What Makes Good Prams?

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

The R for Rabbit Poppins Joy Stylish Baby Stroller is a fantastic stroller for newborns and 3-year-old kids. The reversible handle lets you turn the seat to face your child or the world.

Comfort

You want your child to feel comfortable when you're out with them. There are prams to ensure your baby doesn't feel any sensations.

The prams we've chosen in this buying guide all allow your baby to lie flat, which is crucial for infants as lying flat improves oxygen levels and supports their developing spine and hips. The seats can be adjusted to an upright position once your child is able to sit up.

Venicci egg2 is a top-of-the-line pram that has a cocoon-like feeling for your baby. It features smooth, curving lines as well as a bucket-shaped seating, which does not recline into an upright position however, it does come with an upholstered mattress and liner. It's also lighter than other prams, with a weight of less than 8kg. However, it still has a sturdy chassis with grained leather details and air-filled tyres which are puncture-proof.

If you're looking for something a bit more affordable, but still with the same design Minu V2 (minus carrycot) is a good option. The sleek one-hand steer model isn't as light as some of the other prams we tested but it does have a big storage basket and an extended hood with UPF50+ protection, which will keep your baby protected and shaded.

If you're a new parent, we'd recommend considering a travel strollers system bundle which includes a pram as well as a car seat that can be attached 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 travel system is a stylish and functional pram that can be converted easily from a 'pramette, or a lie-flat 'pramette' into a toddler-friendly stroller compatible with the Graco iSize car seat.

Safety

The pram should come with a five-point safety harness that will ensure your baby's safety. It should also have no gaps where their legs or heads can get trapped. The straps should be padded and easy to adjust as they grow. Check the buckles on the harness to ensure they are not cracked and show signs of wear. Many children are hospitalised each year due to injuries from strollers or prams. The main reason for these injuries is tipping over. Even the sturdiest prams travel system can tip over if you hook bags to the handles or if a child who is wriggling gets into or out of the seat without the harness being properly secured.

Another common cause of injury is falling off the stroller or pram. If a child is not securely fastened in the pram, they may fall out of the pram and suffer head or neck injuries. This is why it is important to ensure that the buckle of the harness is always clicked into place.

Some good prams also have a canopy that can be reversible to shield your baby from the sun in either direction. 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 go in stores and out. Other useful features include a tray for snacks and drink holders for your baby or toddler, a basket for shopping under the seat, and a handlebar that locks in place when you're not using it.

Never leave a sleeping baby in a pram without being within sight. Babies are known to wiggle when asleep and this may cause them to slide off the pram or stroller and cause strangulation or suffocation. A pram or stroller is not an alternative to a cot and should be used only for short periods of time during the day.

It is essential to disassemble most prams in order to put them in the trunk of your car. This process is something you should know before you purchase a pram. Check how easy it will be to put the sections back together.

Durability

A pram should be able to endure a long time of wear. You need to ensure that your baby's pram is able to handle muddy walks and also multiple car trips. It is also important for your stroller to have the form of a color or print that doesn't get outdated so that you don't end up looking like you've fallen out of style.

The top prams are constructed from high-quality materials and have been designed to last, so you should look for strong and durable materials, robust wheels and an effective suspension system. The top prams have a compact fold, so you can store them easily in your garage or boot when not being used.

All prams on this list allow babies to lay flat, which is crucial for infants since it increases oxygen saturation levels as well as aids in the development of their spine and hips. A lot of these prams are designed to expand with your child. Some include a carrycot, or a fully-reclined chair that can be easily removed and put back on when your child outgrows them.

If you're looking to purchase a brand new pram for the first time, you may also be looking for a travel system which is a bundle that includes a lie-flat carrycot and car seat. We are awestruck by the Graco Near2Me device that our parent tester Jaya used with her son of 10 months. It comes with a clever feature that can raise or lower your child at the push of a button so you can maintain eye contact and keep them close, which she described as being important to her as the baby was still at an exploratory stage.

The Bugaboo Fox 3 is another option that our tester Jess Bird tried with her two babies Effie and Boden (pictured above). It's a stroller that can be transformed from a single pushchair twin to double in 30 different configurations. It also features a sun canopy that can be extended and puncture-proof tires. It's not expensive however, you can use it for multiple children, if needed. Similar to our winner, the iCandy Orange 3 with its included carrycot is a great option to use right from birth.

Style

All prams should allow newborns to lie flat as they can. This will aid in their development and increase oxygen levels in the lung. Some models provide a flat position with a fully-reclinable carrycots, while others have seats that recline to a flat position.

The Graco Near2Me has the latter and it's brilliant at that as our tester for parents Jaya found when she tested it with her son who was 10 months old. She was thrilled that she could raise or lower her child with the touch of a button to keep him in sight, while still maintaining eye contact and closeness.

It's a great pram for those who wish to get around town with ease as the frame is an ideal size for maneuvering, and the puncture-proof tyres let you remove it from the road and onto rough terrain. It's also a great choice if you're planning on having a second child in the future because it easily converts from a single pram to a double stroller or twin pushchair.

The Bugaboo Dragonfly is a stylish premium option that is both stylish and comfortable. It's ideal for babies as it comes with a carrycot that can lie flat and it's compatible with a car seat if purchased separately. You can even fold it with the carrycot in place which is something isn't the case with all prams and is an easy and time-saving feature.

The pram's luxurious fabric as well as the spacious basket and puncture-proof tires are things you would expect to see in a top model, but the sleek frame makes it simple for you to maneuver on different terrains. This is a great choice if you live in the city and must navigate narrow streets or crowded paths frequently. It's not cheap, but its versatility and high-end quality can save you money in the long run by avoiding the need for an additional stroller for your toddler. You can pick from a variety of colors that will fit your preferences.