What Makes Good Prams?

A pram (also known as a stroller or a pushchair) is the primary mode of transport for infants and toddlers. A quality pram blends safety, comfort, and design to make walking enjoyable for all the family.

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

Comfort

When you're out and about with a baby, you want to be sure they're comfortable. There are prams that ensure that your baby isn't shivering anything.

All prams featured in this guide let your baby lay flat. This is essential for newborns as it improves oxygenation and helps support their spine and hips. The seats can also be adjusted to a more upright position once your baby is able to sit up.

For a luxurious feel this Venicci egg2 provides a warm cocoon feel for your newborn with smooth, curved lines and a bucket-shape seating that doesn't recline into a lie-flat position but does have a padded liner and mattress. It's also lighter than many prams, with a weight of less than 8kg. But it has a sturdy frame with grained leather details and tyres with air-filled tires that are puncture-proof.

If you're looking for something less expensive but still with the same design, the Minu V2 (minus carrycot) is another excellent choice. The one-hand steer, swish model isn't quite as lightweight as other strollers, but it does have a large storage basket. It also has an extendable hood that offers UPF 50+ protection to keep your baby protected and shaded.

If you are a first-time parent, we recommend you consider the travel system that includes a car seat and babiie pram that can be attached to the same frame. This will make it easier to get your baby from the car to the pram without waking them and is ideal for busy parents on the go. The Bugaboo Dragonfly travel system is a stylish and practical pram that can be converted easily from a 'pramette' or lie-flat 'pramette, to a stroller for toddlers compatible with the Graco iSize car seat.

Safety

A pram must have a five point safety harness to keep your baby safe and free of any gaps to trap their legs or heads. The straps must be cushioned and easily adjustable as your child grows. Examine the buckles on your harness to ensure that they are not damaged and show signs of wear. Every year, a lot of children are hospitalised because of injuries caused by prams or strollers. The main reason for these injuries is the result of a stroller tipping over. Even the strongest prams can topple when you hang bags to the handles or if a child is wriggling and falls in or out of the seat before the harness is tightened.

A common cause of injury involves falling from a pram, or stroller. If a child is not securely secured in, they could fall out of the stroller and sustain head or neck injuries. It is therefore essential to always ensure that the buckle on the harness is locked into the correct position.

A few good prams pushchairs prams pushchairs also come with a canopy that can be reversible to protect your baby from sun in either direction. This is a useful feature because it will prevent having to wake your baby awake while you change their position in the pram, or when you go to and from the shops. There are other features that could be useful, for example snacks for your toddler or child and drink holders. You can also find an extra shopping basket under the seat.

Never leave a sleeping baby in a pram if you are not within reach. Babies tend to wriggle while asleep and this may cause them to fall off the pram or stroller and can lead to strangulation or suffocation. A pram or stroller is not a substitute for a cot and should only be used for short periods of time during the daytime.

The majority of prams require you to take them apart in order to put them in the trunk of your car therefore it's recommended to familiarize yourself with this procedure before you purchase one. Check how easy it will be to put the sections back together.

Durability

A pram must be able endure a long time of wear. This includes having to deal with muddy walks and getting through numerous car journeys, so you want to be sure your choice is able to perform the task you want it to. It is also important for your pram to be in the form of a color or print that isn't prone to fading quickly to avoid looking like you've gone out of style.

The best prams (url) are made of high-quality materials and have been designed to last, so look for strong and durable materials, robust wheels and an effective suspension system. The best prams will also feature a compact fold so they are easy to store in your garage or boot when not when not in use.

All prams on this list allow your baby to lie down on their backs. This is important for newborns, as it helps them develop their hips and spine, and improves oxygenation levels. A lot of them are designed to grow with your child with some featuring a carrycot, or a fully reclined seat that can be clicked on and off the frame for when your child outgrows it.

If you are buying a pram for the first time you should consider a travel system that comes with a carrycot and car seats could be of interest. We are awestruck by the Graco Near2Me device that our parent tester Jaya used with her 10-month-old son. It has an innovative feature that lets you raise and lower your baby with the touch of one button. This lets you maintain eye contact with them and keep them close.

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 luxurious pushchair that converts from a single pushchair to double pushchair, with 30 possible configurations and features premium fabrics, an extendable sun canopy, and puncture-proofed tyres. It's not cheap but you could use it for more than one child, if you need to and, just like the iCandy Orange 3, can be used from birth with the carrycot included.

Style

All prams should allow newborns to lie as flat as possible. This will help with their development and boost oxygen levels in the lungs. Some models provide a flat surface with a fully-reclinable carrycot while others feature the seat that can recline to an upright position.

The Graco Near2Me has the latter feature and is fantastic at what it does as our parent tester Jaya found when she tested it with her son of 10 months. She was thrilled that she could raise or lower her baby at the press of a button, keeping him in sight and still maintain eye contact and closeness.

It's a great stroller for those that want to travel around town easily as the frame is a good size for maneuvering, and the puncture-proof tyres permit you to remove it from the road and on to rough terrain. It's also a smart option if you're thinking of having a second child in the future because it easily converts from a single pushchair with car seat to a double or twin pushchair.

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

The pram's luxurious fabrics large basket, spacious interior, and puncture-proof tires are things you would expect to see on a premium model, but the sleek frame makes it simple to maneuver over various terrains. This is a great choice if you live in the city and must navigate narrow streets or congested walkways on a regular basis. While it's not cheap but the quality and versatility of this stroller mean that it can save you money in the long run by avoiding the need to purchase a separate toddler pushchair. It's available in a broad variety of colors, as well, so you can choose one that fits your personal style.