Guide To Good Prams: The Intermediate Guide For Good Prams

What Makes Good Prams?

A pram (also called a pushchair twin or stroller) is the primary mode of transport for infants and toddlers. A good pram is a blend of safety, comfort and style that makes walking enjoyable for the entire family.

The R for Rabbit Poppins Joy Stylish Baby Stroller is a great pram for newborns up to 3 year old kids. The Reversible handle lets you flip 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 will ensure that your baby isn't shivering any discomfort.

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

For a luxurious experience this Venicci egg2 provides a warm cocoon feel for your newborn with sleek, curved lines and a bucket-shape seating that does not recline to a lying-flat position, but has an upholstered mattress and liner. It's also a little lighter than the majority of prams on the market at under 8kg but still has a sturdy chassis and grained leather details, plus air-filled tyres that are puncture-proof and able to take on more rural settings.

The Minu V2 is a great option if you're looking for something with a similar design but at a lower price. The swish-looking one-hand steer model isn't as lightweight than some of the other prams we tried however it comes with a big storage basket and an extendable hood with UPF 50+ protection to keep your baby shaded and protected.

If you're a new parent we recommend a travel system bundle that includes a pram and a car seat that are attached to the same frame. This will make it easier to get your baby from the car into 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 able to be easily converted from a 'pramette,' or lie-flat 'pramette, to a stroller for toddlers compatible with the Graco iSize car seat.

Safety

The pram should be equipped with five-point safety harnesses that will ensure your baby's safety. It should also have no gaps between their head and legs that could get stuck. The straps must be padded, and easily adjustable as your child grows. You should also examine the buckles on your harness to make sure that they aren't damaged or showing signs of wear and tear. Many children are hospitalised every year due to pram or stroller-related injuries. Tipping over is the most common cause of these injuries. Even the sturdiest prams can fall over if you hang bags to the handles or if a child who is wriggling can get in or out of the seat without harnesses being secured.

A common cause of injury is falling from a pram, or stroller. If a child is not securely secured in the pram, they may fall out of the stroller and sustain neck or head injuries. This is why it is vital to make sure that the harness buckle is always locked in place.

Some good prams (I Hire noted) also have an adjustable canopy that can protect your baby from sun in both directions. This is a handy feature since you will not be having to wake your child up when you are changing their position in the pram or when you are going in and out of shops. There are also other features that are useful, for example an eating tray for your child or toddler and drink holders. There's also a basket for shopping underneath the seat.

It is not advisable to let a child sleep in their stroller unless they are in their sight at all times. Babies can be prone to wriggling while sleeping and this could cause them to fall out of the stroller or pram. This could lead to strangulation and suffocation. A pram or stroller is not an alternative to a cot and should only be used for short periods during the daytime.

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

Durability

A pram should be able to last through many years of wear and wear and tear. You should ensure that your pram can handle muddy walks as well as a variety of car trips. You also want your stroller to have the form of a color or print that doesn't get outdated so 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 you should look for strong and durable materials, robust wheels, and an effective suspension system. The best prams are compact and fold easily, so you can put them in your garage or even the boot.

All the prams on this list allow infants to lay flat, which is vital for newborns as it improves oxygen saturation levels and aids in the development of their spine and hips. A lot of these prams are designed to expand with your child's. Some have carrycots, or a reclined seat that can be easily removed and put back on as your child grows.

If you are buying an infant stroller for the first time, a travel system that comes with the carrycot as well as a car seat may be a good idea. Our parent facing pram tester Jaya loved the Graco Near2Me System that she used with her 10-month old son. It comes with a handy feature that can raise or lower your child at the push of a button, so you can maintain eye contact and keep them close which she claimed was important to her as he was at an exploratory stage.

Another alternative is another option is the Bugaboo Fox 3 which our tester Jess Bird used with her two babies, Effie and Boden (pictured above). It's a luxury pram that can be converted from a single to double pushchair and has 30 different configurations, and comes with premium fabrics, an extendable sun canopy, and puncture-proof tyres. It's not cheap, but you could 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 thanks to the carrycot included.

Style

All prams should allow newborns to lie flat as possible. This will aid in their development and improve oxygen saturation in the lung. Some models allow a completely flat position by using the carrycot which is fully reclinable, while others feature a seat that can recline to a horizontal position.

The Graco Near2Me features the latter and it's brilliant in this regard as our parent tester Jaya found when she tested it with her son of 10 months. She was thrilled that she could raise or lower her child with the press of a button to keep him in sight, while still maintaining eye contact and closeness.

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

The Bugaboo Dragonfly is a stylish premium option that is both stylish and comfortable. It's suitable for babies as it includes a carrycot which can lie flat and it's compatible with car seats if purchased separately. You can even fold it using the carrycot as a stand which is something isn't the case with all prams and is an easy and time-saving feature.

Its luxurious fabrics, large shopping basket and puncture-proof tires are the kinds of features you'd expect to find on a pram of the highest quality and its sleek design makes it easy to handle across a variety of terrains. This is a great option if you live in the city and must navigate narrow streets or crowded pathways regularly. 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 stroller for toddlers. You can pick from a range of colors to match your preferences.