What Makes Good Prams?

A pram (also called a stroller or pushchair) is the most popular form of transportation for babies and toddlers. A quality pram combines safety, comfort and design that makes walking fun for all the family members.

The R for Rabbit Poppins Stylish Baby Stroller is a great stroller for infants to 3 years old. 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 need to be sure they're comfortable. There are prams to make sure your baby doesn't feel any discomfort.

All the prams listed in this guide allow your baby lie flat. This is essential for newborns as it improves oxygenation and supports their spine and hips. They also have seats that can be converted to an upright position once your baby is old enough to sit up.

For a really high-end feel this Venicci egg2 has a cosy feeling of a cocoon for your baby with sleek, curved lines and a bucket-shape seating that does not recline to a lying-flat position but does have padding on the mattress and liner. It's also lighter than many prams, with a weight of less than 8kg. However, it is sturdy and has grained leather details and tyres that are air-filled, which are puncture-proof.

The Minu V2 is a great option if you're looking for something with a similar look but at a lower price. The swish-looking one-hand steer model isn't as lightweight as some of the other pushchairs prams pushchairs we've tested but it does have a big storage basket and an extended hood with UPF50+ protection that'll keep your baby shaded and protected.

If you're a first-time parent we recommend the travel system bundle that includes a pram as well as a car seat that are attached to the same frame. This will make it much easier to get your baby from the car into the pram without having to wake them up and is ideal for parents who are always on the move. The Bugaboo Dragonfly travel system is a stylish and practical pram pushchair that is easily converted from a 'pramette' or lie-flat 'pramette, to a stroller for toddlers compatible with the Graco iSize car seat.

Safety

The pram should come with five-point safety harnesses that will keep your baby safe. It must also be free of gaps between their head and legs that can get trapped. The straps should be padded, and easily adjustable as your child grows. Examine the buckles on your harness to make sure they're not cracked and have signs of wear. Every year, a lot of children are admitted to hospitals because of injuries caused by prams for newborns and strollers. The most common reason for these injuries is tipping over. Even the strongest prams could tip over if you hook bags to the handles or if a child is wriggling or squirming and falls in or out of the seat before the harness has been tightened.

A common cause of injury is falling off a pram or stroller. If a child's harness isn't secured correctly, it could cause them to fall from the stroller and suffer neck or head injuries. Therefore, it is important to make sure that the buckle on the harness is locked into the correct position.

Some good prams also have a reversible canopy that will shield your baby from the sun in either direction. This feature is beneficial since you don't need to wake your baby every time you alter their position in the stroller, or when you enter and out of stores. There are other features that could be useful, for example an eating tray for your toddler or child and drink holders. There's also an extra shopping basket under the seat.

Don't leave a baby sleeping in a pram without being within sight. Babies tend to wriggle while asleep, which can cause them to roll off the stroller or pram and cause suffocation or strangulation. A stroller or pram should not be used as an alternative to a cot. It is best to use it for short periods during the day.

The majority of prams require you dismantle them to put them in the trunk of your car therefore it's a good idea to familiarise yourself with this process before purchasing one. Find out how easy it will be to put the sections back together.

Durability

A pram should be able to stand up to the wear and tear of many years. You need to ensure that your stroller can withstand the mud of a walk as well as a variety of car trips. You also want your pram to come 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 most reliable prams are made of high-quality materials, and built to last. Look for durable fabrics, sturdy tires, and an efficient suspension system. The best prams will also have a compact fold, so they are easy to store in your garage or the boot when not being used.

All the prams in this list allow infants to lay flat, which is vital for newborns because it improves oxygen saturation levels as well as aids in the development of their spine and hips. A lot of these prams are designed to grow along with your child's. Some have carrycots, or a reclined chair that can be easily removed and put back on when your child is outgrowing them.

If you are purchasing a pram for the very first time, a travel system that comes with an infant carrycot and a car seat may be worth a look. Our tester for parents Jaya was a fan of the Graco Near2Me system that she used with her 10-month-old son. It comes with a clever feature that raises and lowers your baby at the touch of a button. This way you can keep eye contact and keep them close which she described as being important to her as he was at an exploratory stage.

Another option is another option 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 converts from a single pushchair to double pushchair, with 30 possible configurations and features luxurious fabrics, an expandable sun canopy and puncture-proof tyres. 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 with the included carrycot.

Style

Newborns must lay flat as much as possible to aid development and improve oxygen saturation in their lungs. Therefore, it's essential that all prams support this. Some models create a completely flat position using a fully reclineable carrycots, while others have a seat that reclines to an upright position.

The Graco Near2Me works great for the latter as our parent tester Jaya discovered when she tried it on her 10-month-old child. She was thrilled that she could raise or lower her baby at the push of a button to keep him in sight while maintaining eye contact and a closeness.

It's a great pram with car seat for those who want to travel around town without hassle since the frame is a great size for maneuvering, and the puncture-proof tyres let you remove it from the road and on to rough terrain. It's a great option for those who plan to have a second child in the future since it can be converted from a single pushchair a twin pushchair or double.

The Bugaboo Dragonfly is a stylish and high-end product that looks and feels impressive. It is suitable for newborns as it includes a carrycot that can lie flat and it's compatible with a car-seat when purchased separately. It can be folded by putting the carrycot in place which is something does not happen with all prams which is why it's a time-saving and hassle-free feature.

The pram's luxurious fabrics as well as the spacious basket and puncture-proof tires are all features you'd expect to find on a high-end model, but the sleek frame makes it simple to maneuver around various terrains. It's also an ideal choice if you live in a large city and must navigate narrow streets or busy sidewalks regularly. While it's not cheap however, the durability and quality of this pram mean that it can save you money over the long term by avoiding the need to buy an additional pushchair for toddlers. You can choose from a variety of colors to suit your style.