Why Nobody Cares About Good Prams

What Makes Good Prams?

A pram (also called a pushchair or stroller) is the primary mode of transport for infants and toddlers. A good pram combines comfort, safety and design to make walking enjoyable for the whole family.

The R for Rabbit Poppins Stylish Baby Stroller makes a great stroller for infants 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

You want your baby to be at ease when you're out with them. There are prams that will ensure that your baby isn't shivering any sensations.

All the prams listed in this guide allow your baby lay flat. This is crucial for babies as it increases oxygenation and strengthens their hips and spine. They also come with seats that can be converted to a more upright position when your baby is old enough to sit.

For a really high-end experience, the Venicci egg2 provides a warm cocoon feel for your newborn with sleek, curvaceous lines and a bucket-shape seat that does not recline to a lying-flat position, but it does have padding on the mattress and liner. It's also lighter than most prams, with a weight of less than 8kg. However, it still has a sturdy chassis with finely textured leather and tyres that are air-filled, which are puncture-proof.

If you want something less expensive but with a similar design Minu V2 (minus carrycot) is a good option. The stylish one-hand steer model isn't as lightweight as the other prams we tried however it comes with a large storage basket, as well as an extendable hood with UPF 50+ protection that'll keep your baby protected and shaded.

If you're the first parent facing pram of your child, we'd recommend considering the travel system bundle that includes a pram and a car seat that attach to the same frame. This makes it easier for parents to transfer their baby from their car to the pram without having to awake them. The Bugaboo Dragonfly is a great example of a stylish and useful pram for compact travel stroller that can be converted easily from a'pramette' that lies flat' to a toddler stroller-friendly pushchair that is compatible with the Graco I-Size car seat.

Safety

The pram should come with five-point safety harnesses that will keep your baby safe. It must also be free of gaps between their head and legs that can get trapped. The straps must be cushioned, and easily adjustable as your child grows. Examine the buckles on the harness to make sure they're not cracked and show signs of wear. Many children are hospitalised each year because of pram or stroller-related injuries. Tipping over is the primary cause of these injuries. Even the most robust prams could tip over if you attach bags on the handles, or if a child with a wriggling is able to get into or out of the seat without the harness being secured.

A common cause of injury involves falling off a pram or stroller. If a child is not properly secured, they could fall out of the stroller and sustain head or neck injuries. Therefore, it is important to always ensure that the buckle on the harness is clicked into place.

Some prams come with an adjustable shade that can be used to protect your baby in both directions from the sun. This is a great feature as you can avoid having to wake your baby up when you are changing their position in the pram or when you are to and from the shops. There are other features that could be useful, like a snack tray for your toddler or child and drink holders. There is also an extra shopping basket under the seat.

You should never leave a child sleeping in their pram pushchair unless you are in their sight at all times. Babies tend to wriggle while asleep, which can cause them to roll off the pram or stroller and can lead to strangulation or suffocation. A stroller or pram is not an alternative to a cot and should be used only for short periods of time during the daytime.

Most prams require you to take them apart in order to put them in the boot of your car so it's an excellent idea to familiarize yourself with this process before you purchase one. Also check how it is easy to put the various sections back together and click them into place.

Durability

A pram must be able to last through many years of wear and wear and tear. This includes surviving muddy walks and getting through many car journeys, which is why you must ensure your choice can perform the task you want it to. You also want your stroller to have an image or color that won't date quickly so that you don't end up looking like you've fallen out of style.

The top prams are constructed from high-quality materials and have been designed to last, so you should look for durable fabrics, sturdy wheels, and an effective suspension system. The top prams have a compact travel pram fold, so they can be easily stored in your garage or boot when not in use.

All the prams in this list allow a baby to lie flat, which is crucial for newborns as it improves oxygen saturation levels as well as aids in the development of their hips and spine. Many of these prams are designed to grow along with your child. Some include a carrycot, or a reclined seat that can be easily removed and put back on when your child outgrows them.

If you are buying a pram for the very first time you should consider a travel system that comes with an infant carrycot and a car seat may be of interest. Our parent tester Jaya loved the Graco Near2Me system that she used with her 10-month-old son. It has an innovative feature that lets you raise and lower your baby by pressing a single button. This lets you keep eye contact with the baby and keep them in close proximity.

Another alternative is the Bugaboo Fox 3 which our tester Jess Bird used with her two kids, Effie and Boden (pictured above). It's a stroller that can be converted from a single pushchair double, with 30 different configurations. It also features a sun canopy that can be extended and puncture-proof tires. It's not cheap but you could use it for more than one child in the event of need and, like our winner the iCandy Orange 3, can be used from birth with the carrycot included.

Style

Newborns should lie flat as much as possible to aid development and improve oxygen saturation in their lungs, which is why it's essential that all prams permit this. Some models provide a flat position with a fully-reclinable carrycots, while others have a seat that reclines to an upright position.

The Graco Near2Me comes with the latter feature, and it's fantastic at that, as our parent tester Jaya found when she tested it with her son who was 10 months old. She loved that she could raise or lower her baby with a push of the button to keep him in view while maintaining eye contact and proximity.

It's a great pram for those who wish to nip around town with ease as the frame is a great size for maneuvering, and the puncture-proof tyres let you move it off the road and onto rough terrain. It's a great option for those who plan to have a child in the future, as it can easily be transformed from a single pushchair to a twin or double.

The Bugaboo Dragonfly is a stylish and high-end product that looks and feels impressive. It's ideal for babies since it includes a carrycot which can be rolled flat and is compatible with a car seat when purchased separately. It can be folded by putting the carrycot in place and it's something that not all prams can do which is why it's an easy and time-saving feature.

Its luxurious fabrics, large shopping basket and puncture-proof tyres are the kind of features you'd expect to find on a premium pram, but its sleek frame makes it easy to handle on any terrain. It's also an ideal choice if you live in a city and have to navigate narrow streets or overcrowded sidewalks regularly. While it's not cheap, the quality and versatility of this pram make it possible to save you money over the long term by not having to purchase an additional pushchair for toddlers. You can pick from a wide range of colors to match your personal style.