What Makes Good Prams?

A pram (also known as a pushchair or stroller) is the primary mode 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 great stroller for children from newborns to three years old. The Reversible handle lets you flip 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 isn't apprehensive.

The prams we've selected in this buying guide allow your baby to lay flat, which is essential for newborn babies as lying flat increases oxygen saturation and assists in the development of their hips and spine. The seats can also be adjusted to a more upright position when your baby is able to sit up.

For a luxurious feel this Venicci egg2 provides a warm cocoon-like feel for your baby with sleek, curvaceous lines and a bucket-shape seats that does not recline to a lying-flat position but does have a padded mattress and liner. It's also lighter than the majority of prams, weighing less than 8kg, but it has solid chassis and grained leather details and air-filled tyres that are puncture-proof and able to take on more rural settings.

The Minu V2 is a great option to consider if you're looking to buy something that has a similar appearance but at a lower price. The swish-looking one-hand steer model isn't as lightweight stroller as some of the other prams we've tested but it does have a big storage basket and an extended hood with UPF50+ protection, which will keep your baby shaded and protected.

If you're the first parent of your child we recommend a travel system bundle that includes a pram as well as a car seat that are attached to the same frame. This will make it easier to get your baby out of the car into the pram without waking them and is perfect for busy parents on the go. The Bugaboo Dragonfly is a great example of a stylish and useful travel system pram that converts easily from a'pramette' lying flat' to a toddler-friendly pushchair compatible with the Graco i-Size car seat.

Safety

A pram should have a five point safety harness to ensure your baby is safe and free of any gaps to entrap their heads or legs. The straps should be padded and easy to adjust as they grow. Examine the buckles on the harness to ensure that they are not cracked and have signs of wear. A lot of children are hospitalized each year because of injuries from strollers or prams. The most common reason for these injuries is tipping over. Even the most sturdy prams can tip over if you hook bags to the handles or if a child is wriggling and gets into or out of the seat before the harness is tightened.

Another common cause of injury is falling from the stroller or pram. If the harness of a baby is not fastened properly, it could cause them to fall from the stroller, causing head or neck injuries. Therefore, it is important to make sure that the buckle on the harness is clicked into place.

Some prams come with a reversible shade that can be used to protect your baby in both directions from the sun. This is a useful feature since you will not be having to wake your child up when you are changing their position in the pram or when you are in and out of shops. Other useful features include a snack tray and drink holders for your infant or toddler stroller, a shopping basket under the seat, and a handlebar that can be locked into place when you're not using it.

Don't leave a baby sleeping in a pram without being in sight. Babies are susceptible to wriggling while sleeping and this could cause them to fall out of the pram or stroller. This could result in strangulation and suffocation. A stroller or pram is not an alternative to a cot. It should only be used for short periods of time during the day.

It is essential to disassemble most prams in order to put them in the boot of your vehicle. This process should be familiarised with before you buy one. Also, consider how easy it is to get the various sections back together before putting them in place.

Durability

A pram must be durable enough to withstand many years of wear and tear. You want to make sure that your pram can handle the mud of a walk as well as a variety of car trips. It is also important for your pram to come in an image or color that doesn't get outdated so you don't end up looking like you've fallen out of style.

The best prams (my latest blog post) are made of high-quality materials and have been designed to last, so you should look for durable fabrics, sturdy wheels and an effective suspension system. The best prams will also feature a compact fold so they can be easily stored in your garage or in the boot when not in use.

All prams on this list allow infants to lay flat, which is vital for infants since it increases oxygen saturation levels as well as aids in the development of their hips and spine. Many of these prams are designed to grow along with your child's. Some come with a carrycot or a reclined chair that can be snapped on and off as your child grows.

If you are buying a pram 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. Our parent tester Jaya was a fan of the Graco Near2Me System that she used with her 10-month old son. It has a nifty feature that raises and lowers your baby at the touch of a button, so you can keep your eyes on them and keep them close which she described as being important to her as he was at an exploratory stage.

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 pram that can be transformed from a single pushchair into a double with 30 different configurations. It also features a sun canopy that can be extended and puncture-proof tires. It's not cheap prams, 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 thanks to the carrycot included.

Style

All prams should permit newborns to lie flat as possible. This will aid in their development and increase oxygen levels in the lungs. Some models allow a completely flat position by using a carrycot that is completely reclined, while others feature a seat that can recline to a horizontal position.

The Graco Near2Me is brilliant for the latter, as our parent tester Jaya discovered when she tried it on her 10-month-old child. She loved that she could raise or lower her baby at the touch of an button, keeping him in the same position, while still maintaining eye contact and proximity.

This frame is perfect for nipping around town and the puncture-proof wheels allow you to take it off road or over rough terrain. It's also a smart choice if you're planning on having another child in future because it easily converts from a single pram into a double or twin pushchair.

The Bugaboo Dragonfly looks and feels like a stylish, high-end option. It is suitable for newborns as it includes a carrycot which can be folded flat and is compatible with car seats if purchased separately. It can be folded with the carrycot still in place This is something that not all prams provide. This reduces time and makes it more convenient to use.

Its luxurious fabrics, large shopping basket and puncture-proof tyres are all the things you'd expect on a pram of the highest quality, but its sleek frame makes it easy to maneuver on a variety of terrains. It's also a great option if you live in a large city and have to navigate narrow streets or crowded sidewalks regularly. It's not cheap, but its versatility and quality could save you money in the long run by avoiding the purchase of a separate stroller for toddlers. You can pick from a variety of colors to match your personal style.