What Makes Good Prams?

A pram (also known as a stroller or pushchair) is the primary mode of transport for infants and toddlers. A good pram is a blend of comfort, safety and design that makes walking fun for all family members.

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

Comfort

When you're out and about with a baby, you want to ensure they're secure. The good news is that there are prams specifically designed to ensure your little one does not feel anything.

The prams we've selected in this buying guide all allow your baby to lie flat, which is crucial for newborn babies as lying flat improves oxygen saturation and helps support their growing hips and spine. The seats can be adjusted to a more upright position once your child is able to sit up.

For a really high-end feel, the Venicci egg2 has a cosy cocoon-like feel for your baby with smooth, curved lines and a bucket-shape seating that doesn't recline into a lie-flat position, but has padding on the mattress and liner. It's also lighter than most prams, weighing under 8kg. But it is sturdy and has finely textured leather and tyres with air-filled tires that are puncture-proof.

If you want something more affordable, but with the same style Minu V2 (minus carrycot) is another excellent choice. The one-hand steer model, swish, isn't as light as other prams but it does come with a large storage basket. It also has an extendable hood that offers UPF 50+ protection to keep your baby safe and shaded.

If you're a first-time parent, we'd recommend considering the travel system bundle that includes a pram as well as a car seat that attach to the same frame. This makes it much easier for parents to move their child from their car to the pram without having to get them up. The Bugaboo Dragonfly is a great example of a stylish and useful travel system pram that converts easily from a'pramette' lying flat' to a toddler-friendly pushchair that is compatible with the Graco I-Size car seats.

Safety

The pram should be fitted with a five-point safety harness that will ensure your baby's safety. It should also have no gaps between their head and legs that can get trapped. The straps must be cushioned and easily adjustable as your child grows. You should also examine the buckles on your harness to ensure they aren't cracked or showing signs of wear and tear. Many children are hospitalised each year due to pram or stroller-related injuries. The main cause of these injuries is the result of a stroller tipping over. Even the most robust prams could tip over if you hook bags on the handles, or if a child with a wriggling is able to get into or out of the seat without the harness being properly secured.

A common cause of injury involves falling from a pram or stroller. If a child's harness is not secured properly, it could cause them to fall from the stroller and sustain neck or head injuries. It is therefore important to ensure that the buckle on the harness is clicked into the correct position.

Some good prams also have an adjustable canopy that can shield your baby from the sun in either direction. This feature is beneficial because you won't have to wake your baby every time you change their position in the stroller, or when you go into and out of shops. There are other features that are useful, like a snack tray for your toddler or child and drink holders. There's also a shopping basket underneath the seat.

It is not advisable to leave a sleeping child in their pram unless you are within their reach at all times. Babies are prone to wiggle during sleep and this could cause them to fall out of the stroller travel or pram. This could lead to strangulation and suffocation. A stroller or pram is not a substitute for a cot and should only be used for brief periods during the day.

It is essential to disassemble most prams pushchairs prams in order to place them into the trunk of your car. This process should be familiarised with before you buy one. Also, consider how easy it is to get the various sections back together before putting them into place.

Durability

A pram must be durable enough to withstand many years of wear and tear. You should ensure that your pram can handle slippery walks, as well as multiple car trips. It is important to ensure that your pram is in the right color or design that isn't prone to fading so you don't look like you've fallen out of fashion.

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

All prams on this list allow the baby to lie flat. This is important for newborns, as it helps them develop their spine and hips and boosts oxygen levels. Many are designed to adapt to your child's needs and some featuring a carrycot, or a fully reclined seat that can be moved off and back on the frame when your little one outgrows it.

If you're purchasing a new pram for the first time, you may be interested in a travel set which is a bundle that includes a lying-flat carrycot and car seat. Our tester for parents Jaya loved the Graco Near2Me system that she used with her 10-month old son. It has an innovative feature that allows you to raise and lower your child at the touch of a single button. This allows you to maintain eye contact with the baby and keep them in close proximity.

Another option 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 pushchair to double pushchair and has 30 possible configurations and features luxe fabrics, an extendable sun canopy, and puncture-proofed tyres. It's not inexpensive, but you can use it for more than one child if you need to. Like our top pick iCandy Orange 3, the iCandy Orange 3 with its carrycot is a great option to use from the moment of birth.

Style

All prams should permit newborns to lie as flat as they can. This will aid in their development and increase oxygen levels in the lung. Some models permit an all-flat position by using a carrycot that can be completely reclined, while others have a seat which reclines to a horizontal position.

The Graco Near2Me features the latter feature and is fantastic at what it does 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 and lower her baby at the touch of a button, keeping him in view, while still maintaining eye contact and closeness.

The frame is ideal for city trips and the puncture-proof wheels permit you to take it off the road or on rough terrain. It's also a smart choice if you're planning on having another child in the near future because it easily converts from a single pram into a twin or double pushchair.

The Bugaboo Dragonfly is a stylish premium option that is both stylish and comfortable. It's ideal for babies because it comes with a carrycot that can be folded flat and is compatible with a car seat when purchased separately. It can be folded by putting the carrycot in place - something that not all prams can do and is an easy and time-saving feature.

Its luxe fabrics, spacious shopping basket and puncture-proof tires are the kind of features you'd expect to find on a premium pram and its sleek design makes it easy to handle on a variety of terrains. It's also an ideal choice for those who reside in a city and must navigate narrow streets or busy sidewalks frequently. It's not cheap prams, but its versatility and quality can save you money in the long run by avoiding the need for a separate toddler stroller. You can pick from a variety of colors that will fit your preferences.