Why We Do We Love Good Prams (And You Should Also!)

What Makes Good Prams?

A pram, also known as a stroller, pushchair or Sling, is the main mode of transport for infants and toddlers. A well-designed pram is a combination of safety, comfort, and style to make walking enjoyable for the whole family.

The R for Rabbit Poppins Stylish Baby Stroller is a great stroller for infants to three years old. Its reversible handle allows you to tilt the seat so your child can face either you or the world around them.

Comfort

When you're out and about with your baby, you'll want to ensure they're secure. The good news is that there are prams made to ensure your little one isn't apprehensive.

All the prams listed in this guide let your baby lay flat. This is essential for newborns since it improves oxygenation and supports their spine and hips. The seats can be adjusted to a more upright position once your child is able to sit up.

Venicci egg2 is a high-end pram that has a cocoon-like feeling for your baby. It features smooth, curved lines, a bucket-shaped seat, which doesn't recline into a flat position, but it does have padding on the mattress and a liner. It's also lighter than most prams, at a weight of just 8kg. But it has a sturdy frame with grained leather details and tyres that are air-filled, which are puncture-proof.

If you're looking for something a bit less expensive but still with the same design Minu V2 (minus carrycot) is another excellent choice. The swish-looking one-hand steer model isn't as lightweight stroller than some of the other prams we've tested but it does have a big storage basket and an extendable hood with UPF 50+ protection, which will keep your baby safe and shaded.

If you're a new parent we recommend the travel system bundle that includes a pram and car seat that are attached to the same frame. This makes it easier to transfer your child from the car into the pram without having to wake them up and is ideal for busy parents who are always on the move. The Bugaboo Dragonfly is a great example of a fashionable and practical pram for pushchairs travel systems that can be converted easily from a'pramette' that lies flat into 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 safe and secure. It should not have any gaps to trap their legs or heads. The straps must be cushioned and easy to adjust as they grow. Check the buckles on the harness to make sure they're not cracked and have signs of wear. Every year, a large number of children are hospitalised because of injuries caused by prams or strollers. Tipping over is the primary reason for these injuries. Even the most robust prams could fall over if you hang bags onto the handles, or if a child who is wriggling can get in or out of the seat without harnesses being done up.

Another common cause of injury is falling off the stroller or pram. If a child's harness is not secured properly it can cause them to fall from the stroller, causing neck or head injuries. This is why it is crucial to make sure that the harness buckle is always clicked into place.

Some prams come with a reversible shade which can be used to shield your baby in both directions from the sun. This is a great feature because it will prevent having to wake your baby up when you are changing their position in the pram or while you are going in and out of shops. Other handy features include a snack tray and drink holders for your infant or toddler, a shopping basket underneath the seat, and a handlebar that can be locked into place when you are not using it.

Never leave a sleeping baby in a pram if you are not in sight. Babies are prone to wiggle during sleep, which could cause them to fall out of the pram or stroller. This could lead to strangulation and suffocation. A pram or a stroller is not an alternative to a cot. It is best to use it for short periods of time during the day.

It is necessary to take apart most prams in order to put them into the boot of your vehicle. This process is something you should know before you purchase one. Consider how easy it would be to put the parts back together.

Durability

A pram needs to be able to stand up to the wear and tear of many years. You want to make sure that your stroller can withstand muddy walks, as well as multiple car trips. You want to make sure that your pram is a colour or print that won't fade easily so you don't look like you've lost 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 effective suspension system. The top prams feature a compact fold so you can store them easily in your garage or the 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 as well as aids in the development of their hips and spine. Many of these prams have been designed to expand with your child's. Some include a carrycot, or a fully-reclined chair that can be snapped on and off when your child outgrows them.

If you're purchasing a new triple pram for the first time, you might be interested in a travel system which is a bundle that includes a lie-flat carrycot and car seat. We love the Graco Near2Me system which our parent tester Jaya used with her son of 10 months. It has an innovative feature that allows you to raise and lower your baby by pressing a single button. This lets you maintain eye contact with your child and keep them close.

Another alternative is another option is the Bugaboo Fox 3 which our tester Jess Bird used with her two babies, Effie and Boden (pictured above). It's a pushchair that can be converted from a single pushchair double, with 30 different configurations. It also has sun canopy that can be extended and puncture-proof tires. It's not cheap but you can use it for more than one child if needed and, as with our winner the iCandy Orange 3, can be used from birth thanks to the included carrycot.

Style

All prams should permit newborns to lie as flat as they can. This will aid in their development and boost oxygen levels in the lung. Some models permit a completely flat position by using a carrycot that is fully reclined, whereas others have a seat that can be reclined to a horizontal or a vertical position.

The Graco Near2Me has the latter feature and is fantastic at what it does, as our parent tester Jaya discovered when she tried it with her 10-month-old son. She loved the fact that she could raise and lower her baby at the push of a button to keep him in view while maintaining eye contact and a closeness.

It's a great pram newborn for those who want to nip around town with ease as the frame is an ideal size for manoeuvring, while the puncture-proof tyres permit you to remove it from the road and on to rough terrain. It's an excellent choice when you are planning to have a second child in the near future, as it can easily be transformed from a single pushchair to a twin or double.

The Bugaboo Dragonfly looks and feels like a stylish, high-end option. It is suitable for newborns since it includes a carrycot which can be rolled flat and is compatible with a car seat if purchased separately. It can be folded while the carrycot still in place This is a feature that not all prams provide. This reduces time and makes it simpler to use.

Its luxurious fabrics, large shopping basket and puncture-proof tires are all the features you'd expect to find on a pram of the highest quality however, its sleek frame makes it easy to handle on a variety of terrains. It's also a great choice when you live in a city and have to navigate narrow streets or busy sidewalks frequently. While it's not cheap but the quality and versatility of this pram mean that it can save you money over the long term by avoiding the need to invest in an additional pushchair for toddlers. It's available in a broad selection of colors too, so you can choose one that matches your personal style.