Guide To Good Prams: The Intermediate Guide In Good Prams
What Makes Good Prams?
A pram, also referred to as a pushchair, stroller or Sling, is the main form of transport for babies and toddlers. A quality pram blends safety, comfort, and design to make walking enjoyable for all the family.
The R for Rabbit Poppins Stylish Baby Stroller is a fantastic stroller for infants 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 a baby, you want to be sure they're comfortable. The good news is that there are prams designed to ensure your child does not feel anything.
The prams we've picked in this buying guide all allow your baby to lay flat, which is crucial for babies who are just beginning to crawl. Lying flat increases oxygen saturation and assists in the development of their hips and spine. They also come with a seat that can be converted to an upright position once your baby is old enough to sit up.
For a really high-end experience, the Venicci egg2 has a cosy cocoon feel for your newborn with smooth, curved lines and a bucket-shape seat that does not recline to a lying-flat position, but it does have a padded liner and mattress. It's also lighter than most prams, with a weight of less than 8kg. However, it still has a sturdy chassis with grained leather details and tyres with air-filled tires that are puncture-proof.
If you want something less expensive but with a similar style, the Minu V2 (minus carrycot) is another excellent choice. The one-hand steer, swish model isn't quite as light as other prams, but it does have a large storage basket. It also has an hood that can be extended, which provides UPF 50+ protection to keep your baby protected and shaded.
If you're a new parent we suggest you look into a travel system bundle which includes a pram and a car seat that can be attached to the same frame. This will make it much easier to transfer your child from the pushchairs car seats to the pram without having to wake them up and is ideal for parents who are always on the move. The Bugaboo Dragonfly is a great example of a stylish and functional pram for travel that can be converted easily from a lie-flat 'pramette' to a toddler-friendly pushchair that is compatible with the Graco i-Size car seat.
Safety
A pram should have a five-point safety harness to ensure your baby is secure and should not allow any gaps to entrap their legs or head. The straps should be cushioned and easy to adjust as they expand. Examine the buckles on the harness to make sure they're not cracked and show signs of wear. Many children are hospitalised every year due to injuries caused by strollers or prams. The main reason for these injuries is the result of a stroller tipping over. Even the strongest prams could tip over when you hang your bags onto the handles or if a child is wriggling or squirming and falls out or in the seat before the harness is tightened.
Another frequent cause of injury is falling off the pram or stroller. If the harness of a baby isn't secured correctly, it could cause them to fall from the stroller and sustain neck or head injuries. This is why it is important to ensure that the harness buckle is always clicked into place.
Some good prams (recent olderworkers.com.au blog post) also have an adjustable canopy that can shield your baby from sun in any direction. This feature is helpful because you don't have to wake your baby every time you alter their position in the stroller, or when you go into stores and out. Other useful features include a snack tray and drink holders for your infant or toddler, a shopping basket under the seat and the handlebar locks into position when you are not using it.
You should never let a child sleep in their pram unless you are in their sight 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 strangulation or suffocation. A stroller or pram should not be used as an alternative to a cot. It should only be used for short periods during the day.
It is necessary to disassemble the majority of prams to fit them into the boot of your vehicle. This procedure must be mastered before you purchase a pram. Also check how it is simple to put the various sections back together and click to put them back together.
Durability
A pram must be able endure several years of wear. You want to make sure that your baby's pram is able to handle slippery walks, as well as multiple car trips. It is important to ensure that your pram is a color or pattern that will not date easily so you don't look like you've lost fashion.
The most reliable prams are made of high-quality materials, and are designed to last. Look for durable fabrics, sturdy tires, 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 in use.
All the prams in this list allow babies to lay flat, which is essential for infants since it increases 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 having a carrycot or fully-reclined seat that can be clicked on and off the frame when your little one outgrows it.
If you're buying a new pram for the first time, you may also be looking for a travel system that is a complete package that includes a lie-flat carrycot and car seat. We are awestruck by the Graco Near2Me device that our parent tester Jaya used with her son of 10 months. It comes with a handy feature that can raise or lower your child at the push 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.
Another alternative is the Bugaboo Fox 3 which our tester Jess Bird used with her two babies, Effie and Boden (pictured above). It's a pushchair newborn that can be transformed from a single pushchair with car seat into double in 30 different configurations. It also comes with the sun canopy which can be extended and puncture-proof tires. It's not cheap but you can use it for more than one child in the event of need and, as with our winner the iCandy Orange 3, can be used from birth using the carrycot included.
Style
Newborns must lay flat as much as they can to help develop and improve the oxygen saturation of their lungs, so it's essential that all prams support this. Some models permit a completely flat position by using a carrycot that can be fully reclinable, while others have a seat that can recline to a horizontal position.
The Graco Near2Me works great for this as our parent tester Jaya discovered when she tried it on her 10-month-old daughter. She loved that she could raise or lower her child with a push of an button, keeping him in view and still maintain closeness and eye contact.
It's a great pram for those who want to nip around town without hassle since the frame is a great size for maneuvering, and the puncture-proof tyres let you remove it from the road and on to rough terrain. It's also a good choice if you're planning on having another child in future since it can easily be converted from a single pushchair to a double or twin pushchair.
The Bugaboo Dragonfly looks and feels like a high-end, stylish option. It is suitable for newborns as it comes with a carrycot that can be rolled flat and is compatible with a car seat when purchased separately. You can even fold it by putting the carrycot in place - something that not all prams can do which is why it's an efficient and easy feature.
The pram's luxurious fabrics as well as the spacious basket and puncture-proof tires are features you'd expect to find on a high-end model however, the sleek frame makes it easy to maneuver around diverse terrains. This is an excellent choice when you live in a city and have to navigate narrow streets or crowded walkways on a regular basis. This pram is not cheap but its versatility and quality could save you money in the long run by avoiding the purchase of an additional stroller for your toddler. You can pick from a wide range of colors to suit your preferences.