What Makes Good Prams?

A pram, also known as a stroller, pushchair or sling, is the primary method of transport for infants and toddlers. A good pram combines safety, comfort and style to make walking enjoyable for the whole family.

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

Comfort

You want your child to be at ease when you're out with them. There are prams that will ensure that your baby isn't shivering any discomfort.

All the prams in this guide allow your baby lie flat. This is important for babies as it increases oxygenation and strengthens their hips and spine. The seats can be adjusted to an upright position once your baby is capable of sitting up.

For a really high-end feel it's the Venicci egg2 offers a cozy cocoon-like feel for your baby with smooth, curved lines and a bucket-shape seat that doesn't recline to a lie-flat position but does have padding on the liner and mattress. It's also lighter than many prams, with a weight of less than 8kg. But it is sturdy and has finely textured leather and tyres with air-filled tires that are puncture-proof.

The Minu V2 is a great choice to consider if you're looking to buy something that has a similar appearance but for a lesser price. The one-hand steer, swish model isn't quite as lightweight as other strollers, but it does come with a large storage basket. It also comes with an extendable hood that offers UPF 50+ protection to keep your baby safe and protected.

If you're a first-time parent, we'd recommend considering the travel system prams system bundle that includes a pram and a car seat that are attached to the same frame. This allows parents to transfer 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 easily converted from a 'pramette, Top Prams or a lie-flat 'pramette' into a toddler-friendly stroller compatible with the Graco iSize car seat.

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 easily adjustable as your child grows. Check the buckles on the harness to ensure they are not damaged and show signs of wear. Many children are hospitalised each year due to injuries caused by strollers or prams. Tipping over is the primary reason for these injuries. Even the most sturdy prams could tip over when you hang bags to the handles or if the child is wriggling and gets in or out of the seat before the harness is tightened.

Another frequent cause of injury is falling off the stroller or pram. If a child's harness is not fastened properly it can cause them to fall out of the triple stroller and sustain neck or head injuries. This is why it is important to make sure that the harness buckle is always locked in place.

Some prams have an adjustable shade that can be used to shield your baby in both directions from the sun. This feature is helpful because you don't have to wake your baby every time you change their position in the stroller, or when you enter and out of shops. Other handy features include a snack tray and drink holders for your infant or toddler, a shopping basket under the seat and a handlebar that locks into position when you're not using it.

Never leave a sleeping baby in a pram without having them within sight. Babies can be prone to wriggling while sleeping and this can cause them to roll out of the stroller or pram. This can lead to strangulation and suffocation. A pram or a stroller should not be used as an alternative to a cot. It is best to use it for short periods during the day.

Most prams require you to disassemble them in order to fit them into the boot of your car so it's an excellent idea to familiarize yourself with this procedure before purchasing one. Also, consider how it is easy to put the different sections back together and click to put them back together.

Durability

A pram needs to be durable enough to withstand many years of wear and wear and tear. You should ensure that your pram can handle muddy walks, as well as multiple car trips. You should ensure that your pram is in a colour or print that won't fade easily to avoid looking as if you've slipped out of style.

The top prams are constructed from high-quality materials and have been designed to last, so look for strong and durable materials, robust wheels, and a well-designed suspension system. The top prams have a compact fold, so they can be easily stored in your garage or in the boot when not in use.

All the prams on this list allow the baby to lay flat. This is important for babies, as it helps them develop their hips and spine, and boosts oxygen levels. Many of these prams are designed to expand with your child. Some have a carrycot, or a reclined seat that can be snapped on and off as your child grows.

If you're purchasing a new pram for the first time, you may be looking for a travel system that is a complete bundle that includes a lie-flat carrycot and car seat. We love the Graco Near2Me system that our parent tester Jaya used with her 10-month-old son. It comes with an innovative feature that lets you raise and lower your child by pressing one button. This lets you maintain eye contact with your child and keep them close.

The Bugaboo Fox 3 is another option that our tester Jess Bird tried with her two kids Effie & Boden (pictured above). It's a luxurious pram that can be converted from a single to a double pushchair with 30 different configurations, and comes with luxe fabrics, an extendable 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 like our winner model, the iCandy Orange 3 with its carrycot included can be used from the moment of birth.

Style

Newborns must lie flat as much as possible to aid development and increase the oxygen level in their lungs. Therefore, it's important that all prams support this. Some models allow for an entirely flat position using a carrycot that is completely reclined, while others have a seat which reclines to a horizontal position.

The Graco Near2Me features the latter feature and is fantastic at what it does as our parent tester Jaya discovered when she tried it with her 10-month-old son. She was thrilled to be able to raise or lower her baby with a push of a button to keep him in view while maintaining the eye contact and closeness.

It's a great choice for those who want to nip around town without hassle since the frame is a good size for maneuvering, and the puncture-proof tyres permit you to take it off road and into rough terrain. It's a great choice when you are planning to have a child in the near future because it can easily be transformed from a single pushchair a double or twin.

The Bugaboo Dragonfly looks and feels like a high-end, stylish option. It's ideal for babies because it comes with a lie-flat carrycot and is compatible with car seats in the event that you purchase it separately. It can be folded with the carrycot still in place This is a feature that not all prams have. This reduces time and makes it simpler to use.

The pram's luxurious fabric as well as the spacious basket and Top Prams puncture-proof tires are things you'd expect in a top model however, the sleek frame makes it simple to maneuver around various terrains. It's also a great option for those who reside in a city and need to negotiate narrow streets or overcrowded sidewalks regularly. While it's not cheap but the quality and versatility of this stroller mean that it can save you money over the long term by avoiding the need to invest in an additional pushchair for toddlers. It's available in an extensive range of colors, too, so you can pick one that matches your personal style.