them at all times. Babies can be prone to wiggle during sleep and can cause them to roll out of the pram or stroller. This could lead to strangulation and suffocation. A pram or a stroller is not a substitute for the crib. It should only be used for short periods of time during the daytime.
Most prams require you to dismantle them to fit them into the car's boot so it is a good idea to familiarise yourself with this process before you purchase one. Find out how easy it will be to put the parts back together.
Durability
A pram should be durable enough to endure several years of wear and tear. You should ensure that your baby's pram is able to handle muddy walks, as well as multiple car trips. Also, you want your stroller to have the form of a color or print that won't date quickly to avoid looking like you've gone out of style.
The top prams are constructed from high-quality materials and are designed to last, so you should look for robust fabrics, sturdy wheels, and an efficient suspension system. The most effective prams are small and fold easily, allowing you to store them in your garage or even the boot.
All the prams in this list allow your baby to lie down flat. This is crucial for babies, because it allows them to develop their spine and hips and boosts oxygen levels. Some are made to grow with your child, with some of them having a carrycot or a fully reclined seat that can be clicked off and on the frame when your little one outgrows it.
If you are purchasing an infant stroller for the first time, a travel system that has a carrycot and a car seat could be a good idea. Our tester for parents Jaya loved the Graco Near2Me system that she used with her 10-month-old son. It comes with a clever feature that allows you to raise and lower your child at the push of a button so you can keep your eyes on them and keep them close which she described as being important to her as he was at an exploratory stage.
The Bugaboo Fox 3 is another option that our tester Jess Bird tried with her two children Effie & Boden (pictured above). It's a pushchair that can be transformed from a single pushchair into
double pram pushchair, with 30 different configurations. It also features sun canopy that can be extended and puncture-proof tires. It's not inexpensive however, you can use it for more than one child if you need to. Similar to our winner model, the iCandy Orange 3 with its carrycot, it can be used from the moment of birth.
Style
Newborns must lay flat as often as they can to help develop and improve oxygen saturation in their lungs, which is why it's essential that all prams permit this. Some models allow a completely flat surface with a fully-reclinable carrycot while others feature seats that recline to an unflat position.
The Graco Near2Me has the latter feature and is fantastic at what it does as our tester for parents Jaya found when she tested it with her 10-month-old son. She was thrilled that she could raise and lower her baby at the press of a button, keeping him in view while maintaining eye contact and a closeness.
It's a great choice for those who want to nip around town without hassle since the frame is a great size for manoeuvring, while the puncture-proof tyres let you take it off road and onto rough terrain. It's also a great choice if you're planning on having another child in future because it easily converts from a single pram into a
twin stroller or double pushchair.
The Bugaboo Dragonfly is a stylish premium option that is both stylish and comfortable. It's suitable for babies because it comes with a carrycot that can be rolled flat and is compatible with a car seat if purchased separately. It can be folded with the carrycot still in place It's a feature that not all prams provide. This saves time and makes it easier to use.
Its luxurious fabrics, spacious shopping basket, and puncture-proof tyres are the kinds of things you'd expect on a high-end pram, but its sleek frame makes it easy to maneuver across a variety of terrains. It's also a great option for those who live in a city and need to negotiate narrow streets or overcrowded sidewalks frequently. While it's not cheap, the quality and versatility of this stroller mean that it can save you money in the end by not having to purchase an additional pushchair for toddlers. You can choose from a range of colors to match your preferences.