What Makes Good Prams?
A pram (also known as a pushchair or stroller) is the main form of transportation for babies and toddlers. A good pram combines comfort, safety and design to make walking enjoyable for the whole family.
The R for Rabbit Poppins Joy Stylish Baby Stroller is a wonderful pram for newborns to 3-year-old children. The reversible handle lets you turn the seat to face your child or the world.
Comfort
When you’re out and about with your baby, you’ll want to ensure they’re secure. The good news is that there are prams made to ensure that your baby does not feel anything.
The prams we’ve chosen in this buying guide all let your baby lie flat, which is essential for babies who are just beginning to crawl. Lying flat improves oxygen saturation and supports their developing spine and hips. The seats can also be adjusted to an upright position once your child is capable of sitting up.
For a truly luxurious feel it’s the Venicci egg2 provides a warm cocoon-like feel for your baby with smooth, curved lines and a bucket-shape seat that doesn’t recline into a lie-flat position, but has padding on the liner and mattress. It’s also lighter than other prams, weighing under 8kg. But it has a sturdy frame with finely textured leather and tyres that are air-filled, which are puncture-proof.
If you want something less expensive but with the same design Minu V2 (minus carrycot) is a good option. The one-hand steer model, swish, isn’t as light as other prams, but it does come with a large storage basket. It also comes with an extendable hood that offers UPF 50+ protection to keep your baby safe and protected.
If you are a first time parent, we recommend you consider a travel system package which includes a car seat as well as a pram that are attached to the same frame. This will make it much easier to transfer your child from the car into the pram without disturbing them and is ideal for busy parents who are always on the move. The Bugaboo Dragonfly is a great example of a stylish and functional pram that can convert easily from a’pramette’ lying flat’ to a toddler-friendly pushchair, compatible with the Graco i-Size car seat.
Safety
The pram should be fitted with a five-point safety harness that will keep your baby safe. It should also have no gaps between their head and legs that are likely to get caught. The straps should be padded and easily adjustable as your child grows. It is also important to check the harness buckles to ensure they aren’t cracked or showing signs of wear and tear. Every year, a large number of children are admitted to hospitals because of injuries caused by prams and strollers. The primary reason for these injuries is tipping over. Even the strongest prams could tip over when you strap bags to the handles or if a child is wriggling and gets into or out of the seat before the harness has been tightened.
A frequent cause of injury is falling from a pram or stroller. If a baby’s harness is not secured properly it could cause them to fall from the stroller and sustain neck or head injuries. It is therefore important to make sure that the buckle on the harness is clicked into place.
Some good prams also have a reversible canopy that will shield your baby from sun in both directions. This is a useful feature as you can avoid having to wake your child awake when you change their position in the pram or when you go to and from the shops. There are also other features that are useful, like snacks for your toddler or child and drink holders. There is also an extra shopping basket under the seat.
Never leave a sleeping baby in a pram without having them in sight. Babies are known to wiggle when asleep and this can cause them to slide off the pram or stroller and could result in strangulation or suffocation. A stroller or pram is not a substitute for a cot and should only be used for short periods of time during the day.
It is necessary to take apart most sale prams in order to fit them into the boot of your vehicle. This process should be familiarised with before you buy one. Also check how it is easy to put the different parts back together before putting to put them back together.
Durability
A pram must be able to last through several 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. You want to make sure that your stroller is in a color or pattern that won’t fade easily to avoid looking as if you’ve slipped out of style.
The most effective prams are constructed with high-quality materials. They are designed to last, so look for strong and durable materials, robust wheels, and a well-designed suspension system. The best prams will also have a compact fold so they can be easily stored in your garage or boot when not being used.
All prams on this list allow the baby to lie flat. This is crucial for infants because it allows them to develop their spine and hips and boosts oxygen levels. Many of these prams are designed to expand with your child. Some include a carrycot, or a reclined seat that can be easily removed and put back on when your child outgrows them.
If you’re looking to purchase a brand new pram for the first time, you might also be interested in a travel system which is an all-in-one package that includes a lie-flat carrycot and car seat. We are awestruck by the Graco Near2Me system that our parent tester Jaya used with her 10-month-old son. It comes with a clever feature that can raise or lower your child with the click of a button. This way you can keep your eyes on them and keep them close which she said was really important to her as he was at an exploratory stage.
Another option is another option is the Bugaboo Fox 3 which our tester Jess Bird used with her two kids, Effie and Boden (pictured above). It’s a pushchair that can be converted from a single pushchair to double, with 30 different configurations. It also features a sun canopy that can be extended and puncture-proof tires. It’s not expensive but you can use it with multiple children, if needed. Like our top pick, the iCandy Orange 3 with its carrycot, it can be used from the moment of birth.
Style
All prams should permit newborns to lie flat as they can. This will help with their development and boost oxygen levels in the lung. Some models allow a completely flat position by using a carrycot that is fully reclined, whereas others have a seat which can be reclined to a horizontal or a vertical position.
The Graco Near2Me has the latter feature and is fantastic in this regard, as our parent tester Jaya found when she tested it with her 10-month-old son. She was thrilled that she could raise and lower her little one with the touch of a button and keep him in sight and still maintain eye contact and closeness.
The frame is perfect for city trips, and the puncture-proof tires permit you to take it off road or over rough terrain. It’s also a great option if you’re thinking of having another child in future since it can easily be converted from a single pram into a double or twin pushchair.
The Bugaboo Dragonfly is a stylish premium option that looks and feels luxurious. It’s ideal for infants as it comes with a lie-flat carrycot and is compatible with car seats, if you buy it separately. It can be folded with the carrycot still in place This is a feature that not all prams offer. This reduces time and makes it more convenient to use.
The pram’s luxurious fabrics, spacious basket, and puncture-proof tires are features you’d expect to find in a top model however, the sleek frame makes it easy to maneuver around different terrains. It’s also an ideal choice if you live in a city and must navigate narrow streets or crowded sidewalks regularly. Although it’s not cheap, the quality and versatility of this stroller will save you money over the long term by avoiding the need to buy an additional pushchair for toddlers. You can choose from a variety of colors that will fit your preferences.