Guide To Good Prams: The Intermediate Guide In Good Prams
What Makes Good Prams?
A pram (also known as a stroller or pushchair) is the main form of transportation for babies and toddlers. A well-designed pram is a combination of safety, comfort and style to make walking enjoyable for the entire family.
The R for Rabbit Poppins Stylish Baby Stroller makes a great stroller for children from newborns to three years old. The adjustable handle can be turned around to allow you to turn the seat to face your child or the world.
Comfort
When you're out and about with a baby, you want to ensure that they're safe. There are prams to ensure your baby doesn't feel any discomfort.
The prams we've selected in this buying guide allow your baby to lay flat, which is important for newborn babies as lying flat increases oxygen saturation and supports their developing hips and spine. The seats can be adjusted to an upright position when your baby is capable of sitting up.
For a really high-end feel it's the Venicci egg2 has a cosy cocoon-like feel for your baby with sleek, curved lines and a bucket-shape seats that does not recline to a lying-flat position, but it does have a padded liner and mattress. It's also lighter than many prams, at a weight of just 8kg. However, it has a sturdy frame with the grained leather accents and tyres that are air-filled, which are puncture-proof.
If you're looking for something less expensive but with a similar design, the Minu V2 (minus carrycot) is a great option. The sleek, one-hand steer model isn't as light as some of the other prams we tried but it has an impressively large storage basket, as well as an extended hood with UPF50+ protection that'll keep your baby pram protected and shaded.
If you're the first parent of your child we recommend the travel pushchair system bundle that includes a pram and a car seat that are attached to the same frame. This will make it easier to get your baby out of the car into the pram without having to wake them up and is perfect for busy parents who are always on the move. The Bugaboo Dragonfly travel system is a stylish and practical pram that can be converted easily from a 'pramette' or lie-flat 'pramette,' into a toddler-friendly stroller compatible with the Graco iSize car seat.
Safety
The pram should be equipped with a five-point safety harness that will keep your baby safe. It should also have no gaps in which their heads or legs are likely to get caught. The straps must be padded and easily adjustable as your child grows. Examine the buckles on the harness to make sure they're not damaged and show signs of wear. Every year, a large number of children are admitted to hospitals because of injuries caused by prams or strollers. Tipping over is the most common reason for these injuries. Even the most robust sale prams could tip over if you attach bags on the handles, or if a wriggling child is able to get into or out of the seat without harnesses being done up.
Another reason for injury is falling from the stroller or pram. If a baby's harness is not secured properly it could cause them to fall out of the stroller and sustain head or neck injuries. It is therefore essential to always ensure that the buckle on the harness is locked into the correct position.
Some prams come with a reversible shade that can be used to protect your baby in either direction from the sun. This feature is useful because you don't have to wake up your baby when you change their position in the stroller or when you enter and out of shops. There are other features that could be useful, such as snacks for your toddler or child and drink holders. There is also a basket for shopping underneath the seat.
It is not advisable to let a child sleep in their stroller unless you are within sight of them at all times. Babies are prone to wriggling while sleeping and could cause them to roll out of the pram or stroller. This can lead to suffocation and strangulation. A stroller or pram is not a substitute for a cot and should be used only for short periods during the daytime.
The majority of prams require you dismantle them to put them in the boot of your car therefore it's an excellent idea to familiarize yourself with this procedure before you buy one. Consider how easy it would be to put the pieces back together.
Durability
A pram should be able to stand up to the wear and tear of many years. This includes surviving the mud-filled walks and many car journeys, which is why you must ensure your choice is able to perform the task you want it to. Also, you want your stroller to have a print or colour that doesn't get outdated so that you don't end up looking like you've gone out of fashion.
The best prams will be constructed from high-quality materials and designed to last. Look for durable fabrics as well as sturdy tires and a well-designed system of suspension. The best prams are lightweight and fold easily, so you can store them in your garage or boot.
All the prams in this list allow a baby to lie flat, which is vital for infants since it increases oxygen saturation levels and supports the development of their spine and hips. Some are made to grow with your child with some having a carrycot or a fully reclined seat that can be moved on and off the frame for when your child outgrows it.
If you are buying a pram for the first time you should consider a travel system that has an infant carrycot and a car seat could be worth a look. We are awestruck by the Graco Near2Me system that our parent tester Jaya used with her son of 10 months. It is a revolutionary feature that lets you raise and lower your child by pressing one button. This lets you maintain eye contact with the baby and keep them in close proximity.
Another alternative is another option is the Bugaboo Fox 3 which our tester Jess Bird used with her two babies, Effie and Boden (pictured above). It's a pram that can be converted from a single pushchair double, with 30 different configurations. It also has a sun canopy that 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, just like the iCandy Orange 3, can be used from birth thanks to the carrycot included.
Style
Newborns must lay flat as much as possible to aid development and improve the oxygen saturation of their lungs, which is why it is essential that all prams permit this. Some models create a completely flat position with a fully-reclinable carrycot, while others have a seat that reclines to an unflat position.
The Graco Near2Me comes with the latter feature and is fantastic at that as our parent tester Jaya found when she tested it with her son of 10 months. She was thrilled to be able to raise or lower her infant by pressing the button to keep him in sight while maintaining eye contact and proximity.
It's a great choice for those who want to travel around town easily as the frame is a good size for maneuvering, and the puncture-proof tyres allow you to move it off the road and into rough terrain. It's also a smart option if you're thinking of having another child in the near future since it can easily be converted from a single pushchair to a double or twin triple pushchair.
The Bugaboo Dragonfly is a stylish, high-end option that looks and feels luxurious. It's suitable for newborns because it includes a lie-flat carrycot and is compatible with a car seat when you purchase it separately. It can be folded with the carrycot in place which is something isn't the case with all prams, so it's an easy and time-saving feature.
The pram's luxurious fabric, spacious basket, and puncture-proof tires are all features you'd expect on a premium model however, the sleek frame makes it easy for you to maneuver on diverse terrains. It's also a great choice if you live in a city and have to navigate narrow streets or busy sidewalks regularly. Although it's not inexpensive, the quality and versatility of this model make it possible to save you money in the end by eliminating the need to purchase an additional pushchair for toddlers. It's available in a wide variety of colors, and you can pick one that fits your personal style.