Guide To Good Prams: The Intermediate Guide Towards Good Prams

What Makes Good Prams?

A pram, also referred to as a stroller, pushchair or a Sling, is the most popular method of transport for infants and toddlers. A well-designed pram is a combination of safety, comfort and design to make walking enjoyable for the entire family.

The R for Rabbit Poppins Joy Stylish Baby Stroller is a wonderful pram for newborns up to 3 year old children. 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'll want to ensure they're secure. The good news is that there are prams made to ensure your little one isn't apprehensive.

The prams we've chosen in this buying guide all let your baby lie flat, which is crucial for babies who are just beginning to crawl. Lying flat improves oxygen saturation and supports their developing hips and spine. They also have a seat that can be converted to an upright position once your baby is old enough to sit up.

Venicci egg2 is a premium pram with a cocoon feeling for your baby. It features smooth, curvaceous lines as well as a bucket-shaped seating, that doesn't recline to an upright position, but it does have a padded mattress and liner. It's also lighter than most prams available at less than 8kg but has an extremely sturdy chassis and grained leather detailing as well as tyres with air-filled tires that are puncture-proof and able to take on more rural settings.

If you're looking for something more budget-friendly but with the same design Minu V2 (minus carrycot) is a great option. The one-hand steer model, swish, isn't as light as other prams but it does have a huge storage basket. It also comes with an extended hood that provides UPF 50+ protection to keep your baby safe and protected.

If you're a first time parent we suggest you consider a travel strollers system package which includes a car seat as well as a pram that attaches 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 perfect for busy parents who are always on the move. The Bugaboo Dragonfly travel system is a stylish and practical pram that is easily converted from a 'pramette or a lie-flat 'pramette to a stroller for toddlers compatible with the Graco iSize car seat.

Safety

A pram should be equipped with a five-point safety harness to keep your baby secure and should not allow any gaps to trap their legs or head. The straps should be padded and easy to adjust as they grow. Examine the buckles on the harness to ensure that they are not damaged and show signs of wear. Many children are hospitalised each year because of injuries from strollers or prams. The main cause of these injuries is the result of a stroller tipping over. Even the strongest prams can topple when you strap your bags onto the handles or if a child is wriggling and gets out or in the seat before the harness is tightened.

A frequent cause of injury is falling from a pram or stroller. If the harness of a baby isn't secured correctly, it could cause them to fall from the stroller and sustain neck or head injuries. It is therefore important to ensure that the buckle on the harness is clicked into the proper position.

Some good prams also have a reversible canopy that will shield your baby from sun in either direction. This is a useful feature because it will prevent having to wake your child up when you are changing their position in the pram or when you are going in and out of shops. Other useful features include a tray for snacks and drink holders for your baby or toddler, a shopping basket underneath the seat, and the handlebar locks in place when you are not using it.

It is not advisable to leave a child sleeping in their stroller unless you are within sight of them at all times. Babies are prone to wiggle during sleep, which can cause them to roll out of the stroller or pram shops near me. This could lead to strangulation and suffocation. A pram or a stroller should not be used as a substitute for the crib. It should only be used for short periods during the daytime.

The majority of prams require you disassemble them in order to fit them into the car's boot so it's a good idea to familiarise yourself with this procedure before you purchase one. Also check how it is simple to put the different parts back together and click to put them back together.

Durability

A pram needs to be able to stand up to the wear and tear of many years. This includes surviving muddy walks and getting through many car journeys, so you need to ensure that your choice will perform the task you want it to. You also want your pram to come in a print or colour that isn't prone to fading quickly so you don't end up looking like you've gone out of fashion.

The best prams are made of 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 most reliable prams feature a compact fold so they are easy to store in your garage or boot when not when not in use.

All the prams in this list allow a baby to lay flat, which is essential for newborns as it improves oxygen saturation levels and aids in the development of their hips and spine. Some are made to adapt to your child's needs and some having a carrycot or fully-reclined seat that can be moved off and back on the frame for when your child outgrows it.

If you are purchasing an infant stroller for the first time, a travel pram system that comes with an infant carrycot and car seats could be worth a look. Our tester for parents Jaya was a fan of the Graco Near2Me System that she used with her 10-month old son. It comes with a clever feature that raises and lowers your child with the click of a button. This way you can maintain eye contact and keep them close, which she described as being important to her as he was in an exploratory stage.

Another alternative is the Bugaboo Fox 3 which our tester Jess Bird used with her two children, Effie and Boden (pictured above). It's a pram that can be converted from a single pushchair into double in 30 different configurations. It also features a sun canopy that can be extended and puncture-proof tires. 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

All prams should permit newborns to lie as flat as possible. This will aid in their development and improve oxygen levels in the lung. Some models permit a completely flat position by using a carrycot that can be fully reclined, whereas others have a seat that can be reclined to a horizontal or a vertical position.

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

It's a great choice for those that want to nip around town easily as the frame is a good size for maneuvering, and the puncture-proof tyres permit you to take it off road and on to rough terrain. It's also a great option if you're thinking of having another child in future since it can easily be converted from a single pram to a double or twin pushchair.

The Bugaboo Dragonfly looks and feels like a high-end, stylish option. It's suitable for babies since it includes a carrycot which can be folded flat and is compatible with a car seat when purchased separately. It can be folded while the carrycot still in place It's something that not all prams provide. This saves time and makes it more convenient to use.

Its luxe fabrics, spacious shopping basket and puncture-proof tires are all the features you'd expect to see on a pram of the highest quality, but its sleek frame makes it easy to maneuver on any terrain. This is a great option when you live in a city and must navigate narrow streets or congested paths frequently. It's not cheap, but its versatility and quality can save you money over time by avoiding the need for an additional stroller for your toddler. It's available in a wide variety of colors, as well, so you can choose one that fits your personal style.