What Makes Good Prams?

A pram, also referred to as a pushchair, stroller or Sling, is the main method of transport for infants and toddlers. A quality pram blends safety, comfort and design to make walking enjoyable for the entire family.

The R for Rabbit Poppins Stylish Baby Stroller is a fantastic stroller for children from newborns to 3 years old. The adjustable handle can be turned around to allow you to turn the seat to face your child or the world.

Comfort

Your baby should be comfortable when you're out with them. There are prams that will make sure your baby doesn't feel anything.

The prams we've chosen in this buying guide all allow your baby to lie flat, which is essential for infants as lying flat improves oxygen levels and supports their developing hips and spine. The seats can also be adjusted to a more upright position when your baby is capable of sitting up.

For a truly luxurious experience it's the Venicci egg2 has a cosy feeling of a cocoon for your baby with sleek, curvaceous lines and a bucket-shape seats that doesn't recline to a lie-flat position, but it does have a padded liner and mattress. It's also lighter than most prams on the market at less than 8kg, but it has solid chassis and grained leather details as well as tyres with air-filled tires that are puncture-proof, and can handle more rugged terrains.

If you're looking for something more affordable, but with a similar design Minu V2 (minus carrycot) is a great option. The sleek, one-hand steer model isn't as light than some of the other prams we tried but it does have a large storage basket, as well as an the ability to extend the hood, which comes with UPF 50+ protection to keep your baby shaded and protected.

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

Safety

The pram should be fitted with five-point safety harnesses that will ensure your baby's safety. It must also be free of gaps where their legs or heads could get stuck. The straps must be padded, and easily adjustable as your child grows. Examine the buckles on the harness to make sure they're not damaged and show signs of wear. Every year, a lot of children are admitted to hospitals because of injuries caused by prams or strollers. Tipping over is the primary cause of these injuries. Even the most sturdy prams can topple if you hook bags to the handles or if a child is wriggling and falls out or in the seat before the harness has been tightened.

Another common cause of injury is falling from the stroller or pram. If a child is not securely secured in the pram, they may fall out of the stroller and sustain neck or head injuries. Therefore, it is important to ensure that the buckle on the harness is clicked into place.

Some good prams also have a canopy that can be reversible to shield your baby from sun in either direction. This is a useful feature as you can avoid having to wake your child awake when you change their position in the pram or while you are going to and from the shops. Other handy features include a snack tray and drink holders for your baby or toddler, a basket for shopping under the seat and a handlebar that locks into position when you're not using it.

You should never leave a child sleeping in their stroller unless you are within their reach at all times. Babies tend to wriggle while asleep and this may cause them to fall off the pram or stroller and could result in suffocation or strangulation. A stroller or pram is not an alternative to a cot and should only be used for short periods of time during the daytime.

It is necessary to take apart most prams in order to place them in the trunk of your car. This procedure must be mastered before you purchase a pram. Also, consider how easy it is to get the various sections back together and then click them into place.

Durability

A pram needs to be able to stand up to the wear and tear of many years. This includes having to deal with the mud-filled walks and numerous car journeys, so you must ensure your choice can perform the task you want it to. It is also important for your stroller to have an image or color that isn't prone to fading quickly so you don't end up looking like you've gone out of fashion.

The best prams will be made of high-quality materials, and designed to last. Look for durable materials as well as sturdy tires and a well-designed system of suspension. The best prams pushchairs are compact and fold easily, allowing you to store them in your garage or the boot of your car.

All the prams in this list allow a baby to lie flat, which is essential for newborns as it improves oxygen saturation levels and supports the development of their spine and hips. Many of these prams are designed to grow along with your child's. Some come with carrycots, or a fully-reclined chair that can be removed and snapped on when your child outgrows them.

If you are purchasing an infant stroller for the first time it is recommended to consider a system that comes with a carrycot and a car seat could be of interest. Our test-driver for parents Jaya was a fan of the Graco Near2Me System she used with her 10-month old son. It comes with a clever feature that raises and lowers your child at the push of a button, so you can maintain eye contact and keep them close, which she claimed was important for her son as he was in an exploratory stage.

Another alternative 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 converts from a single to double pushchair, with 30 possible configurations. It also comes with luxe fabrics, an extendable sun canopy, and puncture-proof tyres. It's not cheap, but you can use it for more than one child, if you need to and, just like the iCandy Orange 3, can be used from birth thanks to the included carrycot.

Style

All prams should permit newborns to lay as flat as possible. This will aid in their development and increase oxygen levels in the lungs. Some models allow an entirely flat position using the carrycot which is completely reclined, while others have a seat which reclines to a horizontal position.

The Graco Near2Me has the latter and it's brilliant at that, as our parent tester Jaya found when she tested it with her son of 10 months. She loved the fact that she could raise and lower her little one with the touch of a button and keep him in sight, while still maintaining eye contact and closeness.

It's a great pram for those who want to get around town with ease as the frame is a good size for manoeuvring, while the puncture-proof tyres allow you to take it off road and on to rough terrain. It's also a smart choice if you're planning on having a second child in the future since it can easily be converted from a single pram into a twin or double pushchair.

The Bugaboo Dragonfly is a stylish, high-end option that looks and feels impressive. It is suitable for newborns because it comes with a carrycot that can be folded flat and is compatible with a car-seat when purchased separately. It can be folded by putting the carrycot in place - something that not all prams can do and is a time-saving and hassle-free feature.

The pram's luxurious fabrics as well as the spacious basket and puncture-proof tires are things you'd expect on a premium model However, the sleek frame makes it easy for you to maneuver on diverse terrains. This is an excellent choice for those who live in the city and have to navigate narrow streets or congested paths frequently. Although it's not inexpensive, the quality and versatility of this stroller will save you money in the end by not having to invest in a separate toddler stroller pushchair. You can choose from a wide range of colors that will fit your preferences.