What Makes Good Prams?

A pram (also known as a stroller or a pushchair) is the main form of transport for infants and toddlers. A good pram combines safety, comfort and design to make walking enjoyable for all the family.

The R for Rabbit Poppins Stylish Baby Stroller is a great stroller for children from newborns to three years old. Its reversible handle allows you to rotate the seat so that your child can either face you or the world around them.

Comfort

Your baby should be at ease when you're out with them. There are prams to ensure your baby doesn't feel anything.

All the prams in this guide let your baby lay flat. This is important for newborns since it improves oxygenation and helps support their spine and hips. They also have seats which can be transformed to an upright position once your baby is old enough to sit up.

Venicci egg2 is a high-end pram with a cocoon feel for your baby. It has smooth, curved lines, a bucket-shaped seat, which doesn't recline into flat however it does come with a padded mattress and liner. It's also lighter than the majority of prams on the market at under 8kg but still has solid chassis and grained leather detailing as well as tyres with air-filled tires that are puncture-proof and can handle more rugged terrains.

The Minu V2 is a great choice when you're looking for a model that has a similar appearance but at a lower price. The one-hand steer, swish model isn't quite as light as other prams, but it does come with a large storage basket. It also comes with an extendable hood that offers UPF 50+ protection, which keeps your baby safe and protected.

If you're a first-time parent we recommend the travel system bundle that includes a pram and a car seat that attach to the same frame. This will make it easier to get your baby out of the car to the pram without having to wake them up and is perfect for busy parents who are always on the move. The Bugaboo Dragonfly is a great example of a stylish and functional pram that can convert easily from a lie-flat 'pramette into a toddler-friendly pushchair, compatible with the Graco i-Size car seat.

Safety

A pram should have a five point safety harness to keep your baby secure and should not allow any gaps to entrap their legs or heads. The straps must be cushioned and easily adjustable as your child grows. You should also check the harness buckles to make sure that they aren't damaged or showing signs of wear and tear. Every year, a large number of children are hospitalised because of injuries caused by prams and strollers. The main cause of these injuries is tipping over. Even the most sturdy prams can topple if you hook your bags onto the handles or if the child is wriggling and falls in or out of the seat before the harness has been tightened.

A frequent cause of injury is falling off a pram or stroller. If a baby isn't properly secured, they could fall out of the pram and suffer neck or head injuries. This is why it is vital to make sure that the harness buckle is always secured.

Some good prams also have a reversible canopy that will shield your baby from the sun in either direction. This is a useful feature because it will prevent having to wake your child awake when you change their position in the pram or while you are going in and out of shops. There are other features that can be useful, like snacks for your toddler or child and drink holders. There's also a basket for shopping underneath the seat.

You should never leave a child sleeping in their pram unless you are in their sight at all times. Babies can be prone to wiggle during sleep, which could cause them to fall out of the pram or stroller. This could lead to suffocation and strangulation. A pram or a stroller is not an alternative to a cot. It is best to use it for short periods of time during the day.

The majority of prams require you to dismantle them to put them in the car's boot so it is an excellent idea to familiarize yourself with the process before you purchase one. Consider how easy it would be to put the parts back together.

Durability

A pram should be able to stand up to the wear and tear of many years. You want to make sure that your baby's pram is able to handle muddy walks as well as a variety of car trips. You want to make sure that your pram is a color or pattern that isn't prone to fading so that you don't appear as if you've slipped out of fashion.

The best prams will be constructed from high-quality materials and are designed to last. Look for durable fabrics with sturdy tires, as well as an effective suspension system. The top prams have a compact strollers fold, so you can store them easily in your garage or in the boot when not in use.

All prams on this list allow infants to lay flat, which is essential for newborns as it improves oxygen saturation levels as well as aids in the development of their hips and spine. Some are made to adapt to your child's needs and some featuring a carrycot, or a fully reclined seat that can be clicked off and on the frame at a time when your child outgrows it.

If you're purchasing a new pram for the first time, you may be looking for a travel system which is a package that includes a lie-flat carrycot and car seat. Our test-driver for parents Jaya loved the Graco Near2Me system that she used with her 10-month-old son. It has an innovative feature that lets you raise and lower your baby at the touch of a single button. This lets you maintain eye contact with your child and keep them close.

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 pushchair double, with 30 different configurations. It also features the sun canopy which can be extended and puncture-proof tires. It's not expensive but you can use it for multiple children, if needed. Like our top pick iCandy Orange 3, the iCandy Orange 3 with its included carrycot can be used from the moment of birth.

Style

All prams should permit newborns to lie flat as possible. This will help with their development and improve oxygen saturation in the lungs. Some models allow for an entirely flat position using the carrycot which is completely reclined, while others feature a seat that reclines to a horizontal position.

The Graco Near2Me comes with the latter feature, and it's fantastic at that as our tester for parents Jaya discovered when she tried it with her 10-month-old son. She loved the fact that she could raise or lower her little one with the push of a button to keep him in the view of others while maintaining eye contact and a closeness.

This frame is perfect for nipping around town and the puncture-proof wheels allow you to take it off road or on rough terrain. It's also a smart choice if you're planning on having a second child in the future since it is able to convert from a single pushchair to a double or twin pushchair.

The Bugaboo Dragonfly is a stylish premium option that looks and feels impressive. It's suitable for babies because it comes with a carrycot that can lie flat and it's compatible with a car seat when purchased separately. It can be folded by putting the carrycot in place which is something isn't the case with all prams for sale which is why it's an easy and time-saving feature.

The pram's luxurious fabrics large basket, spacious interior, and puncture-proof tires are things you would expect to see in a top model however, the sleek frame makes it simple to maneuver around various terrains. It's also a great option when you live in a city and need to negotiate narrow streets or crowded sidewalks frequently. Although it's not inexpensive however, the durability and quality of this model make it possible to save you money in the long run by eliminating the need to invest in a separate pushchair for toddlers. It's available in a broad range of colors, too, so you can pick one that matches your personal style.