What Makes Good Prams?
A pram (also called a stroller or pushchair) is the most popular form of transportation for babies and toddlers. A good pram is a combination of comfort, safety and design that makes walking fun for the entire family.
The R for Rabbit Poppins Stylish Baby stroller travel is a fantastic stroller for children from newborns to 3 years old. The reversible handle lets you to rotate the seat so your child can look at you or the world around them.
Comfort
If you’re out and about with a baby, you want to ensure they’re secure. There are prams that will make sure your baby doesn’t feel any discomfort.
The prams we’ve selected in this buying guide all allow your baby to lay flat, which is essential for infants as lying flat improves oxygen saturation and assists in the development of their spine and hips. The seats can also be adjusted to an upright position once your child is able to sit up.
Venicci egg2 is a premium pram that offers a cocoon-like feel for your baby. It has smooth, curvaceous lines as well as a bucket-shaped seating, which does not recline into a flat position however, it does come with padding on the mattress and a liner. It’s also a little lighter than other prams on the market at under 8kg but still has an extremely sturdy chassis and grained leather detailing and air-filled tyres that are puncture-proof and can handle more rugged terrains.
If you’re looking for something less expensive but still with the same style Minu V2 (minus carrycot) is a great option. The one-hand steer model, swish, isn’t as lightweight as other strollers, but it does have a large storage basket. It also has an extended hood that provides UPF 50+ protection, which keeps your baby safe and protected.
If you’re a first-time parent, we’d recommend considering a travel system bundle that includes a pram and a car seat that can be attached to the same frame. This makes it much easier for parents to transfer their baby from their car to the pram without having to awake them. The Bugaboo Dragonfly travel system is an elegant and practical pram that is able to be easily converted from a ‘pramette, or a lie-flat ‘pramette into a stroller that is toddler-friendly compatible with the Graco iSize car seat.
Safety
A pram should be equipped with a five-point safety harness to keep your baby safe and secure. It should not have any gaps that could trap their heads or legs. The straps should be padded and easily adjustable as your child grows. Examine the buckles on your harness to ensure they are not cracked and have signs of wear. Many children are hospitalised every year due to injuries from strollers or prams. Tipping over is the main cause of these injuries. Even the most sturdy prams can topple when you strap bags to the handles or if the child is wriggling or squirming and falls out or in the seat before the harness has been tightened.
A common cause of injury involves falling off a pram or stroller. If a baby is not securely secured in the pram, they could fall out of the stroller and sustain neck or head injuries. It is therefore essential to always ensure that the buckle on the harness is locked into the proper position.
A few good prams also come with a reversible canopy that will shield your baby from sun in any direction. This feature is useful because you won’t have to wake up your baby when you change their position in the stroller, or when you go into and out of shops. There are other features that are useful, for example snacks for your toddler or child and drink holders. You can also find an extra shopping basket under the seat.
Never leave a sleeping baby in a pram if you are not within sight. Babies are known to wiggle when asleep, which can cause them to fall off the stroller or pram and could result in strangulation or suffocation. A stroller or pram is not an alternative to a cot and should only be used for brief periods during the day.
Most prams require you to take them apart in order to fit them into the boot of your car so it’s an excellent idea to familiarize yourself with this process before you buy one. Check how easy it will be to put the pieces back together.
Durability
A pram needs to be able to endure several years of wear. This includes the need to endure walking in the rain and many car journeys, so you need to ensure that your choice can do the job you need it to. You also want your pram to be in an image or color that isn’t prone to fading quickly so you don’t end up looking like you’ve fallen out of style.
The top prams are constructed with high-quality materials. They are built to last. So, look for robust fabrics, sturdy wheels and an effective 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 a baby to lay flat, which is essential for newborns because it improves oxygen saturation levels and aids in the development of their spine and hips. A lot of them are designed to adapt to your child’s needs and some having a carrycot or fully-reclined seat that can be moved off and on the frame for when your little one outgrows it.
If you’re looking to purchase a brand new pram for the first time, you may also be interested in a travel set 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 that she used with her 10-month-old son. It is a revolutionary feature that allows you to raise and lower your child at the touch of one button. This lets you keep your eyes on the baby and keep them in close proximity.
Another option 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 can be converted from a single to double pushchair and has 30 different configurations, and comes with premium fabrics, an extendable sun canopy and puncture-proof tyres. It’s not cheap, but you could use it for more than one child, if you need to and, just like the iCandy Orange 3, can be used from birth using the included carrycot.
Style
All prams should permit newborns to lay as flat as possible. This will aid in their development and boost oxygen saturation in the lungs. Some models allow a completely flat position using a fully reclineable carrycot, while others have the seat that can recline to a flat position.
The Graco Near2Me has the latter feature, and it’s fantastic at what it does as our parent tester Jaya discovered when she tried it with her son who was 10 months old. She loved that she could raise or lower her infant with a push of an button, keeping him in sight while maintaining closeness and eye contact.
It’s a great pram for those who wish to travel around town easily as the frame is an ideal size for maneuvering, and the puncture-proof tyres allow you to move it off the road and into rough terrain. It’s an excellent choice when you are planning to have another child in the future since it can be converted from a single pushchair to a double or twin.
The Bugaboo Dragonfly is a stylish premium option that looks and feels impressive. It’s suitable for babies as it includes a carrycot that can lie flat and it’s compatible with a car-seat when purchased separately. It can be folded while the carrycot still in place This is something that not all prams have. This is time-saving and makes it simpler to use.
The pram’s luxurious fabrics, spacious basket, and puncture-proof tires are features you would expect to see on a high-end model however, the sleek frame makes it easy to maneuver around diverse terrains. It’s also a great choice if you live in a large city and must navigate narrow streets or crowded sidewalks regularly. While it’s not cheap, the quality and versatility of this pram mean that it can save you money in the end by eliminating the need to purchase an additional pushchair for toddlers. It’s available in a wide variety of colors, too, so you can choose one that matches your personal style.
