How do you safely use a pram fan?
For safety, here are some things you should consider when using a pram fan:
Attachment and positioning - Whether it uses a clip or flexible tripod stand, it's important to ensure your pram fan is securely attached, ideally out of reach from your baby or toddler's curious hands. Whilst most pram fans have protective cages or bladeless designs, positioning the fan at a distance that is inaccessible to your child will prevent it from being knocked or detached from the frame during use.
Avoid blowing directly into your baby’s face - Whilst you can angle the fan to create a breeze for your baby, it’s important not to blow it directly into your child’s face, particularly if you are using the higher speed settings. A high-speed fan directly in your child’s face has the potential to negatively impact your child’s respiratory system, affecting their normal breathing patterns.
Check your child regularly - Check your baby regularly during use to ensure their temperature is comfortable - they mustn’t get too cold either!
Don’t over-rely on it - While a pram fan can be beneficial, it shouldn’t be used as a single solution when the temperatures rise. It’s also important to dress your baby appropriately including lightweight layers, hats and using sunshades to protect them from the sun.
Related: The best USB fans, according to Mumsnet users
Are pram fans worth buying?
According to both Mumsnet users and reviewers, the answer is a resounding yes. Pram fans are relatively easy to use and despite their affordable price tag, provide impressive cooling potential outside the home.
In most cases, pram fans are versatile enough to also be used elsewhere including inside the home, making them a great all-rounder to keep cool when summer finally makes an appearance.
What’s the best pram fan to buy?
We think the Munchkin Pram Fan is the best pram fan you can buy today. Retailing at just £20, this USB rechargeable pram fan has excellent battery life, a range of four-speed settings and provides excellent coverage. It’s also easy to attach, robust and safe, making it a versatile and convenient choice for most families.
How we chose the best pram fan
Because we know that there’s nothing like a genuine recommendation from a real parent, we first headed to the Mumsnet forums to find out which praml fans Mumsnet users had bought and would happily recommend to others.
Next, we compiled a list of fans they recommended, noting how effective they found them and whether they were particularly good for specific situations or pushchairs.
We then researched the wider web, looking at which pram fans had won accolades or been featured in ‘best buy’ lists across websites and print media and scrutinised reviews to learn more about the verdicts of customers.
Having collated all that information, we picked the pram fans we thought would make the best buys in several interest categories.
About the author
Lucy Cotterill is a mum of two and a Content Writer at Mumsnet, specialising in baby/child and lifestyle product reviews and round-ups. Having written product reviews on her own blog Real Mum Reviews since 2012, Lucy loves to research and explore the pros and cons of baby products, scrutinising reviews and consumer feedback to help parents make confident purchases that benefit their families.
Why you should trust us
We work hard to provide honest and independent advice you can trust and we spend hours scouring the Mumsnet forums and online bestseller lists to find products that real parents rate.
Transparency is really important to us and that's why we're always upfront about where we find our recommendations. We write about products that we feel offer the best value to most parents – the ones that our users would recommend to their own friends and family.