What Makes Good Prams?

A pram, also known as a stroller, pushchair or Sling, is the main form of transport for babies and toddlers. A quality pram blends safety, comfort and style to make walking enjoyable for the entire family.

The R for Rabbit Poppins Joy Stylish Baby Stroller is a fantastic stroller for newborns and 3-year-old kids. Its reversible handle allows you to tilt the seat so your child can either face either you or the world around them.

Comfort

You want your child to be comfortable when you're out with them. The good news is that there are prams made to ensure your child isn't apprehensive.

The prams we've picked in this buying guide all allow your baby to lie flat, which is important for infants as lying flat improves oxygen saturation and assists in the development of their spine and hips. They also come with a seat that can be changed to an upright position once your baby is old enough to sit.

For a truly luxurious feel it's the Venicci egg2 has a cosy cocoon feel for your newborn with sleek, curved lines and a bucket-shape seating that doesn't recline into a lie-flat position, but has a padded mattress and liner. It's also lighter than many prams, at a weight of just 8kg. However, it is sturdy and has 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 price that is lower. The sleek one-hand steer model isn't as lightweight as some of the other prams we've tested but it does have a large storage basket, as well as an extended hood with UPF50+ protection to keep your baby shaded and protected.

If you are a first-time parent We suggest you consider a travel system that includes a car seat as well as a pram that attaches to the same frame. This makes it easier to get your baby from the car to the pram without waking them and is ideal for parents on the go. The Bugaboo Dragonfly is a great example of a fashionable and practical travel system pram that converts easily from a lie-flat 'pramette into a toddler-friendly pushchair stroller, compatible with the Graco I-Size car seat.

Safety

A pram must have a five-point safety harness to ensure your baby is safe and free of any gaps to entrap their legs or heads. The straps should be cushioned and easy to adjust as they grow. Also, you should inspect the buckles of your harness to ensure they are not cracked or showing signs of wear and tear. Many children are hospitalised each year because of injuries caused by strollers or prams. The main reason for these injuries is tipping over. Even the most sturdy sale prams can topple if you hook bags to the handles or if the child is wriggling or squirming and falls out or in the seat before the harness has been tightened.

A common cause of injury involves falling off a pram or stroller. If the harness of a baby is not fastened properly it can cause them to fall from the stroller and suffer head or neck injuries. Therefore, it is important to make sure that the buckle on the harness is locked into the proper position.

Some good prams (take a look at the site here) also have an adjustable canopy that can shield your baby from the sun in both directions. This is a great feature as you can avoid having to wake your child awake when you change their position in the pram, or when you are to and from the shops. There are other features that could be useful, like an eating tray for your toddler or child and drink holders. There's also a basket for shopping underneath the seat.

You should never let a child sleep in their folding pram unless you are within their reach at all times. Babies are known to wiggle when asleep, which can cause them to slide off the stroller or pram and cause strangulation or suffocation. A stroller or pram is not an alternative to a crib. It should only be used for short periods of time during the daytime.

Most prams require you to dismantle them to fit them into the boot of your car so it's recommended to familiarize yourself with the process before you buy one. Also, check how it is simple to put the various sections back together before putting 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 the mud of a walk as well as a variety of car trips. You should ensure that your pram is in a colour or print that will not date easily to avoid looking like you've fallen out of style.

The top prams are constructed of high-quality materials and are designed to last. So, look for durable fabrics, sturdy 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 on this list allow a baby to lie flat, which is vital for infants since it increases oxygen saturation levels and supports the development of their hips and spine. A lot of them are designed to adapt to your child's needs with some having a carrycot or a fully reclined seat that can be clicked off and on the frame at a time when your child is no longer using it.

If you're purchasing a new pram for the first time, you may also be looking for a travel system that is a complete bundle that includes a lying-flat carrycot and car seat. Our parent tester Jaya was a fan of the Graco Near2Me System that she used with her 10-month old son. It has an innovative feature that allows you to raise and lower your baby by pressing one button. This allows you to keep eye contact with your child and keep them close.

The Bugaboo Fox 3 is another option that our test-driver Jess Bird tried with her two babies Effie & Boden (pictured above). It's a luxury pram that can be converted from a single to double pushchair, with 30 possible configurations and features luxurious fabrics, an expandable sun canopy, and puncture-proofed tyres. It's not expensive, but you can use it with more than one child if you need to. Like our top pick model, the iCandy Orange 3 with its carrycot included, it can be used from the moment of birth.

Style

Newborns should lie flat as much as they can in order to promote development and improve the oxygen saturation of their lungs, so it's important that all prams allow this. Some models allow a completely flat position with a fully-reclinable carrycot while others feature the seat that can recline to an upright position.

The Graco Near2Me features the latter feature, and it's fantastic in this regard as our tester for parents Jaya found when she tested it with her son who was 10 months old. She loved the ability to raise or lower her infant at the touch of a button to keep him in the same position while maintaining 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 great option if you're thinking of having another child in the near future since it can easily be converted from a single pram to a double stroller or twin pushchair.

The Bugaboo Dragonfly looks and feels like a high-end, stylish option. It's ideal for babies as it comes with a carrycot that can be folded flat and is compatible with a car seat when purchased separately. It can be folded using the carrycot as a stand - something that does not happen with all prams, so it's an easy and time-saving feature.

The pram's luxurious fabric as well as the spacious basket and puncture-proof tires are features you'd expect on a high-end model, but the sleek frame makes it simple to maneuver over various terrains. It's also a great choice for those who live in a city and have to navigate narrow streets or crowded sidewalks frequently. The pram isn't cheap, but its versatility and quality could save you money in the long run by avoiding the need for a separate toddler stroller. It's available in a broad selection of colors too, so you can choose one that fits your personal style.