What Makes Good Prams?

A pram (also known as a stroller or a pushchair) is the main form of transportation for babies and toddlers. A quality pram blends safety, comfort and style to make walking enjoyable for all the family.

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

Comfort

When you're out and around with your baby, you'll want to ensure they're secure. The good news is that there are prams designed to ensure your little one isn't apprehensive.

The prams we've selected in this buying guide all allow your baby to lie flat, which is crucial for infants as lying flat increases oxygen saturation and supports their developing hips and spine. The seats can also be adjusted to a more upright position when your baby is capable of sitting up.

For a truly luxurious experience this Venicci egg2 provides a warm cocoon feel for your newborn with sleek, curved lines and a bucket-shape seats that does not recline to a lying-flat position but does have padding on the mattress and liner. It's also a little lighter than the majority of prams pushchairs prams on the market at less than 8kg but has a sturdy chassis and grained leather accents as well as tyres with air-filled tires that are puncture-proof and able to be used in more rural environments.

The Minu V2 is a great choice if you're looking for something with a similar design but at a price that is lower. The one-hand steer, swish model isn't quite as lightweight as other strollers, pram and car seat but it does come with a large storage basket. It also has an extended hood that provides UPF 50+ protection, which keeps your baby protected and shaded.

If you're a first-time parent, we recommend that you consider a travel system that includes a car seat as well as a pram that attaches to the same frame. This allows parents to move their child from the car to the pram without having to wake them up. The Bugaboo Dragonfly is a great example of a fashionable and practical pram for travel that can be converted easily from a'pramette' that lies flat into a toddler-friendly pushchair, compatible with the Graco I-Size car seat.

Safety

A pram should have a five point safety harness to ensure your baby is secure and should not allow any gaps that could trap their legs or heads. The straps must be padded, and easily adjustable as your child grows. Examine the buckles on the harness to ensure they are not cracked and show signs of wear. Each year, many children are hospitalised because of injuries caused by prams and strollers. The most common cause of these that will not date easily to avoid looking as if you've slipped out of style.

The most effective prams are constructed from high-quality materials and are built to last, so look for robust fabrics, sturdy wheels and a well-designed suspension system. The best prams will also have a compact travel stroller fold, so they can be easily stored in your garage or in the boot when not in use.

All the prams in this list allow a baby to lie flat, which is vital for newborns because it improves oxygen saturation levels and aids in the development of their hips and spine. Many are designed to adapt to your child's needs, with some of them having a carrycot or fully-reclined seat that can be moved on and off the frame at a time when your little one outgrows it.

If you're buying a new pram for the first time, you might be looking for a travel system which is a bundle that includes a lie-flat carrycot and car seat. We are awestruck by the Graco Near2Me system that our parent tester Jaya used with her 10-month-old son. It comes with a clever feature that raises and lowers your baby at the touch of a button, so you can keep your eyes on them and keep them close which she described as being important for her son as he was at an exploratory stage.

Another alternative is another option is the Bugaboo Fox 3 which our tester Jess Bird used with her two children, Effie and Boden (pictured above). It's a luxurious pushchair that can be converted from a single to double pushchair, with 30 different configurations, and comes with premium fabrics, an extendable sun canopy, and puncture-proofed tyres. It's not inexpensive, but you can use it with multiple children if necessary. Similar to our winner iCandy Orange 3, 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 possible. This will help with their development and increase oxygen levels in the lungs. Some models allow a completely flat position with a fully-reclinable carrycot, while others have seats that recline to an unflat position.

The Graco Near2Me comes with the latter feature, and it's fantastic in this regard, as our parent tester Jaya found when she tested it with her son who was 10 months old. She loved the ability to raise or lower her baby at the touch of an button, keeping him in the same position, while still maintaining eye contact and proximity.

It's a great choice for those that want to travel around town with ease as the frame is a great size for manoeuvring, while the puncture-proof tyres let you move it off the road and into rough terrain. It's a great option when you are planning to have a child in the future, as it can easily be transformed from a single pushchair to a double or twin.

The Bugaboo Dragonfly is a stylish premium option that looks and feels luxurious. It's ideal for babies because it comes with a lie-flat carrycot and is compatible with car seats, if you buy it separately. It is able to be folded with the carrycot still in place This is an option that not all prams offer. This is time-saving and makes it easier to use.

The pram's luxurious fabric large basket, spacious interior, and puncture-proof tires are things you'd expect to find in a top model however, the sleek frame makes it easy to maneuver over various terrains. It's also an ideal choice when you reside in a city and need to negotiate narrow streets or busy sidewalks regularly. It's not cheap, but its versatility and quality could save you money in the long run by avoiding the need for an additional stroller for your toddler. You can pick from a wide range of colors that will fit your preferences.