Dedra Kulikowski

What Makes Good Prams?

A pram, also known as a pushchair, stroller or Sling, is the most popular method 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 Joy Stylish Baby Stroller is a great pram for newborns up to 3 year old children. Its reversible handle allows you to tilt the seat so that your child can either face you or the world around them.

Comfort

If you're out and about with your baby, you need to ensure that they're safe. The good news is that there are prams made to ensure that your baby does not feel anything.

The prams we've selected in this buying guide let your baby lie flat, which is important for newborn babies as lying flat improves oxygen levels and assists in the development of their spine and hips. They also have a seat that can be converted to more upright positions when your baby is old enough to sit up.

For a luxurious experience it's the Venicci egg2 provides a warm cocoon feel for your newborn with sleek, curved lines and a bucket-shape seats that does not recline to a lying-flat position, but it does have an upholstered mattress and liner. It's also lighter than other prams, weighing less than 8kg but has solid chassis and grained leather details and air-filled tyres that are puncture-proof and able to take on more rural settings.

If you're looking for something a bit more budget-friendly but still with the same design Minu V2 (minus carrycot) is another excellent choice. The one-hand steer model, swish, isn't as lightweight as other strollers, but it does have a large storage basket. It also has an hood that can be extended, which provides UPF 50+ protection to keep your baby safe and shaded.

If you're a new parent we recommend a travel system bundle that includes a pram as well as a car seat that are attached to the same frame. This makes it easier to transfer your child from the car to the pram without having to wake them up and is ideal for 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 a lie-flat 'pramette to a stroller for toddlers compatible with the Graco iSize car seat.

Safety

The pram should come with a five-point safety harness that will keep your baby safe. It must also be free of gaps where their legs or heads are likely to get caught. The straps must be cushioned, and easily adjustable as your child grows. It is also important to inspect the buckles of your harness to make sure that they are not 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 pushchairs prams pushchairs and strollers. The primary reason for these injuries is tipping over. Even the strongest prams could tip over when you hang your bags onto the handles or if a child is wriggling and gets into or out of the seat before the harness is tightened.

Another common cause of injuries is falling from the pram or stroller. If a baby isn't securely fastened in the pram, they could fall out of the stroller and sustain neck or head injuries. Therefore, it is important to always ensure that the buckle on the harness is securely clicked into the correct position.

A few good prams also come with a reversible canopy that will shield your baby from sun in both directions. This is a useful feature because it will prevent having to wake your baby awake when you change their position in the pram, or when you go to and from the shops. There are also other features that could be useful, such as an eating tray for your toddler or child and drink holders. You can also find a basket for shopping underneath the seat.

Never leave a sleeping baby in a pram without having them in sight. Babies can be prone to wiggle while asleep and this could cause them to fall out of the stroller or pram. This can lead to strangulation and suffocation. A pram or stroller is not an alternative to a crib and should be used only for short periods of time during the day.

The majority of prams require you to take them apart in order to put them in the car's boot therefore it's a good idea to familiarise yourself with this process before you buy one. Also, check how it is easy to put the different parts back together and then click them in place.

Durability

A pram needs to be able to endure several years of wear. You should ensure that your pram can handle slippery walks and also multiple car trips. It is also important for your pram to come in an image or color that won't date quickly to avoid looking like you've fallen out of fashion.

The most reliable prams are constructed of top-quality materials and designed to last. Look for durable fabrics with sturdy tires, as well as an efficient suspension system. The best prams will also feature a compact pushchair fold so they are easy to store in your garage or boot when not when not in use.

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

If you are buying a pram for the very first time, a travel system that has the carrycot as well as car seats could be a good idea. We are awestruck by the Graco Near2Me system which our parent tester Jaya used with her son of 10 months. It has a nifty 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 described as being important to her since he was at an exploratory stage.

Another alternative is the Bugaboo Fox 3 which our tester Jess Bird used with her two children, Effie and Boden (pictured above). It's a luxury pram that can be converted from a single to a double pushchair car seat with 30 possible configurations and features luxurious fabrics, an expandable sun canopy, and puncture-proofed tyres. It's not cheap but you can use it for more than one child in the event of need and, as with our winner the iCandy Orange 3, can be used from birth using the included carrycot.

Style

All prams should allow newborns to lie flat as they can. This will aid in their development and increase oxygen saturation in the lung. Some models allow a completely flat position using a fully reclineable carrycots, while others have a seat that reclines to an upright position.

The Graco Near2Me is a great device for the latter, as our parent tester Jaya discovered when she tested it on her child who was 10 months old. She loved the fact that she could raise or lower her baby at the touch of a button to keep him in view, while still maintaining eye contact and closeness.

It's a great pram sale for those who want to nip around town with ease as the frame is an ideal size for manoeuvring, while the puncture-proof tyres permit you to remove it from the road and on to rough terrain. It's also a great option if you're thinking of having another child in the near future because it easily converts from a single pram to a double or twin pushchair newborn.

The Bugaboo Dragonfly is a stylish premium option that looks and feels impressive. It's ideal for babies because it comes with a lie-flat baby carrycot and is compatible with a car seat in the event that you purchase it separately. It is able to be folded with the carrycot still in place, which is something that not all prams have. This reduces time and makes it easier to use.

The pram's luxurious fabric, spacious basket, and puncture-proof tires are things you'd expect in a top model however, the sleek frame makes it easy to maneuver over diverse terrains. This is a great choice when you live in a city and have to navigate narrow streets and crowded pathways frequently. This pram is not cheap but its versatility and quality can save you money in the long run by avoiding the purchase of a separate toddler stroller. You can pick from a variety of colors that will fit your preferences.