What Makes Good Prams?

A pram, also known as a stroller, pushchair or a sling, is the primary form of transport for babies and toddlers. A quality pram combines safety, comfort and design that makes walking enjoyable for all the family members.

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

Comfort

You want your baby to feel comfortable when you're out with them. The good news is that there are prams made to ensure your child does not feel anything.

All the prams pushchairs listed in this guide let your baby lie flat. This is crucial for babies as it increases oxygenation and strengthens their hips and spine. They also have a seat that can be changed to an upright position once your baby is old enough to sit.

Venicci egg2 is a high-end pram that has a cocoon-like feeling for your baby. It is smooth and has curvaceous lines as well as a bucket-shaped seating, which does not recline into a flat position however, it does come with padding on the mattress and a liner. It's also lighter than most prams, weighing under 8kg but still has solid chassis and grained leather accents, plus air-filled tyres that are puncture-proof, and can take on more rural settings.

If you're looking for something a bit more affordable, but with the same style, the Minu V2 (minus carrycot) is a great option. The stylish, one-hand steer model isn't as light than some of the other prams we've tested however it comes with a large storage basket, as well as an extended hood with UPF50+ protection, which will keep your baby protected and shaded.

If you are a first time parent we suggest you consider a travel system that includes a car seat as well as a pram that can be attached to the same frame. This makes it easier to get your baby from the car to the pram without waking them and is ideal for parents on the go. The Bugaboo Dragonfly is a great example of a stylish and functional pram for travel that can be converted easily from a'pramette' that lies flat' to a toddler-friendly pushchair, compatible with the Graco I-Size car seats.

Safety

A pram should have a five point safety harness to keep your baby secure and should not allow any gaps to entrap their heads or legs. The straps must be padded, and easily adjustable as your child grows. You should also inspect the buckles of your harness to ensure that they are not cracked or showing signs of wear and tear. A lot of children are hospitalized each year due to injuries from strollers or prams. Tipping over is the primary cause of these injuries. Even the most sturdy prams could tip over if you hook bags to the handles or if the child is wriggling and falls into or out of the seat before the harness is tightened.

Another frequent cause of injuries is falling from the stroller or pram. If a child's harness isn't secured correctly, it could cause them to fall out of the stroller, causing neck or head injuries. This is why it is crucial to ensure that the harness buckle is always locked in place.

Some pushchairs prams have a reversible shade which can be used to protect your baby in any direction from the sun. This is a great feature since you will not be having to wake your baby awake when you change their position in the pram or when you go in and out of shops. There are other features that could be useful, such as a snack tray for your child or toddler and drink holders. There is also an extra shopping basket under the seat.

Don't leave a baby sleeping in a pram without having them in sight. Babies tend to wriggle while asleep, which can cause them to fall off the pram or stroller and cause strangulation or suffocation. A stroller or pram is not an alternative to the cot. It should only be used for short periods of time during the daytime.

Most prams require you to take them apart in order to fit them into the car's boot so it's an excellent idea to familiarize yourself with this process before you buy one. Consider how easy it would be to put the pieces back together.

Durability

A pram needs to be able to last through several years of wear and wear and tear. This includes having to deal with walking in the rain and many car journeys, which is why you need to ensure that your choice can perform the task you want it to. You should ensure that your pram is a color or pattern that will not date easily so that you don't appear like you've fallen out of fashion.

The top prams are constructed of high-quality materials and are designed to last, so look for strong and durable materials, robust wheels, and an efficient suspension system. The top prams feature a compact fold so they are easy to store in your garage or boot when not when not in use.

All the prams in this list allow babies to lie flat, which is essential for newborns as it improves oxygen saturation levels and aids in the development of their hips and spine. A lot of them are designed to adapt to your child's needs and some having a carrycot or a fully reclined seat that can be clicked on and off the frame when your child outgrows it.

If you're purchasing a new pram for the first time, you might be looking for a travel system which is an all-in-one package that includes a lie-flat carrycot and car seat. Our tester for parents Jaya loved the Graco Near2Me System that she used with her 10-month old son. It comes with a handy feature that raises and lowers your child with the click of a button so you can keep eye contact and keep them close which she said was really important to her since he was in an exploratory stage.

Another alternative is another option is the Bugaboo Fox 3 which our tester Jess Bird used with her two kids, Effie and Boden (pictured above). It's a luxurious pram that can be converted from a single pushchair to a double pushchair with 30 possible configurations. It also comes with luxe fabrics, an extendable sun canopy, and puncture-proofed tyres. It's not cheap, but you could use it for more than one child in the event of need and, as with our winner the iCandy Orange 3, can be used from birth with the carrycot included.

Style

Newborns must lie flat as much as they can in order to promote development and improve the oxygen saturation of their lungs. Therefore, it's important that all prams permit this. Some models create a completely flat position using a fully reclineable carrycots, while others have the seat that can recline to an upright position.

The Graco Near2Me features the latter feature and is fantastic at that as our parent tester Jaya discovered when she tried it with her son of 10 months. She was thrilled to be able to raise or lower her child with a push of an button, keeping him in the same position while maintaining closeness and eye contact.

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

The Bugaboo Dragonfly looks and feels like a stylish, high-end option. It is suitable for newborns since it comes with a carrycot that can be rolled flat and is compatible with a car-seat if purchased separately. You can fold it by putting the carrycot in place and it's something that isn't the case with all prams, so it's a time-saving and hassle-free feature.

Its luxurious fabrics, spacious shopping basket and puncture-proof tyres are the kinds of things you'd expect on a premium pram however, its sleek frame makes it easy to maneuver across a variety of terrains. This is a great choice when you live in a city and must navigate narrow streets or congested pathways regularly. The pram isn't cheap, but its versatility and quality can save you money in the long run by avoiding the purchase of a separate toddler stroller. You can pick from a range of colors that will fit your style.