What Makes Good Prams?

A pram (also known as a pushchair or stroller) is the main form of transport for infants and toddlers. A great pram shops near me combines safety, comfort and style that makes walking enjoyable for all the family members.

The R for Rabbit Poppins Joy Stylish Baby Stroller is a fantastic pram for newborns to 3-year-old kids. The adjustable handle can be turned around to allow you to turn the seat to face your child or the world.

Comfort

When you're out and around with your baby, you need to ensure they're secure. There are prams that will ensure your baby doesn't feel any discomfort.

The prams we've selected in this buying guide allow your baby to lay flat, which is essential for babies who are just beginning to crawl. Lying flat improves oxygen levels and helps support their growing hips and spine. They also come with a seat that can be changed to a more upright position when your baby is old enough to sit.

For a really high-end feel this Venicci egg2 has a cosy feeling of a cocoon for your baby with smooth, curved lines and a bucket-shape seat that doesn't recline to a lie-flat position, but has an upholstered 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 details as well as tyres with air-filled tires that are puncture-proof and can handle more rugged terrains.

If you're looking for something less expensive but still with the same design, 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 but it has an impressively big storage basket and an extended hood with UPF50+ protection that'll keep your baby protected and shaded.

If you're the first parent of your child, we'd recommend considering a travel system bundle which includes a pram as well as a car seat that attach to the same frame. This makes it easier to transfer your child from the car into the pram without having to wake them up and is ideal for busy parents who are always on the move. The Bugaboo Dragonfly travel system is a stylish and practical pram that can be converted easily from a 'pramette,' or lie-flat 'pramette, into a stroller that is toddler-friendly compatible with the Graco ISize car seats.

Safety

A pram should have a five-point safety harness to ensure your baby is secure and should not allow any gaps to trap their legs or heads. The straps should be padded 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 admitted to hospitals every year due to injuries from strollers or prams. The most common cause of these injuries is tipping over. Even the sturdiest prams can tip over if you attach bags to the handles or if a wriggling child can get in or out of the seat without the harness being secured.

A common cause of injury is falling from a pram or stroller. If the harness of a baby is not secured properly it could cause them to fall from the stroller and suffer neck or head injuries. Therefore, it is important to ensure that the buckle on the harness is locked into the correct position.

Some good prams also have a reversible canopy that will shield your baby from sun in any direction. This feature is beneficial since you don't need to wake your baby every time you alter their position in the stroller, or when you enter and out of stores. There are other features that can be useful, like a snack tray for your toddler or child and drink holders. There is also an extra shopping basket under the seat.

Don't leave a baby sleeping in a pram without having them within reach. Babies tend to wiggle while asleep and this may cause them to fall off the pram or stroller and cause strangulation or suffocation. A pram or a stroller is not a substitute for the crib. It is best to use it for short periods during the day.

It is necessary to take apart most prams in order to place them into the trunk of your car. This process should be familiarised with before you purchase a pram. Also, check how easy it is to get the different sections back together and click them into place.

Durability

A pram should be able to last through many years of wear and tear. You want to make sure that your pram can handle muddy walks, as well as multiple car trips. It is important to ensure that your pram is the right color or design that isn't prone to fading so that you don't appear like you've lost style.

The most effective prams are constructed with high-quality materials. They are built to last, so look for strong and durable materials, robust wheels and an effective suspension system. The most reliable prams feature a compact fold so you can store them easily in your garage or in the boot when not being used.

All the prams on this list allow the baby to lay flat. This is essential for infants as it helps them develop their spine and hips and boosts oxygen levels. A lot of them are designed to grow with your child, with some of them having a carrycot or a fully reclined seat that can be clicked off and on the frame when your little one outgrows it.

If you are considering buying an infant stroller for the first time, a travel system that has a carrycot and a car seat could be a good idea. Our parent tester Jaya loved the Graco Near2Me system that she used with her 10-month old son. It has a nifty feature that allows you to raise and Babiie Pram lower your child at the push of a button. This way you can keep your eyes on them and keep them close, which she said was really important to her since he was at an exploratory stage.

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 pram that can be transformed from a single pushchair to a double with 30 different configurations. It also comes with sun canopy that can be extended and puncture-proof tires. It's not expensive, but it can be used for more than one child if you need to. Like our top pick, the iCandy Orange 3 with its carrycot, it can be used right from birth.

Style

All prams should permit newborns to lay as flat as possible. This will aid in their development and increase oxygen levels in the lungs. Some models allow for a completely flat position by using the carrycot which is fully reclinable, while others have a seat which reclines to a horizontal position.

The Graco Near2Me is a great device for both as our parent tester Jaya discovered when she tried it on her child who was 10 months old. She was thrilled that she could raise and lower her little one with the push of a button to keep him in the view of others, while still maintaining eye contact and closeness.

The frame is perfect for nipping around town and the puncture-proof wheels allow you to take it off road or over rough terrain. It's also a good option if you're thinking of having another child in future since it can easily be converted from a single pram into a twin stroller or double pushchair.

The Bugaboo Dragonfly looks and feels like a stylish, high-end option. It's ideal for infants as it includes a lie-flat carrycot and is compatible with a car seat, if you buy it separately. You can fold it using the carrycot as a stand and it's something that isn't the case with all prams and is an easy and time-saving feature.

Its luxe fabrics, spacious shopping basket and puncture-proof tires are all the things you'd expect on a high-end pram, but its sleek frame makes it easy to handle on any terrain. This is a great option when you live in a city and have to navigate narrow streets or crowded pathways regularly. Although it's not cheap but the quality and versatility of this stroller mean that it can save you money in the end by not having to purchase a separate toddler pushchair travel system. It's available in an extensive variety of colors, too, so you can choose one that fits your personal style.