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What Makes Good Prams?

A pram (also called a pushchair or stroller) is the primary mode of transport for infants and toddlers. A great pram combines safety, comfort and style that makes walking fun for all the family members.

The R for Rabbit Poppins Stylish Baby Stroller is a fantastic stroller for babies to 3 years old. 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 want to ensure that they’re safe. The good news is that there are prams designed to ensure your child does not feel anything.

The prams we’ve selected in this buying guide all let your baby lie flat, which is crucial for newborn babies as lying flat increases oxygen saturation and assists in the development of their hips and spine. They also have seats which can be transformed to a more upright position when your baby is old enough to sit.

For a luxurious experience it’s the Venicci egg2 provides a warm cocoon feel for your newborn with smooth, curved lines and a bucket-shape seat that doesn’t recline to a lie-flat position, but it does have padding on the liner and mattress. It’s also a little lighter than other prams, weighing less than 8kg but has a sturdy chassis and grained leather detailing, plus air-filled tyres that are puncture-proof and able to handle more rugged terrains.

The Minu V2 is a great option when you’re looking for a model with a similar design but at a lower price. The one-hand steer, swish model isn’t quite as light as other prams but it does have a large storage basket. It also has an extended hood that provides UPF 50+ protection to keep your baby protected and shaded.

If you are new to parenting we suggest that you look into the travel system that includes a car seat and pram that are attached to the same frame. This will make it much easier to transfer your child from the car into the pram without waking them and is perfect for busy parents on the go. The Bugaboo Dragonfly is a great example of a stylish and useful pram that can convert easily from a lie-flat ‘pramette into a toddler-friendly pushchair compatible with the Graco i-Size car seat.

Safety

The pram should come with a five-point safety harness that will keep your baby safe. It should also not have any gaps where their legs or heads are likely to get caught. The straps should be cushioned and easy to adjust as they expand. Examine the buckles on your harness to ensure they are not cracked and have signs of wear. Every year, a lot of children are admitted to hospitals because of injuries caused by prams and strollers. The primary reason for these injuries is tipping over. Even the most robust prams could tip over if you hook bags onto the handles, or if a child who is wriggling can get in or out of the seat without the harness being secured.

Another common cause of injury is falling from the pram or stroller. If a child’s harness is not fastened properly it can cause them to fall from the stroller, causing head or neck injuries. It is therefore essential to ensure that the buckle on the harness is securely clicked into place.

Some prams come with a reversible shade that can be used to protect your baby in either direction from the sun. This is a handy feature because it will prevent having to wake your baby awake when you change their position in the pram or when you are going into and out of shops. Other handy features include a tray for snacks and drink holders for your baby or toddler, a shopping basket under the seat, and a handlebar that locks into position when you are 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, which can cause them to roll off the stroller or pram and could result in suffocation or strangulation. A stroller or pram should not be used as a substitute for the cot. It is best to use it for short periods of time during the day.

The majority of prams require you to take them apart in order to put them in the boot of your car therefore it’s a good idea to familiarise yourself with this process before purchasing one. Find out how easy it will be to put the parts back together.

Durability

A pram must be durable enough to withstand many years of wear and wear and tear. This includes surviving muddy walks and getting through numerous car journeys, so you want to be sure your choice will do the job you need it to. It is important to ensure that your pram is a color or pattern that isn’t prone to fading so you don’t look like you’ve lost fashion.

The most effective prams are constructed from high-quality materials and are designed to last, so you should look for robust fabrics, sturdy wheels and an efficient suspension system. The most effective prams are small and fold easily, so you can store them in your garage or even the boot.

All prams on this list allow the baby to lie down flat. This is important for infants because it allows them to develop their hips and spine and boosts oxygen levels. Some are made to grow with your child, with some of them having a carrycot or fully-reclined seat that can be moved off and on the frame for when your little one outgrows it.

If you are buying a pram for the first time, a travel system that includes both a carrycot and car seats could be a good idea. Our test-driver for parents Jaya loved the Graco Near2Me System she used with her 10-month old son. It comes with a handy feature that allows you to raise and 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 for her son 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 children Effie and Boden (pictured above). It’s a pushchair that can be transformed from a single pushchair a double with 30 different configurations. It also features the sun canopy which can be extended and puncture-proof tires. It’s not inexpensive, but you can use it with multiple children, if needed. Similar to our winner model, the iCandy Orange 3 with its carrycot can be used right from birth.

Style

Newborns must lay flat as much as they can in order to promote development and improve oxygen saturation in their lungs, so it’s essential that all prams allow this. Some models allow for an all-flat position by using a carrycot that can be fully reclinable, while others have a seat which can be reclined to a horizontal or a vertical position.

The Graco Near2Me comes with the latter feature, and it’s fantastic at what it does as our parent tester Jaya found when she tested it with her son of 10 months. She loved the ability to raise or lower her baby at the touch of an button, keeping him in the same position, while still maintaining closeness and eye contact.

The frame is ideal to take a stroll around town, and the puncture-proof tires allow you to take it off the road or on rough terrain. It’s also a great option if you’re thinking of having another child in the near future since it can easily be converted from a single pram to a double or twin pushchair.

The Bugaboo Dragonfly looks and feels like a high-end, stylish option. It is suitable for newborns as it includes a carrycot which can lie flat and it’s compatible with a car seat when purchased separately. You can even fold it using the carrycot as a stand which is something isn’t the case with all prams and is a time-saving and hassle-free feature.

Its luxe fabrics, spacious shopping basket and puncture-proof tires are the kind of 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. This is a great choice if you live in the city and must navigate narrow streets or congested walkways frequently. The pram isn’t cheap, but its versatility and quality can save you money over time by avoiding the need for a separate toddler stroller. You can choose from a wide range of colors to suit your style.