What Makes Good Prams?

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

The R for Rabbit Poppins Stylish Baby Stroller makes a great stroller for children from newborns to 3 years old. The reversible handle lets you turn the seat to face your child or the world.

Comfort

When you're out and around with a baby, you want to be sure they're comfortable. There are prams that will make sure your baby doesn't feel any discomfort.

All the prams listed in this guide allow your baby to lie flat. This is essential for babies as it increases oxygenation and supports their spine and hips. They also have a seat that can be converted to a more upright position when your baby is old enough to sit.

For a really high-end feel this Venicci egg2 provides a warm feeling of a cocoon for your baby with sleek, curvaceous lines and a bucket-shape seats that does not recline to a lying-flat position but does have an upholstered mattress and liner. It's also a little lighter than most prams, weighing less than 8kg but has a sturdy 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.

The Minu V2 is a great option to consider if you're looking to buy something with a similar look but at a price that is lower. The one-hand steer model, swish, isn't as light as other prams, but it does have a huge storage basket. It also comes with an extendable hood that offers UPF 50+ protection, which keeps your baby safe and protected.

If you're the first parent of your child we recommend the travel system bundle that includes a pram and a car seat that are attached to the same frame. This allows parents to transfer their child from their car to the pram without having to wake them up. The Bugaboo Dragonfly is a great example of a stylish and useful pram for travel that can be converted easily from a'pramette' lying flat' to a toddler-friendly pushchair, compatible with the Graco i-Size car seat.

Safety

The pram with car seat should be fitted with a five-point safety harness that will ensure your baby's safety. It should also not have any gaps between their head and legs that are likely to get caught. The straps should be padded and easy to adjust as they grow. It is also important to inspect the buckles of your harness to ensure they are not cracked or showing signs of wear and tear. Many children are admitted to hospitals each year due to injuries caused by strck to put them back together.

Durability

A pram needs to be able to stand up to the wear and tear of many years. You should ensure that your pram can handle slippery walks as well as a variety of car trips. You also want your pram to be in the form of a color or print that isn't prone to fading quickly to avoid looking like you've fallen out of fashion.

The most effective prams are constructed from high-quality materials and have been designed to last, so look for strong and durable materials, robust wheels and an effective suspension system. The best prams are lightweight and fold easily so that you can store them in your garage or even the boot.

All the prams on this list allow babies to lie flat, which is crucial for newborns because it improves oxygen saturation levels and aids in the development of their hips and spine. A lot of them are designed to grow with your child, with some of them having a carrycot or fully-reclined seat that can be clicked on and off the frame when your little one outgrows it.

If you're looking to purchase a brand new pram for the first time, you might also be interested in a travel system which is an all-in-one bundle that includes a lying-flat carrycot and car seat. We love the Graco Near2Me system that our parent tester Jaya used with her 10-month-old son. It comes with a clever feature that can raise or lower your child at the push of a button so 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 luxurious pushchair that converts from a single to a double pushchair with 30 possible configurations and features premium fabrics, an extendable sun canopy, and puncture-proof tyres. It's not cheap however, you can use it with more than one child if you need to. Like our top pick model, the iCandy Orange 3 with its included carrycot can be used from the moment of birth.

Style

Newborns should lay flat as often as they can to help develop and improve oxygen saturation in their lungs, which is why it's important that all prams permit this. Some models allow for an entirely flat position using a carrycot that is fully reclinable, while others have a seat that reclines to a horizontal position.

The Graco Near2Me works great for both as our parent tester Jaya discovered when she tried it on her 10-month-old child. She was enthralled by the fact that she could raise and lower her baby at the touch of a button, keeping him in sight while maintaining eye contact and closeness.

It's a great choice for those that want to nip around town with ease as the frame is a great size for maneuvering, and the puncture-proof tyres allow you to take it off road and onto rough terrain. It's a great option when you are planning to have a second child in the future because it can easily be converted from a single pushchair to a twin or double stroller.

The Bugaboo Dragonfly looks and feels like a stylish, high-end option. It's ideal for babies because it includes a carrycot which can be rolled flat and is compatible with a car seat if 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 with car seat's luxurious fabric, spacious basket, and puncture-proof tires are things you would expect to see on a premium model, but the sleek frame makes it easy to maneuver around different terrains. It's also a great option when you reside in a city and have to navigate narrow streets or crowded sidewalks regularly. While it's not cheap, the quality and versatility of this model will save you money in the end by avoiding the need to purchase a separate pushchair for toddlers. It's available in a wide range of colors, too, so you can choose one that matches your personal style.