What Makes Good Prams?

A pram, also referred to as a stroller, pushchair or Sling, is the main form of transport for babies and toddlers. A good pram combines comfort, safety and style to make walking enjoyable for the entire family.

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

Comfort

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

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

Venicci egg2 is a top-of-the-line pram with a cocoon feel for your baby. It features smooth, curved lines as well as a bucket-shaped seating, which does not recline into flat however, it does come with padding on the mattress and a liner. It's also a little lighter than the majority of prams on the market at less than 8kg but has a sturdy chassis and grained leather accents, plus air-filled tyres that are puncture-proof and can take on more rural settings.

The Minu V2 is a great choice when you're looking for a model with a similar look but for a lesser price. The stylish one-hand steer model isn't as light as some of the other prams we tested but it has an impressively large storage basket, as well as an extendable hood with UPF 50+ protection, which will keep your baby shaded and protected.

If you're the first parent of your child we suggest you look into a travel system bundle which includes a pram and car seat that attach to the same frame. This will make it much easier to get your baby from the car into the pram without waking them and is perfect for busy parents on the go. The Bugaboo Dragonfly travel system is a stylish and practical pram that is easily converted from a 'pramette, or a lie-flat 'pramette to a stroller for toddlers compatible with the Graco ISize car seat.

Safety

A pram should be equipped with a five-point safety harness to ensure your baby is safe and free of any gaps to trap their legs or heads. The straps should be padded and easy to adjust as they grow. Also, you should examine the buckles on your harness to ensure they aren't damaged or showing signs of wear and tear. Each year, many children are hospitalised because of injuries caused by prams and strollers. Tipping over is the main reason for these injuries. Even the sturdiest prams can tip over if you hook bags onto the handles, or if a wriggling child is able to get into or out of the seat without the harness being properly secured.

A common cause of injury is falling off a pram or stroller. If a child is not properly secured the pram, they may fall out of the stroller and sustain head or neck injuries. It is therefore important to ensure that the buckle on the harness is securely clicked into place.

Some prams come with a reversible shade that can be used to protect your baby in both directions from the sun. This is a great feature since you will not be having to wake your baby awake while you change their position in the pram, or when you are into and out of shops. Other handy features include a snack tray and drink holders for your baby or toddler, a basket for shopping under the seat and a handlebar that can be locked into place when you're not using it.

You should never leave a sleeping child in their pram unless you are within their reach at all times. Babies are susceptible to wriggling while sleeping, which could cause them to fall out of the pram or stroller. This can lead to strangulation and suffocation. A pram or a stroller is not an alternative to the cot. It is best to use it for short periods during the day.

The majority of prams require you to dismantle them to fit them into the car's boot so it's recommended to familiarize yourself with this process before you buy one. Also, check how it is easy to put the various sections back together and then click to put them back together.

Durability

A pram should be able to last through several years of wear and wear and tear. You want to make sure that your baby's pram is able to handle muddy walks and also multiple car trips. You should ensure that your pram is in the right color or design that will not date easily so you don't look like you've fallen out of fashion.

The top prams are constructed with high-quality materials. They are built to last, so you should look for strong and durable materials, robust wheels and an effective suspension system. The most effective prams are small and fold easily so that you can put them in your garage or the boot of your car.

All prams on this list allow the baby to lie flat. This is important for infants because it aids in the development of their spine and hips and boosts oxygen levels. Many of these prams have been designed to grow along with your child's. Some have a carrycot, or a fully-reclined chair that can be snapped on and off when your child is outgrowing them.

If you are considering buying a pram for the very first time, a travel system that comes with a carrycot and car seats could be of interest. We love the Graco Near2Me system that our parent tester Jaya used with her son of 10 months. It has an innovative feature that allows you to raise and lower your child with the touch of one button. This lets you maintain eye contact with them and keep them close.

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 stroller that can be converted from a single pushchair into double, with 30 different configurations. It also has the sun canopy which can be extended and puncture-proof tires. It's not cheap, but you can use it for more than one child, if you need to and, like our winner the iCandy Orange 3, can be used from birth thanks to the included carrycot.

Style

Newborns need to lie flat as much as possible to aid development and improve oxygen saturation in their lungs, which is why it is essential that all prams support this. Some models permit an entirely flat position using a carrycot that is completely reclined, while others have a seat which can recline to a horizontal position.

The Graco Near2Me works great for both, as our parent tester Jaya discovered when she tested it on her 10-month-old child. She was enthralled by the fact that she could raise or lower her baby at the press of a button and keep him in the view of others and still maintain eye contact and a closeness.

The frame is ideal for nipping around town, and the puncture-proof tires permit you to drive it off road or over rough terrain. It's a great option when you are planning to have a child in the near future because it can easily be converted from a single pushchair a twin or double.

The Bugaboo Dragonfly looks and feels like a high-end, 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. It can be folded while the carrycot still in place This is an option that not all prams have. This is time-saving and makes it more convenient to use.

The pram's luxurious fabrics as well as the spacious basket and puncture-proof tires are all features you would expect to see on a premium model, but the sleek frame makes it easy to maneuver over different terrains. This is an excellent choice for those who live in the city and have to navigate narrow streets or congested pathways frequently. This pram is not cheap but its versatility and quality can save you money over time by avoiding the purchase of an additional stroller for your toddler. You can pick from a wide range of colors to match your preferences.