What Makes Good Prams?
A pram, also known as a stroller, pushchair or Sling, is the main method of transport for infants and toddlers. A good pram combines comfort, safety and style to make walking enjoyable for the entire family.
The R for Rabbit Poppins Stylish Baby Stroller is a great stroller for infants to 3 years old. The reversible handle lets you to rotate the seat so your child can either face either you or the world around them.
Comfort
You want your baby to feel comfortable when you’re out with them. The good news is that there are prams made to ensure your child doesn’t feel a thing.
The prams we’ve selected in this buying guide all let your baby lie flat, which is important for newborn babies as lying flat improves oxygen levels and helps support their growing hips and spine. They also have a seat which can be transformed to a more upright position when your baby is old enough to sit up.
Venicci egg2 is a top-of-the-line pram with a cocoon feel for your baby. It features smooth, curved lines and a bucket-shaped seat which doesn’t recline into an upright position however, it does come with an upholstered mattress and liner. It’s also a little lighter than the majority of prams available at less than 8kg but has an extremely sturdy chassis and grained leather accents and air-filled tyres that are puncture-proof and able to be used in more rural environments.
If you want something more affordable, but still with the same style, the Minu V2 (minus carrycot) is a great option. The one-hand steer model, swish, isn’t as lightweight as other strollers, but it does come with a large storage basket. It also has an extended hood that provides UPF 50+ protection, which keeps your baby safe and shaded.
If you are new to parenting We suggest you consider a travel system package which includes a car seat as well as a pram that are attached to the same frame. This allows parents to transfer their baby from their car to the pram without having to awake them. The Bugaboo Dragonfly is a great example of a stylish and useful pram that can convert easily from a lie-flat ‘pramette’ to a toddler-friendly pushchair that is compatible with the Graco I-Size car seat.
Safety
A pram must have a five-point safety harness to keep your baby safe and secure. It should not have any gaps that could trap their legs or head. The straps should be padded, and easily adjustable as your child grows. Examine the buckles on the harness to make sure they’re not damaged and show signs of wear. Each year, many children are hospitalised because of injuries caused by prams or strollers. The most common reason for these injuries is tipping over. Even the strongest prams can topple when you strap your bags onto the handles or if the child is wriggling and falls in or out of the seat before the harness is tightened.
Another frequent cause of injuries is falling from the stroller or pram. If a baby is not properly secured the pram, they may fall out of the stroller and sustain head or Good Prams neck injuries. Therefore, it is important to always ensure that the buckle on the harness is securely clicked into the correct position.
Some good prams also have a reversible canopy that will shield your baby from sun in any direction. This feature is helpful because you won’t have to wake your baby every time you change their position in the stroller, or when you go into and out of stores. There are also other features that can be useful, for example a snack tray for your toddler or child and drink holders. There’s also an extra shopping basket under the seat.
You should never leave a child sleeping in their stroller unless you are within sight of them at all times. Babies are known to wiggle when asleep and this may cause them to fall off the stroller or pram and could result in strangulation or suffocation. A pram or a stroller is not a substitute for the crib. It should only be used for short periods during the daytime.
It is necessary to take apart most prams in order to put them in the boot of your vehicle. This process is something you should know before you purchase one. Also, check how it is easy to put the different parts back together and click to put them back together.
Durability
A pram must be able to last through many years of wear and tear. You want to make sure that your baby’s pram is able to handle slippery walks as well as a variety of car trips. It is also important for your pram to be in an image or color that doesn’t get outdated so that you don’t end up looking like you’ve gone out of fashion.
The top prams are constructed of high-quality materials and have been designed to last. So, look for robust fabrics, sturdy wheels and an efficient suspension system. The best prams will also feature a compact fold so they can be easily stored in your garage or boot when not in use.
All the prams in this list allow babies to lie on their backs. This is essential for babies, because it aids in the development of their hips and spine and boosts oxygen levels. A lot of these prams are designed to grow along with your child’s. Some include a carrycot or a reclined seat that can be snapped on and off when your child is outgrowing them.
If you’re purchasing a new pram for the first time, you may be looking for a travel system prams system which is an all-in-one bundle that includes a lying-flat carrycot and car seat. Our tester for parents Jaya loved the Graco Near2Me System she used with her 10-month old son. It comes with a clever feature that allows you to raise and lower your child with the click of a button. This way you can maintain eye contact and keep them close which she claimed was important for her son as he was in an exploratory stage.
Another alternative is the Bugaboo Fox 3 which our tester Jess Bird used with her two children, Effie and Boden (pictured above). It’s a luxury pram that converts from a single pushchair to double pushchair, with 30 possible configurations and features luxe fabrics, an extendable sun canopy and puncture-proof tyres. It’s not inexpensive, but it can be used for multiple children if necessary. Similar to our winner, the iCandy Orange 3 with its included carrycot is a great option to use from the moment of birth.
Style
Newborns should lay flat as often as possible to aid development and improve oxygen saturation in their lungs, so it’s essential that all prams support this. Some models allow for a completely flat position by using a carrycot that can be fully reclined, whereas others feature a seat that can be reclined to a horizontal or a vertical position.
The Graco Near2Me comes with the latter and it’s brilliant in this regard, as our parent tester Jaya found when she tested it with her 10-month-old son. She was thrilled to be able to raise or lower her child by pressing the button to keep him in sight, while still maintaining the eye contact and closeness.
The frame is perfect for city trips and Good Prams the puncture-proof wheels permit you to take it off road or over rough terrain. It’s also a good choice if you’re planning on having another child in future since it is able to convert from a single pram to a twin or double pushchair.
The Bugaboo Dragonfly is a stylish and high-end product that looks and feels impressive. It is suitable for newborns as it comes with a carrycot that can be rolled flat and is compatible with a car seat if purchased separately. It can be folded with the carrycot in place – something that not all prams can do which is why it’s an easy and time-saving feature.
The pram’s luxurious fabrics as well as the spacious basket and puncture-proof tires are all features you would expect to see on a high-end model however, the sleek frame makes it simple to maneuver around various terrains. This is a great option if you live in the city and must navigate narrow streets or congested pathways regularly. The pram isn’t cheap, but its versatility and quality can save you money over time by avoiding the purchase of a separate stroller for toddlers. It’s available in a wide range of colors, too, so you can pick one that fits your personal style.