What Makes Good Prams?
A pram, also known as a pushchair, stroller or Sling, is the main mode of transport for infants and toddlers. A good pram combines comfort, safety and design to make walking enjoyable for the entire family.
The R for Rabbit Poppins Joy Stylish Baby Stroller is a great pram for newborns up to 3 year old children. The Reversible handle lets you flip the seat to face your child or the world.
Comfort
You want your child to feel comfortable when you're out with them. There are prams that will make sure your baby doesn't feel any discomfort.
The prams we've selected in this buying guide all allow your baby to lie flat, which is crucial for infants as lying flat increases oxygen saturation and supports their developing spine and hips. The seats can also be adjusted to an upright position when your baby is able to sit up.
For a truly luxurious feel it's the Venicci egg2 has a cosy feeling of a cocoon for your baby with sleek, curvaceous lines and a bucket-shape seat that does not recline to a lying-flat position, but has a padded mattress and liner. It's also lighter than other prams, at a weight of just 8kg. However, it has a sturdy frame with finely textured leather and tyres that are air-filled, which are puncture-proof.
If you're looking for something more affordable, but with the same style Minu V2 (minus carrycot) is a great option. The one-hand steer, swish model isn't quite as light as other prams, but it does have a huge storage basket. It also has an extended hood that provides UPF 50+ protection to keep your baby protected and shaded.
If you're a first-time parent we recommend a travel system bundle that includes a pram as well as a car seat that can be attached to the same frame. This makes it easier to transfer your child from the pushchairs car seats to the pram without disturbing 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 seats.
Safety
The pram should come with a five-point safety harness that will ensure your baby's safety. It must also be free of gaps where their legs or heads could get stuck. The straps must be cushioned and easily adjustable as your child grows. Examine the buckles on your harness to ensure they are not damaged and show signs of wear. Many children are hospitalised each year due to pram or stroller-related injuries. The primary cause of these injuries is tipping over. Even the strongest prams can tip over if you hook bags on the handles, or if a child who is wriggling is able to get into or out of the seat without the harness being properly secured.
Another common cause of injury is falling from the stroller or pram. If a baby's harness isn't secured correctly it can cause them to fall from the stroller, causing neck or head injuries. This is why it is vital to make sure that the harness buckle is always secured.
Some good prams also have a canopy that can be reversible to protect your baby from the sun in any direction. This is a handy feature because it will prevent having to wake your child awake while you change their position in the pram, or when you are to and from the shops. There are other features that can be useful, like snacks for your child or toddler and drink holders. There's also a shopping basket underneath the seat.
Do not leave a baby asleep in a pram without being in sight. Babies are susceptible to wriggling while sleeping, which can cause them to roll out of the stroller or pram. This could result in suffocation and strangulation. A stroller or pram bags is not an alternative to a crib. It is best travel stroller to use it for short periods of time during the daytime.
The majority of prams require you to disassemble them in order to fit them into the trunk of your car so it is an excellent idea to familiarize yourself with this process before you buy one. Also, check how it is simple to put the different sections back together before putting them into place.
Durability
A pram needs to be durable enough to withstand many years of wear and wear and tear. This includes surviving muddy walks and getting through many car journeys, so you want to be sure your choice will perform the task you want it to. It is also important for your pram to come in a print or colour that isn't prone to fading quickly to avoid looking like you've gone out of style.
The best prams will be made of high-quality materials, and built to last. Look for durable fabrics with sturdy tires, as well as an effective suspension system. The best prams are lightweight and fold easily so that you can put them in your garage or the boot of your car.
All prams on this list allow your baby to lie on their backs. This is important for infants because it allows them to develop their hips and spine and improves oxygenation levels. Many are designed to adapt to your child's needs and some featuring a carrycot, or a fully reclined seat that can be clicked off and on the frame at a time when your child is no longer using it.
If you are purchasing a pram for the very first time you should consider a travel system that includes both the carrycot as well as car seats could be a good idea. We are awestruck by the Graco Near2Me system that our parent tester Jaya used with her 10-month-old son. It comes with an innovative feature that allows you to raise and lower your child with the touch of a single button. This allows you to maintain eye contact with the baby and keep them in close proximity.
The Bugaboo Fox 3 is another option that our test-driver Jess Bird tried with her two children Effie and Boden (pictured above). It's a luxurious pushchair that converts from a single to a double pushchair with 30 possible configurations and features luxurious fabrics, an expandable sun canopy and puncture-proof tyres. It's not cheap, but you can use it for more than one child if needed and, like our winner the iCandy Orange 3, can be used from birth using the included carrycot.
Style
Newborns must lay flat as often as possible to aid development and increase the oxygen level in their lungs. Therefore, it's important that all prams allow this. Some models allow for an all-flat position by using a carrycot that is fully reclined, whereas others have a seat which can be reclined to a horizontal or a vertical position.
The Graco Near2Me is brilliant for both, as our parent tester Jaya discovered when she tested it on her child who was 10 months old. She loved that she could raise or lower her baby at the touch of the button to keep him in view, while still maintaining eye contact and proximity.
The frame is perfect for nipping around town and the puncture-proof wheels permit you to drive it off road or over rough terrain. It's also a smart 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 high-end, stylish option. It is suitable for newborns as it includes a carrycot that can be rolled flat and is compatible with car seats when purchased separately. It can be folded with the carrycot still in place This is a feature that not all prams offer. This reduces time and makes it more convenient to use.
Its luxurious fabrics, spacious shopping basket, and puncture-proof tyres are the kind of features you'd expect to see on a high-end pram, but its sleek frame makes it easy to handle on any terrain. It's also a great choice when you reside in a city and need to negotiate narrow streets or overcrowded sidewalks frequently. Although it's not inexpensive but the quality and versatility of this pram will save you money over the long term by avoiding the need to buy a separate pushchair for toddlers. You can pick from a wide range of colors to suit your personal style.