Guide To Good Prams: The Intermediate Guide The Steps To Good Prams

What Makes Good Prams?

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

The R for Rabbit Poppins Stylish Baby stroller compact makes a great stroller for babies to three years old. Its reversible handle allows you to turn the seat so that your child can look at either you or the world around them.

Comfort

You want your child to feel comfortable when you're out with them. The good news is that there are prams designed to ensure your child does not feel anything.

The prams we've picked in this buying guide all allow your baby to lay flat, which is crucial for newborn babies as lying flat increases oxygen saturation and assists in the development of their hips and spine. They also have seats which can be transformed to more upright positions when your baby is old enough to sit.

Venicci egg2 is a premium pram with a cocoon feel for your baby. It has smooth, curvaceous lines and a bucket-shaped seat which does not recline into an upright position however it does come with a padded mattress and liner. It's also lighter than many prams, with a weight of less than 8kg. However, it has a sturdy chassis with grained leather details and tyres with air-filled tires that are puncture-proof.

If you're looking for something a bit less expensive but with the same design, the Minu V2 (minus carrycot) is another excellent choice. The sleek, one-hand steer model isn't as light as the other prams we tested but it has an impressively large storage basket and extended hood with UPF50+ protection that'll keep your baby protected and shaded.

If you're a first time parent we suggest you consider a travel system that includes a car seat and pram that attaches to the same frame. This will make it much 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 travel system pram that converts easily from a'pramette' that lies flat into a toddler-friendly pushchair, compatible with the Graco I-Size car seats.

Safety

A pram should have a five-point safety harness to ensure your baby is safe and secure. It should not have any gaps to trap their heads or legs. The straps should be cushioned and easy to adjust as they grow. Examine the buckles on the harness to ensure they are not damaged and show signs of wear. Each year, many children are admitted to hospitals due to injuries caused by prams and strollers. Tipping over is the primary reason for these injuries. Even the strongest prams can tip over if you hook bags onto the handles, or if a child who is wriggling can get in or out of the seat without the harness being secured.

A frequent cause of injury is falling from a foldable pram, or stroller newborn. If a baby's harness isn't secured correctly 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 also have an adjustable canopy that can protect your baby from the sun in any direction. This feature is helpful since you don't need to wake up your baby every time you alter their position in the stroller or when you enter 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 into position when you're not using it.

You should never leave a child sleeping in their pram unless you are in their sight at all times. Babies tend to wriggle while asleep and this may cause them to slide off the pram or stroller and cause suffocation or strangulation. A pram or a stroller is not a substitute for the crib. It should only be used for short periods of time during the day.

It is essential to disassemble most prams in order to fit them in the boot of your vehicle. This procedure is something you should know before you buy one. Also, check how easy it is to get the different parts back together and then click to put them back together.

Durability

A pram should be able to endure several years of wear. You need to ensure that your lightweight stroller can withstand muddy walks and also multiple car trips. Also, you want your pram to be in an image or color that won't date quickly so that you don't end up looking like you've fallen out of fashion.

The best prams will be made of high-quality materials, and designed to last. Look for durable fabrics with sturdy tires, as well as an effective suspension system. The most reliable prams have a compact fold, so they can be easily stored in your garage or in the boot when not when not in use.

All the prams in this list allow your baby to lie down flat. This is essential for newborns, because it allows them to develop their hips and spine, and boosts oxygen levels. A lot of these prams are designed to grow along with your child's. Some have carrycots, or a reclined chair that can be easily removed and put back on as your child grows.

If you are purchasing a pram for the first time you should consider a travel system that comes with an infant carrycot and a car seat may be a good idea. Our test-driver for parents Jaya loved the Graco Near2Me System she used with her 10-month-old son. It comes with a handy feature that can raise or lower your child with the click of a button. This way you can keep eye contact and keep them close which she described as being important for her son as 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 babies, Effie and Boden (pictured above). It's a luxurious pram that can be converted from a single to double pushchair, with 30 possible configurations. It also comes with premium 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, like our winner the iCandy Orange 3 in one pushchair, can be used from birth using the carrycot included.

Style

Newborns must lay 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 position using a fully reclineable carrycot while others feature a seat that reclines to a flat position.

The Graco Near2Me comes with the latter feature, and it's fantastic at that as our tester for parents Jaya discovered when she tried it with her 10-month-old son. She loved the ability to raise or lower her baby by pressing the button to keep him in the same position and still maintain the eye contact and closeness.

This frame is perfect for city trips and the puncture-proof tires allow you to take it off the road or on rough terrain. It's an excellent choice when you are planning to have a second child in the future since it can be converted from a single pushchair into a twin or double.

The Bugaboo Dragonfly looks and feels like a stylish, high-end option. It's ideal for infants as it includes a lie-flat carrycot and is compatible with a car seat, if you buy it separately. It can be folded with the carrycot still in place, which is something that not all prams offer. This saves time and makes it simpler to use.

The pram's luxurious fabrics, spacious basket, and puncture-proof tires are all features you'd expect to find on a high-end model however, the sleek frame makes it simple to maneuver over diverse terrains. This is a great option if you live in the city and have to navigate narrow streets and crowded paths on a regular basis. Although it's not cheap, the quality and versatility of this model mean that it can save you money in the long run by eliminating the need to purchase an additional pushchair for toddlers. You can choose from a wide range of colors to match your style.