Guide To Good Prams: The Intermediate Guide Towards Good Prams

What Makes Good Prams?

A pram, also known as a pushchair, stroller or sling, is the primary method of transport for infants and toddlers. A quality pram is a combination of comfort, safety and design that makes walking fun for all the family members.

The R for Rabbit Poppins Joy Stylish Baby Stroller is a fantastic pram for newborns to 3-year-old children. The Reversible handle lets you flip the seat to face your child or the world.

Comfort

You want your baby to feel comfortable when you're out with them. There are prams that will ensure that your baby isn't shivering anything.

The prams we've selected in this buying guide let your baby lie flat, which is crucial for infants as lying flat increases oxygen saturation and assists in the development of their hips and spine. They also have seats which can be transformed to a more upright position when your baby is old enough to sit up.

For a truly luxurious feel, the Venicci egg2 offers a cozy 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 does have a padded mattress and liner. It's also lighter than the majority of prams on the market at less than 8kg but has a sturdy chassis and grained leather accents as well as tyres with air-filled tires that are puncture-proof and able to handle more rugged terrains.

If you want something more budget-friendly but with the same design, the Minu V2 (minus carrycot) is another excellent choice. The sleek one-hand steer model isn't as lightweight as the other prams we've tested however it comes with a big storage basket and an extended hood with UPF50+ protection, which will keep your baby shaded and protected.

If you are a first-time parent we suggest that you look into a travel system package which includes a car seat as well as a pram that are attached to the same frame. This makes it easier to get your baby out of the car to the pram without disturbing them and is ideal for parents who are always on the move. The Bugaboo Dragonfly best travel stroller system is a stylish and practical pram that is able to be easily converted from a 'pramette or a lie-flat 'pramette into a stroller that is toddler-friendly compatible with the Graco iSize car seat.

Safety

The pram should be fitted with a five-point safety harness that will keep your baby safe. It must also be free of gaps where their legs or heads are likely to get caught. The straps should be padded and easy to adjust as they grow. Also, you should inspect the buckles of your harness to ensure they aren't damaged or showing signs of wear and tear. Every year, a lot of children are hospitalised because of injuries caused by prams or strollers. Tipping over is the primary cause of these injuries. Even the most sturdy prams could tip over if you hook your bags onto the handles or if the child is wriggling or squirming and falls into or out of the seat before the harness is tightened.

A frequent cause of injury is falling from a pram, or stroller. If a child is not securely secured in the pram, they could fall out of the pram and suffer head or neck injuries. It is therefore important to ensure that the buckle on the harness is locked into place.

Some good prams also have an adjustable canopy that can protect your baby from sun in both directions. This feature is useful because you won't have to wake up your baby every time you alter their position in the stroller or when you go into and out of stores. Other handy features include a snack tray and drink holders for your infant or toddler, a shopping basket underneath the seat, and the handlebar locks in place when you are not using it.

It is not advisable to leave a child sleeping in their pram unless you are within sight of them at all times. Babies tend to wriggle while asleep and this may cause them to roll off the pram or stroller and can lead to suffocation or strangulation. A pram or stroller is not an alternative to a cot and should be used only for brief periods during the daytime.

It is essential to disassemble the majority of prams to place them in the boot of your vehicle. This procedure is something you should know before you purchase a pram. Consider how easy it would 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. You want to make sure that your baby's pram is able to handle muddy walks, as well as multiple car trips. It is also important for 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 of high-quality materials and are built to last. So, look for strong and durable materials, robust wheels and an efficient suspension system. The top prams feature a compact fold so they can be easily stored in your garage or boot when not in use.

All the pushchairs prams pushchairs on this list allow your baby to lie on their backs. This is important for newborns, as it helps them develop their hips and spine and improves oxygenation levels. Many of these prams have been designed to grow along with your child. Some come with a carrycot, or a reclined chair that can be removed and snapped on as your child grows.

If you are buying a pram for the very first time it is recommended to consider a system that includes both the carrycot as well as a car seat could be worth a look. 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 clever feature that allows you to raise and lower your child at the push of a button, so you can maintain eye contact and keep them close which she said was really important to her since he was at an exploratory stage.

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

Style

All prams should allow newborns to lay as flat as they can. This will help with their development and boost oxygen saturation in the lungs. Some models allow a completely flat surface with a fully-reclinable carrycot, while others have the seat that can recline to a flat position.

The Graco Near2Me is a great device for the latter, as our parent tester Jaya discovered when she tested it on her 10-month-old child. She was thrilled that she could raise and lower her baby at the touch of a button to keep him in the view of others while maintaining eye contact and closeness.

It's a great pram for those who wish to get around town without hassle since the frame is an ideal size for maneuvering, and the puncture-proof tyres allow you to take it off road and on to rough terrain. It's a great option when you are planning to have another child in the near future because it can easily be converted from a single pushchair into a double or twin pram.

The Bugaboo Dragonfly is a stylish and high-end product that looks and feels luxurious. It's suitable for babies as it comes with 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 and it's something that isn't the case with all prams which is why it's an efficient and easy feature.

Its luxurious fabrics, spacious shopping basket, and puncture-proof tyres are all the features you'd expect to see on a premium pram and its sleek design makes it easy to handle on a variety of terrains. This is a great option when you live in a city and have to navigate narrow streets or congested walkways on a regular basis. Although it's not inexpensive but the quality and versatility of this stroller will save you money over the long term by eliminating the need to buy a separate toddler pushchair. You can choose from a variety of colors to suit your personal style.