What Makes Good
prams travel system?
A pram (also known as a pushchair or stroller) is the primary mode of transportation for babies and toddlers. A great pram is a blend of comfort, safety and design that makes walking enjoyable for the entire family.
The R for Rabbit Poppins Stylish Baby Stroller is a great stroller for infants 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
Your baby should be at ease when you're out with them. The good news is that there are prams designed to ensure that your baby isn't apprehensive.
All prams featured in this guide let your baby lie flat. This is crucial for newborns since it improves oxygenation and strengthens their spine and hips. They also have seats that can be converted to a more upright position when your baby is old enough to sit.
For a truly luxurious experience, the Venicci egg2 provides a warm cocoon feel for your newborn with sleek, curvaceous lines and a bucket-shape seats that doesn't recline to a lie-flat position, but it does have a padded mattress and liner. It's also lighter than the majority of prams on the market at under 8kg but still has a sturdy chassis and grained leather details, plus air-filled tyres that are puncture-proof and able to take on more rural settings.
If you're looking for something more affordable, but still with the same design Minu V2 (minus carrycot) is a great option. The stylish, one-hand steer model isn't as lightweight than some of the other prams we tried but it does have a large storage basket, as well as an extended hood with UPF50+ protection that'll keep your baby protected and shaded.
If you're a first-time parent we suggest you look into a travel system bundle which includes a pram as well as a car seat that attach to the same frame. This allows parents to transfer their child from the car to the pram without having to get them up. The Bugaboo Dragonfly travel system is a stylish 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 must have a five-point safety harness to ensure your baby is safe and free of any gaps that could trap their legs or head. The straps should be cushioned and easy to adjust as they grow. Examine the buckles on the harness to ensure they are not damaged and show signs of wear. Every year, a lot of children are hospitalised because of injuries caused by prams and strollers. Tipping over is the most common reason for these injuries. Even the most sturdy prams can tip over if you hook your bags onto the handles or if the child is wriggling and falls out or in the seat before the harness has been tightened.
Another reason for injuries is falling from the pram or
stroller compact. If a child is not properly secured, they could fall out of the stroller and sustain neck or head injuries. This is why it is vital 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 either direction. This is a great feature because it will prevent having to wake your child up when you are changing their position in the pram or while you go into and out of shops. There are other features that can be useful, for example a snack tray for your toddler or child and drink holders. There is also a basket for shopping underneath the seat.
You should never leave a sleeping child in their stroller unless you are within sight of them at all times. Babies tend to wiggle while asleep and this can cause them to roll off the stroller or pram and could result in strangulation or suffocation. A pram or a stroller is not a substitute for the cot. It is best to use it for short periods during the day.
It is necessary to take apart most prams in order to put them in the trunk of your car. This procedure must be mastered before you buy one. Find out how easy it will be to put the parts back together.
Durability
A pram should be able to last through several years of wear and tear. You need to ensure that your stroller can withstand the mud of a walk and also multiple car trips. Also, you want your pram to come in an image or color that doesn't get outdated so you don't end up looking like you've gone out of style.
The best prams are made of high-quality materials and have been designed to last, so you should look for strong and durable materials, robust wheels, and an effective suspension system. The top prams have a compact fold so they are easy to store in your garage or boot when not in use.
All prams on this list allow the baby to lie down flat. This is essential for infants because it aids in the development of their hips and spine, and boosts oxygen levels. Many are designed to adapt to your child's needs and some featuring a carrycot, or a fully reclined seat that can be clicked off and back on the frame when your child is no longer using it.
If you're purchasing a new pram for the first time, you might be interested in a travel set that is a complete package that includes a lie-flat carrycot and car seat. Our parent tester Jaya loved the Graco Near2Me System that she used with her 10-month old son. It has a nifty 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 described as being important to her since he was at an exploratory stage.
Another option is another option is the Bugaboo Fox
3 in 1 pram which our tester Jess Bird used with her two children, Effie and Boden (pictured above). It's a stroller that can be transformed from a single pushchair into a double with 30 different configurations. It also features a sun canopy that can be extended and puncture-proof tires. It's not cheap, but you can use it with multiple children if necessary. Like our top pick, the iCandy Orange
3 in 1 pram with its carrycot included, it can be used from the moment of birth.
Style
Newborns should lay flat as often as they can to help develop and improve oxygen saturation in their lungs, which is why it's essential that all prams permit this. Some models create a completely flat position using a fully reclineable carrycot while others feature seats that recline to an upright position.
The Graco Near2Me has the latter feature and is fantastic in this regard as our parent tester Jaya discovered when she tried it with her son of 10 months. She loved the fact that she could raise or lower her baby at the push of a button to keep him in sight, while still maintaining eye contact and closeness.
It's a great choice for those who wish to nip around town easily as the frame is an ideal size for manoeuvring, while the puncture-proof tyres allow you to move it off the road and on to rough terrain. It's also a good choice if you're planning on having another child in the near future because it easily converts from a single pushchair to a
double pram or twin pushchair.
The Bugaboo Dragonfly is a stylish, high-end option that is both stylish and comfortable. It's suitable for babies as it includes a carrycot which can lie flat and it's compatible with a car-seat when purchased separately. It is able to be folded with the carrycot still in place This is a feature that not all prams offer. This reduces time and makes it easier to use.
The pram's luxurious fabric, spacious basket, and puncture-proof tires are all features you'd expect on a premium model however, the sleek frame makes it simple to maneuver around different terrains. This is a great option if you live in the city and have to navigate narrow streets and crowded walkways regularly. Although it's not inexpensive however, the durability and quality of this pram mean that it can save you money over the long term by not having to purchase a separate toddler pushchair. It's available in a broad selection of colors too, so you can pick one that suits your personal style.