Guide To Good Prams: The Intermediate Guide For Good Prams

What Makes Good Prams?

A pram, also referred to as a stroller, pushchair or a sling, is the primary form of transport for babies and toddlers. A quality pram is a blend of safety, comfort and style that makes walking fun for all family members.

The R for Rabbit Poppins Joy Stylish Baby Stroller is a wonderful pram for newborns up to 3 year old kids. Its reversible handle allows you to rotate the seat so that your child can face either you or the world around them.

Comfort

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

All the prams in this guide allow your baby to lay flat. This is essential for newborns as it improves oxygenation and strengthens their spine and hips. The seats can be adjusted to an upright position when your baby is able to sit up.

Venicci egg2 is a high-end pram with a cocoon feeling for your baby. It features smooth, curving lines and a bucket-shaped seat which does not recline into a flat position however it does come with a padded mattress and liner. It's also lighter than other prams, weighing under 8kg. But it has a sturdy chassis with finely textured leather and air-filled tyres which are puncture-proof.

If you're looking for something a bit less expensive but still with the same design, the Minu V2 (minus carrycot) is another excellent choice. The swish-looking one-hand steer model isn't as light as some of the other prams we've tested but it has an impressively large storage basket and extended hood with UPF50+ protection, which will keep your baby safe and shaded.

If you are a first-time parent we suggest that you consider a travel system that includes a car seat as well as a pram that can be attached to the same frame. This allows 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 travel system pram that converts easily from a lie-flat 'pramette into a toddler-friendly compact pushchair, compatible with the Graco I-Size car seats.

Safety

The pram should come with five-point safety harnesses that will ensure your baby's safety. It must also be free of gaps between their head and legs that can get trapped. The straps must be padded, and easily adjustable as your child grows. It is also important to examine the buckles on your harness to ensure they aren't cracked or showing signs of wear and tear. Every year, a large number of children are admitted to hospitals because of injuries caused by prams and strollers. The most common cause of these injuries is tipping over. Even the strongest prams could tip over if you hook your bags onto the handles or if a child is wriggling 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 a baby isn't securely fastened in, they could fall out of the stroller and suffer head or neck injuries. It is therefore important to always ensure that the buckle on the harness is locked into place.

Some good prams also have a reversible canopy that will shield your baby from sun in any direction. This feature is helpful because you don't have to wake your baby every time you change their position in the stroller or when you enter and out of stores. Other handy features include a tray for snacks and drink holders for your baby or toddler, a shopping basket under the seat, and the handlebar can be locked into place when you are not using it.

Do not leave a baby asleep in a pram without being within reach. Babies are prone to wiggle during sleep and this could cause them to fall out of the stroller or pram. This could lead to strangulation and suffocation. A pram or stroller is not an alternative to a cot and should only be used for short periods during the daytime.

The majority of prams require you dismantle them to put them in the car's boot therefore it's recommended to familiarize yourself with this process before you purchase one. Find out how easy it will be to put the sections back together.

Durability

A pram should be able to endure a long time of wear. This includes having to deal with walking in the rain and many car journeys, which is why you want to be sure your choice will do the job you need it to. You want to make sure that your stroller is in a colour or print that isn't prone to fading so that you don't appear as if you've slipped out of style.

The best prams are made of high-quality materials, and are designed to last. Look for durable materials with sturdy tires, as well as a well-designed system of suspension. The best prams are lightweight and fold easily, so you can store them in your garage or the boot of your car.

All prams on this list allow a baby to lay flat, which is vital for infants since it increases oxygen saturation levels and supports the development of their hips and spine. Many are designed to grow with your child, with some of them having a carrycot or a fully reclined seat that can be moved off and on the frame when your child is no longer using it.

If you're buying a new pram for the first time, you may be interested in a travel set which is an all-in-one package that includes a lie-flat carrycot and car seat. Our test-driver for parents Jaya loved the Graco Near2Me system that she used with her 10-month old son. It comes with a clever feature that allows you to raise and lower your child at the push of a button, so you can keep your eyes on them and keep them close, which she said was really important to her since the baby was still at an exploratory stage.

The Bugaboo Fox 3 is another option that our test-driver Jess Bird tried with her two babies Effie and Boden (pictured above). It's a luxurious pram that converts from a single to double pushchair, with 30 possible configurations. It also comes with premium fabrics, an extendable sun canopy and puncture-proof tyres. It's not cheap but you can use it for more than one child if needed and, like our winner the iCandy Orange 3, can be used from birth using the carrycot included.

Style

All prams should allow newborns to lie flat as possible. This will aid in their development and improve oxygen saturation in the lungs. Some models allow for a completely flat position by using a carrycot that is completely reclined, while others have a seat which reclines to a horizontal position.

The Graco Near2Me has the latter and it's brilliant at that as our tester for parents Jaya found when she tested it with her 10-month-old son. She was enthralled by the fact that she could raise and lower her little one with the touch of a button and keep him in sight, while still maintaining eye contact and a closeness.

The frame is perfect to take a stroll around town and the puncture-proof tires allow you to take it off road or over rough terrain. It's also a great option if you're thinking of having a second child in the future since it is able to convert from a single pram into a double or twin pushchair.

The Bugaboo Dragonfly looks and feels like a premium, stylish option. It's suitable for newborns because it comes with a lie-flat baby carrycot and is compatible with a car seat, if you buy it separately. It can be folded using the carrycot as a stand - something that isn't the case with all prams, so it's an easy and time-saving feature.

Its luxurious fabrics, spacious shopping basket and puncture-proof tires are all the features you'd expect to see on a premium pram, but its sleek frame makes it easy to handle on any terrain. It's also an ideal choice when you live in a large city and have to navigate narrow streets or busy sidewalks regularly. It's not cheap, but its versatility and quality can save you money over time by avoiding the need for a separate stroller for toddlers. It's available in an extensive selection of colors too, so you can choose one that matches your personal style.