What Makes Good Prams?

A pram, also known as a stroller, pushchair or Sling, is the main form of transport for babies and toddlers. A quality pram blends safety, comfort, and style to make walking enjoyable for all the family.

The R for Rabbit Poppins Stylish Baby Stroller makes a great stroller for children from newborns to three years old. Its reversible handle allows you to rotate the seat so your child can face you or the world around them.

Comfort

You want your child to feel comfortable when you're out with them. The good news is that there are prams for sale specifically designed to ensure that your baby does not feel anything.

The top prams we've chosen in this buying guide all allow your baby to lie flat, which is important for newborn babies as lying flat improves oxygen levels and supports their developing spine and hips. The seats can be adjusted to an upright position when your baby is able to sit up.

Venicci egg2 is a premium pram that has a cocoon-like feeling for your baby. It features smooth, curved lines, a bucket-shaped seat, which does not recline into an upright position however, it does come with an upholstered mattress and liner. It's also lighter than other prams, with a weight of less than 8kg. However, it is sturdy and has the grained leather accents and air-filled tyres which are puncture-proof.

The Minu V2 is a great choice when you're looking for a model with a similar design but for a lesser price. The swish-looking, one-hand steer model isn't as lightweight than some of the other pushchairs prams we've tested but it has an impressively large storage basket, as well as an extendable hood with UPF 50+ protection to keep your baby safe and shaded.

If you're a new parent we recommend the travel system bundle that includes a pram and car seat that attach to the same frame. This makes it much easier for parents to move their child from the car to the pram without having to wake them up. The Bugaboo Dragonfly travel system is an elegant and practical pram that is able to be easily converted from a 'pramette or a lie-flat 'pramette into a stroller that is toddler-friendly compatible with the Graco ISize car seats.

Safety

The pram should be fitted with five-point safety harnesses that will ensure your baby's safety. It should also not have any gaps between their head and legs that could get stuck. The straps must be cushioned and easily adjustable as your child grows. Examine the buckles on your harness to ensure that they are not cracked and show signs of wear. Many children are admitted to hospitals every year due to injuries caused by strollers or prams. The most common reason for these injuries is the result of a stroller tipping over. Even the strongest prams can tip over if you hook bags to the handles or if a child is wriggling and falls out or in the seat before the harness is tightened.

A frequent cause of injury is falling from a pram or stroller. If a child's harness isn't secured correctly it could cause them to fall from the stroller, causing neck or head injuries. This is why it is crucial to ensure that the buckle of the harness is always clicked into place.

Some good prams also have an adjustable canopy that can shield your baby from sun in both directions. This feature is beneficial because you don't have to wake up your baby every time you alter their position in the stroller, or when you go into stores and out. There are other features that are useful, such as snacks for your toddler or child and drink holders. There's also a basket for shopping underneath the seat.

Don't leave a baby sleeping in a pram if you are not in sight. Babies are susceptible to wiggle while asleep and can cause them to roll out of the pram or stroller. This could lead to strangulation and suffocation. A pram or a stroller is not an alternative to the cot. It should only be used for short periods of time during the daytime.

The majority of prams require you dismantle them to put them in the boot of your car so it's a good idea to familiarise yourself with the process before you purchase one. Also check how easy it is to get the different sections back together before putting them in place.

Durability

A pram needs to be able to last through several years of wear and tear. This includes having to deal with muddy walks and getting through many car journeys, which is why you must ensure your choice is able to perform the task you want it to. 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 style.

The best prams are made of high-quality materials, and built to last. You should look for durable fabrics, sturdy tires, and an effective suspension system. The best prams will also have a compact fold, so they are easy to store in your garage or boot when not being used.

All the prams in this list allow a baby to lie flat, which is essential for newborns as it improves oxygen saturation levels and aids in the development of their hips and spine. Many are designed to grow with your child and some having a carrycot or fully-reclined seat that can be moved on and off the frame at a time when your child outgrows it.

If you are buying a pram for the first time you should consider a travel system that comes with the carrycot as well as a car seat may be a good idea. Our test-driver for parents Jaya loved the Graco Near2Me System she used with her 10-month old son. It has an innovative feature that lets you raise and lower your baby by pressing one button. This allows you to keep 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 kids, Effie and Boden (pictured above). It's a stroller that can be transformed from a single pushchair a double with 30 different configurations. It also features the sun canopy which can be extended and puncture-proof tires. It's not cheap but you could use it for more than one child, if you need to and, just like the iCandy Orange 3, can be used from birth with the included carrycot.

Style

All prams should allow newborns to lie as flat as possible. This will help with their development and improve oxygen saturation in the lungs. Some models allow an entirely flat position using a carrycot that is fully reclinable, while others feature a seat that can be reclined to a horizontal or a vertical position.

The Graco Near2Me has the latter feature and is fantastic at that as our tester for parents 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 at the touch of a button to keep him in the same position, while still maintaining closeness and eye contact.

This frame is perfect for nipping around town and the puncture-proof tires permit you to drive it off road or over rough terrain. It's also a smart option if you're thinking of having another child in future because it easily converts from a single pushchair to a twin or double pushchair.

The Bugaboo Dragonfly looks and feels like a stylish, high-end option. It's ideal for babies because it includes a carrycot which can be rolled flat and is compatible with a car seat if purchased separately. You can even fold it by putting the carrycot in place - something that does not happen with all prams, so it's an efficient and easy feature.

Its luxurious fabrics, large shopping basket and puncture-proof tires are all the features you'd expect to find on a pram of the highest quality however, its sleek frame makes it easy to handle across a variety of terrains. This is an excellent choice if you live in the city and have to navigate narrow streets or congested pathways regularly. The pram isn't cheap, but its versatility and quality can save you money over time by avoiding the need for an additional stroller for your toddler. It's available in a broad variety of colors, too, so you can pick one that suits your personal style.