What Makes Good Prams?

A pram (also known as a stroller or a pushchair) is the most popular form of transport for infants and toddlers. A good pram is a blend of comfort, safety and design that makes walking enjoyable for the entire family.

The R for Rabbit Poppins Joy Stylish Baby Stroller is a great stroller for newborns and 3-year-old kids. The adjustable handle can be turned around to allow you to turn the seat to face your child or the world.

Comfort

When you're out and about with a baby, you need to be sure they're comfortable. The good news is that there are prams designed to ensure that your baby isn't apprehensive.

The prams we've picked in this buying guide all allow your baby to lay flat, which is important for infants as lying flat increases oxygen saturation and helps support their growing spine and hips. The seats can also be adjusted to an upright position when your baby is able to sit up.

For a really high-end feel this Venicci egg2 has a cosy feeling of a cocoon for your baby with sleek, curvaceous lines and a bucket-shape seating that does not recline to a lying-flat position, but has a padded liner and mattress. It's also lighter than the majority of prams available at less than 8kg but has a sturdy chassis and grained leather details, plus air-filled tyres that are puncture-proof and able to take on more rural settings.

If you want something more affordable, but with the same design Minu V2 (minus carrycot) is a good option. The one-hand steer, swish model isn't quite as light as other prams but it does have a huge storage basket. It also has an hood that can be extended, which provides UPF 50+ protection to keep your baby protected and shaded.

If you're a first time parent we suggest that you look into a travel system that includes a car seat and pram that can be attached to the same frame. This will make it much easier to get your baby out of the car into the pram without having to wake them up and is ideal for parents who are always on the move. The Bugaboo Dragonfly is a great example of a fashionable and practical pram for travel that can be converted easily from a lie-flat 'pramette into a toddler-friendly pushchair that is compatible with the Graco i-Size car seat.

Safety

A pram should have a five-point safety harness to ensure your baby is safe and free of any gaps to trap their legs or head. The straps must be cushioned and easy to adjust as they expand. Examine the buckles on the harness to ensure they are not damaged and show signs of wear. Many children are admitted to hospitals every year due to injuries from strollers or prams. The primary reason for these injuries is the result of a stroller tipping over. Even the sturdiest prams can tip over if you hook bags onto the handles, or if a child who is wriggling gets into or out of the seat without harnesses being done up.

A common cause of injury involves falling from a pram, or stroller. If a baby is not properly secured the pram, they may fall out of the stroller and suffer neck or head injuries. It is therefore essential to ensure that the buckle on the harness is securely clicked into the proper position.

Some good prams also have a canopy that can be reversible to shield your baby from sun in either direction. This feature is helpful because you don't have to wake up your baby every time you alter their position in the stroller, or when you go into and out of shops. Other useful features include a snack tray and drink holders for your infant or toddler, a basket for shopping underneath the seat, and a handlebar that locks in place when you're not using it.

Do not leave a baby asleep in a pram if you are not within reach. Babies are susceptible to wiggle during sleep and could cause them to fall out of the pram or stroller. This could result in suffocation and strangulation. A stroller or pram is not an alternative to a crib and should be used only for short periods of time during the daytime.

It is essential to disassemble the majority of prams to place them in the trunk of your car. This procedure is something you should know before you buy one. Also check how easy it is to get the various sections back together before putting them in place.

Durability

A pram needs to be able to stand up to the wear and tear of many years. You need to ensure that your baby's pram is able to handle the mud of a walk as well as a variety of car trips. You also want your pram to come in a print or colour that won't date quickly so you don't end up looking like you've fallen out of fashion.

The most reliable prams are constructed from high-quality materials and are designed to last. Look for durable materials as well as sturdy tires and an effective suspension system. The best prams are lightweight stroller and fold easily, so you can store them in your garage or boot.

All 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. A lot of these prams are designed to grow with your child's. Some include a carrycot or a reclined chair that can be removed and snapped on when your child is outgrowing them.

If you are buying a pram for the first time, a travel system that comes with a carrycot and a car seat could be worth a look. Our tester for parents Jaya was a fan of the Graco Near2Me system that she used with her 10-month old son. It has a nifty feature that raises and lowers 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 as he was in an exploratory stage.

The Bugaboo Fox 3 is another option that our tester Jess Bird tried with her two children Effie and Boden (pictured above). It's a luxurious pram that converts from a single to a double pushchair with 30 possible configurations and features luxe fabrics, an extendable sun canopy, and puncture-proof tyres. It's not cheap, but you can use it with more than one child if you need to. And like our winner, the iCandy Orange 3 with its included carrycot is a great option to use right from birth.

Style

All prams should allow newborns to lay as flat as they can. This will aid in their development and boost oxygen saturation in the lungs. Some models allow a completely flat surface with a fully-reclinable carrycots, while others have a seat that reclines to a flat position.

The Graco Near2Me features the latter and it's brilliant in this regard as our parent tester Jaya found when she tested it with her son who was 10 months old. She was thrilled to be able to raise or lower her child by pressing the button to keep him in view, while still maintaining closeness and eye contact.

It's a great pram for those that want to nip around town with ease as the frame is a great size for maneuvering, and the puncture-proof tyres permit you to remove it from the road and into rough terrain. It's also a good choice if you're planning on having another child in the near future because it easily converts from a single pram into a twin pram or double pushchair.

The Bugaboo Dragonfly is a stylish premium option that looks and good prams feels impressive. It's ideal for babies because it includes a carrycot which can be rolled flat and is compatible with car seats when purchased separately. You can fold it using the carrycot as a stand - something that does not happen with all prams, so it's an easy and time-saving feature.

Its luxurious fabrics, large shopping basket, and puncture-proof tyres are the kinds of features you'd expect to find on a premium pram however, its sleek frame makes it easy to maneuver across a variety of terrains. This is an excellent choice for those who live in the city and have to navigate narrow streets or congested pathways regularly. It's not cheap, but its versatility and quality could save you money over time by avoiding the purchase of an additional stroller for your toddler. You can choose from a range of colors to match your preferences.