Guide To Good Prams: The Intermediate Guide For Good Prams
What Makes Good Prams?
A pram (also known as a pushchair or stroller) is the most popular form of transport for infants and toddlers. A good pram is a combination of safety, comfort and style that makes walking enjoyable for all family members.
The R for Rabbit Poppins Stylish Baby Stroller makes a great stroller for babies to three years old. The reversible handle lets you to turn the seat so that your child can face either you or the world around them.
Comfort
Your baby should be comfortable when you're out with them. There are prams that will ensure your baby doesn't feel anything.
The prams we've selected in this buying guide let your baby lie flat, which is crucial for newborn babies as lying flat improves oxygen saturation and assists in the development of their hips and spine. The seats can be adjusted to a more upright position when your baby is capable of sitting up.
For a luxurious feel, the Venicci egg2 offers a cozy cocoon-like feel for your baby with sleek, curvaceous lines and a bucket-shape seats that doesn't recline into a lie-flat position, but it does have a padded mattress and liner. It's also a little lighter than most prams, weighing less than 8kg but has an extremely sturdy chassis and grained leather detailing as well as tyres with air-filled tires that are puncture-proof and can handle more rugged terrains.
The Minu V2 is a great choice if you're looking for something that has a similar appearance but at a lower price. The swish-looking one-hand steer model isn't as lightweight than some of the other prams we tested but it does have a large storage basket and extendable hood with UPF 50+ protection, which will keep your baby shaded and protected.
If you're a new parent we recommend a travel system bundle that includes a pram as well as a car seat that can be attached to the same frame. This makes it much easier for parents to move their child from the car to the pram without having to get them up. The Bugaboo Dragonfly is a great example of a fashionable and practical pram for travel that can be converted easily from a'pramette' that lies flat to a pushchair for toddlers compatible with the Graco I-Size car seat.
Safety
A pram should be equipped with a five point safety harness to ensure your baby is secure and should not allow any gaps to trap their heads or legs. The straps must be cushioned and easy to adjust as they grow. You should also examine the buckles on your harness to ensure they are not cracked or showing signs of wear and tear. Every year, a large number of children are hospitalised because of injuries caused by prams or strollers. Tipping over is the primary reason for these injuries. Even the most sturdy prams can topple when you strap bags to the handles or if the child is wriggling or squirming and falls out or in the seat before the harness has been tightened.
A common cause of injury involves falling off a pram or stroller. If a child is not securely fastened in the pram, they could fall out of the stroller and suffer head or neck injuries. This is why it is crucial to ensure that the harness buckle is always locked in place.
Some good prams (click here to read) also have an adjustable canopy that can shield your baby from sun in either direction. This feature is useful because you won't have to wake your baby every time you change their position in the stroller or when you go in and out of shops. There are other features that could be useful, like an eating tray for your toddler or child and drink holders. You can also find an extra shopping basket under the seat.
Don't leave a baby sleeping in a pram if you are not within sight. Babies are susceptible to wriggling while sleeping and can cause them to roll out of the stroller or pram. This could lead to strangulation and suffocation. A pram or a stroller should not be used as an alternative to a cot. It should only be used for short periods of time during the daytime.
It is necessary to take apart most prams in order to put them into the trunk of your car. This process is something you should know before you purchase a pram. Also check how easy it is to get the various sections back together and click them in place.
Durability
A pram should be able to endure a long time of wear. This includes the need to endure the mud-filled walks and many car journeys, which is why you need to ensure that your choice is able to perform the task you want it to. It is important to ensure that your stroller is in a color or pattern that will not date easily to avoid looking like you've fallen out of style.
The best prams are made with high-quality materials. They have been designed to last, so you should look for robust fabrics, sturdy wheels, and a well-designed suspension system. The most reliable prams have a compact fold, so they can be easily stored in your garage or boot when not being used.
All the prams in this list allow babies to lie flat, which is vital for newborns as it improves oxygen saturation levels as well as aids in the development of their spine and hips. A lot of these prams are designed to grow along with your child's. Some have a carrycot or a fully-reclined chair that can be removed and snapped on when your child is outgrowing them.
If you're looking to purchase a brand new pram for the first time, you might also be interested in a travel system that is a complete bundle that includes a lie-flat carrycot and car seat. Our parent tester Jaya was a fan of the Graco Near2Me System she used with her 10-month-old son. It comes with an innovative feature that allows you to raise and lower your baby with the touch of one button. This allows you to maintain eye contact with the baby and keep them in close proximity.
The Bugaboo Fox 3 in 1 pram is another option that our tester Jess Bird tried with her two kids Effie and Boden (pictured above). It's a pushchair that can be transformed from a single pushchair to a double with 30 different configurations. It also features a sun canopy that can be extended and puncture-proof tires. It's not cheap prams but you could use it for more than one child if needed and, as with our winner the iCandy Orange 3 in one pushchair, can be used from birth thanks to the included carrycot.
Style
Newborns must lay flat as much as possible to aid development and improve the oxygen saturation of their lungs, so it's essential that all prams allow this. Some models create a completely flat position using a fully reclineable carrycots, while others have seats that recline to a flat 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 who was 10 months old. She was enthralled by the fact that she could raise or lower her child with the press of a button, keeping him in the view of others and still maintain eye contact and closeness.
It's a great pram for those who want to nip around town without hassle since the frame is an ideal size for manoeuvring, while the puncture-proof tyres let you take it off road and onto rough terrain. It's a great choice if you plan to have a second child in the near future, as it can easily be converted from a single pushchair a double stroller or twin.
The Bugaboo Dragonfly is a stylish and high-end product that looks and feels luxurious. It's ideal for infants as it includes a lie-flat carrycot and is compatible with a car seat, if you buy it separately. You can fold it by putting the carrycot in place and it's something that isn't the case with all prams, so it's a time-saving and hassle-free feature.
The pram's luxurious fabric as well as the spacious basket and puncture-proof tires are all features you'd expect to find on a high-end model However, the sleek frame makes it simple to maneuver over different terrains. This is a great option for those who live in the city and must navigate narrow streets and crowded paths on a regular basis. While it's not cheap, the quality and versatility of this model will save you money over the long term by avoiding the need to buy an additional pushchair for toddlers. It's available in a wide variety of colors, as well, so you can pick one that suits your personal style.