What Makes Good Prams?

A pram (also called a stroller or a foldable pushchair) is the most popular form of transport for infants and toddlers. A quality pram is a combination of safety, comfort and design that makes walking enjoyable for all the family members.

The R for Rabbit Poppins Joy Stylish Baby Stroller is a fantastic stroller for newborns and 3-year-old children. The reversible handle lets you to rotate the seat so that your child can look at either you or the world around them.

Comfort

You want your baby to be at ease when you're out with them. There are prams that ensure your baby doesn't feel any discomfort.

The prams we've picked in this buying guide allow your baby to lie flat, which is important for babies who are just beginning to crawl. Lying flat increases oxygen saturation and supports their developing hips and spine. They also have a seat that can be changed to more upright positions when your baby is old enough 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 curvaceous lines and a bucket-shaped seat which does not recline into a flat position, but it does have an upholstered mattress and liner. It's also lighter than most prams, weighing under 8kg. But it has a sturdy chassis with grained leather details and tyres that are air-filled, which are puncture-proof.

If you're looking for something a bit more affordable, but still with the same style, the Minu V2 (minus carrycot) is a great option. The stylish one-hand steer model isn't as lightweight as some of the other prams we tried but it has an impressively large storage basket and extendable hood with UPF 50+ protection to keep your baby safe and shaded.

If you are a first-time parent, we recommend you consider a travel system that includes a car seat and pram that attaches 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 parents who are always on the move. The Bugaboo Dragonfly travel system is an elegant and practical pram that is able to be easily converted from a 'pramette, or a lie-flat 'pramette to a stroller for toddlers compatible with the Graco ISize car seats.

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 easily adjustable as your child grows. Check the buckles on the harness to ensure they are not damaged and show signs of wear. A lot of children are hospitalized every year due to pram or stroller-related injuries. The most common reason for these injuries is the result of a stroller tipping over. Even the sturdiest prams can tip over if you hook bags on the handles, or if a child with a wriggling can get in or out of the seat without the harness being done up.

Another frequent cause of injury is falling from the pram or stroller. If a baby isn't properly secured the pram, they could fall out of the stroller and sustain head or neck injuries. This is why it is important to ensure that the buckle of the harness is always clicked into place.

Some prams have a reversible shade which can be used to shield your baby in any direction from the sun. This feature is helpful because you don't have to wake your baby every time you change their position in the stroller or when you enter stores and out. There are other features that could be useful, like a snack tray for your toddler or child and drink holders. There's also a shopping basket underneath the seat.

It is not advisable to let a child sleep in their stroller unless they are in their sight at all times. Babies are known to wiggle when asleep and this may cause them to fall off the pram or stroller and cause suffocation or strangulation. A pram or a stroller should not be used as an alternative to the crib. It should only be used for short periods of time during the daytime.

It is essential to disassemble most prams in order to place them in the boot of your vehicle. This process should be familiarised with before you purchase one. Also, check how it is simple to put the different sections back together and then click them into place.

Durability

A pram needs to be able to endure a long time of wear. You need to ensure that your baby's pram is able to handle muddy walks, as well as multiple car trips. It is important to ensure that your pram is in a colour or print that won't fade easily so you don't look as if you've slipped out of fashion.

The most effective prams are constructed from high-quality materials and are designed to last. So, look for robust fabrics, sturdy wheels and an efficient suspension system. The top prams have a compact travel stroller fold, so they are easy to store in your garage or in the boot when not when not in use.

All the prams in this list allow infants to lay flat, which is vital for infants since it increases oxygen saturation levels and aids in the development of their spine and hips. Many are designed to adapt to your child's needs, with some of them having a carrycot or a fully reclined seat that can be clicked off and back on the frame when your child outgrows it.

If you are considering buying a pram for the first time it is recommended to consider a system that comes with the carrycot as well as car seats could be of interest. Our tester for parents Jaya loved the Graco Near2Me System she used with her 10-month-old son. It comes with a handy feature that can raise or lower your child at the push of a button so you can keep your eyes on them and keep them close which she described as being important for her son as he was in an exploratory stage.

The Bugaboo Fox 3 is another option that our tester Jess Bird tried with her two children Effie & Boden (pictured above). It's a pushchair that can be converted from a single pushchair a double with 30 different configurations. It also features a sun canopy that can be extended and puncture-proof tires. It's not cheap, but you can use it with multiple children if necessary. And like our winner iCandy Orange 3 in one pushchair, the iCandy Orange 3 with its carrycot included, it can be used right from birth.

Style

Newborns need to lay flat as often as possible to aid development and improve oxygen saturation in their lungs, which is why it's important that all prams allow this. Some models allow a completely flat position with a fully-reclinable carrycot, while others have the seat that can recline to an upright position.

The Graco Near2Me is a great device for the latter, as our parent tester Jaya discovered when she tried it on her 10-month-old daughter. She loved the ability to raise or lower her infant by pressing the button to keep him in the same position, while still maintaining the eye contact and closeness.

The frame is ideal for city trips and the puncture-proof wheels allow you to take it off road or over rough terrain. It's a great choice when you are planning to have a second child in the near future since it can be converted from a single pushchair into a twin or double.

The Bugaboo Dragonfly is a stylish premium option that looks and feels impressive. It is suitable for newborns as it includes a carrycot which can be folded flat and is compatible with a car-seat when purchased separately. You can fold it using the carrycot as a stand - something that not all prams can do and is an efficient and easy feature.

The pram's luxurious fabric as well as the spacious basket and puncture-proof tires are features you would expect to see on a high-end model, but the sleek frame makes it simple for you to maneuver on different terrains. It's also a great option if you live in a large city and have to navigate narrow streets or overcrowded sidewalks frequently. Although it's not inexpensive however, the durability and quality of this stroller make it possible to save you money in the end by not having to buy a separate pushchair for toddlers. It's available in a wide variety of colors, too, so you can choose one that fits your personal style.