We’ve owned prams that deserved burning after week one for being utterly useless.
Some are bulky, heavy to handle, hard to fold… trust me, I still have a mild form of PTSD from the very first pram we bought for our first born.
Truly when choosing a pram, it is best to look for the one that suits your lifestyle and something that gives great comfort to your little one. Experience is definitely the best teacher. By the time I got to baby number two, I knew exactly what to get and which one to use when travelling abroad, commuting around London or if just popping out the local high street.
The products below are top recommendations based on a mixture of ease of use, longevity, future-proofing and innovative features.
Silver Cross Wave 2020
Silver Cross' Wave had a makeover this year and it's such a beautiful pram. Its standout new look features tan leatherette handle, stunning chrome details and a beautifully textured platinum chassis. And although it's at a lower price point than its predecessor, it definitely doesn't skimp out on quality and style.
What I love about the Wave 2020 is that it is future-proofed for growing families and it's ready to go as a double pram for a newborn and an older sibling using the carrycot and seat unit already included in the package.
One of its cool new features are the natural antibacterial bamboo fabrics for the carrycot interior and reversible seat liner. The UPF 50+ sun protection hood is another well considered feature and a desirable summer essential. The Wave 2020 is also 1kg lighter compared to the previous model and comes in new colourways like Charcoal, Zinc and Indigo - think fine tailored suits at a Mayfair soiree - deeply sophisticated and fine tuned throughout.
The carrycot is also well-ventilated making it suitable for overnight sleeping. Meaning, if you're not keen to pack a sleeping cot whilst you're away from home, then bubba can safely sleep in the carrycot.
For ease of use, style, comfort and forward thinking design, this is my top pick.
£995 | Silver Cross *pre-order now for mid-August delivery
Bugaboo Ant
The Bugaboo Ant is the Dutch stroller brand’s newest family member. It’s a compact-travel stroller that makes going around a busy city hassle free.
It’s so stylish that during its first outing, I had women asking questions where they can buy it from and how sleek it looks. I really loved its height-adjustable handlebar, so commuting with a pram meant that the pram wasn’t getting in the way of passengers when entering or leaving the bus or train.
It’s really sturdy but it’s also so compact that it easily fits into the overhead compartment of a train, plane or into the boot of a car. The roomy basket is also a bonus.
Nuna Pepp Next Stroller
This is our first introduction to the world of Nuna, the premium baby brand loved by Hollywood celebs.
I loved the flat fold design, which stands upright when not in use. This feature worked really well with the lack of space at our old flat. The seat also has ample space to allow my little testers to get comfortable and discover the world around them. I can tell how happy they are when they’re on it. The three-position recline is a lovely feature because it really allowed my little ones to relax while riding with plenty of space to sleep or stretch.
Before the lockdown, we went to Kew Gardens every Saturday and this was a brilliant travel companion. When the kids are up for running and exploring, I can wheel the pram with one hand like luggage. The design is sophisticated - the silent pull-down canopy is pretty cool. The fabric is worthy of a Saville Row suit. The ride is really smooth. Did I channel my inner Nuna superfan Jessica Alba whenever I use it? Oh yes.
Acro Lightweight Buggy
Perhaps one of my favourite push chairs of all time. Weighing just under 5kg, this is Mamas and Papas' lightest and most compact buggy yet. As soon as you take it out of the box, it’s ready to use, no need to assemble.
If travelling, you can tuck it into its own transit bag and carry with you like a suit bag. Once we had this in our lives, gone were the days of being the last person at baggage reclaim waiting for lost or misplaced pushchairs. It’s slim, so getting into public transport can be done with ease. I really like the adjustable handle. It comes with two positions for easy steering.
Don’t be fooled by its tiny stature. It's actually hardcore enough to take both countryside and city terrains.
£99 | Mamas and Papas *on sale now
Silver Cross Jet Special Edition
Royal favourite Silver Cross' most compact stroller got a makeover for 2020 and I'm loving it.
Jet is small, light, agile and makes going out so convenient, no matter how you're travelling.
The ultra-small fold means it’s amazingly portable and it fits easily in car boots or overhead storage racks and it's also cabin approved for most airlines.
I love the new features like the ergonomic seat for better comfort, wider front wheels and improved suspension for a smooth ride. The new design features softly textured weave fabrics, with a cocoa leatherette handle and bumper bar. There are also five colours of Jet available, including Black, Silver and three new special editions – Ocean, Mist and Eclipse.
For jet-setting families, this is perfect as it's freestanding when folded and can be pulled like a suitcase.
Stokke Beat Compact Lightweight Stroller
Sturdy and strong, this lightweight stroller is perfect for city dwellers. It’s so easy to push, fold and carry away. It’s small footprint makes it the ideal solution for travel, navigating busy streets, shops and public transit. I really love the parent and front-facing seat that can be folded either way.
This feature literally saved me a few times from massive public meltdowns.
The extra large shopping basket holds a whopping 10kg of items - definitely an added bonus from this compact urban stroller.
Cybex e-Priam
If you’re a tech geek like me, you’ll love German company Cybex’s e-Priam.
Think revolutionary smart technology meets luxurious design with this one. It makes struggling up slopes a thing of the past. It’s like getting a helping hand when you need it most. Once activated, the e-PRIAM uphill support monitors pushing effort and powers your ascent, making a steep climb feel like strolling along a level sidewalk! Intelligent, intuitive, and exceptionally innovative, the e-PRIAM smartly adapts to rough terrain like sand, gravel or cobblestones. I never felt so cool when we last visited Brighton Beach.
£1,199.90 | Natural Baby Shower
Nuna Triv Pushchair
Perfect for city living or jet-setters.
Styled with a luxe leatherette push bar, TRIV is a compact stroller that has an easy-to-fold flat design, huge storage basket and easy to flip fold seat. Maker Nuna is a big hit with A-listers like Queen Bey, so I very much felt the Hollywood glam as I pranced up and down the streets of Chiswick picking up essentials from the local shops.
All of TRIV’s features are designed to ensure a smooth ride for little ones – even on bumpy roads. I love its one-hand adjustable push bar and quick-release, five point no-rethread harness, one-touch brake and front swivel wheel locks.
I also love how it can switch from pushchair to car seat mode. The Ring Adapter even easily folds down with the pushchair so you don’t even need to spend time to remove it. You can get a carry cot that can be used from birth until you graduate to the seat unit.
It’s sturdy yet agile and really easy to navigate through different surfaces.
Mamas and Papas Armadillo Twin pushchair
Although it’s built like a tank, this twin pushchair from Mamas and Papas has been super handy.
It’s spacious and offers plenty of room for multiples or a baby and toddler. I love the two independent seats that can be adjusted separately. I consider this the RV of pushchairs.
For a double buggy, it’s slim enough to fit through standard doorways. However, it’s not one to use when you’re out and about shopping as some aisles are too tight. This brings me back to going to a branch of WH Smith and I literally had to readjust some of the display shelves in order for us to get through. It also pokes out the buggy area in most London buses, but I can’t stress how useful this pram is having two children who love to nap whilst on a day out.
Verdict
With 30 different configurations to suit a growing family, my top pick goes to the Wave 2020 from Silver Cross - the innovative features and sleek styling make it a very worthy investment. In terms of value for money, dependable Mamas and Papas' Acro Lightweight Buggy is worth a mention for having such an attractive price point.
