Watch Out: How Good Prams Is Taking Over And What Can We Do About It

What Makes Good Prams?

A pram (also known as a stroller or a pushchair) is the most popular form of transport for infants and toddlers. A quality pram blends comfort, safety and design to make walking enjoyable for the whole family.

The R for Rabbit Poppins Joy Stylish Baby Stroller is a great pram for newborns up to 3 year old children. The Reversible handle lets you flip the seat to face your child or the world.

Comfort

When you're out and about with a baby, you'll want to be sure they're comfortable. The good news is that there are prams specifically designed to ensure your child does not feel anything.

The prams we've picked in this buying guide allow your baby to lay flat, which is crucial for babies who are just beginning to crawl. 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 baby is capable of sitting up.

Venicci egg2 is a premium pram with a cocoon feel for your baby. It has smooth, curved lines and a bucket-shaped seat which doesn't recline into flat, but it does have a padded mattress and liner. It's also lighter than the majority of prams available at under 8kg but still has solid chassis and grained leather accents as well as tyres with air-filled tires that are puncture-proof and able to be used in more rural environments.

If you're looking for something a bit less expensive but still with the same style, the Minu V2 (minus carrycot) is a great option. The one-hand steer, swish model isn't quite as light as other prams, but it does have a large storage basket. It also has an extendable hood that offers UPF 50+ protection to keep your baby protected and shaded.

If you're the first parent of your child we suggest you look into a travel system bundle which includes a pram as well as a car seat that can be attached to the same frame. This will make it easier to get your baby out of the car into the pram without having to wake them up and is perfect for busy parents on the go. The Bugaboo Dragonfly is a great example of a stylish and functional pram for travel that can be converted easily from a lie-flat 'pramette to a pushchair for toddlers that is compatible with the Graco i-Size car seat.

Safety

A pram should have a five point safety harness to keep your baby safe and free of any gaps to trap their heads or legs. The straps must be cushioned, and easily adjustable as your child grows. You should also examine the buckles on your harness to make sure that they aren't cracked or showing signs of wear and tear. Every year, a large number of children are admitted to hospitals due to injuries caused by prams or strollers. The primary cause of these injuries is the result of a stroller tipping over. Even the most robust prams travel system could tip over if you attach bags onto the handles, or if a child with a wriggling can get in or out of the seat without the harness being secured.

Another frequent cause of injuries is falling from the stroller or pram. If a baby isn't securely fastened in, they could fall out of the stroller and suffer head or neck injuries. This is why it is crucial to ensure that the harness buckle is always locked in place.

Some prams come with a reversible shade that can be used to protect your baby in any direction from the sun. This feature is helpful because you won't have to wake up your baby every time you alter their position in the stroller, or when you go in and out of stores. Other handy features include a snack tray and drink holders for your infant or toddler, a shopping basket underneath the seat, and the handlebar locks into position when you are not using it.

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

It is necessary to disassemble the majority of prams to put them in the trunk of your car. This process must be mastered before you purchase one. Also, check how easy it is to get the different parts back together and click them into place.

Durability

A pram must be able stand up to the wear and tear of many years. You should ensure 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 pram is in the right color or design that isn't prone to fading so you don't look like you've fallen out of style.

The best prams are made of high-quality materials and are built to last, so look for strong and durable materials, robust wheels, and an efficient suspension system. The best prams will also have a compact fold, so they can be easily stored in your garage or in the boot when not being used.

All the prams on this list allow a baby to lay flat, which is essential for newborns because it improves oxygen saturation levels as well as aids in the development of their spine and hips. Many of these prams are designed to expand with your child's. Some include a carrycot or a reclined chair that can be easily removed and put back on when your child is outgrowing them.

If you're purchasing a new pram for the first time, you may also be interested in a travel set that is a complete bundle that includes a lying-flat carrycot and car seat. We are awestruck by the Graco Near2Me system which our parent tester Jaya used with her 10-month-old son. It has an innovative feature that lets you raise and lower your baby by pressing one button. This lets you maintain eye contact with them and keep them close.

The Bugaboo Fox 3 is another option that our test-driver Jess Bird tried with her two kids Effie & Boden (pictured above). It's a pushchair that can be transformed from a single pushchair into double, with 30 different configurations. It also features sun canopy that can be extended and puncture-proof tires. It's not cheap, but you can use it for more than one child, if you need to and, like our winner the iCandy Orange 3, can be used from birth using the included carrycot.

Style

All sale prams should allow newborns to lie flat as possible. This will aid in their development and improve oxygen levels in the lungs. Some models provide a flat surface with a fully-reclinable carrycots, while others have a seat that reclines to an upright position.

The Graco Near2Me is a great device for this, as our parent tester Jaya discovered when she tried it on her 10-month-old daughter. She was thrilled that she could raise or lower her little one with the touch of a button to keep him in sight and still maintain eye contact and closeness.

This frame is perfect to take a stroll around town and the puncture-proof tires allow you to take it off the road or on rough terrain. It's an excellent choice when you are planning to have a second child in the future since it can be transformed from a single pushchair into a double or twin.

The Bugaboo Dragonfly looks and feels like a stylish, high-end option. It's ideal for infants as it comes with a lie-flat baby carrycot and is compatible with a car seat when you purchase it separately. It can be folded with the carrycot still in place It's a feature that not all prams provide. This saves time and makes it more convenient to use.

Its luxurious fabrics, large shopping basket and puncture-proof tyres are the kinds of features you'd expect to find on a pram of the highest quality and its sleek design makes it easy to maneuver across a variety of terrains. This is a great choice when you live in a city and have to navigate narrow streets and crowded paths on a regular basis. The pram isn't cheap, but its versatility and quality can save you money in the long run by avoiding the need for an additional stroller for your toddler. It's available in an extensive variety of colors, and you can choose one that matches your personal style.