Guide To Good Prams: The Intermediate Guide To Good Prams

What Makes Good Prams?

A pram (also called a stroller or foldable pushchair) is the most popular form of transportation for babies and toddlers. A great pram combines safety, comfort and design that makes walking enjoyable for the entire family.

The R for Rabbit Poppins Joy Stylish Baby Stroller is a great pram for newborns to 3-year-old kids. The reversible handle lets you to rotate the seat so your child can look at either you or the world around them.

Comfort

Your baby should feel comfortable when you're out with them. The good news is that there are prams designed to ensure that your baby isn't apprehensive.

All the prams in this guide allow your baby to lie flat. This is crucial for newborns since it improves oxygenation and supports their spine and hips. They also have seats which can be transformed to an upright position once your baby is old enough to sit.

Venicci egg2 is a top-of-the-line pram that has a cocoon-like feeling for your baby. It is smooth and has curvaceous lines, a bucket-shaped seat, which doesn't recline into flat however, it does come with padding on the mattress and a liner. It's also lighter than the majority of prams, weighing less than 8kg, but it has solid chassis and grained leather details and air-filled tyres that are puncture-proof and able to take on more rural settings.

The Minu V2 is a great choice when you're looking for a model with a similar look but for a lesser price. The one-hand steer, swish model isn't quite as lightweight as other strollers, but it does come with a large storage basket. It also has an hood that can be extended, which provides UPF 50+ protection to keep your baby protected and shaded.

If you're a first-time parent, we'd recommend considering a travel system prams system bundle that includes a pram and car seat that can be attached to the same frame. This makes it easier for parents to transfer their baby from the car to the pram double without having to get them up. The Bugaboo Dragonfly is a great example of a stylish and functional pram that can convert easily from a'pramette' lying flat into a toddler-friendly pushchair compatible with the Graco I-Size car seats.

Safety

The pram should be equipped with a five-point safety harness that will keep your baby safe. It should also not have any gaps between their head and legs that are likely to get caught. The straps should be padded, and easily adjustable as your child grows. Check the buckles on the harness to ensure they are not cracked and have signs of wear. A lot of children are hospitalized each year because of injuries from strollers or prams. The main cause of these injuries is the result of a stroller tipping over. Even the strongest prams can tip over if you hook bags on the handles, or if a child who is wriggling gets into or out of the seat without harnesses being secured.

Another common cause of injuries is falling from the stroller or pram. If a baby's harness isn't secured correctly it could cause them to fall from the stroller and suffer neck or head injuries. This is why it is vital to ensure that the buckle of the harness is always locked in place.

Some good prams also have a reversible canopy that will protect your baby from the sun in both directions. This is a handy feature as you can avoid having to wake your baby awake while you change their position in the pram or when you are going in and out of shops. There are other features that can be useful, like snacks for your child or toddler and drink holders. There is also an extra shopping basket under the seat.

It is not advisable to leave a sleeping child in their stroller unless you are in their sight at all times. Babies tend to wriggle while asleep and this can cause them to roll off the pram or stroller and could result in strangulation or suffocation. A pram or a stroller is not a substitute for the crib. It is best to use it for short periods during the daytime.

It is necessary to disassemble the majority of prams to place them into the trunk of your car. This process should be familiarised with before you purchase a pram. Find out how easy it will be to put the sections back together.

Durability

A pram needs to be durable enough to withstand several years of wear and tear. This includes surviving the mud-filled walks and numerous car journeys, so you must ensure your choice is able to fulfill the tasks you require it to. You want to make sure that your pram is a color or pattern that won't fade easily so that you don't appear like you've lost fashion.

The best prams are constructed of top-quality materials and designed to last. Look for durable fabrics, sturdy tires, and an efficient suspension system. The most effective prams are small and fold easily so that you can store them in your garage or the boot of your car.

All prams on this list allow infants to lay flat, which is crucial for newborns because it improves oxygen saturation levels as well as aids in the development of their hips and spine. Many of these prams have been designed to expand with your child's. Some come with carrycots, or a fully-reclined chair that can be snapped on and off when your child outgrows them.

If you're purchasing a new pram for the first time, you might also be interested in a travel system that is a complete package that includes a lie-flat carrycot and car seat. We are awestruck by the Graco Near2Me device that our parent tester Jaya used with her 10-month-old son. It has a nifty feature that can raise or lower your child at the push of a button. This way you can keep your eyes on them and keep them close, which she claimed was important to her as he was in an exploratory stage.

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 pushchair that can be converted from a single pushchair double in 30 different configurations. It also features the sun canopy which can be extended and puncture-proof tires. It's not cheap but you can use it for more than one child if needed and, like our winner the iCandy Orange 3, can be used from birth using the carrycot included.

Style

Newborns should lay flat as much as they can in order to promote development and improve oxygen saturation in their lungs. Therefore, it's important that all prams support this. Some models allow a completely flat position with a fully-reclinable carrycots, while others have a seat that reclines to a flat position.

The Graco Near2Me works great for this, as our parent tester Jaya discovered when she tested it on her child who was 10 months old. She was enthralled by the fact that she could raise and lower her little one with the press of a button and keep him in view while maintaining eye contact and closeness.

It's a great pram for those who wish to get 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 also a good choice if you're planning on having another child in future since it can easily be converted from a single pram to a double or twin pram pushchair.

The Bugaboo Dragonfly looks and feels like a stylish, high-end option. It is suitable for newborns as it comes with a carrycot that can be folded flat and is compatible with a car-seat if purchased separately. You can even fold it by putting the carrycot in place which is something not all prams can do and is an easy and time-saving feature.

The pram's luxurious fabrics, spacious basket, and puncture-proof tires are features you'd expect on a high-end model however, the sleek frame makes it easy for you to maneuver on different terrains. This is a great choice if you live in the city and have to navigate narrow streets and crowded walkways frequently. The pram isn't cheap, but its versatility and quality could save you money in the long run by avoiding the need for a separate toddler stroller. It's available in a broad selection of colors and you can choose one that matches your personal style.