Guide To Good Prams: The Intermediate Guide To Good Prams

What Makes Good Prams?

A pram, also known as a stroller, pushchair or Sling, is the main method of transport for infants and toddlers. A quality pram blends safety, comfort, and style to make walking enjoyable for all the family.

The R for Rabbit Poppins Stylish Baby Stroller is a great stroller for infants to 3 years old. The reversible handle lets you turn the seat to face your child or the world.

Comfort

When you're out and around with your baby, you need to be sure they're comfortable. There are prams that make sure your baby doesn't feel anything.

The prams we've selected in this buying guide all allow your baby to lie flat, which is important for babies who are just beginning to crawl. Lying flat improves oxygen levels and assists in the development of their spine and hips. They also have a seat that can be changed to more upright positions when your baby is old enough to sit.

Venicci egg2 is a premium pram that has a cocoon-like feel for your baby. It features smooth, curvaceous lines and a bucket-shaped seat which doesn't recline into a flat position, but it does have padding on the mattress and a liner. It's also a little lighter than most prams on the market at under 8kg but still has a sturdy chassis and grained leather details as well as tyres with air-filled tires that are puncture-proof and able to handle more rugged terrains.

If you're looking for something a bit more affordable, but with a similar style, the Minu V2 (minus carrycot) is a good option. The swish-looking, one-hand steer model isn't as light as some of the other prams we tried but it has an impressively big storage basket and an extendable hood with UPF 50+ protection to keep your baby shaded and protected.

If you're a first-time parent, we recommend that you look into a travel system that includes a car seat and pram that can be attached to the same frame. This makes it much easier for parents to transfer their baby from their car to the pram without having to awake them. The Bugaboo Dragonfly is a great example of a stylish and useful pram that can convert easily from a'pramette' lying flat' to 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 safe and free of any gaps that could trap their legs or head. The straps must be cushioned and easy to adjust as they grow. It is also important to inspect the buckles of your harness to ensure that they are not cracked or showing signs of wear and tear. Each year, many children are hospitalised because of injuries caused by prams or strollers. The most common cause of these injuries is the result of a stroller tipping over. Even the sturdiest prams can fall over if you hang bags onto the handles, or if a wriggling child is able to get into or out of the seat without harnesses being properly secured.

Another reason for injuries is falling from the pram or stroller. If the harness of a baby isn't secured correctly, it could cause them to fall out of the stroller and sustain neck or head injuries. This is why it is important to ensure that the buckle of the harness is always locked in place.

Some good prams - related - also have a canopy that can be reversible to protect your baby from the sun in both directions. This is a great feature as you can avoid having to wake your child awake when you change their position in the pram, or when you are to and from the shops. Other handy features include a snack tray and drink holders for your infant or toddler, a basket for shopping under the seat and the handlebar locks into position when you're not using it.

It is not advisable to leave a child sleeping in their stroller unless they are within sight of them at all times. Babies tend to wiggle while asleep and this can cause them to roll off the stroller or pram and cause suffocation or strangulation. A pram or a stroller is not an alternative to a crib. It is best to use it for short periods during the day.

It is necessary to disassemble the majority of prams to put them in the boot of your vehicle. This process should be familiarised with before you purchase a pram. Find out how easy it will be to put the parts back together.

Durability

A pram must be durable enough to endure several years of wear and wear and tear. You want to make sure that your stroller can withstand muddy walks as well as a variety of car trips. You want to make sure that your stroller is in a colour or print that isn't prone to fading to avoid looking like you've lost fashion.

The best prams will be constructed from high-quality materials and designed to last. You should look for durable fabrics, sturdy tires, and an efficient suspension system. The best prams are lightweight and fold easily, allowing you to store them in your garage or the boot of your car.

All the prams in this list allow the baby to lie on their backs. This is important for newborns, because it aids in the development of their hips and spine, and boosts oxygen levels. Some are made to adapt to your child's needs, with some of them having a carrycot or fully-reclined seat that can be moved off and back on the frame for when your child is no longer using it.

If you are buying an infant stroller for the first time it is recommended to consider a system that has a carrycot and car seats could be worth a look. Our tester for parents Jaya was a fan of the Graco Near2Me system that she used with her 10-month-old son. It comes with a handy feature that can raise or lower your baby at the touch of a button, so you can keep your eyes on them and keep them close which she claimed was important to her as the baby was still at an exploratory stage.

Another alternative is the Bugaboo Fox 3 which our tester Jess Bird used with her two kids, Effie and Boden (pictured above). It's a luxurious pushchair that converts from a single to a double pushchair with 30 different configurations, and comes with premium fabrics, an extendable sun canopy and puncture-proof tyres. It's not cheap but you could 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 using the carrycot included.

Style

Newborns must lay flat as much as they can to help develop and increase the oxygen level in their lungs, which is why it's important that all prams allow this. Some models provide a flat surface with a fully-reclinable carrycot, while others have the seat that can recline to an upright position.

The Graco Near2Me works great for the latter, as our parent tester Jaya discovered when she tried it on her 10-month-old daughter. She was thrilled that she could raise and lower her child with the push of a button, keeping him in sight and still maintain eye contact and closeness.

It's a great pram pushchair for those who want to get around town with ease as the frame is a good size for manoeuvring, while the puncture-proof tyres let you remove it from the road and onto rough terrain. It's also a great option if you're thinking of having another child in the near future because it easily converts from a single pushchair to a twin or double pushchair travel system.

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 when you purchase it separately. You can fold it with the carrycot in place - something that isn't the case with all prams, so it's an efficient and easy feature.

Its luxe fabrics, spacious shopping basket and puncture-proof tires are the kinds of things you'd expect on a high-end pram however, its sleek frame makes it easy to handle on a variety of terrains. It's also a great option for those who live in a city and have to navigate narrow streets or crowded sidewalks frequently. While it's not cheap, the quality and versatility of this stroller make it possible to save you money in the long run by eliminating the need to purchase a separate toddler pushchair with car seat. You can pick from a range of colors that will fit your preferences.