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 comfort, safety and design that makes walking enjoyable for all family members.

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 flip the seat to face your child or the world.

Comfort

Your baby should be comfortable when you're out with them. There are prams that will ensure your baby doesn't feel any discomfort.

All the prams listed in this guide allow your baby lie flat. This is crucial for newborns since it improves oxygenation and supports their hips and spine. They also come with a seat which can be transformed to more upright positions when your baby is old enough to sit.

For a luxurious experience this Venicci egg2 has a cosy cocoon-like feel for your baby with sleek, curved lines and a bucket-shape seats that doesn't recline to a lie-flat position but does have padding on the liner and mattress. It's also lighter than most prams, weighing less than 8kg but has an extremely sturdy chassis and grained leather details as well as tyres with air-filled tires that are puncture-proof, and can be used in more rural environments.

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

If you're the first parent of your child we suggest you look into a travel system bundle that includes a pram and a car seat that attach to the same frame. This allows parents to transfer their baby from their car to the pram without having to get them up. The Bugaboo Dragonfly is a great example of a stylish and useful pram that can convert easily from a lie-flat 'pramette into a toddler-friendly pushchair that is compatible with the Graco I-Size car seats.

Safety

The pram should come with a five-point safety harness that will keep your baby safe. It should also have no gaps between their head and legs that are likely to get caught. The straps should be padded and easily adjustable as your child grows. You should also inspect the buckles of your harness to make sure that they are not cracked or showing signs of wear and tear. A lot of children are hospitalized each year due to injuries from strollers or prams. Tipping over is the primary cause of these injuries. Even the strongest prams could tip over if you hook 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 pram or stroller. If the harness of a baby is not fastened properly it could cause them to fall from the stroller and sustain neck or head injuries. This is why it is crucial to ensure that the buckle of the harness is always secured.

Some good prams also have a reversible canopy that will shield your baby from sun in either direction. This is a handy feature as you can avoid having to wake your child awake while you change their position in the pram or while you are to and from the shops. 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 locks into position when you're not using it.

Never leave a sleeping baby in a pram without having them in sight. Babies are known to wiggle when asleep and this can cause them to slide off the pram or stroller and can lead to strangulation or suffocation. A stroller or pram should not be used as an alternative to the cot. It should only be used for short periods during the daytime.

Most prams require you to disassemble them in order to fit them into the car's boot therefore 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 set should be able to stand up to the wear and tear of many years. You want to make sure that your stroller can withstand muddy walks as well as a variety of car trips. You should ensure that your pram is in a color or pattern that isn't prone to fading so you don't look as if you've slipped out of style.

The best prams will be constructed of top-quality materials and built to last. You should look for durable fabrics, sturdy tires, and an effective suspension system. The best prams are compact and fold easily, so you can store them in your garage or the boot of your car.

All the prams in this list allow a baby to lie flat, which is essential for newborns as it improves oxygen saturation levels and supports the development of their spine and hips. A lot of them are designed to adapt to your child's needs, with some of them having a carrycot or a fully reclined seat that can be clicked off and back on the frame for when your child outgrows it.

If you're looking to purchase a brand new pram for the first time, you might also be looking for a travel system which is an all-in-one package that includes a lie-flat carrycot and car seat. We love the Graco Near2Me device that our parent tester Jaya used with her son of 10 months. It comes with an innovative feature that allows you to raise and lower your child with the touch of one button. This allows you to keep eye contact with them 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 luxurious pram that converts from a single pushchair to double pushchair and has 30 possible configurations. It also comes with premium fabrics, an extendable sun canopy, and puncture-proofed tyres. It's not cheap, but you can use it for more than one child in the event of need and, as with our winner the iCandy Orange 3, can be used from birth thanks to the carrycot included.

Style

Newborns should lay flat as often as they can to help develop and improve oxygen saturation in their lungs, so it's important that all prams allow this. Some models create a completely flat position using a fully reclineable carrycot while others feature the seat that can recline to a flat position.

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

This frame is perfect to take a stroll around town and the puncture-proof tires permit you to take it off the road or on rough terrain. It's also a great choice if you're planning on having another child in future because it easily converts from a single pram stores near me into a double or twin pushchair.

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

The pram's luxurious fabrics, spacious basket, and puncture-proof tires are things you would expect to see on a high-end model however, the sleek frame makes it simple for you to maneuver on diverse terrains. This is a great option if you live in the city and have to navigate narrow streets or congested pathways on a regular basis. This pram is not cheap but its versatility and quality could save you money over time by avoiding the purchase of an additional stroller for your toddler. You can choose from a range of colors to suit your personal style.