What Makes Good Prams?
A pram, also known as a stroller, pushchair or a sling, is the primary method of transport for infants and toddlers. A good pram is a combination of safety, comfort and design that makes walking fun for the entire family.
The R for Rabbit Poppins Stylish Baby triple stroller is a fantastic stroller for babies to three years old. The adjustable handle can be turned around to allow you to turn the seat to face your child or the world.
Comfort
When you're out and around with your baby, you'll want to ensure they're secure. There are prams to ensure that your baby isn't shivering any sensations.
All the prams in this guide allow your baby to lay flat. This is important for newborns since it improves oxygenation and supports their spine and hips. The seats can 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 does have a padded mattress and liner. It's also lighter than most prams available at less than 8kg, but it has solid chassis and grained leather accents, plus air-filled tyres that are puncture-proof, and can take on more rural settings.
The Minu V2 is a great choice when you're looking for a model with a similar design but at a lower price. The one-hand steer, swish model isn't quite as lightweight as other strollers, but it does have a huge storage basket. It also comes with an extended hood that provides 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 which includes a pram and a car seat that are attached to the same frame. This makes it easier for parents to transfer their baby from the car to the pram without having to get them up. The Bugaboo Dragonfly travel system is a stylish and functional pram that can be converted easily from a 'pramette' or lie-flat 'pramette, to a stroller for toddlers compatible with the Graco ISize car seat.
Safety
The pram should be equipped with five-point safety harnesses that will ensure your baby's safety. It must also be free of gaps where their legs or heads are likely to get caught. The straps should be cushioned and easy to adjust as they grow. You should also examine the buckles on your harness to ensure they aren't damaged or showing signs of wear and tear. Many children are admitted to hospitals every year due to injuries caused by strollers or prams. The primary reason for these injuries is the result of a stroller tipping over. Even the sturdiest prams can tip over if you attach bags to the handles or if a wriggling child is able to get into or out of the seat without harnesses being done up.
A frequent cause of injury is falling from a pram, or stroller. If a baby is not securely secured in the pram, they could fall out of the stroller and sustain head or neck injuries. This is why it is important to ensure that the harness buckle is always locked in place.
A few good prams also come with a canopy that can be reversible to protect your baby from sun in either direction. This is a great feature since you will not be having to wake your baby awake while you change their position in the pram or while you are in and out of shops. Other useful features include a snack tray and drink holders for your baby or toddler stroller, a shopping basket under the seat, and the handlebar can be locked into place when you're not using it.
It is not advisable to leave a child sleeping in their pram unless you are in their sight at all times. Babies are known to wiggle when asleep and this may cause them to roll off the stroller or pram and cause strangulation or suffocation. A pram or a stroller 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 dismantle them to fit them into the boot of your car so it is a good idea to familiarise yourself with this process before purchasing one. Also, check how it is simple to put the different parts back together and click to put them back together.
Durability
A pram should be able to endure several years of wear. You should ensure that your baby's pram is able to handle muddy walks, as well as multiple car trips. It is also important for your pram pushchair to come in the form of a color or print that isn't prone to fading quickly so you don't end up looking like you've fallen out of fashion.
The best prams are made with high-quality materials. They are built to last, so look for strong and durable materials, robust wheels, and an effective suspension system. The best prams will also feature a compact fold so you can store them easily in your garage or the boot when not being used.
All prams on this list allow babies to lie flat. This is important for newborns, because it aids in the development of their hips and spine, and improves oxygenation levels. Many of these prams have been designed to expand with your child's. Some have a carrycot or a fully-reclined chair that can be snapped on and off as your child grows.
If you are buying a pram for the very first time, a travel system that includes both the carrycot as well as car seats could be worth a look. We love the Graco Near2Me system that our parent tester Jaya used with her 10-month-old son. It comes with a handy feature that can raise or lower your child with the click of a button so you can keep your eyes on them and keep them close, which she claimed was important for her son as the baby was still at an exploratory stage.
Another alternative is another option is the Bugaboo Fox 3 in one pushchair which our tester Jess Bird used with her two children, Effie and Boden (pictured above). It's a pram that can be transformed from a single pushchair to a double with 30 different configurations. It also features sun canopy that can be extended and puncture-proof tires. It's not inexpensive however, it can be used for multiple children if necessary. And like our winner, the iCandy Orange 3 with its carrycot can be used from the moment of birth.
Style
All prams should allow newborns to lie as flat as they can. This will aid in their development and increase oxygen saturation in the lungs. Some models create a completely flat position using a fully reclineable carrycot, while others have seats that recline to an unflat position.
The Graco Near2Me is a great device for the latter, as our parent tester Jaya discovered when she tested it on her 10-month-old child. She loved the fact that she could raise or lower her baby at the touch of a button to keep him in the view of others and still maintain eye contact and closeness.
This frame is perfect to take a stroll around town and the puncture-proof wheels permit you to drive it off the road or on rough terrain. It's also a great choice if you're planning on having a second child in the future since it is able to convert from a single pram to a double or twin pushchair.
The Bugaboo Dragonfly looks and feels like a premium, stylish option. It's ideal for babies since it includes a carrycot which can be folded flat and is compatible with car seats if purchased separately. It can be folded with the carrycot in place and it's something that isn't the case with all prams, so it's an easy and time-saving feature.
The pram's luxurious fabrics large basket, spacious interior, and puncture-proof tires are features you would expect to see in a top model, but the sleek frame makes it simple to maneuver around different terrains. This is a great choice if you live in the city and have to navigate narrow streets and crowded paths on a regular basis. Although it's not inexpensive however, the durability and quality of this stroller make it possible to save you money over the long term by not having to buy an additional pushchair for toddlers. You can pick from a wide range of colors to match your personal style.