What Makes Good Prams?

A pram (also called a stroller or a pushchair) is the most popular form of transport for infants and toddlers. A quality pram is a blend of safety, comfort and design that makes walking enjoyable for the entire family.

The R for Rabbit Poppins Stylish Baby Stroller makes a great stroller for infants to three years old. The reversible handle lets you turn the seat to face your child or the world.

Comfort

You want your baby to feel comfortable when you're out with them. The good news is that there are prams specifically designed to ensure your little one doesn't feel a thing.

The prams we've picked in this buying guide all let your baby lie flat, which is important for infants as lying flat increases oxygen saturation and supports their developing spine and hips. They also come with a seat that can be converted to more upright positions when your baby is old enough to sit.

Venicci egg2 is a high-end pram with a cocoon feeling for your baby. It is smooth and has curving lines, a bucket-shaped seat, that doesn't recline to flat however, it does come with an upholstered mattress and liner. It's also lighter than many prams, with a weight of less than 8kg. However, it has a sturdy chassis with the grained leather accents and tyres with air-filled tires that are puncture-proof.

If you're looking for something more budget-friendly but still with the same design Minu V2 (minus carrycot) is another excellent choice. The stylish one-hand steer model isn't as lightweight than some of the other prams pushchairs we tried however it comes with a big storage basket and an extendable hood with UPF 50+ protection to keep your baby safe and shaded.

If you're a first time parent we suggest you consider the travel system that includes a car seat as well as a pram that are attached to the same frame. This makes it much easier for parents to transfer their child from the car to the pram without having to get them up. The Bugaboo Dragonfly is a great example of a fashionable and practical travel system pram that converts easily from a'pramette' lying flat to a pushchair for toddlers, compatible with the Graco I-Size car seats.

Safety

A pram should have a five point safety harness to ensure your baby is secure and should not allow any gaps that could trap their heads or legs. The straps must be padded, and easily adjustable as your child grows. Also, you should check the harness buckles to ensure they are not cracked or showing signs of wear and tear. Every year, a lot of children are admitted to hospitals due to injuries caused by prams and strollers. The primary reason for these injuries is the result of a stroller tipping over. Even the sturdiest prams can 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 done up.

Another frequent cause of injury is falling off the stroller or pram. If the harness of a baby is not fastened properly it can cause them to fall from the stroller and suffer neck or head injuries. This is why it is important to ensure that the buckle of the harness is always clicked into place.

Some prams have a reversible shade that can be used to shield your baby in both directions from the sun. This is a useful feature as you can avoid having to wake your child up when you are changing their position in the pram, or when you are to and from the shops. Other useful features include a tray for snacks and drink holders for your infant or toddler, a basket for shopping under the seat and a handlebar that can be locked into place when you're not using it.

You should never leave a child sleeping in their stroller unless they are within their reach at all times. Babies tend to wiggle while asleep and this can cause them to roll off the pram or stroller and can lead to strangulation or suffocation. A stroller or pram is not a substitute for a cot and should be used only for short periods of time during the daytime.

It is essential to disassemble most prams in order to fit them into the boot of your vehicle. This procedure must be mastered before you purchase a pram. Also check how easy it is to get the various sections back together before putting to put them back together.

Durability

A pram must be able endure several years of wear. You need to ensure that your stroller can withstand slippery walks and also multiple car trips. You should ensure that your pram is in a colour or print that isn't prone to fading so you don't look like you've lost fashion.

The top prams are constructed of high-quality materials and are designed to last. So, look for robust fabrics, sturdy wheels, and an effective suspension system. The top prams have a compact fold so you can store them easily in your garage or in the boot when not being used.

All the prams in this list allow your baby to lie down flat. This is important for newborns, because it aids in the development of their spine and hips and improves oxygenation levels. Some are made to adapt to your child's needs and some featuring a carrycot, or a fully reclined seat that can be clicked off and back on the frame for when your child outgrows it.

If you're purchasing a new pram for the first time, you may be interested in a travel set which is an all-in-one bundle 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 an innovative feature that allows you to raise and lower your baby with the touch of a single button. This lets you keep eye contact with 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 folding pushchair to double pushchair, with 30 different configurations, and comes with premium fabrics, an extendable sun canopy, and puncture-proofed tyres. It's not cheap, but you can use it for more than one child if needed and, just like the iCandy Orange 3, can be used from birth thanks to the included carrycot.

Style

Newborns should lie flat as much as they can to help develop and improve oxygen saturation in their lungs, which is why it's important that all prams permit this. Some models provide a flat surface with a fully-reclinable carrycots, while others have a seat that reclines to a flat position.

The Graco Near2Me features the latter and it's brilliant at that as our tester for parents Jaya discovered when she tried it with her son who was 10 months old. She was enthralled by the fact that she could raise or lower her little one with the push of a button, keeping him in view while maintaining eye contact and a closeness.

It's a great pram for those who wish to nip around town with ease as the frame is an ideal size for maneuvering, and the puncture-proof tyres permit you to move it off the road and on to 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 newborn a twin or double.

The Bugaboo Dragonfly is a stylish premium option that is both stylish and comfortable. It's suitable for newborns because it includes a lie-flat carrycot and is compatible with a car seat, if you buy it separately. You can fold it using the carrycot as a stand - something that not all prams can do, so it's an easy and time-saving feature.

The pram's luxurious fabrics, spacious basket, and puncture-proof tires are things you would expect to see on a premium model, but the sleek frame makes it easy for you to maneuver on different terrains. This is an excellent choice if you live in the city and must navigate narrow streets or congested walkways regularly. The pram isn't cheap, but its versatility and high-end quality can save you money over time by avoiding the purchase of an additional stroller for your toddler. You can pick from a variety of colors that will fit your personal style.