What Makes Good Prams?

A pram (also known as a stroller or pushchair) is the main form of transport for infants and toddlers. A great pram is a blend of comfort, safety and design that makes walking enjoyable for all the family members.

The R for Rabbit Poppins Stylish Baby Stroller is 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

Your baby should be at ease when you're out with them. The good news is that there are prams designed to ensure your child isn't apprehensive.

The prams we've chosen in this buying guide allow your baby to lay flat, which is essential for newborn babies as lying flat improves oxygen levels and helps support their growing hips and spine. They also come with seats that can be changed to an upright position once your baby is old enough to sit.

For a luxurious feel it's the Venicci egg2 has a cosy cocoon-like feel for your baby with sleek, curvaceous lines and a bucket-shape seat that does not recline to a lying-flat position, but it does have an upholstered mattress and liner. It's also lighter than most prams, at a weight of just 8kg. But it has a sturdy frame with finely textured leather and tyres with air-filled tires that are puncture-proof.

The Minu V2 is a great option to consider if you're looking to buy something with a similar look but at a lower price. The one-hand steer, swish model isn't quite as light as other prams, but it does have a huge storage basket. It also has an hood that can be extended, which provides UPF 50+ protection to keep your baby safe and protected.

If you're a first-time parent we suggest you look into the travel pushchair system bundle that includes a pram as well as a car seat that can be attached to the same frame. This will make it easier to get your baby out of the car into the pram without disturbing them and is ideal for busy parents on the go. The Bugaboo Dragonfly travel system is a stylish 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

A pram should have a five point safety harness to ensure your baby is safe and secure. It should not have any gaps to trap their legs or heads. The straps should be padded and easy to adjust as they grow. Also, you should check the harness buckles to make sure that they are not cracked or showing signs of wear and tear. Every year, a large number of children are admitted to hospitals due to injuries caused by prams and strollers. Tipping over is the main reason for these injuries. Even the strongest prams can topple if you hook bags to the handles or if the child is wriggling and gets into or Infant Carriages out of the seat before the harness is tightened.

A common cause of injury involves falling off a pram or stroller. If a baby's harness is not secured properly, it could cause them to fall from the stroller and sustain head or neck injuries. Therefore, it is important to make sure that the buckle on the harness is clicked into place.

Some prams have a reversible shade that can be used to shield your baby in either direction from the sun. This is a useful feature as you can avoid having to wake your baby awake while you change their position in the pram, or when you go in and out of shops. Other handy features include a snack tray and drink holders for your Infant Carriages or toddler, a basket for shopping underneath the seat, and the handlebar can be locked into place when you're not using it.

Do not leave a baby asleep in a pram without being in sight. 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 stroller or pram should not be used as an alternative to the cot. It is best to use it for short periods during the day.

It is essential to disassemble the majority of prams to fit them in the trunk of your car. This procedure is something you should know before you buy one. Consider how easy it would be to put the pieces back together.

Durability

A pram must be able endure several years of wear. This includes the need to endure muddy walks and getting through many car journeys, so you must ensure your choice will fulfill the tasks you require it to. Also, you want your stroller to have an image or color that doesn't get outdated to avoid looking like you've fallen out of fashion.

The top prams are constructed with high-quality materials. They have been designed to last. So, look for strong and durable materials, robust wheels, and an effective suspension system. The most reliable prams have a compact fold so you can store them easily in your garage or the boot when not when not in use.

All the prams on this list allow babies to lie down on their backs. This is crucial for infants as it helps them develop their spine and hips and improves oxygenation levels. Many are designed to adapt to your child's needs, with some of them featuring a carrycot, or a fully reclined seat that can be moved off and on the frame when your child outgrows it.

If you're purchasing a new pram for the first time, you might also be interested in a travel set which is an all-in-one bundle that includes a lie-flat carrycot and car seat. Our test-driver for parents Jaya was a fan of 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 one button. This allows you to keep your eyes on them and keep them close.

Another alternative is another option is the Bugaboo Fox 3 which our tester Jess Bird used with her two babies, Effie and Infant Carriages Boden (pictured above). It's a luxury pram that converts from a single pushchair to double pushchair and has 30 possible configurations. It also comes with premium fabrics, an extendable sun canopy and puncture-proof tyres. It's not cheap but you can use it for multiple children if necessary. Like our top pick model, the iCandy Orange 3 with its carrycot, it can be used right from birth.

Style

Newborns should lie flat as much as they can in order to promote development and increase the oxygen level in their lungs, which is why it is essential that all prams allow this. Some models create a completely flat surface with a fully-reclinable carrycot while others feature a seat that reclines to an unflat position.

The Graco Near2Me is brilliant for both as our parent tester Jaya discovered when she tried it on her 10-month-old child. She was enthralled by the fact that she could raise and lower her child with the push of a button, keeping him in view and still maintain eye contact and closeness.

This frame is perfect for city trips, and the puncture-proof tires permit you to take it off road or on rough terrain. It's also a smart option if you're thinking of having another child in future since it can easily be converted from a single pram into a twin or double pushchair.

The Bugaboo Dragonfly looks and feels like a high-end, stylish option. It's ideal for babies as it includes a carrycot that can be folded flat and is compatible with a car seat when purchased separately. You can even fold it by putting the carrycot in place - something that isn't the case with all prams, so it's a time-saving and hassle-free feature.

The pram's luxurious fabrics large basket, spacious interior, and puncture-proof tires are all features you'd expect to find in a top model, but the sleek frame makes it easy for you to maneuver on diverse terrains. It's also a great choice when you reside in a city and need to negotiate narrow streets or overcrowded sidewalks regularly. While it's not cheap but the quality and versatility of this stroller mean that it can save you money over the long term by not having to purchase a separate pushchair for toddlers. It's available in a broad selection of colors too, so you can choose one that fits your personal style.