Some parents like the pram stroller but traditional prams are for infants only because the baby must lie flat. In addition, this means that the parent has to buy new transport in a few months as the baby outgrows the traditional carriage. Fortunately, there are modern prams that are convertible. Once the child gets too large to lie flat, you can switch it to an upright stroller.

The original pram stroller was created in the 1700s. A garden architect by the name of William Kent created a basket shaped like a shell and put wheels on it so children would be able to sit and ride in it. The carriage needed to be pulled by a goat or other small animal. Back then, these were like creations of art. Mainly the materials used were wicker or wood and had brass joints, which were quite expensive then. It was not unheard of for models to have names of royalty. Pram models had names such as Duchess, Princess, Windsor, and Balmoral. Queen Victoria even purchased a few during the 1800s.

Long since then, manufacturers have introduced features that make for a smoother ride for the baby. They are also more user friendly for the person pushing the carriage. They are built with more safety standards and have additional accessories such as diaper bags that can attach. Prams generally have big canopy tops and curtains that give extra shielding from the sun. Most modern prams fold making it easier to transport than the traditional prams. Recently celebrity moms, like Sarah Jessica Parker, have been seen pushing their babies in and around Hollywood in prams. It seems to be fashionable.

The pram stroller usually works well for the city or suburban lifestyle because of the more even sidewalks. Mothers can easily go for a stroll in the park or other area with ease. They may not be the best option if your terrain is a more rural setting with less pavement and level sidewalks. Their lack of maneuverability does not typically work in that type of setting. A pram stroller can have a price tag of $200 to well over $1,000. This makes it an elegant addition to a family’s baby setting. Mothers like the fact that they can watch their baby while they walk or if they stop and park. That is the pram stroller’s best feature.

A major point to consider when purchasing a pram is to find one that suits you and your lifestyle. Safety and comfort are obviously top of your priority list but lifestyle will play a big part. Things such as if you own a car, would it fit in the boot? If you have to get public transport are you going to be able to collapse it with one hand and carry it? Will you require a shopping basket underneath?

All of those points you will need to bear in mind when researching the vast options open to you.

Safety points to remember when looking to purchase baby prams include looking at how stable it is. When hanging bags on the back, if the weight is not evenly distributed, the stroller will tip backwards and could cause serious injury to your child.

The braking system also needs to be taken into consideration. Some have a hand brake combined with a stronger foot brake. Others will only have a foot brake. Whichever type you choose, the brake has to be sturdy enough to prevent the vehicle from rolling if you park it on a hill. Baby prams can hold a larger amount of weight than its own and the baby’s, including whatever you decide to hang or store under it. The brakes have to be able to cope with this.

Seat belts are an important safety feature as they prevent the infant from slipping out. All newborn baby prams will have a five point harness which goes over the baby’s shoulders and then across the baby’s waist. Always strap your child in prior to starting to push the pram, as bumps, steps or slopes can cause your baby to fall out if not strapped in.

The types of wheels on baby prams vary enormously as well. You can have three-wheeled rubber, all-terrain wheels like the Mountain Buggy Urban, which will enable you to take it across any surface. They generally come with the front wheel being a swivel wheel, which makes maneuvering easier. Other baby prams will have small plastic or hard rubber wheels, which won’t be suitable across uneven ground, and you may find yourself stuck.

The weight and size of the pram stroller when open and collapsed is a crucial factor when deciding on your purchase. Some of the three-wheeler all-terrain baby prams are bulky when open and folded, yet don’t weigh very much. But these don’t fit in small car boots. The umbrella-folding baby prams will fold flat and are very narrow. But, deceptively, they can weigh considerably more than the bigger three wheelers. Although, they will fit in all car sizes and some umbrella folding prams are designed to fold to half their size again.

Swivel wheels, whilst making turning corners and sharp maneuvers easier, can go wrong and get the ‘supermarket trolley’ syndrome. This is where they do not wheel completely straight anymore and pull off to one side.