Babies should be pushed in high prams rather than low-slung buggies to avoid the worst pollution, a study suggests.

A new analysis has found that toddlers are typically exposed to 60 per cent more toxic particles than their parents when travelling in buggies because doing so puts them closer to the level of exhaust pipes.

Most standard prams or buggies place infants between 55cm and 85cm off ground level, increasing exposure because vehicle exhaust typically sits within one metre off the surface.

However, more old fashioned prams, such as that used last month at Princess Charlotte’s christening, can often raise the occupant above this height.

Babies are particularly vulnerable to pollution exposure because the exhaust particles are proportionally bigger for their lungs and blood vessels compared to adults.

Experts have warned that persistent exposure can potentially damage the brain’s frontal lobe, impacting on cognitive ability and neurological development.

Professor Prashant Kumar, who led the research at Surrey University, said: “We know that infants breathe in higher amounts of airborne particles relative to their lung size and body weight compared to adults.