What Makes Good Prams?
A pram, also known as a stroller, pushchair or sling, is the primary form of transport for babies and toddlers. A good pram combines safety, comfort and style to make walking enjoyable for all the family.
The R for Rabbit Poppins Joy Stylish Baby Stroller is a great pram for newborns up to 3 year old kids. The reversible handle lets you turn the seat to face your child or the world.
Comfort
Your baby should be at ease when you’re out with them. There are prams to make sure your baby doesn’t feel any discomfort.
All the prams in this guide allow your baby to lie flat. This is essential for newborns since it improves oxygenation and strengthens their hips and spine. They also have seats which can be transformed to a more upright position when your baby is old enough to sit.
For a really high-end feel, the Venicci egg2 has a cosy cocoon-like feel for your baby with sleek, curvaceous lines and a bucket-shape seat that doesn’t recline to a lie-flat position but does have padding on the liner and mattress. It’s also lighter than many prams, at a weight of just 8kg. But it is sturdy and has finely textured leather and tyres with air-filled tires that are puncture-proof.
The Minu V2 is a great choice when you’re looking for a model with a similar look but at a price that is lower. The stylish, one-hand steer model isn’t as light as some of the other prams we’ve tested however it comes with a large storage basket and extended hood with UPF50+ protection, which will keep your baby shaded and protected.
If you’re a new parent, we’d recommend considering a travel system bundle which includes a pram and car seat that attach to the same frame. This makes it much easier for parents to transfer their child from the car to the pram without having to wake them up. The Bugaboo Dragonfly travel system is an elegant and practical pram that is 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 to entrap their heads or legs. The straps should be cushioned and easy to adjust as they expand. It is also important to inspect the buckles of your harness to ensure that they aren’t damaged or showing signs of wear and tear. Each year, many children are admitted to hospitals due to injuries caused by prams and strollers strollers. The main reason for these injuries is tipping over. Even the most robust prams could tip over if you hook bags to the handles or if a child with a wriggling is able to get into or out of the seat without the harness being properly secured.
Another frequent cause of injury is falling from the stroller or pram. If the harness of a baby is not fastened properly, it could cause them to fall out of the stroller, causing head or neck injuries. This is why it is crucial to make sure that the harness buckle is always clicked into place.
Some good prams also have an adjustable canopy that can shield your baby from the sun in either direction. This is a useful feature since you will not be having to wake your baby up when you are changing their position in the pram or while you are to and from the shops. There are other features that are useful, like an eating tray for your toddler or child and drink holders. There’s also a basket for shopping underneath the seat.
You should never leave a sleeping child in their pram unless you are within sight of them at all times. Babies are known to wiggle when asleep and this may cause them to slide off the stroller or pram and can lead to suffocation or strangulation. A stroller or pram should not be used as a substitute for the cot. It should only be used for short periods during the daytime.
It is necessary to disassemble the majority of prams to fit them into the trunk of your car. This procedure should be familiarised with before you buy one. Consider how easy it would be to put the pieces back together.
Durability
A pram must be durable enough to endure several years of wear and wear and tear. This includes the need to endure muddy walks and getting through many car journeys, so you need to ensure that your choice is able to do the job you need it to. It is also important for your pram to come in a print or colour that isn’t prone to fading quickly to avoid looking like you’ve gone out of fashion.
The top prams are constructed with high-quality materials. They are designed to last, so you should look for durable fabrics, sturdy wheels, and a well-designed suspension system. The best prams are compact and fold easily, allowing you to store them in your garage or even the boot.
All prams on this list allow your baby to lie down on their backs. This is important for newborns, because it aids in the development of their spine and hips and boosts oxygen levels. A lot of these prams are designed to grow along with your child’s. Some have carrycots, or a fully-reclined chair that can be snapped on and off as your child grows.
If you are purchasing an infant stroller for the first time you should consider a travel system that comes with a carrycot and car seats could be of interest. We are awestruck by the Graco Near2Me device that our parent tester Jaya used with her son of 10 months. It has an innovative feature that allows you to raise and lower your baby with the touch of one button. This allows you to keep eye contact with them and keep them close.
Another alternative is the Bugaboo Fox 3 which our tester Jess Bird used with her two babies, Effie and Boden (pictured above). It’s a luxury pram that can be converted from a single pushchair to a double pushchair with 30 possible configurations and features luxe fabrics, an extendable sun canopy and puncture-proof tyres. It’s not cheap but you can use it for more than one child in the event of need and, like our winner the iCandy Orange 3, can be used from birth thanks to the included carrycot.
Style
All prams should permit newborns to lay as flat as they can. This will help with their development and boost oxygen levels in the lungs. Some models provide a flat position with a fully-reclinable carrycot, while others have a seat that reclines to an unflat position.
The Graco Near2Me has the latter feature, and it’s fantastic in this regard, as our parent tester Jaya found when she tested it with her son of 10 months. She loved the fact that she could raise and lower her child with the press of a button and keep him in view, while still maintaining eye contact and a closeness.
The frame is perfect to take a stroll around town and the puncture-proof tires allow you to take it off road or over rough terrain. It’s also a smart choice if you’re planning on having a second child in the 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 babies because it includes a carrycot that can be rolled flat and is compatible with a car-seat when purchased separately. It can be folded with the carrycot still in place This is an option that not all prams provide. This reduces time and makes it simpler to use.
The pram’s luxurious fabric large basket, spacious interior, and puncture-proof tires are things you would expect to see on a premium model However, the sleek frame makes it easy to maneuver over different terrains. It’s also a great choice if you reside in a city and must navigate narrow streets or overcrowded sidewalks regularly. While it’s not cheap, the quality and versatility of this model make it possible to save you money in the end by not having to purchase a separate pushchair for toddlers. You can choose from a wide range of colors that will fit your preferences.
