What Makes Good Prams?

A pram, also known as a stroller, pushchair or a Sling, is the main form of transport 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 Joy Stylish Baby Stroller is a great pram for newborns to 3-year-old kids. The Reversible handle lets you flip the seat to face your child or the world.

Comfort

You want your child to feel comfortable when you're out with them. The good news is that there are prams designed to ensure that your baby does not feel anything.

The prams we've selected in this buying guide allow your baby to lie flat, which is essential for newborn babies as lying flat improves oxygen saturation and helps support their growing hips and spine. They also have seats that can be converted to an upright position once your baby is old enough to sit up.

For a really high-end feel, the Venicci egg2 provides a warm feeling of a cocoon for your baby with smooth, curved lines and a bucket-shape seating that doesn't recline into a lie-flat position but does have padding on the mattress and liner. It's also lighter than other prams, weighing under 8kg but still has solid chassis and grained leather accents and air-filled tyres that are puncture-proof and [Redirect Only] can be used in more rural environments.

The Minu V2 is a great choice to consider if you're looking to buy something with a similar look but for a lesser price. The swish-looking, one-hand steer model isn't as light as some of the other prams we tested but it does have a big storage basket and an extendable hood with UPF 50+ protection that'll keep your baby shaded and protected.

If you're a first-time parent, we'd recommend considering the travel system bundle that includes a Pram for Newborn and car seat that can be attached to the same frame. This makes it easier for parents to transfer their baby from the car to the pram without having to awake them. The Bugaboo Dragonfly travel system is an elegant and practical pram that is easily converted from a 'pramette,' or lie-flat 'pramette, into a stroller that is toddler-friendly compatible with the Graco ISize car seat.

Safety

The pram should come with a five-point safety harness that will ensure your baby's safety. It should also have no gaps where their legs or heads are likely to get caught. The straps should be padded, and easily adjustable as your child grows. Examine the buckles on your harness to ensure they are not damaged and show signs of wear. Every year, a lot of children are admitted to hospitals due to injuries caused by prams and strollers. The most common reason for these injuries is the result of a stroller tipping over. Even the strongest prams could tip over when you hang bags to the handles or if the child is wriggling and falls in or out of the seat before the harness has been tightened.

Another reason for injuries is falling from the pram or stroller. If the harness of a baby is not secured properly it can cause them to fall out of the stroller, causing neck or head injuries. Therefore, it is important to make sure that the buckle on the harness is securely clicked into place.

A few good prams also come with a canopy that can be reversible to shield your baby from the sun in either direction. This is a useful feature as you can avoid having to wake your child awake while you change their position in the pram or while you go into and out of shops. There are also other features that are useful, for example an eating tray for your child or toddler and drink holders. You can also find a shopping basket underneath the seat.

Do not leave a baby asleep in a pram without being within sight. Babies tend to wiggle while asleep, which can cause them to fall off the pram or stroller and can lead to strangulation or suffocation. A pram or a stroller should not be used as a substitute for the cot. It should only be used for short periods of time during the day.

The majority of prams require you disassemble them in order to fit them into the boot of your car so it's recommended to familiarize yourself with the process before purchasing one. Also, check how easy it is to get the different sections back together and then click them into place.

Durability

A pram should be able to endure a long time of wear. You want to make sure that your baby's pram is able to handle muddy walks as well as a variety of car trips. You want to make sure that your pram is the right color or design that will not date easily to avoid looking like you've fallen out of fashion.

The best travel pram prams are made of high-quality materials and are built to last, so look for robust fabrics, sturdy wheels and an efficient suspension system. The most effective prams are small and fold easily, allowing you to store them in your garage or even the boot.

All the prams in this list allow babies to lay flat, which is vital for newborns because it improves oxygen saturation levels and supports the development of their spine and hips. A lot of these prams are designed to grow with your child's. Some have carrycots, or a reclined chair that can be removed and snapped on when your child outgrows them.

If you're buying a new pram for the first time, you may be interested in a travel system that is a complete bundle that includes a lying-flat carrycot and car seat. Our test-driver for parents Jaya loved the Graco Near2Me system that she used with her 10-month-old son. It is a revolutionary feature that allows you to raise and lower your child by pressing a single button. This allows you to keep your eyes on your child and keep them close.

Another alternative is the Bugaboo Fox 3 which our tester Jess Bird used with her two kids, Effie and Boden (pictured above). It's a luxury pram that can be converted from a single to a double pushchair with 30 possible configurations and features luxurious fabrics, an expandable sun canopy and puncture-proof tyres. It's not expensive however, you can use it with more than one child if you need to. Like our top pick model, the iCandy Orange 3 with its included carrycot can be used right from birth.

Style

Newborns should lay flat as often as possible to aid development and increase the oxygen level in their lungs, so it's important that all prams permit this. Some models allow an entirely flat position using a carrycot that can be fully reclinable, while others feature a seat that can be reclined to a horizontal or [empty] a vertical position.

The Graco Near2Me is brilliant for both as our parent tester Jaya discovered when she tested it on her 10-month-old daughter. She loved the ability to raise or lower her child at the touch of a button to keep him in the same position while maintaining closeness and eye contact.

It's a great pram for those who wish to nip around town easily as the frame is a great size for maneuvering, and the puncture-proof tyres let you move it off the road and on to rough terrain. It's also a good 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 double or twin pushchair.

The Bugaboo Dragonfly looks and feels like a premium, stylish option. 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. You can even fold it by putting the carrycot in place and it's something that not all prams can do which is why it's an efficient and easy feature.

The pram's luxurious fabric, spacious basket, and puncture-proof tires are things you'd expect on a premium model, but the sleek frame makes it easy for you to maneuver on different terrains. This is an excellent choice when you live in a city and have to navigate narrow streets and crowded paths on a regular basis. Although it's not cheap, the quality and versatility of this pram will save you money over the long term by avoiding the need to invest in an additional pushchair for toddlers. It's available in an extensive variety of colors, as well, so you can pick one that fits your personal style.