Guide To Good Prams: The Intermediate Guide In Good Prams

What Makes Good Prams?

A pram (also called a stroller or a pushchair) is the primary mode of transport for infants and toddlers. A quality pram blends comfort, safety and design to make walking enjoyable for the entire family.

The R for Rabbit Poppins Stylish Baby Stroller is a great stroller for children from newborns to three years old. The Reversible handle lets you flip the seat to face your child or the world.

Comfort

You want your baby to be comfortable when you're out with them. There are prams to ensure your baby doesn't feel any discomfort.

The prams we've picked in this buying guide all allow your baby to lie flat, which is crucial for babies who are just beginning to crawl. Lying flat improves oxygen levels and assists in the development of their spine and hips. The seats can be adjusted to an upright position once your baby is able to sit up.

Venicci egg2 is a premium pram with a cocoon feel for your baby. It is smooth and has curved lines, a bucket-shaped seat, which does not recline into flat, but it does have padding on the mattress and a liner. It's also lighter than the majority of prams available at under 8kg but still has a sturdy chassis and grained leather detailing, plus air-filled tyres that are puncture-proof, and can take on more rural settings.

If you're looking for something a bit less expensive but with the same design, the Minu V2 (minus carrycot) is a great option. The swish-looking one-hand steer model isn't as lightweight as the other prams we've tested but it has an impressively large storage basket and 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 to the pram without disturbing them and is ideal for busy parents who are always on the move. The Bugaboo Dragonfly travel system is a stylish and practical 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

A pram should be equipped with a five-point safety harness to ensure your baby is secure and should not allow any gaps that could trap their heads or legs. The straps should be padded and easy to adjust as they grow. Also, you should examine the buckles on your harness to make sure that they aren't cracked or showing signs of wear and tear. Many children are hospitalised every year due to injuries from strollers or prams. The most common cause of these injuries is tipping over. Even the strongest prams can tip over when you hang your bags onto the handles or if the child is wriggling and gets in or out of the seat before the harness is tightened.

A common 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 and suffer neck or head injuries. It is therefore important to ensure that the buckle on the harness is securely clicked into the proper position.

Some good prams also have an adjustable canopy that can protect your baby from sun in any direction. This feature is useful because you don't have to wake your baby when you change their position in the stroller, or when you go in and out of stores. Other handy features include a snack tray and drink holders for your infant or toddler, a basket for shopping underneath the seat, and the handlebar locks in place when you are not using it.

It is not advisable to leave a child sleeping in their stroller unless they are within their reach at all times. Babies tend to wiggle while asleep and this may cause them to fall off the stroller or pram and could result in suffocation or strangulation. A stroller or pram is not an alternative to a cot. It should only be used for short periods of time during the day.

The majority of prams require you take them apart in order to fit them into the boot of your car therefore it's a good idea to familiarise yourself with this process before purchasing one. Check how easy it will be to put the pieces back together.

Durability

A pram should be able to endure a long time of wear. This includes surviving muddy walks and getting through numerous car journeys, so you want to be sure your choice can do the job you need it to. You want to make sure that your pram is a colour or print that won't fade easily so you don't look like you've fallen out of fashion.

The best prams are made from high-quality materials and are designed to last, so look for durable fabrics, sturdy wheels and an effective suspension system. The best prams are lightweight and fold easily so that you can store them in your garage or the boot of your car.

All the prams in this list allow babies to lay flat. This is crucial for babies, as it helps them develop their hips and spine and improves oxygenation levels. Many of these prams have been designed to grow along with your child's. Some include carrycots, or a reclined chair that can be removed and snapped on when your child outgrows them.

If you're buying a new pram for the first time, you may also be looking for a travel system which is a bundle that includes a lying-flat carrycot and car seat. We are awestruck by the Graco Near2Me system which our parent tester Jaya used with her 10-month-old son. It is a revolutionary feature that allows you to raise and lower your child by pressing one button. This allows you to keep your eyes on your child and keep them close.

Another alternative is 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 stroller that can be converted from a single twin pushchair double in 30 different configurations. It also has a sun canopy that 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 model, the iCandy Orange 3 in one pushchair with its carrycot included can be used right from birth.

Style

All prams should allow newborns to lie as flat as they can. This will help with their development and increase oxygen saturation 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 comes with the latter feature, and it's fantastic at what it does, as our parent tester Jaya discovered when she tried it with her son of 10 months. She was enthralled by the fact that she could raise or lower her little one with the push of a button, keeping him in view, while still maintaining eye contact and closeness.

The frame is ideal to take a stroll around town and the puncture-proof tires permit you to take it off road or over rough terrain. It's also a good choice if you're planning on having another child in future since it can easily be converted from a single pram into a twin pram or double pushchair cheap.

The Bugaboo Dragonfly looks and feels like a high-end, stylish option. It's ideal for babies as it includes a carrycot that can be rolled flat and is compatible with a car seat when purchased separately. You can even fold it using the carrycot as a stand and it's something that does not happen with all prams which is why it's a time-saving and hassle-free feature.

The pram's luxurious fabric as well as the spacious basket and puncture-proof tires are all features you'd expect in a top model, but the sleek frame makes it easy for you to maneuver on different terrains. It's also a great choice if you live in a city and need to negotiate narrow streets or busy sidewalks regularly. Although it's not cheap but the quality and versatility of this stroller mean that it can save you money in the end by avoiding the need to invest in an additional pushchair for toddlers. It's available in a broad range of colors, too, so you can choose one that matches your personal style.