Guide To Good Prams: The Intermediate Guide The Steps To Good Prams

What Makes Good Prams?

A pram, also known as a stroller, pushchair with car seat or a Sling, is the most popular form of transport for babies and toddlers. A good pram is a combination of safety, comfort and style that makes walking enjoyable for all the family members.

The R for Rabbit Poppins Joy Stylish Baby Stroller is a wonderful pram for newborns up to 3 year old kids. The reversible handle lets you turn the seat to face your child or the world.

Comfort

When you're out and about with your baby, you want to ensure they're secure. The good news is that there are prams designed to ensure that your baby doesn't feel a thing.

The prams we've chosen in this buying guide allow your baby to lie flat, which is essential for newborn babies as lying flat improves oxygen levels and supports their developing hips and spine. They also come with seats that can be changed to a more upright position when your baby is old enough to sit.

Venicci egg2 is a premium pram that has a cocoon-like feel for your baby. It has smooth, curving lines, a bucket-shaped seat, that doesn't recline to a flat position however it does come with padding on the mattress and a liner. It's also lighter than many prams, at a weight of just 8kg. However, it still has a sturdy chassis with grained leather details and tyres that are air-filled, which are puncture-proof.

The Minu V2 is a great option if you're looking for something that has a similar appearance but at a price that is lower. The swish-looking one-hand steer model isn't as light as the other prams we tried but it has an impressively big storage basket and an the ability to extend the hood, which comes with UPF 50+ protection that'll keep your baby safe and shaded.

If you are new to parenting we suggest you consider a travel system package which includes a car seat and pram that attaches to the same frame. This makes it easier to get your baby from the car into the pram without disturbing them and is perfect for busy parents who are always on the move. The Bugaboo Dragonfly is a great example of a stylish and functional travel system pram that converts easily from a lie-flat 'pramette into a toddler-friendly pushchair compatible with the Graco i-Size car seat.

Safety

The pram should be equipped with a five-point safety harness that will keep your baby safe. It must also be free of gaps in which their heads or legs can get trapped. The straps must be padded and easily adjustable as your child grows. Also, you should check the harness buckles to ensure they are not cracked or showing signs of wear and tear. Many children are hospitalised each year because of injuries from strollers or prams. The most common reason for these injuries is tipping over. Even the most robust prams could tip over if you hook bags to the handles or if a child who is wriggling can get in or out of the seat without the harness being done up.

A common cause of injury involves falling from a pram or stroller. If the harness of a baby is not fastened properly it could cause them to fall out of the stroller and suffer neck or head injuries. Therefore, it is important to ensure that the buckle on the harness is securely clicked into the proper position.

Some good prams also have a canopy that can be reversible to protect your baby from sun in either direction. This feature is helpful since you don't need to wake up your baby when you change their position in the folding stroller, or when you go into stores and out. Other handy features include a tray for snacks and drink holders for your baby or toddler, a shopping basket under the seat and a handlebar that locks in place when you are not using it.

It is not advisable to let a child sleep in their stroller unless you are in their sight at all times. Babies can be prone to wiggle during sleep and this can cause them to roll out of the stroller or pram. This could lead to suffocation and strangulation. A stroller or pram is not an alternative to a crib and should only be used for short periods of time during the daytime.

The majority of prams require you disassemble them in order to fit them into the boot of your car therefore it's a good idea to familiarise yourself with this process before you buy one. Find out how easy it will be to put the sections back together.

Durability

A pram needs to be durable enough to withstand several years of wear and tear. This includes having to deal with muddy walks and getting through numerous car journeys, so you need to ensure that your choice is able to do the job you need it to. Also, you want your stroller to have an image or color that won't date quickly so that you don't end up 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 strong and durable materials, robust wheels, and an effective suspension system. The best prams are compact and fold easily, so you can store them in your garage or boot.

All prams on this list allow a baby to lay flat, which is crucial for newborns as it improves oxygen saturation levels and supports the development of their hips and spine. Many are designed to grow with your child with some featuring a carrycot, or a fully reclined seat that can be moved off and back on the frame when your child is no longer using it.

If you are purchasing an infant stroller for the first time, a travel system that has the carrycot as well as a car seat could be of interest. Our parent tester Jaya was a fan of the Graco Near2Me System 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 since he was at an exploratory stage.

Another option is another option is the Bugaboo Fox 3 which our tester Jess Bird used with her two kids, Effie and Boden (pictured above). It's a luxurious pram that can be converted from a single pushchair to double pushchair, with 30 possible configurations. It also comes with luxe fabrics, an extendable sun canopy, and puncture-proof tyres. It's not cheap, but you could use it for more than one child, if you need to and, as with our winner the iCandy Orange 3, can be used from birth using the carrycot included.

Style

All prams should allow newborns to lie as flat as possible. This will help with their development and improve oxygen saturation in the lungs. Some models allow for an entirely flat position using a carrycot that is fully reclinable, while others feature a seat that can recline to a horizontal position.

The Graco Near2Me features the latter feature and is fantastic in this regard as our tester for parents Jaya discovered when she tried it with her 10-month-old son. She was thrilled to be able to raise or lower her child by pressing the button to keep him in sight and still maintain the eye contact and closeness.

It's a great choice for those who want to travel around town easily as the frame is a great size for maneuvering, and the puncture-proof tyres allow you to move it off the road and onto rough terrain. It's a great option if you plan to have a child in the near future since it can be transformed from a single pushchair a double or twin.

The Bugaboo Dragonfly is a stylish premium option that is both stylish and comfortable. It's ideal for infants as it includes a lie-flat carrycot and is compatible with a car seat in the event that you purchase it separately. It is able to be folded with the carrycot still in place This is an option that not all prams have. This saves time and makes it easier to use.

Its luxe fabrics, spacious shopping basket, and puncture-proof tyres are the kinds of features you'd expect to see on a high-end pram however, its sleek frame makes it easy to handle on a variety of terrains. It's also a great option for those who reside in a city and need to negotiate narrow streets or overcrowded sidewalks frequently. Although it's not cheap however, the durability and quality of this model make it possible to save you money over the long term by avoiding the need to invest in a separate toddler pushchair. It's available in a wide range of colors, as well, so you can pick one that suits your personal style.