What Makes Good Prams?

A pram, also known as a pushchair, stroller or a Sling, is the main form of transport for babies and toddlers. A good pram combines comfort, safety and style to make walking enjoyable for the whole family.

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

Comfort

You want your baby to be at ease when you're out with them. The good news is that there are prams designed to ensure your child isn't apprehensive.

The prams we've selected in this buying guide all let your baby lie flat, which is important for newborn babies as lying flat improves oxygen saturation and assists in the development of their spine and hips. The seats can be adjusted to an upright position when your baby is able to sit up.

For a truly luxurious feel, the Venicci egg2 has a cosy feeling of a cocoon for your baby with smooth, curved lines and a bucket-shape seating that doesn't recline into a lie-flat position, but it does have a padded liner and mattress. It's also a little lighter than other prams, weighing less than 8kg but has solid chassis and grained leather detailing as well as tyres with air-filled tires that are puncture-proof and able to take on more rural settings.

If you're looking for something a bit more affordable, but 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 safe and protected.

If you're a new parent, we'd recommend considering the travel pram system bundle that includes a babiie pram and a car seat that are attached to the same frame. This will make it easier to transfer your child from the car to the pram without disturbing them and is ideal for busy parents who are always on the move. The Bugaboo Dragonfly is a great example of a stylish and useful pram that can convert easily from a'pramette' that lies flat to a double pushchair for toddlers compatible with the Graco I-Size car seat.

Safety

A pram should be equipped with a five-point safety harness to ensure your baby is secure and should not allow any gaps to trap their heads or legs. The straps should be padded, and easily adjustable as your child grows. You should also inspect the buckles of your harness to ensure that they aren't damaged or showing signs of wear and tear. Many children are hospitalised each year because of injuries from strollers or prams. The primary reason for these injuries is the result of a stroller tipping over. Even the sturdiest prams can tip over if you attach bags to the handles or if a child with a wriggling is able to get into or out of the seat without harnesses being properly secured.

A frequent cause of injury is falling from a pram, or stroller. If a child's harness isn't secured correctly, it could cause them to fall out of the stroller and suffer head or neck injuries. This is why it is vital to make sure that the harness buckle is always secured.

A few good prams also come with a reversible canopy that will protect your baby from the sun in either direction. This is a handy feature since you will not be having to wake your baby awake while you change their position in the pram or when you are in and out of shops. Other useful features include a tray for snacks and drink holders for your baby or toddler, a shopping basket underneath the seat, and a handlebar that locks into position when you're not using it.

It is not advisable to let a child sleep in their stroller unless they are within their reach at all times. Babies tend to wriggle while asleep, which can cause them to fall off the pram or stroller and can lead to suffocation or strangulation. A pram or stroller is not an alternative to a crib and should only be used for brief periods during the day.

It is necessary to disassemble most prams in order to put them into the trunk of your car. This procedure should be familiarised with before you buy one. Check how easy it will be to put the pieces back together.

Durability

A pram should be able to endure several years of wear. This includes having to deal with muddy walks and getting through numerous car journeys, so you need to ensure that your choice will do the job you need it to. You should ensure that your pram is the right color or design that won't fade easily so you don't look as if you've slipped out of fashion.

The best prams (yoursocialpeople.com) are made with high-quality materials. They are built to last, so look for strong and durable materials, robust wheels and a well-designed suspension system. The best prams will also have a compact fold, so they are easy to store in your garage or in the boot when not when not in use.

All the prams on this list allow your baby to lay flat. This is important for newborns, as it helps them develop their hips and spine and boosts oxygen levels. Many are designed to grow with your child, with some of them having a carrycot or a fully reclined seat that can be clicked off and on the frame at a time when your child outgrows it.

If you're purchasing a new pram for the first time, you may be interested in a travel set that is a complete package that includes a lie-flat carrycot and car seat. We love the Graco Near2Me system which our parent tester Jaya used with her son of 10 months. It has a nifty feature that raises and lowers your baby at the touch of a button, so you can maintain eye contact and keep them close, which she described as being important to her as he was at an exploratory stage.

Another alternative is 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 stroller that can be converted from a single pushchair into double stroller in 30 different configurations. It also has the sun canopy which can be extended and puncture-proof tires. It's not cheap but you could use it for more than one child if needed and, just like the iCandy Orange 3, can be used from birth with the carrycot included.

Style

Newborns need to lay flat as often as possible to aid development and increase the oxygen level in their lungs, so it is essential that all prams support this. Some models allow for an entirely flat position using a carrycot that is completely reclined, while others feature a seat that reclines to a horizontal position.

The Graco Near2Me features the latter and it's brilliant in this regard, as our parent tester Jaya discovered when she tried it with her son who was 10 months old. She loved the fact that she could raise or lower her little one with the press of a button to keep him in the view of others, while still maintaining eye contact and a closeness.

The frame is ideal to take a stroll around town, and the puncture-proof tires allow you to take it off road or on rough terrain. It's also a smart choice if you're planning on having another child in the near future because it easily converts from a single pram to a double pram or twin pushchair.

The Bugaboo Dragonfly is a stylish premium option that looks and feels luxurious. It's suitable for newborns because it includes a lie-flat carrycot and is compatible with car seats when you purchase it separately. You can even fold it using the carrycot as a stand and it's something that not all prams can do which is why it's an easy and time-saving feature.

The pram's luxurious fabrics, spacious basket, and puncture-proof tires are features you would expect to see on a high-end model, but the sleek frame makes it easy to maneuver over different terrains. It's also an ideal choice when you reside in a city and must navigate narrow streets or crowded sidewalks frequently. It's not cheap, but its versatility and quality can save you money in the long run by avoiding the need for a separate toddler stroller. It's available in a broad range of colors, too, so you can choose one that fits your personal style.