What Makes Good Prams?
A pram (also called a stroller or pushchair) is the primary mode of transport for infants and toddlers. A good pram combines safety, comfort, and style to make walking enjoyable for the whole family.
The R for Rabbit Poppins Stylish Baby Stroller makes a great stroller for children from newborns to 3 years old. The reversible handle lets you to rotate the seat so that your child can look at either you or the world around them.
Comfort
You want your child to be at ease when you're out with them. The good news is that there are prams specifically designed to ensure your child isn't apprehensive.
All prams featured in this guide let your baby lay flat. This is crucial for newborns since it improves oxygenation and helps support their hips and spine. They also have seats that can be converted to a more upright position when your baby is old enough to sit up.
For a really high-end feel it's the Venicci egg2 has a cosy feeling of a cocoon for your baby with sleek, curved lines and a bucket-shape seat that doesn't recline to a lie-flat position but does have padding on the mattress and liner. It's also lighter than many prams, at a weight of just 8kg. However, it still has a sturdy chassis with finely textured leather 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 Minu V2 (minus carrycot) is a good option. 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 extended hood that provides UPF 50+ protection, which keeps your baby safe and shaded.
If you're the first parent of your child, we'd recommend considering a travel system bundle that includes a pram and car seat that attach to the same frame. This will make it easier to get your baby out of the car to the pram without disturbing them and is ideal for busy parents on the go. The Bugaboo Dragonfly is a great example of a fashionable and practical pram that can convert easily from a lie-flat 'pramette' to a toddler-friendly pushchair that is compatible with the Graco i-Size car seat.
Safety
A pram should have a five-point safety harness to keep your baby secure and should not allow any gaps to entrap their legs or head. The straps must be padded, and easily adjustable as your child grows. Also, you should check the harness buckles to ensure they aren't cracked or showing signs of wear and tear. Every year, a lot of children are admitted to hospitals because of injuries caused by prams and strollers. The main cause of these injuries is tipping over. Even the sturdiest prams can tip over if you attach bags on the handles, or if a child with a wriggling gets into or out of the seat without the harness being done up.
A common cause of injury is falling from a pram or stroller. If a child is not securely secured in the pram, they could fall out of the stroller and sustain neck or head injuries. Therefore, it is important to make sure that the buckle on the harness is securely clicked into place.
Some prams have an adjustable shade that can be used to protect your baby in both directions from the sun. This feature is helpful because you don't have to wake up your baby when you change their position in the stroller or when you enter stores and out. There are other features that could be useful, like an eating tray for your child or toddler and drink holders. There's also an extra shopping basket under the seat.
Never leave a sleeping baby in a pram without being within sight. Babies tend to wriggle while asleep, which can cause them to slide off the pram or stroller and could result in suffocation or strangulation. A stroller or pram is not an alternative to the cot. It should only be used for short periods of time during the day.
The majority of prams require you to dismantle them to put them in the trunk of your car so it is a good idea to familiarise yourself with this process before you buy one. Also, consider how easy it is to get the different sections back together and click them in place.
Durability
A pram must be durable enough to endure many years of wear and tear. This includes having to deal with walking in the rain and many car journeys, which is why you need to ensure that your choice will fulfill the tasks you require it to. It is important to ensure that your pram is a color or pattern that will not date easily to avoid looking as if you've slipped out of fashion.
The most reliable prams are constructed of top-quality materials and built to last. Look for durable materials with sturdy tires, as well as an effective suspension system. The best prams are lightweight and fold easily, allowing you to put them in your garage or the boot of your car.
All the prams on this list allow infants to lay flat, which is essential for newborns because it improves oxygen saturation levels and aids in the development of their spine and hips. A lot of them are designed to grow with your child with some featuring a carrycot, or a fully reclined seat that can be moved off and on the frame for when your child is no longer using it.
If you're buying a new pram for the first time, you might be looking for a travel system which is a bundle that includes a lying-flat carrycot and car seat. Our parent tester Jaya loved the Graco Near2Me System that she used with her 10-month old son. It comes with a clever feature that can raise or lower your child with the click of a button so you can keep your eyes on them and keep them close which she described as being important for her son as he was in an exploratory stage.
The Bugaboo Fox 3 is another option that our tester Jess Bird tried with her two babies Effie and Boden (pictured above). It's a luxury pram that converts from a single pushchair to a double pushchair with 30 different configurations, and comes with luxurious fabrics, an expandable sun canopy, and puncture-proofed tyres. It's not cheap but you can use it for more than one child in the event of need and, just like the iCandy Orange 3, can be used from birth using the carrycot included.
Style
Newborns should lie flat as much as they can to help develop and improve oxygen saturation in their lungs, so it is essential that all prams allow this. Some models create a completely flat surface with a fully-reclinable carrycot while others feature seats that recline to a flat position.
The Graco Near2Me is brilliant for both as our parent tester Jaya discovered when she tried it on her 10-month-old daughter. prams pushchairs loved the fact that she could raise or lower her child with the touch of a button to keep him in the view of others and still maintain eye contact and closeness.
The frame is ideal for city trips and the puncture-proof wheels permit you to take it off road or over rough terrain. It's also a good option if you're thinking of having another child in future since it is able to convert from a single pushchair to a double or twin pushchair.
The Bugaboo Dragonfly looks and feels like a premium, stylish option. It's suitable for babies as it includes a carrycot that can be rolled flat and is compatible with car seats if purchased separately. It can be folded while the carrycot still in place It's something that not all prams offer. This is time-saving and makes it simpler to use.
The pram's luxurious fabric, spacious basket, and puncture-proof tires are things you'd expect to find on a high-end model However, the sleek frame makes it easy for you to maneuver on diverse terrains. This is a great option when you live in a city and have to navigate narrow streets or crowded paths frequently. Although it's not cheap however, the durability and quality of this model will save you money in the end by not having to buy a separate toddler pushchair. It's available in a broad variety of colors, and you can pick one that matches your personal style.