What Makes Good Prams?
A pram, also known as a pushchair, stroller or a Sling, is the most popular mode of transport for infants and toddlers. A great pram is a blend of comfort, safety and design that makes walking enjoyable for all family members.
The R for Rabbit Poppins Stylish Baby Stroller makes a great stroller for babies to 3 years old. The Reversible handle lets you flip the seat to face your child or the world.
Comfort
When you're out and about with your baby, you need to be sure they're comfortable. The good news is that there are prams made to ensure your child does not feel anything.
All the prams in this guide allow your baby to lay flat. This is crucial for newborns as it improves oxygenation and strengthens their hips and spine. The seats can also be adjusted to a more upright position once your child is able to sit up.
Venicci egg2 is a top-of-the-line pram that offers a cocoon-like feeling for your baby. It is smooth and has curving lines as well as a bucket-shaped seating, which does not recline into flat however, it does come with an upholstered mattress and liner. It's also lighter than most prams, weighing less than 8kg but has an extremely sturdy chassis and grained leather details, plus air-filled tyres that are puncture-proof and able to take on more rural settings.
The Minu V2 is a great option to consider if you're looking to buy something that has a similar appearance but at a price that is lower. The swish-looking, one-hand steer model isn't as lightweight as some of the other prams we tested but it does have a large storage basket and extendable hood with UPF 50+ protection to keep your baby safe and shaded.
If you're a first-time parent we suggest you look into a travel system bundle which includes a pram and car seat that are attached to the same frame. This allows parents to transfer their child from the car to the pram without having to awake them. The Bugaboo Dragonfly travel system is an elegant and practical pram that is easily converted from a 'pramette' or lie-flat 'pramette,' into a toddler-friendly stroller compatible with the Graco iSize car seat.
Safety
The pram should be equipped with five-point safety harnesses that will ensure your baby's safety. It should also have no gaps in which their heads or legs could get stuck. The straps should be cushioned and easy to adjust as they expand. You should also inspect the buckles of your harness to make sure that they are not cracked or showing signs of wear and tear. Many children are hospitalised every year due to pram or stroller-related injuries. The most common cause of these injuries is the result of a stroller tipping over. Even the strongest prams can tip over if you attach bags onto the handles, or if a wriggling child can get in or out of the seat without the harness being properly secured.
Another reason for injuries is falling from the stroller or pram. If a child is not securely fastened in, they could fall out of the stroller and sustain head or neck injuries. It is therefore important to make sure that the buckle on the harness is clicked into the correct position.
Some good prams also have a reversible canopy that will shield your baby from sun in either direction. This feature is useful because you don't have to wake up your baby when you change their position in the stroller or when you go into stores and out. There are other features that could be useful, such as an eating tray for your child or toddler and drink holders. You can also find a basket for shopping underneath the seat.
Don't leave a baby sleeping in a pram without being in sight. Babies tend to wriggle while asleep and this can cause them to fall off the stroller or pram and can lead to suffocation or strangulation. A pram or stroller is not an alternative to a cot and should be used only for brief periods during the daytime.
It is necessary to take apart the majority of prams to place them in the boot of your vehicle. This process is something you should know before you purchase a pram. Also, check how easy it is to get the different parts back together and then click them in place.
Durability
A pram must be able to last through many years of wear and wear and tear. This includes the need to endure the mud-filled walks and many car journeys, which is why you must ensure your choice is able to perform the task you want it to. Also, you want your pram to be in the form of a color or print that won't date quickly so that you don't end up looking like you've gone out of fashion.
The best prams are made from high-quality materials and have been designed to last. So, look for strong and durable materials, robust wheels and a well-designed suspension system. The best prams are compact and fold easily so that you can put them in your garage or boot.
All the prams in this list allow babies to lay on their backs. This is important for newborns, as it helps them develop their spine and hips and boosts oxygen levels. A lot of them are designed to grow with your child, with some of them having a carrycot or fully-reclined seat that can be clicked off and back on the frame at a time when your little one outgrows it.
If you're buying a new pram for the first time, you may be looking for a pushchairs travel systems system which is a bundle 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 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 claimed was important to her as he was in an exploratory stage.
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 luxury pram that converts from a single to double pushchair and has 30 different configurations, and comes with luxe fabrics, an extendable sun canopy and puncture-proof tyres. It's not cheap, but you can use it for more than one child in the event of need and, just like the iCandy Orange 3, can be used from birth thanks to the carrycot included.
Style
All prams should permit newborns to lie as flat as possible. This will help with their development and improve oxygen levels in the lungs. Some models provide a flat position using a fully reclineable carrycot while others feature a seat that reclines to a flat position.
The Graco Near2Me works great for this as our parent facing pram tester Jaya discovered when she tested it on her child who was 10 months old. She loved the ability to raise or lower her baby by pressing the button to keep him in view, while still maintaining closeness and eye contact.
It's a great choice for those that want to travel around town easily as the frame is a great size for maneuvering, and the puncture-proof tyres allow you to take it off road and into rough terrain. It's also a great option if you're thinking of having another child in the near future because it easily converts from a single pushchair to a twin or double pushchair.
The Bugaboo Dragonfly looks and feels like a stylish, high-end option. It is suitable for newborns as it includes a carrycot that can be folded flat and is compatible with car seats when purchased separately. You can fold it using the carrycot as a stand - something that does not happen with all prams, so it's an efficient and easy feature.
Its luxe fabrics, spacious shopping basket and puncture-proof tires are all the features you'd expect to see on a premium pram and its sleek design makes it easy to maneuver on any terrain. It's also a great option for those who live in a large city and need to negotiate narrow streets or crowded sidewalks regularly. This pram uk is not cheap but its versatility and quality can save you money over time by avoiding the purchase of an additional stroller for your toddler. You can choose from a wide range of colors that will fit your preferences.