What Makes Good Prams?

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

The R for Rabbit Poppins Stylish Baby Stroller is a great stroller for children from newborns to 3 years old. Its reversible handle allows you to turn the seat so that your child can face either you or the world around them.

Comfort

You want your child to feel comfortable when you're out with them. The good news is that there are prams specifically designed to ensure your little one isn't apprehensive.

All the prams in this guide let your baby lay flat. This is important for newborns since it improves oxygenation and strengthens their spine and hips. The seats can be adjusted to a more upright position when your baby is able to sit up.

Venicci egg2 is a high-end pram that has a cocoon-like feeling for your baby. It features smooth, curved lines, a bucket-shaped seat, which does not recline into flat, but it does have padding on the mattress and a liner. It's also a little lighter than the majority of prams, weighing under 8kg but still has an extremely sturdy chassis and grained leather accents, plus air-filled tyres that are puncture-proof, and can handle more rugged terrains.

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

If you're a new parent we suggest you look into a travel system bundle that includes a pram store near me as well as a car seat that attach to the same frame. This will make it easier to transfer your child from the car into the pram without disturbing them and is ideal for parents on the go. The Bugaboo Dragonfly is a great example of a stylish and functional pram sets for travel that can be converted easily from a'pramette' that lies flat to a pushchair pram for toddlers compatible with the Graco I-Size car seats.

Safety

A pram should be equipped with a five-point safety harness to keep your baby safe and free of any gaps that could trap their legs or heads. The straps must be cushioned, and easily adjustable as your child grows. Examine the buckles on the harness to ensure that they are not cracked and have signs of wear. Every year, a lot of children are admitted to hospitals due to injuries caused by prams and strollers. Tipping over is the most common cause of these injuries. Even the strongest prams can topple when you strap bags to the handles or if the child is wriggling and gets out or in the seat before the harness is tightened.

A common cause of injury involves falling from a pram, or stroller. If the harness you can store them easily in your garage or boot when not when not in use.

All the prams on this list allow the baby to lay flat. This is important for infants as it helps them develop their hips and spine, and boosts oxygen levels. Many are designed to adapt to your child's needs, with some of them having a carrycot or fully-reclined seat that can be clicked off and on the frame for when your child is no longer using it.

If you're purchasing a new pram for the first time, you might be interested in a travel set which is an all-in-one package that includes a lie-flat carrycot and car seat. Our tester for parents Jaya loved the Graco Near2Me System she used with her 10-month old son. It comes with a clever feature that can raise or lower your child with the click of a button so you can maintain eye contact and keep them close which she said was really important for her son as he was at an exploratory stage.

The Bugaboo Fox 3 is another option that our tester Jess Bird tried with her two babies Effie & Boden (pictured above). It's a luxurious pram that converts from a single pushchair to double pushchair, with 30 different configurations, and comes with luxurious fabrics, an expandable sun canopy and puncture-proof tyres. It's not inexpensive but it can be used for multiple children if necessary. And like our winner iCandy Orange 3, the iCandy Orange 3 with its carrycot included, it can be used right from birth.

Style

Newborns should lay flat as much as they can in order to promote development and increase the oxygen level in their lungs, so it is essential that all prams allow this. Some models allow a completely flat position with a fully-reclinable carrycot while others feature seats that recline to a flat position.

The Graco Near2Me features the latter feature, and it's fantastic at what it does as our tester for parents Jaya discovered when she tried it with her 10-month-old son. She was thrilled to be able to raise or lower her baby by pressing the button to keep him in view while maintaining the eye contact and closeness.

This frame is perfect for city trips, and the puncture-proof tires permit you to drive it off the road or on rough terrain. It's an excellent choice for those who plan to have a second child in the future because it can easily be converted from a single pushchair into a twin or double pram and pushchair.

The Bugaboo Dragonfly looks and feels like a premium, stylish option. It's ideal for infants as it comes with a lie-flat carrycot and is compatible with a car seat in the event that you purchase it separately. You can fold it with 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.

Its luxe fabrics, spacious shopping basket and puncture-proof tyres are the kinds of features you'd expect to find on a high-end pram and its sleek design makes it easy to maneuver across a variety of terrains. It's also an ideal choice if you live in a city and must navigate narrow streets or busy sidewalks frequently. It's not cheap, but its versatility and high-end quality can save you money in the long run by avoiding the purchase of a separate toddler stroller. It's available in an extensive variety of colors, as well, so you can choose one that fits your personal style.