20 Trailblazers Leading The Way In Good Prams
What Makes Good Prams?
A pram (also called a stroller or pushchair newborn) is the main form of transportation for babies and toddlers. A good pram is a blend of safety, comfort and style that makes walking enjoyable for all the family members.
The R for Rabbit Poppins Stylish Baby Stroller is a fantastic stroller for infants to 3 years old. Its reversible handle allows you to tilt the seat so your child can either face 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 made to ensure your child doesn't feel a thing.
The prams we've selected in this buying guide let your baby lie flat, which is crucial for newborn babies as lying flat improves oxygen saturation and assists in the development of their hips and spine. They also come with a seat that can be converted to a more upright position when your baby is old enough to sit.
Venicci egg2 is a high-end pram that offers a cocoon-like feel for your baby. It is smooth and has curving lines as well as a bucket-shaped seating, that doesn't recline to an upright position however it does come with an upholstered mattress and liner. It's also lighter than most prams, weighing less than 8kg, but it has solid chassis and grained leather accents and air-filled tyres that are puncture-proof, and can take on more rural settings.
If you're looking for something more budget-friendly but still with the same style, the Minu V2 (minus carrycot) is another excellent choice. The sleek, one-hand steer model isn't as lightweight than some of the other prams we tested but it has an impressively large storage basket, as well as an extendable hood with UPF 50+ protection that'll keep your baby shaded and protected.
If you're new to parenting we suggest that you look into a travel system package which includes a car seat as well as a pram that attaches to the same frame. This allows parents to transfer their child from their car to the pram without having to awake them. The Bugaboo Dragonfly is a great example of a stylish and useful travel strollers system pram that converts easily from a lie-flat 'pramette' to a toddler-friendly pushchair compatible with the Graco I-Size 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 where their legs or heads could get stuck. The straps must be cushioned and easily adjustable as your child grows. It is also important to check the harness buckles to ensure that they aren't damaged or showing signs of wear and tear. Each year, many children are admitted to hospitals due to injuries caused by prams and strollers. Tipping over is the most common reason for these injuries. Even the sturdiest prams can tip over if you hook bags to the handles or if a child who is wriggling can get in or out of the seat without harnesses being properly secured.
Another common cause of injury is falling off the stroller or pram. If the harness of a baby is not fastened properly it can cause them to fall out of the stroller and sustain neck or head injuries. It is therefore essential to ensure that the buckle on the harness is locked into place.
Some prams come with a reversible shade which can be used to protect your baby in any direction from the sun. This feature is useful since you don't need to wake up your baby every time you change their position in the stroller or when you go in and out of stores. Other useful features include a tray for snacks and drink holders for your baby or toddler, a shopping basket under the seat and a handlebar that can be locked into place when you are not using it.
It is not advisable to leave a child sleeping in their stroller unless you are within their reach at all times. Babies are known to wiggle when asleep and this can cause them to slide off the pram or stroller and can lead to strangulation or suffocation. A triple pram or stroller is not an alternative to a cot and should only be used for short periods of time during the day.
It is essential to disassemble most prams in order to place them in the boot of your vehicle. This procedure should be familiarised with before you purchase one. Find out how easy it will be to put the sections back together.
Durability
A pram pushchair should be able to stand up to the wear and tear of many years. You want to make sure that your baby's pram is able to handle muddy walks, as well as multiple car trips. It is also important for your stroller to have a print or colour that isn't prone to fading quickly to avoid looking like you've fallen out of fashion.
The best prams will be made of high-quality materials, and built to last. Look for durable materials, sturdy tires, and an effective suspension system. The best prams are compact and fold easily so that you can store them in your garage or the boot of your car.
All prams on this list allow a baby to lay 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 with your child. Some come with a carrycot or a fully-reclined chair that can be removed and snapped on as your child grows.
If you are purchasing a pram for the first time, a travel system that has the carrycot as well as a car seat could be of interest. We are awestruck by the Graco Near2Me system which our parent tester Jaya used with her 10-month-old son. It has an innovative feature that allows you to raise and lower your baby by pressing one button. This allows you to keep your eyes on them and keep them close.
The Bugaboo Fox 3 is another option that our tester Jess Bird tried with her two children Effie and Boden (pictured above). It's a pram that can be transformed from a single pushchair double, with 30 different configurations. It also features the sun canopy which can be extended and puncture-proof tires. It's not cheap but you can use it for more than one child in the event of need and, as with our winner the iCandy Orange 3, can be used from birth with the included carrycot.
Style
All prams should permit newborns to lie as flat as they can. This will aid in their development and improve oxygen saturation in the lungs. Some models allow an all-flat position by using a carrycot that is completely reclined, while others have a seat which can recline 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 was thrilled to be able to raise or lower her infant by pressing an button, keeping him in sight, while still maintaining closeness and eye contact.
The frame is perfect for city trips and the puncture-proof tires permit you to take it off road or on rough terrain. It's also a great choice if you're planning on having another child in future since it is able to convert from a single pram to a twin or double pushchair cheap.
The Bugaboo Dragonfly is a stylish premium option that looks and feels luxurious. It's ideal for infants as it includes a lie-flat carrycot and is compatible with a car seat in the event that you purchase it separately. You can even fold it using the carrycot as a stand and it's something that isn't the case with all prams and is a time-saving and hassle-free feature.
Its luxurious fabrics, spacious shopping basket and puncture-proof tires are the kinds of features you'd expect to find on a high-end pram, but its sleek frame makes it easy to handle on any terrain. It's also a great choice for those who live in a large city and need to negotiate narrow streets or crowded sidewalks regularly. The pram isn't cheap, but its versatility and high-end quality can save you money in the long run by avoiding the need for a separate toddler stroller. It's available in a broad selection of colors as well, so you can choose one that fits your personal style.