EYE-catching prams — loved by trendy mums and celebrities alike — may just look like the latest must-have accessory alongside a designer handbag and a sparkly iPad cover.

But there is more to some of these stylish baby buggies than meets the eye.

For one pram company — Bolton based Cosatto — has teamed up with university researchers to investigate how to create designs which can either soothe or stimulate babies.

Celebrities such as Corrie star Catherine Tyldesley, Spice Girl Mel B and singer Jenny Frost have all sported the stylish buggies made by the Farnworth company.

But while they may have only picked the pram based on its designer credentials — did they notice the positive effect it has had on their little one?

For at the 'baby laboratory' based at the University of Sussex — run by Prof Anna Franklin — boffins are working on something they call "infant driven design".

At the lab, scientists are researching the designs that little ones respond to, and the colours that are the most eye-catching, which is filtered into Cosatto's design process.

Prof Franklin, Professor of Visual Perception and Cognition (Psychology), said: "It's about making sure that the baby is content and will engage in the patterns for longer. These patterns are hugely fun and appealing for babies, who generally engage better with bold colours like red, blue and purple.

"There is no science saying that you can improve a child's IQ, for example, if you show them different patterns — I think it's important to put things into perspective.

"But when you're buying things for your baby it's worthwhile taking into account what colours they can see and how they respond to patterns."

Mum Laura Blandy, aged 35, has recently given birth to her third child Elliott, and bought the Pitter Patter design.

She said: "I chose the buggy because I like thinks that look nice but it is also practical. If things make you happy, you will benefit from it — and the fact that they have the baby lab is a big bonus.

"You can tell that they have really thought about the products. Even if you are on baby number three, like me, you still want it to be special.

"Elliott loves the contrast of colour — he settles down if he's tired or if he's awake the design engages him, so it's win-win.

"I also have a car seat which the girls love, which has flamingos on it. I think you can tell that a lot of thought and effort has gone into making these baby products."

Creative marketing director Vicky Morley met with Professor Franklin 12 months ago to discuss how the company and the lab could work together.

She said: "Before meeting Anne, we had picked up on the fact that when babies are in the pram they are looking at the hood lining, where we have our patterns. It was a gut instinct that it was the right thing to do.

"Then when we met Anne, we realised that there was also a scientific reason behind it too. It also made us realise that the designs that we already had were a better environment for a child.

"When they're first born their eyes are a bit out of focus and takes a couple of months to develop, which is why they like bolder colours.

"They like objects with round edges rather than lots of corners — it's to do with the first thing that they see and bond with, which is usually their mum's face.

"But the pattern could be anything such as a flowers or raindrops.

"We also use bright colours like blues and reds — rather than greens and yellows.

"Having a baby is an exciting time of your life — an adventure — so why not add fun and colour to the occasion rather than putting your newborn into a dull environment?"