Guide To Good Prams: The Intermediate Guide On Good Prams

What Makes Good Prams?

A pram (also known as a stroller or a pushchair) is the most popular form of transportation for babies and toddlers. A quality pram blends comfort, safety and style to make walking enjoyable for all the family.

The R for Rabbit Poppins Stylish Baby Stroller is a great stroller for babies to 3 years old. The reversible handle lets you to rotate the seat so your child can either face you or the world around them.

Comfort

When you're out and about with your baby, you need to ensure they're secure. The good news is that there are prams specifically designed to ensure your little one does not feel anything.

All prams featured in this guide let your baby lie flat. This is crucial for newborns as it improves oxygenation and strengthens their spine and hips. The seats can be adjusted to an upright position once your baby is able to sit up.

Venicci egg2 is a high-end pram that has a cocoon-like feel for your baby. It features smooth, curving lines and a bucket-shaped seat that doesn't recline to an upright position however, it does come with an upholstered mattress and liner. It's also lighter than the majority of prams available at under 8kg but still has solid chassis and grained leather details and air-filled tyres that are puncture-proof, and can take on more rural settings.

If you want something more budget-friendly but with a similar 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 come with a large storage basket. It also has an extended hood that provides UPF 50+ protection to keep your baby safe and shaded.

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 are attached to the same frame. This makes it easier for parents to move their child from the car to the pram sale without having to wake them up. The Bugaboo Dragonfly is a great example of a stylish and useful travel system pram that converts easily from a lie-flat 'pramette to a pushchair for toddlers that is compatible with the Graco I-Size car seat.

Safety

A pram must have a five point safety harness to keep your baby secure and should not allow any gaps to entrap their heads or legs. The straps should be cushioned and easy to adjust as they grow. Check the buckles on the harness to make sure they're not cracked and have signs of wear. Every year, a lot of children are hospitalised because of injuries caused by prams or strollers. Tipping over is the most common 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 the harness being secured.

A common cause of injury is falling from a pram, or stroller. If a baby is not properly secured the pram, they may fall out of the stroller and sustain neck or head injuries. Therefore, it is important to ensure that the buckle on the harness is clicked into place.

Some good prams also have a canopy that can be reversible to protect 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 while you are in and out of shops. There are other features that are useful, for example snacks for your child or toddler and drink holders. You can also find an extra shopping basket under the seat.

It is not advisable to leave a sleeping child in their pram unless you are in their sight at all times. Babies tend to wriggle while asleep, which can cause them to slide off the stroller or pram and cause suffocation or strangulation. A stroller or pram is not an alternative to a cot and should be used only for brief periods during the daytime.

The majority of prams require you take them apart in order to put them in the trunk of your pushchairs car seats so it's a good idea to familiarise yourself with this procedure before purchasing one. Also, consider how easy it is to get the different parts back together before putting them into place.

Durability

A pram must be durable enough to endure several years of wear and tear. This includes surviving muddy walks and getting through many car journeys, which is why you must ensure your choice will perform the task you want it to. Also, you want your pram to be in the form of a color or print that isn't prone to fading quickly to avoid looking like you've gone out of fashion.

The most effective prams are constructed from high-quality materials and have been designed to last, so you should look for strong and durable materials, robust wheels and a well-designed suspension system. The top prams have a compact fold, so they can be easily stored in your garage or boot when not when not in use.

All the prams in this list allow infants to lie flat, which is crucial for newborns because it improves oxygen saturation levels and supports 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 on and off the frame when your child outgrows it.

If you're buying a new pram for the first time, you may be interested in a travel system which is a bundle that includes a lie-flat carrycot and car seat. Our test-driver for parents Jaya loved the Graco Near2Me System she used with her 10-month-old son. It is a revolutionary feature that allows you to raise and lower your baby with the touch of one button. This lets you maintain eye contact with the baby and keep them in close proximity.

The Bugaboo Fox 3 is another option that our test-driver Jess Bird tried with her two children Effie and Boden (pictured above). It's a luxurious pram that converts from a single to a double pushchair with 30 possible configurations and features luxe fabrics, an extendable sun canopy and puncture-proof tyres. It's not expensive however, you can use it with multiple children, if needed. Like our top pick iCandy Orange 3, the iCandy Orange 3 with its included carrycot can be used from the moment of birth.

Style

All prams should permit newborns to lay as flat as they can. This will aid in their development and improve oxygen levels in the lung. Some models allow a completely flat position using a fully reclineable carrycots, while others have the seat that can recline to an unflat position.

The Graco Near2Me features the latter feature, and it's fantastic in this regard as our tester for parents Jaya discovered when she tried it with her son of 10 months. She was enthralled by the fact that she could raise or lower her baby at the push of a button to keep him in sight and still maintain eye contact and a closeness.

It's a great choice for those who wish to get around town with ease as the frame is a good size for manoeuvring, while the puncture-proof tyres allow you to take it off road and onto rough terrain. It's a great choice when you are planning to have a second child in the future because it can easily be transformed from a single pushchair a double or twin.

The Bugaboo Dragonfly looks and Foldable pushchair feels like a premium, stylish option. It's ideal for infants as it comes with a lie-flat carrycot and is compatible with car seats when you purchase it separately. You can even fold it by putting the carrycot in place - something that isn't the case with all prams, so it's an efficient and easy feature.

Its luxurious fabrics, spacious shopping basket and puncture-proof tires are all the things you'd expect on a premium pram however, its sleek frame makes it easy to maneuver across a variety of terrains. It's also a great option when you reside in a city and have to navigate narrow streets or overcrowded sidewalks frequently. Although it's not inexpensive but the quality and versatility of this pram will save you money in the end by eliminating the need to purchase a separate toddler pushchair. You can choose from a wide range of colors that will fit your preferences.