What Makes Good Prams?

A pram, also known as a pushchair, stroller or sling, is the primary method of transport for infants and toddlers. A quality pram is a combination of comfort, safety and design that makes walking fun 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

You want your baby to be at ease when you're out with them. The good news is that there are prams designed to ensure your little one isn't apprehensive.

The prams we've chosen in this buying guide all let your baby lie flat, which is essential for infants as lying flat improves oxygen levels and supports their developing spine and hips. They also come with a seat which can be transformed to an upright position once your baby is old enough to sit up.

Venicci egg2 is a premium pram with a cocoon feeling for your baby. It has smooth, curvaceous lines, a bucket-shaped seat, that doesn't recline to an upright position however, it does come with an upholstered mattress and liner. It's also lighter than most prams available at less than 8kg but has an extremely sturdy chassis and grained leather accents and air-filled tyres that are puncture-proof and able to handle more rugged terrains.

The Minu V2 is a great option if you're looking for something with a similar look but for a lesser price. The one-hand steer model, swish, isn't as light as other prams, but it does come with a large storage basket. It also has an extended hood that provides UPF 50+ protection to keep your baby safe and protected.

If you're a new parent, 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 will make it much easier to get your baby out of 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 functional 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 can get trapped. The straps should be cushioned and easy to adjust as they expand. Examine the buckles on your harness to make sure they're not damaged and show signs of wear. Every year, a lot of children are admitted to hospitals due to injuries caused by prams and strollers. The main cause of these injuries is the result of a stroller tipping over. Even the strongest prams can fall over if you hang bags onto the handles, or if a child with a wriggling gets into or out of the seat without harnesses being properly secured.

A common cause of injury is falling off a pram or stroller. If the harness of a baby is not fastened properly it could cause them to fall out of the stroller and suffer head or neck injuries. This is why it is important to make sure that the harness buckle is always locked in place.

Some good prams also have an adjustable canopy that can protect your baby from the sun in both directions. This feature is useful because you won't have to wake up your baby when you change their position in the stroller, or when you enter and out of stores. Other handy features include a snack tray and drink holders for your baby or toddler, a shopping basket under the seat and a handlebar that locks into position when you're not using it.

You should never leave a child sleeping in their stroller unless you are within sight of them at all times. Babies tend to wriggle while asleep and this can cause them to slide off the stroller or pram and could result in suffocation or strangulation. A stroller or pram is not an alternative to a cot and should be used only for brief periods during the daytime.

The majority of prams require you dismantle them to fit them into the car's boot so it's a good idea to familiarise yourself with this procedure before purchasing one. Also, check how easy it is to get the different parts back together push chairs and prams then click them into place.

Durability

A pram needs to be able to last through many years of wear and wear and tear. This includes having to deal with the mud-filled walks and numerous car journeys, so you need to ensure that your choice can do the job you need it to. You should ensure that your pram is in a colour or print that will not date easily so you don't look like you've fallen out of fashion.

The best prams are made of high-quality materials and are designed to last, so you should look for strong and durable materials, robust wheels and an effective suspension system. The most reliable prams have a compact stroller fold so they can be easily stored in your garage or boot when not being used.

All the prams on this list allow babies to lie flat, which is crucial for newborns as it improves oxygen saturation levels as well as aids in the development of their spine and hips. Many of these prams are designed to expand with your child's. Some come with a carrycot, or a reclined chair that can be removed and snapped on when your child is outgrowing them.

If you are considering buying an infant stroller for the first time you should consider a travel system that has a carrycot and a car seat could be of interest. We love the Graco Near2Me system that our parent tester Jaya used with her 10-month-old son. It comes with a clever feature that raises and lowers your child with the click of a button so you can keep your eyes on them and keep them close, which she claimed was important to her since he was in an exploratory stage.

Another alternative 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 a double pushchair (helpful site) with 30 different configurations, and comes with luxe fabrics, an extendable sun canopy, and puncture-proof tyres. It's not cheap but you can use it for more than one child if needed and, like our winner the iCandy Orange 3 in one pushchair, can be used from birth thanks to the included carrycot.

Style

All prams should allow newborns to lay as flat as possible. This will help with their development and improve oxygen levels in the lung. Some models provide a flat surface with a fully-reclinable carrycot while others feature seats that recline to a flat position.

The Graco Near2Me has the latter feature, and it's fantastic at that as our parent tester Jaya discovered when she tried it with her son of 10 months. She loved the ability to raise or lower her baby at the touch of a button to keep him in view while maintaining eye contact and proximity.

It's a great stroller for those who wish to travel around town without hassle since the frame is a great size for maneuvering, and the puncture-proof tyres permit you to remove it from the road and onto rough terrain. It's also a great choice if you're planning on having another child in the near future since it can easily be converted from a single foldable pram to a double or twin pushchair.

The Bugaboo Dragonfly is a stylish and high-end product that looks and feels impressive. It's ideal for babies because it comes with a lie-flat baby carrycot and is compatible with a car seat when you purchase it separately. You can even fold it by putting the carrycot in place and it's something that does not happen with all prams and is an easy and time-saving feature.

Its luxurious fabrics, large shopping basket, and puncture-proof tyres are all the features you'd expect to see on a pram of the highest quality however, its sleek frame makes it easy to maneuver on a variety of terrains. It's also a great option when you live in a large city and have to navigate narrow streets or overcrowded sidewalks frequently. Although it's not inexpensive but the quality and versatility of this model mean that it can save you money in the end by not having to buy a separate pushchair for toddlers. It's available in a broad range of colors, and you can choose one that suits your personal style.