What Makes Good Prams?

A pram (also called a stroller or a pushchair) is the most popular form of transportation for babies and toddlers. A great pram is a combination of comfort, safety and design that makes walking fun for all family members.

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

Comfort

You want your baby to feel comfortable when you're out with them. There are prams that will ensure your baby doesn't feel anything.

The prams we've picked in this buying guide allow your baby to lie flat, which is crucial for newborn babies as lying flat improves oxygen saturation and helps support their growing hips and spine. They also come with a seat that can be converted to a more upright position when your baby is old enough to sit up.

Venicci egg2 is a high-end pram with a cocoon feeling for your baby. It features smooth, curvaceous lines and a bucket-shaped seat that doesn't recline to a flat position however, it does come with an upholstered 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, plus air-filled tyres that are puncture-proof, and can take on more rural settings.

The Minu V2 is a great option to consider if you're looking to buy something with a similar look but for a lesser price. The one-hand steer model, swish, isn't as light as other prams, but it does have a huge storage basket. It also has an extendable hood that offers UPF 50+ protection to keep your baby safe and shaded.

If you're a first-time parent we suggest that you look into the travel system that includes a car seat as well as a pram that attaches to the same frame. This will make it much easier to get your baby out of the car into the pram without disturbing them and is ideal for busy parents who are always on the move. The Bugaboo Dragonfly travel system is a stylish and practical pram that is able to be easily converted from a 'pramette or a lie-flat 'pramette' into a toddler-friendly stroller compatible with the Graco iSize car seat.

Safety

A pram should have a five point safety harness to keep your baby safe and free of any gaps to entrap their legs or head. The straps should be padded and easily adjustable as your child grows. Examine the buckles on the harness to ensure that they are not cracked and show signs of wear. Each year, many children are hospitalised because of injuries caused by prams and strollers. The primary cause of these injuries is tipping over. Even the strongest prams can fall over if you hang bags onto the handles, or if a child who is wriggling gets into or out of the seat without the harness being done up.

Another reason for injuries is falling from the stroller or pram. If a baby isn't securely secured in the childs pram, they may fall out of the stroller and suffer neck or head injuries. This is why it is important to make sure that the harness buckle is always secured.

Some good prams also have a reversible canopy that will shield your baby from sun in any direction. This is a great feature because it will prevent having to wake your baby up when you are changing their position in the pram or when you go in and out of shops. There are also other features that could be useful, such as an eating tray for your toddler or child and drink holders. You can also find a basket for shopping underneath the seat.

Do not leave a baby asleep in a pram without being within sight. Babies tend to wiggle while asleep and this can cause them to roll off the stroller or pram and can lead to suffocation or strangulation. A pram or a foldable stroller is not a substitute for the crib. It is best to use it for short periods of time during the day.

Most prams require you to dismantle them to fit them into the trunk of your car therefore it's an excellent idea to familiarize yourself with this process before you buy one. Also check how it is easy to put the different parts back together and click to put them back together.

Durability

A pram needs to be able to endure a long time of wear. You should ensure that your pram can handle muddy walks and also multiple car trips. You also want your stroller to have the form of a color or print that doesn't get outdated so that you don't end up looking like you've fallen out of fashion.

The top prams are constructed with high-quality materials. They are built to last. So, look for strong and durable materials, robust wheels, and an efficient suspension system. The top prams feature a compact fold so they can be easily stored in your garage or boot when not when not in use.

All prams on this list allow your baby to lie on their backs. This is essential for babies, as it helps them develop their hips and spine and boosts oxygen levels. Some are made to grow with your child and some featuring a carrycot, or a fully reclined seat that can be clicked off and back on the frame at a time when your child is no longer using it.

If you are purchasing a pram for the first time it is recommended to consider a system that has an infant carrycot and a car seat could be of interest. Our test-driver for parents Jaya loved the Graco Near2Me System she used with her 10-month old son. It comes with a clever feature that raises and lowers your baby at the touch of a button so you can maintain eye contact and keep them close, which she said was really important to her as he was in 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 luxurious pushchair twin 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-proofed tyres. It's not cheap prams, but you can use it with more than one child if you need to. Similar to our winner, the iCandy Orange 3 with its carrycot included, it can be used right from birth.

Style

Newborns should lay flat as often as they can to help develop and improve the oxygen saturation of their lungs, so it's important that all prams support this. Some models allow a completely flat position by using a carrycot that is fully reclinable, while others have a seat which can recline to a horizontal position.

The Graco Near2Me is a great device for the latter as our parent tester Jaya discovered when she tried it on her 10-month-old child. She was enthralled by the fact that she could raise and lower her little one with the touch of a button and keep him in sight, while still maintaining eye contact and closeness.

This frame is perfect to take a stroll around town, and the puncture-proof tires permit you to drive it off road or on rough terrain. It's a great choice for those who plan to have another child in the future because it can easily be transformed 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 babies since it includes a carrycot that can be folded flat and is compatible with a car seat when purchased separately. You can fold it with the carrycot in place which is something not all prams can do and is an efficient and easy feature.

The pram's luxurious fabrics, spacious basket, and puncture-proof tires are features you'd expect to find on a high-end model, but the sleek frame makes it easy to maneuver around various terrains. This is a great option for those who live in the city and must navigate narrow streets and crowded walkways frequently. Although it's not cheap but the quality and versatility of this stroller will save you money in the long run by avoiding the need to buy a separate toddler pushchair. It's available in a broad selection of colors too, so you can choose one that suits your personal style.