Guide To Good Prams: The Intermediate Guide In Good Prams
What Makes Good Prams?
A pram (also called a pushchair or stroller) is the primary mode of transport for infants and toddlers. A great pram is a blend of comfort, safety and design that makes walking fun for the entire family.
The R for Rabbit Poppins Joy Stylish Baby Stroller is a wonderful pram for newborns up to 3 year old kids. The reversible handle lets you turn the seat to face your child or the world.
Comfort
When you're out and around with your baby, you want to ensure they're secure. The good news is that there are prams specifically designed to ensure your little one doesn't feel a thing.
The prams we've selected in this buying guide allow your baby to lay flat, which is essential for infants as lying flat increases oxygen saturation and assists in the development of their hips and spine. They also have a seat that can be changed to an upright position once your baby is old enough to sit up.
For a really high-end feel this Venicci egg2 offers a cozy cocoon feel for your newborn with smooth, curved lines and a bucket-shape seat that doesn't recline into a lie-flat position, but it does have a padded liner and mattress. It's also lighter than other prams on the market at under 8kg but still has a sturdy chassis and grained leather accents, plus air-filled tyres that are puncture-proof, and can take on more rural settings.
If you're looking for something a bit more affordable, but with a similar style, the Minu V2 (minus carrycot) is a great option. The swish-looking one-hand steer model isn't as lightweight than some of the other prams we tested however it comes with a large storage basket and extended hood with UPF50+ protection to keep your baby protected and shaded.
If you're the first parent of your child we recommend a travel system bundle that includes a pram and car seat that attach to the same frame. This will make it much easier to transfer your child from the car seat pram into the pram without waking them and is perfect for busy parents on the go. The Bugaboo Dragonfly travel strollers system is a stylish and functional pram that is able to be easily converted from a 'pramette,' or lie-flat 'pramette, to a stroller for toddlers compatible with the Graco ISize car seats.
Safety
A pram should have a five point safety harness to ensure your baby is safe and secure. It should not have any gaps to entrap their legs or heads. The straps must be cushioned and easy to adjust as they grow. Check the buckles on the harness to ensure that they are not damaged and show signs of wear. Each year, many children are hospitalised because of injuries caused by prams or compact strollers. Tipping over is the most common cause of these injuries. Even the most sturdy prams can topple when you hang your bags onto the handles or if a child is wriggling and gets into or out of the seat before the harness has been tightened.
Another frequent cause of injury is falling off the stroller or pram. If a child is not properly secured the pram, they may fall out of the stroller and sustain head or neck injuries. Therefore, it is important to ensure that the buckle on the harness is locked into place.
Some good prams also have a canopy that can be reversible to shield your baby from the sun in any direction. This feature is useful since you don't need to wake your baby when you change their position in the stroller or when you enter and out of shops. Other handy features include a tray for snacks and drink holders for your infant or toddler, a shopping basket under the seat and a handlebar that can be locked into place when you're not using it.
Never leave a sleeping baby in a pram without being in sight. Babies are prone to wiggle while asleep, which could cause them to fall out of the pram or stroller. This could result in suffocation and strangulation. A pram or stroller is not an alternative to a crib and should only be used for brief periods during the day.
Most prams require you to disassemble them in order to put them in the boot of your car therefore it's a good idea to familiarise yourself with this process before you buy one. Also check how easy it is to get the various sections back together and then click them into place.
Durability
A pram should be durable enough to endure several years of wear and tear. This includes having to deal with muddy walks and getting through many car journeys, which is why you need to ensure that your choice can perform the task you want it to. It is important to ensure that your pram is in a color or pattern that isn't prone to fading so that you don't appear like you've fallen out of fashion.
The best prams will be made of high-quality materials, and are designed to last. Look for durable materials with sturdy tires, as well as an efficient suspension system. The best prams are lightweight and fold easily, allowing you to store them in your garage or even the boot.
All the prams in this list allow infants to lay flat, which is vital for newborns because it improves oxygen saturation levels as well as aids in the development of their hips and spine. A lot of them are designed to adapt to your child's needs and some featuring a carrycot, or a fully reclined seat that can be clicked off and back on the frame when your child is no longer using it.
If you're buying a new pram for the first time, you might be interested in a travel system that is a complete package that includes a lie-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 has a nifty feature that raises and lowers your child with the click of a button so you can keep your eyes on them and keep them close which she described as being important for her son as the baby was still at an exploratory stage.
The Bugaboo Fox 3 is another option that our tester Jess Bird tried with her two kids Effie and Boden (pictured above). It's a luxurious pram that can be converted from a single to double pushchair, with 30 possible configurations. It also comes with luxurious fabrics, an expandable sun canopy and puncture-proof tyres. It's not cheap but you can use it for more than one child, if you need to and, as with our winner the iCandy Orange 3, can be used from birth using the included carrycot.
Style
All prams should allow newborns to lie as flat as they can. This will aid in their development and boost oxygen levels in the lungs. Some models create a completely flat position using a fully reclineable carrycot while others feature a seat that reclines to a flat position.
The Graco Near2Me comes with the latter feature and is fantastic in this regard as our tester for parents Jaya found when she tested it with her son who was 10 months old. She loved the fact that she could raise or lower her baby at the push of a button to keep him in the view of others while maintaining eye contact and closeness.
It's a great stroller for those who wish to get around town without hassle since the frame is a good size for manoeuvring, while the puncture-proof tyres let you move it off the road and on to rough terrain. It's an excellent choice when you are planning to have another child in the near future since it can be converted from a single pushchair a twin or double.
The Bugaboo Dragonfly is a stylish, high-end option that is both stylish and comfortable. It's suitable for babies because it includes a carrycot which can be folded flat and is compatible with car seats when purchased separately. It is able to be folded with the carrycot still in place It's an option that not all prams offer. This reduces time and makes it easier to use.
Its luxurious fabrics, spacious shopping basket, and puncture-proof tyres are the kind of things you'd expect on a high-end pram, but its sleek frame makes it easy to handle on a variety of terrains. It's also an ideal choice when you reside in a city and have to navigate narrow streets or crowded sidewalks regularly. The pram isn't cheap, but its versatility and high-end quality can save you money over time by avoiding the need for a separate toddler stroller. It's available in a broad range of colors, too, so you can choose one that matches your personal style.
