What Makes Good Prams?

A pram (also known as a stroller or a pushchair) is the main form of transport for infants and toddlers. A great pram is a combination of safety, comfort and style that makes walking fun for the entire family.

The R for Rabbit Poppins Joy Stylish Baby foldable stroller is a great pram for newborns up to 3 year old children. The reversible handle lets you to turn the seat so that your child can look at either you or the world around them.

Comfort

When you're out and around with your baby, you want to be sure they're comfortable. There are prams that will make sure your baby doesn't feel any sensations.

The prams we've picked in this buying guide all let your baby lie flat, which is essential for newborn babies as lying flat improves oxygen levels and assists in the development of their spine and hips. They also have seats which can be transformed to a more upright position when your baby is old enough to sit.

Venicci egg2 is a top-of-the-line pram that has a cocoon-like feeling for your baby. It is smooth and has curvaceous lines, a bucket-shaped seat, which does not recline into flat, but it does have padding on the mattress and a liner. It's also lighter than other prams, weighing under 8kg. However, it still has a sturdy chassis with finely textured leather and air-filled tyres which are puncture-proof.

The Minu V2 is a great choice to consider if you're looking to buy something with a similar look but for a lesser price. The one-hand steer model, swish, isn't as light as other prams but it does have a huge storage basket. It also has an extendable hood that offers UPF 50+ protection, which keeps your baby safe and shaded.

If you're new to parenting We suggest you consider a travel system package which includes a car seat as well as a foldable pram that attaches to the same frame. This makes it much easier for parents to transfer their child from their car to the pram without having to get them up. The Bugaboo Dragonfly is a great example of a fashionable and practical pram for travel that can be converted easily from a lie-flat 'pramette' to a toddler-friendly pushchair, compatible with the Graco i-Size car seat.

Safety

A pram should be equipped with a five-point safety harness to ensure your baby is secure and should not allow any gaps to entrap their heads or legs. The straps must be cushioned and easy to adjust as they grow. It is also important to inspect the buckles of your harness to ensure that they are not cracked or showing signs of wear and tear. A lot of children are hospitalized each year because of injuries caused by strollers or prams. Tipping over is the main cause of these injuries. Even the strongest prams can tip over if you hook bags to the handles or if a child who is wriggling is able to get into or out of the seat without the harness being done up.

Another reason for injury is falling from the stroller or pram. If a baby is not properly secured the pram, they may 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 clicked into place.

Some good prams also have an adjustable canopy that can shield your baby from sun in any direction. This feature is beneficial because you don't have to wake up your baby every time you change their position in the stroller, or when you enter and out of shops. Other useful features include a tray for snacks and drink holders for your infant or toddler, a shopping basket under the seat and a handlebar that locks into position when you're not using it.

Do not leave a baby asleep in a pram without being within reach. Babies are susceptible to wriggling while sleeping and this can cause them to roll out of the stroller or pram bag. This could lead to suffocation and strangulation. A stroller or pram is not an alternative to a crib and should only be used for short periods during the daytime.

The majority of prams require you to disassemble them in order to put them in the trunk of your car therefore it's recommended to familiarize 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 withstand several years of wear and tear. This includes having to deal with muddy walks and getting through many car journeys, so you need to ensure that your choice is able to fulfill the tasks you require it to. Also, you want your stroller to have a print or colour that isn't prone to fading quickly to avoid looking like you've gone out of fashion.

The best prams are made of high-quality materials and are designed to last, so you should look for durable fabrics, sturdy wheels, and an effective suspension system. The most reliable prams have a compact fold, so they can be easily stored in your garage or the boot when not being used.

All prams on this list allow your baby to lay on their backs. This is essential for newborns, because it aids in the development of their hips and spine and improves oxygenation levels. A lot of them are designed to adapt to your child's needs and some featuring a carrycot, or a fully reclined seat that can be moved off and on the frame for when your child outgrows it.

If you are buying a pram for the first time, a travel system that comes with the carrycot as well as car seats could be of interest. We are awestruck by the Graco Near2Me system which our parent tester Jaya used with her 10-month-old son. It comes with a handy feature that raises and lowers your child with the click of a button, so you can keep eye contact and keep them close, which she claimed was important for her son as he was in an exploratory stage.

The Bugaboo Fox 3 is another option that our test-driver Jess Bird tried with her two kids Effie & Boden (pictured above). It's a pushchair that can be transformed from a single pushchair to a double with 30 different configurations. It also has a sun canopy that can be extended and puncture-proof tires. It's not inexpensive, but it can be used for more than one child if you need to. Similar to our winner, the iCandy Orange 3 with its carrycot can be used right from birth.

Style

All prams should permit newborns to lie as flat as possible. This will help with their development and increase oxygen saturation in the lung. Some models allow an all-flat position by using a carrycot that can be fully reclinable, while others have a seat that can be reclined to a horizontal or a vertical position.

The Graco Near2Me features the latter feature and is fantastic in this regard, as our parent tester Jaya found when she tested it with her son of 10 months. She loved that she could raise or lower her baby at the touch of the button to keep him in the same position, while still maintaining the eye contact and closeness.

It's a great pram for those who wish to nip around town easily as the frame is a great 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 choice if you're planning on having a second child in the future because it easily converts from a single pram into a double or twin pushchair.

The Bugaboo Dragonfly is a stylish premium option that is both stylish and comfortable. It's ideal for infants as it comes with a lie-flat carrycot and is compatible with a car seat in the event that you purchase it separately. It is able to be folded with the carrycot still in place This is a feature that not all prams have. This is time-saving and makes it easier to use.

The running pram's luxurious fabrics as well as the spacious basket and puncture-proof tires are all features you would expect to see on a premium model However, the sleek frame makes it easy to maneuver around different terrains. This is a great choice if you live in the city and must navigate narrow streets or congested walkways on a regular basis. This pram is not cheap but its versatility and quality can save you money in the long run by avoiding the purchase of an additional stroller for your toddler. You can pick from a range of colors that will fit your style.