Guide To Good Prams: The Intermediate Guide Towards Good Prams

What Makes Good Prams?

A pram (also called a stroller or compact pushchair) is the main form of transport for infants and toddlers. A good pram and travel system combines safety, comfort and design to make walking enjoyable for the entire family.

The R for Rabbit Poppins Stylish Baby Stroller is a great stroller for children from newborns to 3 years old. The reversible handle lets you turn the seat to face your child or the world.

Comfort

When you're out and around with your baby, you'll want to ensure they're secure. There are prams to ensure your baby doesn't feel anything.

The prams we've chosen in this buying guide all allow your baby to lay flat, which is crucial for newborn babies as lying flat improves oxygen levels and assists in the development of their spine and hips. The seats can also be adjusted to an upright position once your child is able to sit up.

Venicci egg2 is a high-end pram that has a cocoon-like feeling for your baby. It has smooth, curving lines, a bucket-shaped seat, that doesn't recline to flat, but it does have padding on the mattress and a liner. It's also lighter than other prams, at a weight of just 8kg. However, it has a sturdy frame with grained leather details and tyres that are air-filled, which are puncture-proof.

The Minu V2 is a great option if you're looking for something with a similar look but at a price that is lower. The sleek one-hand steer model isn't as lightweight as the other prams we tested however it comes with a large storage basket and extended hood with UPF50+ protection that'll keep your baby shaded and protected.

If you are new to parenting We suggest that you consider a travel system package which includes a car seat as well as a pram that attaches to the same frame. This makes it easier for parents to move their child from the car to the pram without having to awake them. The Bugaboo Dragonfly travel system is a stylish and functional 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 come with a five-point safety harness that will ensure your baby's safety. It should also not have any gaps between their head and legs that are likely to get caught. The straps should be padded and easily adjustable as your child grows. It is also important to examine the buckles on your harness to ensure they are not cracked or showing signs of wear and tear. Many children are hospitalised every year due to pram or stroller-related injuries. The primary reason for these injuries is the result of a stroller tipping over. Even the sturdiest prams can tip over if you hook bags onto the handles, or if a child who is wriggling gets into or out of the seat without the harness being properly secured.

Another common cause of injury is falling off the pram or stroller. If a child's harness is not fastened properly it could cause them to fall from the stroller and suffer neck or head injuries. It is therefore important to make sure that the buckle on the harness is securely clicked into the correct position.

Some good prams also have an adjustable canopy that can protect your baby from the sun in either direction. This is a handy feature because it will prevent having to wake your child up when you are changing their position in the pram or while you go in and out of shops. There are also other features that are useful, such as a snack tray for your child or toddler and drink holders. There's also a basket for shopping underneath the seat.

Don't leave a baby sleeping in a pram if you are not within reach. Babies tend to wriggle while asleep and this can cause them to fall off the pram or triple stroller and can lead to strangulation or suffocation. A stroller or pram is not an alternative to a crib. It should only be used for short periods during the daytime.

It is essential to disassemble most prams in order to put them in the boot of your vehicle. This process should be familiarised with before you purchase one. Also, consider how it is simple to put the different sections back together and then click to put them 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 stroller can withstand muddy walks as well as a variety of car trips. It is important to ensure that your stroller is in a color or pattern that won't fade easily so you don't look like you've lost style.

The best prams are constructed from high-quality materials and built to last. Look for durable fabrics, sturdy tires, and an effective suspension system. The best prams are lightweight and fold easily so that you can put them in your garage or the boot of your car.

All prams on this list allow infants to lie flat, which is essential for newborns as it improves oxygen saturation levels and supports the development of their spine and hips. A lot of them are designed to grow with your child with some featuring a carrycot, or a fully reclined seat that can be clicked on and off the frame when your little one outgrows it.

If you are purchasing an infant stroller for the first time, a travel system that comes with an infant carrycot and a car seat may be worth a look. We love the Graco Near2Me system which our parent tester Jaya used with her son of 10 months. It comes with a handy feature that raises and lowers your baby at the touch of a button, so you can maintain eye contact and keep them close, which she described as being important to her as he was in an exploratory stage.

The Bugaboo Fox 3 is another option that our test-driver Jess Bird tried with her two babies Effie & Boden (pictured above). It's a pram that can be converted from a single pushchair to a double with 30 different configurations. It also features the sun canopy which can be extended and puncture-proof tires. It's not cheap, but you could use it for more than one child, if you need to and, like our winner the iCandy Orange 3, can be used from birth with the included carrycot.

Style

All prams should permit newborns to lay as flat as possible. This will aid in their development and increase oxygen levels in the lung. Some models allow an all-flat position by using the carrycot which is fully reclinable, while others feature a seat that can recline to a horizontal position.

The Graco Near2Me is brilliant for both as our parent tester Jaya discovered when she tested it on her child who was 10 months old. She was thrilled to be able to raise or lower her child at the touch of an button, keeping him in sight and still maintain closeness and eye contact.

It's a great pram for those who want to travel around town with ease as the frame is an ideal size for manoeuvring, while the puncture-proof tyres permit you to move it off the road and on to rough terrain. It's a great option if you plan to have a child in the future, as it can easily be transformed from a single pushchair a twin or double.

The Bugaboo Dragonfly is a stylish premium option that looks and feels luxurious. It's ideal for babies as it includes a carrycot which can be rolled flat and is compatible with car seats when purchased separately. It is able to be folded with the carrycot still in place It's a feature that not all prams provide. This saves time and makes it more convenient to use.

Its luxe fabrics, spacious shopping basket and puncture-proof tires are the kind of features you'd expect to see on a high-end pram, but its sleek frame makes it easy to handle on a variety of terrains. It's also an ideal choice for those who live in a city and must navigate narrow streets or overcrowded sidewalks frequently. It's not cheap, but its versatility and quality can save you money in the long run by avoiding the purchase of a separate toddler stroller. It's available in a broad range of colors, as well, so you can choose one that matches your personal style.