What Makes Good Prams?

A pram (also known as a stroller or a pushchair) is the primary mode of transportation for babies and toddlers. A great pram is a combination of safety, comfort and design that makes walking enjoyable for the entire family.

The R for Rabbit Poppins Stylish Baby Stroller is a great stroller for infants to three years old. The adjustable handle can be turned around to allow you to turn the seat to face your child or the world.

Comfort

When you're out and around with a baby, you want to be sure they're comfortable. The good news is that there are prams specifically designed to ensure your little one isn't apprehensive.

All the prams in this guide allow your baby to lay flat. This is essential for newborns as it improves oxygenation and strengthens their hips and spine. The seats can also be adjusted to a more upright position once your baby is capable of sitting up.

For a truly luxurious experience this Venicci egg2 provides a warm cocoon feel for your newborn with smooth, curved lines and a bucket-shape seat that does not recline to a lying-flat position, but it does have a padded liner and mattress. It's also lighter than other prams, weighing under 8kg. However, it is sturdy and has grained leather details and tyres that are air-filled, which are puncture-proof.

If you're looking for something a bit more budget-friendly but still with the same design, the Minu V2 (minus carrycot) is a good option. The swish-looking one-hand steer model isn't as light than some of the other prams we've tested but it does have a large storage basket and extendable hood with UPF 50+ protection, which will keep your baby safe and shaded.

If you're the first parent of your child we recommend a travel system bundle that includes a pram and a car seat that attach to the same frame. This will make it easier to transfer your child from the car into the pram without having to wake them up and is perfect for busy parents who are always on the move. The Bugaboo Dragonfly is a great example of a stylish and functional pram that can convert easily from a'pramette' that lies flat to a pushchair for toddlers compatible with the Graco I-Size car seats.

Safety

The pram should come with five-point safety harnesses that will ensure your baby's safety. It must also be free of gaps in which their heads or legs could get stuck. The straps should be padded, and easily adjustable as your child grows. Also, you should check the harness buckles to ensure that they aren't damaged or showing signs of wear and tear. Many children are admitted to hospitals each year due to injuries caused by strollers or prams. Tipping over is the primary reason for these injuries. Even the strongest prams can topple if you hook bags to the handles or if the child is wriggling or squirming and falls into or out of the seat before the harness has been tightened.

A frequent cause of injury is falling from a pram or stroller. If the harness of a baby is not fastened properly it can cause them to fall out of the stroller and sustain head or neck injuries. This is why it is vital to ensure that the buckle of the harness is always locked in place.

Some good prams also have an adjustable canopy that can protect your baby from the sun in either direction. This is a handy feature as you can avoid having to wake your child awake while you change their position in the pram, or when you go into and out of shops. Other useful features include a snack tray and drink holders for your infant or toddler, a basket for shopping underneath the seat, and a handlebar that locks in place when you're not using it.

It is not advisable to leave a sleeping child in their stroller unless you are in their sight at all times. Babies are susceptible to wiggle while asleep and this could cause them to roll out of the stroller or pram. This can lead to suffocation and strangulation. A pram or a stroller should not be used as an alternative to a crib. It is best to use it for short periods during the day.

It is necessary to disassemble the majority of prams to place them into the trunk of your car. This process must be mastered before you purchase a pram. Also, check how easy it is to get the different sections back together and click them in place.

Durability

A pram needs to be able to last through many years of wear and tear. You should 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 the right color or design that will not date easily so that you don't appear as if you've slipped 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 a well-designed suspension system. The best prams will also have a compact fold so they are easy to store in your garage or in the boot when not in use.

All prams on this list allow the baby to lie on their backs. This is important for babies, because it aids in the development of their hips and spine, and boosts oxygen levels. A lot of these prams are designed to grow along with your child's. Some come with a carrycot or a reclined seat that can be removed and snapped on when your child is outgrowing them.

If you're buying a new pram for the first time, you might be interested in a travel stroller system which is a bundle that includes a lying-flat carrycot and car seat. Our parent tester Jaya was a fan of the Graco Near2Me System she used with her 10-month-old son. It has an innovative feature that allows you to raise and lower your baby with the touch of a single button. This lets you keep eye contact with the baby and keep them in close proximity.

Another alternative 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 a double pushchair travel system with 30 different configurations, and comes with premium fabrics, an extendable sun canopy and puncture-proof tyres. It's not cheap, but you could use it for more than one child if needed and, like our winner the iCandy Orange 3, can be used from birth thanks to the carrycot included.

Style

Newborns must lay flat as much as they can to help develop and increase the oxygen level in their lungs. Therefore, it's essential that all prams permit this. Some models allow a completely flat position using a fully reclineable carrycot, while others have the seat that can recline to a flat 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 the fact that she could raise or lower her baby at the touch of a button and keep him in view and still maintain eye contact and closeness.

It's a great pram for those who wish to nip around town without hassle since the frame is a good size for maneuvering, and the puncture-proof tyres permit you to remove it from the road and into rough terrain. It's also a great choice if you're planning on having another child in the near future since it is able to convert from a single pram to a twin or double pushchair car seat.

The Bugaboo Dragonfly is a stylish, high-end option that looks and feels impressive. It is suitable for newborns as it comes with a carrycot that can lie flat and it's compatible with a car seat when purchased separately. It can be folded using the carrycot as a stand - something that does not happen with all prams which is why it's an efficient and easy feature.

The pram's luxurious fabrics as well as the spacious basket and puncture-proof tires are things you'd expect on a high-end model, but the sleek frame makes it simple to maneuver over different terrains. It's also a great choice for those who live in a large city and have to navigate narrow streets or crowded sidewalks frequently. While it's not cheap, the quality and versatility of this model make it possible to save you money in the long run by eliminating the need to buy an additional pushchair for toddlers. It's available in a broad variety of colors, and you can choose one that suits your personal style.