What Makes Good Prams?

A pram, also referred to as a stroller, pushchair or Sling, is the main form of transport for babies and toddlers. A quality pram is a blend of safety, comfort and style that makes walking enjoyable for all family members.

The R for Rabbit Poppins Joy Stylish Baby Stroller is a great stroller for newborns and 3-year-old children. The reversible handle lets you to tilt the seat so that your child can face you or the world around them.

Comfort

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

The prams we've chosen in this buying guide all allow your baby to lay flat, which is crucial for babies who are just beginning to crawl. Lying flat increases oxygen saturation and helps support their growing spine and hips. The seats can also be adjusted to a more upright position once your child is capable of sitting up.

For a really high-end experience, the Venicci egg2 has a cosy cocoon feel for your newborn with smooth, curved lines and a bucket-shape seats that doesn't recline into a lie-flat position, but it does have padding on the liner and mattress. It's also a little lighter than the majority of prams available at less than 8kg, but it has a sturdy chassis and grained leather details as well as tyres with air-filled tires that are puncture-proof and able to handle more rugged terrains.

The Minu V2 is a great option to consider if you're looking to buy something with a similar design but at a price that is lower. The stylish one-hand steer model isn't as light as the other prams we've tested but it has an impressively large storage basket, as well as an the ability to extend the hood, which comes with UPF 50+ protection to keep your baby safe and shaded.

If you're a first-time parent we suggest you look into a travel system bundle that includes a pram and car seat that can be attached to the same frame. This will make it much easier to get your baby from the car to 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 lie-flat 'pramette, to a stroller for toddlers compatible with the Graco ISize car seats.

Safety

The pram should be fitted with a five-point safety harness that will keep your baby safe. It should also not have any gaps between their head and legs that can get trapped. The straps must be padded, and easily adjustable as your child grows. Also, you should check the harness buckles 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 primary cause of these injuries. Even the strongest prams can tip over if you hook bags on the handles, or if a child who is wriggling is able to get into or out of the seat without harnesses being secured.

A common cause of injury involves falling from a pram or stroller. If the harness of a baby isn't secured correctly it can cause them to fall out of the stroller and sustain head or neck injuries. It is therefore essential to ensure that the buckle on the harness is locked into the proper position.

Some good prams also have a reversible canopy that will shield your baby from the 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 to and from the shops. There are other features that can be useful, such as a snack tray for your toddler or child and drink holders. There is also a basket for shopping underneath the seat.

Never leave a sleeping baby in a pram if you are not within reach. Babies are susceptible to wiggle while asleep, which can cause them to roll out of the pram or stroller. This could lead to strangulation and suffocation. A stroller or pram is not an alternative to a crib and should only be used for short periods during the day.

The majority of prams require you to dismantle them to fit them into the car's boot so it is an excellent idea to familiarize yourself with this procedure before you purchase one. Consider how easy it would be to put the parts back together.

Durability

A pram should be able to endure several years of wear. You should ensure that your baby's pram is able to handle the mud of a walk, as well as multiple car trips. It is important to ensure that your pram is in a colour or print that won't fade easily so that you don't appear like you've fallen out of fashion.

The best travel stroller prams are made with high-quality materials. They are designed to last. So, look for strong and durable materials, robust wheels and an efficient suspension system. The best prams are compact and fold easily so that you can store them in your garage or the boot of your car.

All prams on this list allow babies to lie flat. This is crucial for newborns, because it allows them to develop their hips and spine and improves oxygenation levels. A lot of these prams are designed to expand with your child's. Some include a carrycot or a reclined chair that can be easily removed and put back on as your child grows.

If you are considering buying an infant stroller for the first time it is recommended to consider a system that comes with an infant carrycot and car seats could be a good idea. We love the Graco Near2Me device that our parent facing pushchair tester Jaya used with her 10-month-old son. It comes with a handy feature that allows you to raise and lower your child at the push of a button so you can maintain eye contact and keep them close, which she described as being important to her since he was at an exploratory stage.

Another option is another option is the Bugaboo Fox 3 which our tester Jess Bird used with her two babies, Effie and Boden (pictured above). It's a luxury pram that converts from a single to double pushchair and has 30 different configurations, and 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 in the event of need and, just like the iCandy Orange 3, can be used from birth using the included carrycot.

Style

All prams should permit newborns to lay as flat as possible. This will help with their development and boost oxygen saturation in the lungs. Some models provide a flat position using a fully reclineable carrycot while others feature seats that recline to an unflat position.

The Graco Near2Me comes with the latter feature and is fantastic at what it does as our parent tester Jaya discovered when she tried it with her son who was 10 months old. She loved the ability to raise or lower her baby with a push of a button to keep him in view and still maintain closeness and eye contact.

The frame is perfect for nipping around town and the puncture-proof wheels permit you to take it off the road or on rough terrain. It's a great option when you are planning to have another child in the near future because it can easily be converted from a single pushchair into a twin or double pram.

The Bugaboo Dragonfly is a stylish, high-end option that looks and feels luxurious. It's suitable for babies as it includes a carrycot that can be rolled flat and is compatible with a car seat if purchased separately. You can fold it by putting the carrycot in place - something that not all prams can do and is an efficient and easy feature.

Its luxurious fabrics, large shopping basket and puncture-proof tyres are the kinds of things you'd expect on a premium pram however, its sleek frame makes it easy to maneuver on any terrain. This is a great option if you live in the city and must navigate narrow streets and crowded walkways frequently. The pram isn't cheap, but its versatility and quality could save you money over time by avoiding the need for an additional stroller for your toddler. It's available in a broad selection of colors and you can choose one that matches your personal style.