What Makes Good Prams?

A pram (also called a stroller or a pushchair) is the most popular form of transport for infants and toddlers. A good pram combines safety, comfort and style to make walking enjoyable for the entire family.

The R for Rabbit Poppins Stylish Baby Stroller is a fantastic stroller for babies to three years old. The reversible handle lets you turn the seat to face your child or the world.

Comfort

You want your baby to feel comfortable when you're out with them. The good news is that there are prams specifically designed to ensure your little one doesn't feel a thing.

The prams we've picked in this buying guide let your baby lie flat, which is important for newborn babies as lying flat improves oxygen saturation and helps support their growing hips and spine. The seats can also be adjusted to a more upright position once your child is able to sit up.

For a luxurious experience, the Venicci egg2 offers a cozy cocoon feel for your newborn with smooth, curved lines and a bucket-shape seats that does not recline to a lying-flat position, but has a padded liner and mattress. It's also a little lighter than most prams available at less than 8kg but has an extremely sturdy chassis and grained leather detailing, plus air-filled tyres that are puncture-proof and able to take on more rural settings.

If you want something more affordable, but still with the same style Minu V2 (minus carrycot) is a good option. The sleek, one-hand steer model isn't as lightweight as some of the other prams we've tested however it comes with a large storage basket, as well as an extendable hood with UPF 50+ protection that'll keep your baby shaded and protected.

If you're a first time parent We suggest that you consider a travel system that includes a car seat as well as a pram that attaches to the same frame. This makes it much easier for parents to transfer their baby from the car to the pram without having to wake them up. The Bugaboo Dragonfly travel system is a stylish and functional pram that is easily converted from a 'pramette or a lie-flat 'pramette' into a toddler-friendly stroller compatible with the Graco ISize car seat.

Safety

The pram should come with five-point safety harnesses that will keep your baby safe. It should also have no gaps between their head and legs that can get trapped. The straps should be padded and easy to adjust as they expand. It is also important to inspect the buckles of your harness to ensure they are not cracked or showing signs of wear and tear. Every year, a lot of children are admitted to hospitals because of injuries caused by prams or strollers. Tipping over is the most common reason for these injuries. Even the most robust prams could tip over if you attach bags onto the handles, or if a wriggling child can get in or out of the seat without the harness being done up.

A common cause of injury involves falling from a pram, or stroller. If a baby isn't securely fastened in the pram, they could fall out of the stroller and suffer neck or head injuries. It is therefore essential to ensure that the buckle on the harness is clicked into the proper position.

Some good prams also have an adjustable canopy that can protect your baby from the sun in either direction. This is a useful feature as you can avoid having to wake your child awake when you change their position in the pram, or when you are into and out of shops. There are also other features that are useful, like an eating tray for your child or toddler and drink holders. There is also a shopping basket underneath the seat.

It is not advisable to leave a sleeping child in their stroller unless you are in their sight at all times. Babies tend to wiggle while asleep and this can cause them to roll off the stroller or pram and could result in suffocation or strangulation. A stroller or pram is not an alternative to the cot. It is best to use it for short periods of time during the daytime.

The majority of prams require you to disassemble them in order to fit them into the car's boot so it's an excellent idea to familiarize yourself with this procedure before you buy one. Find out how easy it will be to put the sections back together.

Durability

A pram must be able stand up to the wear and tear of many years. This includes the need to endure muddy walks and getting through numerous car journeys, so you must ensure your choice is able to fulfill the tasks you require it to. You should ensure that your stroller is in the right color or design that isn't prone to fading to avoid looking like you've lost fashion.

The most effective prams are constructed from high-quality materials and have been designed to last, so you should look for strong and durable materials, robust wheels and a well-designed suspension system. The best prams are lightweight and fold easily, allowing you to put them in your garage or even the boot.

All the prams in this list allow your baby to lie down flat. This is crucial for infants because it allows them to develop their spine and hips and boosts oxygen levels. Many of these prams are designed to grow along with your child. Some come with carrycots, or a reclined chair that can be easily removed and put back on when your child outgrows them.

If you're looking to purchase a brand new pram for the first time, you may also be interested in a travel system which is a bundle that includes a lying-flat carrycot and car seat. We love the Graco Near2Me system that our parent tester Jaya used with her 10-month-old son. It has a nifty feature that allows you to raise and lower your child with the click of a button, so you can maintain eye contact and keep them close, which she described as being important to her since he was in an exploratory stage.

Another alternative is another option is the Bugaboo Fox 3 which our tester Jess Bird used with her two children, Effie and Boden (pictured above). It's a luxury pram that can be converted from a single pushchair to double pushchair, with 30 possible configurations. It also comes with luxe fabrics, an extendable sun canopy and puncture-proof tyres. It's not cheap, but you could use it for more than one child, if you need to and, as with our winner the iCandy Orange 3, can be used from birth with the included carrycot.

Style

All prams should allow newborns to lie flat as they can. This will aid in their development and increase oxygen saturation in the lung. Some models allow a completely flat surface with a fully-reclinable carrycot while others feature a seat that reclines to an unflat position.

The Graco Near2Me is a great device for this, as our parent tester Jaya discovered when she tried it on her 10-month-old child. She was thrilled to be able to raise or lower her infant at the touch of a button to keep him in view and still maintain closeness and eye contact.

This frame is perfect to take a stroll around town, and the puncture-proof tires allow 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 is able to convert from a single pram to a twin or double pushchair.

The Bugaboo Dragonfly looks and feels like a premium, stylish option. It's ideal for babies because it includes a lie-flat carrycot and is compatible with car seats, if you buy it separately. You can fold it by putting the carrycot in place push chairs and prams it's something that isn't the case with all prams, so it's a time-saving and hassle-free feature.

Its luxe fabrics, spacious shopping basket, and puncture-proof tyres are the kinds of features you'd expect to see on a high-end pram, but its sleek frame makes it easy to maneuver on any terrain. This is a great option when you live in a city and have to navigate narrow streets or crowded walkways regularly. While it's not cheap, the quality and versatility of this pram mean that it can save you money in the end by eliminating the need to buy a separate pushchair for toddlers. You can pick from a wide range of colors that will fit your personal style.