What Makes Good Prams?

A pram, also known as a stroller, folding pushchair or a Sling, is the main form of transport for babies and toddlers. A quality pram blends comfort, safety and design to make walking enjoyable for the entire family.

The R for Rabbit Poppins Joy Stylish Baby Stroller is a fantastic stroller for newborns and 3-year-old kids. Its reversible handle allows you to tilt the seat so that your child can look at either you or the world around them.

Comfort

When you’re out and about with a baby, you need to be sure they’re comfortable. The good news is that there are prams designed to ensure your little one doesn’t feel a thing.

All the prams listed in this guide let your baby lay flat. This is crucial for newborns as it improves oxygenation and strengthens their hips and spine. 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 offers a cocoon-like feel for your baby. It is smooth and has curving lines, a bucket-shaped seat, which doesn’t recline into a flat position, but it does have a padded mattress and liner. It’s also lighter than most prams, with a weight of less than 8kg. But it has a sturdy frame with grained leather details and air-filled tyres which are puncture-proof.

If you want something more budget-friendly but with the same style, the Minu V2 (minus carrycot) is another excellent choice. The sleek, one-hand steer model isn’t as lightweight as some of the other prams we tested however it comes with a big storage basket and an extendable hood with UPF 50+ protection that’ll keep your baby protected and shaded.

If you’re new to parenting we suggest that you consider the travel system that includes a car seat and pram that attaches to the same frame. This will make it easier to get your baby out of the car into the pram without waking them and is ideal for busy parents on the go. The Bugaboo Dragonfly is a great example of a stylish and useful pram for travel that can be converted easily from a’pramette’ lying flat to a pushchair for toddlers that is compatible with the Graco I-Size car seats.

Safety

The pram should be equipped with five-point safety harnesses that will ensure your baby’s safety. It should also have no gaps where their legs or heads are likely to get caught. The straps must be padded, and easily adjustable as your child grows. Check the buckles on the harness to ensure they are not damaged and show signs of wear. Every year, a large number of children are admitted to hospitals because of injuries caused by prams and strollers. Tipping over is the primary reason for these injuries. Even the strongest prams could tip over if you hook your bags onto the handles or if the child is wriggling or squirming and falls in or out of the seat before the harness is tightened.

Another frequent cause of injury is falling from the pram or stroller. If a baby’s harness is not secured properly, it could cause them to fall out of the stroller and suffer head or neck injuries. It is therefore important to always ensure that the buckle on the harness is locked into the correct position.

Some good prams also have a reversible canopy that will shield your baby from sun in both directions. This is a great feature since you will not be having to wake your child up when you are changing their position in the pram or when you go in and out of shops. Other handy features include a snack tray and drink holders for your infant or toddler, a shopping basket under the seat and the handlebar locks in place when you’re not using it.

Don’t leave a baby sleeping in a pram without having them within reach. Babies can be prone to wriggling while sleeping and this could cause them to roll out of the stroller or pram. This could result in suffocation and strangulation. A pram or stroller is not an alternative to a cot and should be used only for brief periods during the day.

It is essential to disassemble most prams in order to fit them in the trunk of your car. This process should be familiarised with before you purchase one. Also, consider how easy it is to get the different parts back together and then click them into place.

Durability

A pram must be able endure several years of wear. This includes surviving the mud-filled walks and numerous car journeys, so you need to ensure that your choice is able to do the job you need it to. You want to make sure that your pram is in a colour or print that isn’t prone to fading so you don’t look like you’ve fallen out of style.

The best prams will be constructed of top-quality materials and built to last. Look for durable materials with sturdy tires, as well as an efficient suspension system. The best prams will also 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 infants to lie flat, which is vital for infants since it increases oxygen saturation levels and aids in the development of their spine and hips. Many of these prams travel system have been designed to expand with your child. Some have carrycots, or a reclined seat that can be snapped on and off when your child is outgrowing them.

If you’re buying a new pram for the first time, you may also be interested in a travel set which is an all-in-one bundle that includes a lying-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 has a nifty 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 as he was at an exploratory stage.

The Bugaboo Fox 3 is another option that our test-driver Jess Bird tried with her two children Effie & Boden (pictured above). It’s a pram that can be transformed from a single pushchair car seat into a double with 30 different configurations. It also comes with sun canopy that can be extended and puncture-proof tires. It’s not inexpensive however, it can be used for more than one child if you need to. And like our winner iCandy Orange 3, the iCandy Orange 3 with its carrycot included can be used from the moment of birth.

Style

All prams should allow newborns to lie flat as possible. This will help with their development and boost oxygen levels in the lungs. Some models permit an entirely flat position using a carrycot that is completely reclined, while others have a seat which can recline to a horizontal position.

The Graco Near2Me is brilliant for this, as our parent tester Jaya discovered when she tested it on her 10-month-old daughter. She was thrilled that she could raise and lower her child with the press of a button, keeping him in the view of others, while still maintaining eye contact and a closeness.

The frame is ideal to take a stroll around town, and the puncture-proof tires permit you to drive it off the road or on rough terrain. It’s also a smart option if you’re thinking of having another child in 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’s ideal for infants as it includes a lie-flat carrycot and is compatible with car seats, if you buy it separately. It can be folded by putting the carrycot in place – something that not all prams can do which is why it’s a time-saving and hassle-free feature.

Its luxurious fabrics, large shopping basket and puncture-proof tires are all the things you’d expect on a premium pram and its sleek design makes it easy to maneuver on any terrain. This is an excellent choice if you live in the city and have to navigate narrow streets or crowded pathways regularly. It’s not cheap, but its versatility and high-end quality can save you money over time by avoiding the purchase of a separate stroller for toddlers. You can choose from a range of colors to match your preferences.