10 Things Your Competition Can Help You Learn About Good Prams

What Makes Good Prams?

A pram, also known as a stroller, pushchair or a sling, is the primary method of transport for infants and toddlers. A well-designed pram is a combination of safety, comfort, and design to make walking enjoyable for all the family.

The R for Rabbit Poppins Stylish Baby Stroller makes a great stroller for children from newborns to three years old. The Reversible handle lets you flip the seat to face your child or the world.

Comfort

If you're out and about with your baby, you want to be sure they're comfortable. The good news is that there are prams designed to ensure your child isn't apprehensive.

The prams we've selected in this buying guide allow your baby to lie flat, which is crucial for babies who are just beginning to crawl. Lying flat improves oxygen levels and supports their developing spine and hips. The seats can be adjusted to an upright position once your child is able to sit up.

For a really high-end experience, the Venicci egg2 has a cosy feeling of a cocoon for your baby with smooth, curved lines and a bucket-shape seats that doesn't recline into a lie-flat position, but it does have padding on the mattress and liner. It's also a little lighter than the majority of prams on the market at less than 8kg, but it has an extremely sturdy chassis and grained leather details and air-filled tyres that are puncture-proof and able to handle more rugged terrains.

If you're looking for something a bit less expensive but with the same design Minu V2 (minus carrycot) is a good option. The stylish, one-hand steer model isn't as lightweight as the other prams we've tested but it has an impressively big storage basket and an extended hood with UPF50+ protection that'll keep your baby safe and shaded.

If you are a first time parent we suggest you consider a travel system package which includes a car seat as well as a pram that attaches to the same frame. This makes it easier to get your baby out of the car into the pram without having to wake them up and is ideal for busy parents on the go. The Bugaboo Dragonfly travel system is an elegant and practical pram that is easily converted from a 'pramette or a lie-flat 'pramette to a stroller for toddlers 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 must also be free of gaps where their legs or heads could get stuck. The straps should be padded and easy to adjust as they expand. Examine the buckles on the harness to ensure that they are not cracked and show signs of wear. Every year, a large number of children are admitted to hospitals because of injuries caused by prams and strollers. The main cause of these injuries is tipping over. Even the strongest prams can fall over if you hang bags on the handles, or if a child with a wriggling is able to get into or out of the seat without harnesses being done up.

Another frequent cause of injury is falling from the pram or stroller. If a baby's harness is not fastened properly it could cause them to fall from the stroller and suffer head or neck injuries. It is therefore essential to always ensure that the buckle on the harness is securely clicked into place.

Some prams come with a reversible shade which can be used to protect your baby in any direction from the sun. This is a handy feature as you can avoid having to wake your baby awake while you change their position in the pram, or when you are going into and out of shops. There are also other features that are useful, for example a snack tray for your toddler or child and drink holders. There's also a basket for shopping underneath the seat.

You should never let a child sleep in their stroller unless they are within their reach at all times. Babies are susceptible to wiggle while asleep and this can cause them to roll out of the stroller or pram. This can lead to suffocation and strangulation. A stroller or pram is not an alternative to a cot and should be used only for brief periods during the daytime.

The majority of prams require you to dismantle them to fit them into the trunk of your car therefore it's recommended to familiarize yourself with the process before you buy one. Check how easy it will be to put the pieces back together.

Durability

A pram should be able to stand up to the wear and tear of many years. This includes having to deal with walking in the rain and many car journeys, which is why you must ensure your choice is able to do the job you need it to. Also, you want your stroller to have a print or colour that won't date quickly to avoid looking like you've gone out of fashion.

The top prams are constructed from high-quality materials and have been designed to last. So, look for durable fabrics, sturdy wheels and an effective suspension system. The most reliable prams 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 your baby to lie on their backs. This is essential for newborns, because it allows them to develop their spine and hips and improves oxygenation levels. Many of these prams are designed to grow with your child's. Some have carrycots, or a reclined seat that can be snapped on and off as your child grows.

If you are purchasing a pram for the first time you should consider a travel system that has the carrycot as well as a car seat may 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 a clever feature that allows you to raise and lower your baby at the touch of a button. This way you can maintain eye contact and keep them close, which she claimed was important for her son as the baby was still at an exploratory stage.

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 luxurious pram that can be converted from a single to double pushchair and has 30 possible configurations and features luxurious fabrics, an expandable sun canopy and puncture-proof tyres. It's not cheap but you could use it for more than one child if needed and, as with our winner the iCandy Orange 3, can be used from birth using the carrycot included.

Style

Newborns need to lie flat as much as they can in order to promote development and improve oxygen saturation in their lungs, so it's important that all prams allow this. Some models allow a completely flat position with a fully-reclinable carrycot while others feature the seat that can recline to an unflat position.

The Graco Near2Me features the latter feature and is fantastic in this regard, as our parent tester Jaya found when she tested it with her son who was 10 months old. She loved the ability to raise or lower her child at the touch of a button to keep him in the same position and still maintain eye contact and proximity.

It's a great choice for those that want to travel around town without hassle since the frame is an ideal size for maneuvering, and the puncture-proof tyres permit you to remove it from the road and into rough terrain. It's also a smart choice if you're planning on having another child in future because it easily converts from a single pram to a double or twin running pushchair.

The Bugaboo Dragonfly is a stylish and high-end product that looks and feels luxurious. It's ideal for infants as it comes with a lie-flat carrycot and is compatible with a car seat when you purchase it separately. It can be folded by putting the carrycot in place which is something not all prams can do which is why it's a time-saving and hassle-free feature.

The pram's luxurious fabrics, spacious basket, and puncture-proof tires are features you would expect to see on a premium model, but the sleek frame makes it easy to maneuver around different terrains. This is a great option if you live in the city and have to navigate narrow streets or congested pathways frequently. This pram is not cheap but its versatility and high-end quality can save you money over time by avoiding the need for a separate toddler stroller. You can choose from a wide range of colors to suit your preferences.