10 Things We All Hate About Good Prams

What Makes Good Prams?

A pram, also referred to as a pushchair, stroller or Sling, is the main mode of transport for infants and toddlers. A quality pram combines safety, comfort and style that makes walking fun for the entire family.

The R for Rabbit Poppins Stylish Baby Stroller makes a great stroller for infants to 3 years old. The reversible handle lets you to tilt the seat so your child can face either you or the world around them.

Comfort

If you're out and about with your baby, you'll want to ensure that they're safe. The good news is that there are prams designed to ensure that your baby doesn't feel a thing.

The prams we've selected in this buying guide all allow your baby to lie flat, which is crucial for babies who are just beginning to crawl. Lying flat increases oxygen saturation and supports their developing hips and spine. They also come with a seat which can be transformed to an upright position once your baby is old enough to sit up.

Venicci egg2 is a top-of-the-line pram that offers 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 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 can be used in more rural environments.

The Minu V2 is a great option to consider if you're looking to buy something with a similar design but for a lesser price. The one-hand steer, swish model isn't quite as light as other prams but it does have a large storage basket. It also comes with an extendable hood that offers UPF 50+ protection to keep your baby protected and shaded.

If you're a new parent we recommend a compact travel pram system bundle that includes a pram as well as a car seat that are attached to the same frame. This allows parents to transfer their baby from the car to the folding pram without having to get them up. The Bugaboo Dragonfly is a great example of a fashionable and practical pram that can convert easily from a lie-flat 'pramette' to a toddler-friendly pushchair, compatible with the Graco I-Size car seats.

Safety

The pram should be fitted with a five-point safety harness that will keep your baby safe. It should also have no gaps between their head and legs that can get trapped. The straps should be padded and easy to adjust as they grow. Check the buckles on the harness to ensure they are not damaged and show signs of wear. Every year, a lot of children are admitted to hospitals due to injuries caused by prams or strollers. Tipping over is the primary cause of these injuries. Even the most sturdy prams can topple when you strap your bags onto the handles or if the child is wriggling or squirming and falls in or out of the seat before the harness has been tightened.

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

Some good prams also have a canopy that can be reversible to protect your baby from sun in any direction. This feature is helpful because you won't have to wake up your baby when you change their position in the stroller, or when you go in and out of stores. There are also other features that are useful, for example snacks for your toddler or child and drink holders. There's also an extra shopping basket under the seat.

You should never leave a sleeping child in their stroller unless you are in their sight at all times. Babies can be prone to wiggle during sleep and this can cause them to roll out of the stroller or pram. This could lead to suffocation and strangulation. A pram or a stroller should not be used as a substitute for the cot. It is best to use it for short periods during the daytime.

It is necessary to disassemble the majority of prams to put them in the trunk of your car. This procedure should be familiarised with before you buy one. Check how easy it will be to put the pieces back together.

Durability

A pram should be able to last through several years of wear and tear. This includes surviving muddy walks and getting through numerous car journeys, so you must ensure your choice will perform the task you want it to. Also, you want your stroller to have an image or color that doesn't get outdated so you don't end up looking like you've gone out of style.

The top prams are constructed with high-quality materials. They are built to last, so you should look for robust fabrics, sturdy wheels and an effective suspension system. The best prams are lightweight and fold easily so that you can store them in your garage or boot.

All the prams on this list allow a baby to lie flat, which is vital for infants since it increases oxygen saturation levels as well as aids in the development of their spine and hips. Some are made to adapt to your child's needs with some featuring a carrycot, or a fully reclined seat that can be moved off and on the frame for when your child is no longer using it.

If you are purchasing a pram for the first time it is recommended to consider a system that comes with a carrycot and a car seat could be of interest. 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 raises and lowers your child at the push of a button. This way you can keep eye contact and keep them close which she said was really important for her son as he was in an exploratory stage.

The Bugaboo Fox 3 is another option that our tester Jess Bird tried with her two babies Effie & Boden (pictured above). It's a luxury pram that converts from a single pushchair to double pushchair and has 30 different configurations, and comes with premium fabrics, an extendable sun canopy, and puncture-proofed tyres. It's not expensive but you can use it with multiple children, if needed. Similar to our winner model, the iCandy Orange 3 with its carrycot included is a great option to use right from birth.

Style

Newborns need to lay flat as often as they can to help develop and increase the oxygen level in their lungs. Therefore, it is essential that all prams allow this. Some models allow for an entirely flat position using the carrycot which is completely reclined, while others have a seat which can recline to a horizontal position.

The Graco Near2Me is a great device for this 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 push of a button, keeping him in the view of others, while still maintaining eye contact and a closeness.

It's a great pram for those that want to nip 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 onto rough terrain. It's an excellent choice for those who plan to have another child in the future, as it can easily be converted from a single pushchair to a double or twin.

The Bugaboo Dragonfly looks and feels like a premium, stylish option. It's ideal for infants as it comes with a lie-flat baby carrycot and is compatible with car seats in the event that you purchase it separately. You can even fold it using the carrycot as a stand which is something isn't the case with all prams and is an efficient and easy feature.

Its luxe fabrics, spacious shopping basket and puncture-proof tyres are all the features you'd expect to see on a premium pram however, its sleek frame makes it easy to handle on a variety of terrains. This is an excellent choice if you live in the city and have to navigate narrow streets and 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 a separate toddler stroller. It's available in an extensive variety of colors, as well, so you can pick one that matches your personal style.