What Makes good prams (
Bookmarkbooth wrote in a blog post)?
A pram, also known as a stroller, pushchair or a Sling, is the most popular method of transport for infants and toddlers. A well-designed pram is a combination of safety, comfort and design to make walking enjoyable for all the family.
The R for Rabbit Poppins Joy Stylish Baby Stroller is a fantastic pram for newborns to 3-year-old kids. The Reversible handle lets you flip the seat to face your child or the world.
Comfort
When you're out and about with your baby, you need to be sure they're comfortable. The good news is that there are prams specifically designed to ensure your child does not feel anything.
The prams we've selected in this buying guide all allow your baby to lie flat, which is essential for babies who are just beginning to crawl. Lying flat improves oxygen saturation and helps support their growing spine and hips. They also have seats which can be transformed to an upright position once your baby is old enough to sit.
For a truly luxurious feel it's the Venicci egg2 offers a cozy cocoon-like feel for your baby with sleek, curved lines and a bucket-shape seats that doesn't recline to a lie-flat position, but has an upholstered liner and mattress. It's also lighter than many prams, with a weight of less than 8kg. However, it still is sturdy and has grained leather details and air-filled tyres which are puncture-proof.
If you're looking for something a bit more budget-friendly but with the same style Minu V2 (minus carrycot) is a great option. The stylish one-hand steer model isn't as light as the other prams we've tested but it has an impressively large storage basket and extended hood with UPF50+ protection to keep your baby safe and shaded.
If you're a first time parent, we recommend you consider a
travel pushchair system that includes a car seat and pram that attaches to the same frame. This makes it easier to transfer your child from the car into the pram without having to wake them up and is ideal for busy parents who are always on the move. The Bugaboo Dragonfly
travel pushchair system is an elegant and practical pram that is easily converted from a 'pramette, or a lie-flat 'pramette to a stroller for toddlers compatible with the Graco iSize car seat.
Safety
A pram should have a five point safety harness to keep your baby safe and secure. It should not have any gaps to entrap their heads or legs. The straps must be cushioned and easily adjustable as your child grows. Also, you should check the harness buckles to make sure that they aren't damaged or showing signs of wear and tear. Every year, a large number of children are admitted to hospitals due to injuries caused by prams and strollers. The main reason for these injuries is the result of a stroller tipping over. Even the sturdiest prams can fall over if you hang bags on the handles, or if a child with a wriggling is able to get into or out of the seat without the harness being properly secured.
Another common cause of injury is falling from the pram or stroller. If a baby isn't properly secured the pram, they could fall out of the pram and suffer head or neck injuries. This is why it is vital to make sure that the harness buckle is always locked in place.
Some good prams also have a canopy that can be reversible to shield your baby from the sun in any direction. This is a useful feature since you will not be having to wake your child awake when you change their position in the pram or while you are going in and out of shops. There are other features that are useful, for example snacks for your toddler or child and drink holders. There's also a shopping basket underneath the seat.
Do not leave a baby asleep in a pram without having them within reach. Babies are prone to wiggle while asleep and this can cause them to roll out of the pram or stroller. This can lead to strangulation and suffocation. A stroller or
pram for newborn is not a substitute for a cot and should only be used for short periods of time during the day.
It is essential to disassemble the majority of prams to fit them into the boot of your vehicle. This process must be mastered before you purchase one. Also check how it is easy to put the different parts back together and then click to put them back together.
Durability
A pram 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 and also multiple car trips. You want to make sure that your pram is a colour or print that will not date easily so that you don't appear as if you've slipped out of style.
The
best travel stroller prams are made of high-quality materials, and are designed to last. You should look for durable fabrics, sturdy tires, and a well-designed system of suspension. The most effective prams are small and fold easily, so you can store them in your garage or boot.
All the prams in this list allow babies to lie flat. This is important for newborns, as it helps them develop their spine and hips and boosts oxygen levels. Some are made to grow with your child and 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 are buying a pram for the very first time it is recommended to consider a system that has an infant carrycot and car seats could be a good idea. We are awestruck by the Graco Near2Me system which our parent tester Jaya used with her son of 10 months. It has a nifty feature that allows you to raise and lower your child with the click of a button so you can keep eye contact and keep them close, which she said was really important for her son as he was in an exploratory stage.
Another alternative is the Bugaboo Fox 3 which our tester Jess Bird used with her two children, Effie and Boden (pictured above). It's a pushchair that can be transformed from a single pushchair double, with 30 different configurations. It also comes with a sun canopy that can be extended and puncture-proof tires. It's not inexpensive however, you can use it for more than one child if you need to. Like our top pick, the iCandy Orange 3 with its carrycot is a great option to use from the moment of birth.
Style
All prams should allow newborns to lay as flat as possible. This will help with their development and boost oxygen levels in the lungs. Some models create a completely flat position using a fully reclineable carrycot while others feature a seat that reclines to an upright position.
The Graco Near2Me features the latter and it's brilliant at that as our parent tester Jaya found when she tested it with her son of 10 months. She loved the fact that she could raise and lower her child with the touch of a button and keep him in view, while still maintaining eye contact and closeness.
It's a great choice for those that want to get around town without hassle since the frame is a great size for maneuvering, and the puncture-proof tyres permit you to take it off road and into rough terrain. It's a great option if you plan to have a child in the future because it can easily be converted from a single pushchair a double or twin.
The Bugaboo Dragonfly looks and feels like a high-end, stylish option. It's ideal for babies because it comes with a lie-flat baby carrycot and is compatible with a car seat when you purchase it separately. It is able to be folded with the carrycot still in place This is an option that not all prams provide. This saves time and makes it more convenient to use.
Its luxurious fabrics, large shopping basket and puncture-proof tyres are the kind of features you'd expect to see on a pram of the highest quality, but its sleek frame makes it easy to handle on a variety of terrains. It's also a great option if you live in a large city and need to negotiate narrow streets or overcrowded sidewalks regularly.