What Makes Good Prams?

A pram, also referred to as a stroller, pushchair or a Sling, is the main method of transport for infants and toddlers. A quality pram blends safety, comfort and design to make walking enjoyable for the entire family.

The R for Rabbit Poppins Stylish Baby Stroller is a fantastic stroller for children from newborns to 3 years old. The reversible handle lets you turn the seat to face your child or the world.

Comfort

If you're out and about with a baby, you need to be sure they're comfortable. There are prams that make sure your baby doesn't feel anything.

The prams we've picked in this buying guide let your baby lie flat, which is important for newborn babies as lying flat increases oxygen saturation and assists in the development of their spine and hips. The seats can also be adjusted to an upright position once your baby is capable of sitting up.

For a luxurious experience it's the Venicci egg2 has a cosy feeling of a cocoon for your baby with sleek, curvaceous lines and a bucket-shape seats that does not recline to a lying-flat position but does have padding on the liner and mattress. It's also lighter than the majority of prams on the market at under 8kg but still has a sturdy chassis and grained leather details, Baby Stroller plus air-filled tyres that are puncture-proof and able to be used in more rural environments.

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

If you are a first time parent we suggest that you look into a travel system package which includes a car seat and pram that attaches to the same frame. This allows parents to transfer their baby from the car to the pram without having to awake them. The Bugaboo Dragonfly travel system is a stylish and functional pram that is easily converted from a 'pramette, or a lie-flat 'pramette' into a toddler-friendly stroller compatible with the Graco ISize car seats.

Safety

The pram should come with five-point safety harnesses that will keep your baby safe. It should also have no gaps between their head and legs that can get trapped. The straps must be cushioned and easy to adjust as they grow. It is also important to inspect the buckles of your harness to ensure that they aren't cracked or showing signs of wear and tear. Many children are admitted to hospitals each year because of 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 fall over if you hang bags onto the handles, or if a child who is wriggling can get in or out of the seat without harnesses being done up.

Another reason for injury is falling off the stroller or pram. If the harness of a baby is not secured properly, it could cause them to fall out of the stroller and sustain head or neck injuries. This is why it is vital to ensure that the harness buckle is always clicked into place.

A few good prams also come with an adjustable canopy that can protect your baby from the sun in any direction. This feature is useful because you don't have to wake up your baby every time you change their position in the stroller or when you go in and out of stores. Other useful 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.

Don't leave a baby sleeping in a pram without having them within sight. Babies are susceptible to wiggle while asleep and could cause them to roll out of the pram or stroller. This can lead to 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 day.

Most prams require you to dismantle them to fit them into the boot of your car therefore it's an excellent idea to familiarize yourself with this process before you purchase one. Also check how easy it is to get the various sections back together and then click them in place.

Durability

A pram must be able endure several years of wear. This includes having to deal with walking in the rain and many car journeys, which is why you want to be sure your choice is able to fulfill the tasks you require it to. It is also important for your pram and travel system to come in an image or color that isn't prone to fading quickly so that you don't end up looking like you've fallen out of style.

The most effective prams are constructed of high-quality materials and have been designed to last, so look for strong and durable materials, robust wheels and an efficient suspension system. The most reliable prams have a compact travel stroller fold so you can store them easily in your garage or boot when not being used.

All prams on this list allow infants to lie flat, which is vital for newborns as it improves oxygen saturation levels and supports the development of their spine and hips. A lot of them are designed to grow with your child, with some of them featuring a carrycot, or a fully reclined seat that can be clicked off and on the frame at a time when your little one outgrows it.

If you are considering buying an infant stroller for the first time you should consider a travel system that comes with the carrycot as well as a car seat 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 comes with a handy feature that can raise or lower your child at the push of a button. This way you can keep your eyes on them and keep them close which she claimed was important to her since the baby was still at an exploratory stage.

The Bugaboo Fox 3 is another option that our tester Jess Bird tried with her two children Effie & Boden (pictured above). It's a luxury pram that can be converted from a single to double folding pushchair, with 30 different configurations, and comes with luxurious fabrics, an expandable sun canopy, and puncture-proofed tyres. It's not cheap, but you can 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 carrycot included.

Style

All prams should permit newborns to lie as flat as they can. This will aid in their development and improve oxygen levels in the lung. Some models allow a completely flat surface with a fully-reclinable carrycot, while others have seats that recline to an unflat position.

The Graco Near2Me is brilliant for this, as our parent tester Jaya discovered when she tried it on her 10-month-old child. She loved the ability to raise or lower her baby with a push of the button to keep him in sight while maintaining eye contact and proximity.

This frame is perfect for nipping around town, and the puncture-proof tires permit you to drive it off road or on rough terrain. It's a great option for those who plan to have another child in the near future, as it can easily be transformed from a single pushchair to a twin pushchair or double.

The Bugaboo Dragonfly looks and feels like a premium, stylish option. It's suitable for newborns because it includes a lie-flat carrycot and is compatible with car seats in the event that you purchase it separately. It is able to be folded with the carrycot still in place, which is a feature that not all prams provide. This is time-saving and makes it simpler to use.

The pram's luxurious fabrics large basket, spacious interior, and puncture-proof tires are all features you would expect to see on a high-end model, but the sleek frame makes it simple for you to maneuver on diverse terrains. This is an excellent choice when you live in a city and must navigate narrow streets or crowded paths frequently. It's not cheap, but its versatility and high-end quality can save you money in the long run by avoiding the need for a separate toddler stroller. It's available in an extensive selection of colors and you can choose one that fits your personal style.