What Makes
Good Prams?
A
running pram, also known as a stroller, pushchair or Sling, is the most popular mode of transport for infants and toddlers. A great pram combines safety, comfort and design that makes walking enjoyable for the entire family.
The R for Rabbit Poppins Joy Stylish Baby Stroller is a wonderful stroller for newborns and 3-year-old children. Its reversible handle allows you to rotate the seat so your child can either face either you or the world around them.
Comfort
Your baby should be at ease when you're out with them. The good news is that there are prams specifically designed to ensure your child doesn't feel a thing.
The prams we've selected in this buying guide all allow your baby to lay flat, which is important for babies who are just beginning to crawl. Lying flat increases oxygen saturation and assists in the development of their spine and hips. The seats can be adjusted to an upright position once your child is capable of sitting up.
Venicci egg2 is a high-end pram that has a cocoon-like feel for your baby. It has smooth, curving lines, a bucket-shaped seat, that doesn't recline to flat however it does come with padding on the mattress and a liner. It's also lighter than most prams on the market at less than 8kg but has solid chassis and grained leather accents and air-filled tyres that are puncture-proof and able to be used in more rural environments.
If you want something more affordable, but still 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 the first parent of your child, we'd recommend considering a travel system bundle that includes a pram and car seat that attach to the same frame. This makes it easier for parents to transfer their baby from the car to the pram without having to awake them. The Bugaboo Dragonfly is a great example of a stylish and functional pram that can convert easily from a lie-flat 'pramette into a toddler-friendly pushchair compatible with the Graco i-Size car seat.
Safety
The pram should come with a five-point safety harness that will keep your baby safe. It should also not have any gaps in which their heads or legs are likely to get caught. The straps should be padded and easy to adjust as they expand. Check the buckles on the harness to ensure they are not cracked and have signs of wear. Each year, many 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 robust prams could tip over if you attach bags onto the handles, or if a child who is wriggling is able to get into or out of the seat without harnesses being secured.
A common cause of injury involves falling from a pram, or stroller. If a child's harness isn't secured correctly it could cause them to fall from the
folding stroller and sustain neck or head injuries. This is why it is important to ensure that the harness buckle is always secured.
Some good prams also have an adjustable canopy that can shield your baby from the sun in any direction. This is a handy feature because it will prevent having to wake your child awake while you change their position in the pram or while you are into and out of shops. There are other features that could be useful, for example a snack tray for your child or toddler and drink holders. You can also find a basket for shopping underneath the seat.
Do not leave a baby asleep in a pram if you are not within reach. Babies can be prone to wiggle while asleep and could cause them to fall out of the pram or stroller. This could lead to suffocation and strangulation. A stroller or
running pram should not be used as a substitute for the crib. It is best to use it for short periods during the day.
The majority of prams require you to disassemble them in order to put them in the trunk of your car so it's an excellent idea to familiarize yourself with this procedure before you purchase one. Also, consider how it is easy to put the various sections back together and then click to put them back together.
Durability
A pram needs to be able to stand up to the wear and tear of many years. This includes surviving walking in the rain and many car journeys, so you need to ensure that your choice is able to do the job you need it to. It is important to ensure that your pram is a colour or print that isn't prone to fading so you don't look like you've lost style.
The best prams are made with high-quality materials. They have been designed to last. So, look for strong and durable materials, robust wheels, and a well-designed suspension system. The top prams have a compact fold so they can be easily stored in your garage or the boot when not being used.
All the prams in this list allow a baby to lay flat, which is essential for infants since it increases oxygen saturation levels and aids in the development of their spine and hips. Many are designed to grow with your child with some featuring a carrycot, or a fully reclined seat that can be moved on and off the frame when your child is no longer using it.
If you're purchasing a new
childs pram for the first time, you may be looking for a travel system which is a bundle that includes a lie-flat carrycot and car seat. Our tester for parents Jaya loved the Graco Near2Me system that she used with her 10-month-old son. It is a revolutionary feature that allows you to raise and lower your baby with the touch of one button. This allows you to maintain eye contact with them and keep them close.
Another option is the Bugaboo Fox 3 which our tester Jess Bird used with her two babies, Effie and Boden (pictured above). It's a luxurious pushchair that can be converted from a single pushchair to a double pushchair with 30 different configurations, and comes with luxe fabrics, an extendable sun canopy and puncture-proof tyres. It's not cheap, but you could use it for more than one child, if you need to and, like our winner the iCandy Orange 3, can be used from birth using the included carrycot.
Style
All prams should permit newborns to lie flat as they can. This will aid in their development and increase oxygen saturation in the lungs. Some models allow a completely flat position using a fully reclineable carrycot, while others have seats that recline to an unflat position.
The Graco Near2Me features the latter feature, and it's fantastic at what it does, as our parent tester Jaya discovered when she tried it with her 10-month-old son. She was thrilled that she could raise and lower her baby at the touch of a button and keep him in the view of others, while still maintaining eye contact and a closeness.
The frame is perfect to take a stroll around town, and the puncture-proof tires permit you to drive it off the road or on rough terrain. It's also a great option if you're thinking of having another child in the near future since it can easily be converted from a single
pushchair with car seat to a twin or double pushchair.
The Bugaboo Dragonfly is a stylish and high-end product that is both stylish and comfortable. It's suitable for babies as it includes a carrycot that can be rolled flat and is compatible with a car seat when purchased separately. You can fold it using the carrycot as a stand - something that not all prams can do and is an efficient and easy feature.
Its luxurious fabrics, spacious shopping basket and puncture-proof tyres are the kind of features you'd expect to see on a pram of the highest quality however, its sleek frame makes it easy to maneuver across a variety of terrains. This is an excellent choice for those who live in the city and must navigate narrow streets or congested walkways on a regular basis. It's not cheap, but its versatility and high-end quality can save you money over time by avoiding the purchase of an additional stroller for your toddler. You can pick from a wide range of colors to suit your style.
