Carrier Review Thread

[Maffie]

Make: Connecta

Url: https://www.connectababycarrier.com/

Type: Buckled mei tai (soft structured)

Positives:

Very comfortable
Great range of colours/patterns (including customs)
Weight distributed across back well (I get backache and not noticed any with this)
Integrated hood on some versions
Padded straps
Buckles allow for easy fastening even with a wriggly baby


Negatives:

I cant find any negatives (expensive but have good resale value)

Marks out of 10:

10

 

[Maffie]

Make: Moby

Url: https://www.mobywrap.com/

Type: Soft wrap around

Positives:

Very comfortable
Baby adores it and loves sleeping in it
Ideal house carrier


Negatives:

Plain colours (but they are doing some more funky designs now)
Expensive for what is really a stretchy piece of fabric
It does need retying after a while due to stretch

Marks out of 10:

8 A high score even though it has negatives as this warp settled Noah so well, especially good for the newborns.

 

[NuKe]

Make: Gypsy Mama

Url: https://www.gypsymama.com/shop/breeze.htm

Type: Bali Breeze (soft wrap around)

Positives:
extra long (6 yards) so is great for me as I'm a bit of a chunky monkey
the patterns they have are lovely!
woven so doesn't sag
cheaper than other woven wraps (mine was 30 quid inc. p&p)

Negatives:
none that I have found as yet!

Marks out of 10:
10!!! Will be buying another very soon!!!

 

[Kitten]

Make: Babies in Space

Url: https://www.etsy.com/shop/babiesinspace

Type: SSC

Positives:
Comfy for mum & baby
Good choice of designs (inc. custom)
Sooo easy to use
Adjustable
Sleep hood
Toy clip
Rolls up neatly & fastens
Elastic on all straps so you can roll them up & secure them


Negatives:
Price maybe? £110ish but worth it!
If you were quite slim it might not tighten enough, like a UK size 8

Marks out of 10:
10. I'm officially in love.

 

[MummyKaya]

Make: Peanut Shell

URL: www.thepeanutshell.com

Type: over the sholder sling

Positives: has a key attachment and pocket. Fab funky prints and designs. Can be used in five carry positions. Easy to put on - no straps or ties. Birth - toddler.

Negatives: not good for larger breasts. Seems tight to get baby in (and kaiden is only small) starts to hurt neck and shoulder after a while. Baby doesn't seem 100% secure. In the 'cradle carry' baby seems squished with neck on chest!

Marks out of ten: 3

 

[sun]

Make: Manduca

Url: https://www.manduca-baby-carrier.eu/

Type: Buckled mei tai (soft structured)

Positives:

Extremely comfortable - especially for prolonged wearing
Light overall and material less heavy than some others making it cooler to wear
Weight distributed really well on hips - absolutely no pulling on the shoulders or back discomfort
Padded straps and buckles make it easy to get on/off
All straps have clips so they aren't hanging everywhere
Integrated hood
Integrated pocket for carrying stuff like keys/wallet
Integrated infant pouch
Back of carrier can be elongated for larger baby/toddler
Good up to 44lbs

Negatives:

The only negative is the price, but it is worth it to save my back!

Marks out of 10:

10 Absolutely for sure!!!

Note: I also have a moby, peanutshell, and babyhawk - this is the carrier I should have bought right away. The peanutshell was good when LO was tiny, and I will occasionally use a hip carry with him, but he essentially outgrew it. The moby was always too fussy for me and hard to just take on/off or switch positions in a pinch. The babyhawk was good, but as he got bigger prolonged wearing would hurt my shoulders/neck and the ties would loosen. For me, this solved all problems - and OH can wear it easily too!!

xx

Edit: I have now been using my carrier for 3 weeks and if I could give it 11/10 I would!!!! It is SOOOO comfy - Went on a 2h hike with no pain at all!!!

 

[Lisa1302]

Make:

• Herbalbaybee / Freedom Slings

Url:

• https://www.herbalbaybee.co.uk/page6.htm

Type:

• Linen Ring Sling

Positives:

• Easy to put on once size set
• Able to use from birth snug on chest, through to on hip as a toddler, lots of ways to use it.
• Even at 13 months Izzy is easy to carry, doesn't feel heavy at all.
  
• Folds up small to go in a bag
• Have some very pretty designs, I got aqua limited edition!
• Will make with non metallic rings if you want to use for holiday (saves taking off to go through security!)
• Ideal for summer as material not too thick
  

Negatives:

• For smaller people the 'tail' of unused sling is quite long, I just throw over my shoulder

Marks out of 10

• 9.5 (just cos of the extra tail!)

ETA - I trimmed the bottom off the 'tail' to what seemed a better length for me, and then I made the off cut it into a little drawstring bag
​

​

 

[Lisa1302]

Make:

• Herbalbaybee / Freedom Slings

Url:

• https://www.herbalbaybee.co.uk/page5.htm

Type:

• Fleecy Pouch Sling
  

Positives:

• Easy to put on - always the right size!
  
• Able to use from birth snug on chest, through to on hip as a toddler, lots of ways to use it.
• Even at 13 months Izzy is easy to carry, doesnt feel heavy at all.
• Folds up small to go in a bag
• Have different colours, I got Berry.
• Nice and snug for winter
• Can be used as a blanket in the car seat
  

Negatives:

• Not really suitable for summer
  

Marks out of 10

• 9.5

​

 

[Bluetomato]

Make: Patapum

Url: www.patapum.com

Type: Buckled ssc (soft structured carrier)

Positives: A really really comfy carrier! It distributes the weight really well and I hardly notice im carrying Dom at all, it also has a lovely wide seat. It has a supportive padded waist which takes a lot of the weight, so it doesn't pull on your shoulders and it does up with buckles which are very dp friendly! You can often find these preloved and for the price (even if buying brand new) they are excellent value for money.

Negatives: Ive got the baby version of this carrier and im I find that the back is already getting a bit low down on Dom, although he is quite a tall baby. Therefore im not sure how much longer it will last him. There is a toddler version so I will look at getting one of these to see how much of a better fit it is. It also only comes in block colours, which is a bit dull. Would be nice if it came in some funky colours!

Marks out of 10:
9

 

[DueMarch2nd]

Make: sa-be

Url:https://sabebabywear.com/dept.php?stid=1&dept=14

Type: wrap

Positives:the price!!!!

much easier than i thought to get the hang of tying. i looked at the instructions once and am now a pro!

good for all sizes I am a uk size 20-22 and am 5ft9 and it fits really well

not a lot of designs but some cute dot designs (i got the black/white one) i plan to get the black one when back in stock

comes with full picture instructions

very comfortable and sturdy and doesnt stretch with long wear (and i have been bending and stretching hanging out washing in it)


Negatives: none

Marks out of 10 10!

 

[4boys4years]

Make: Patapum

Url: www.patapum.com

Type: Buckled ssc (soft structured carrier)

Positives: I bought this for my sister when my DS3 was roughly 12 months, i only tried it briefly but was impressed how comfy it was. It's very affordable compared to ther carriers

Negatives: MY LO was a small 12 months but this carrier was tiny on him whereas most other baby sized carriers fit him fine. I would only reccommend the baby size for small babies and certainly wasn't comfortable with him in a back carry, it ended well below his armpits.

Marks out of 10:8 comfy but quickly outgrown

 

[4boys4years]

Make: Calin Bleu gauze wrap

Url: www.calinbleu.com/index.php

Type: woven wrap

Positives: great lightweight starter wrap. We used ours from 3 months to 7 months for long periods of time very comfortably. The price

Negatives: not so supportive for LOs over 6 months, i would reccommend a different woven over this unless it was for quick carries during the warmer months

Marks out of 10:8 overall good for small babies and quick carries in warmer weather

 

[4boys4years]

Make: Girasol wraps
Url: www.girasol.de/index.php?lang=english

Type: woven wrap

Positives: one of the cheaper GSWs, fab range of colour option. Great for babies and toddlers.

I have tried a few girasols, some feel softer and more blankety, others feel more solid so if one doesn't suit another one might.

Negatives: there are more supportive woven wraps out there. They are known to have irregularities to the weave (this doesn't affect their supportiveness)

Marks out of 10:9

 

[OmiOmen]

Make: Bundle with love

Url: https://bundlewithlove.com/mei_tai_4.html

Type: Mei Tai

Positives: Very easy to use (I have never used one and picked it up right away), very quick to get baby in and out of (even for beginners like myself), a sturdy design, can use from birth, very cheap when compared to most brands of mei tai's (admittedly I bought mine pre-loved from e-bay for just over £10 but the official site sells them for about £25), light and unpadded, one size fits all, 9 colours to choice from.

Negatives: For those people who like unique/funky designs they may seem a bit plain. I am not sure where you would buy them from in the UK as the official site is Canadian.

Marks out of 10 So far I would say 10/10 as it is exactly what I was looking for in a carrier.

 

[555ann555]

Make:

NiuNiu

Url:

https://www.niuniulondon.com/

or

https://shop.ebay.co.uk/hannahmummy/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_from=&_ipg=25

Type: Mei Tai with changable panel inserts

Positives:

I'd say the main positive for this carrier, apart from the ease of use, is the face lift you can give it! The carrier has a removable front panel (over the pocket) which means you can change the look of it completely in about 1 minute! Each panel attaches with press studs, so it'd be possible to make your own panels too

The carrier also has:
Toy loop/key loop
Hidden pocket - large enough to fold the mei tai in when not wearing

Negatives:

It doesn't have a hood, but never having owned a mei tai before I don't know how often I'd have used a hood anyway!

Maybe the price? (Mei Tai + 2 panels comes to around £70 from the official site, but a bit less from her ebay listings)

It would have been nice to have the waist strap lightly padded

Marks out of 10

Easily 10/10.

The craftsmanship is fantastic. I had planned on making my own, but seeing the work that has gone into making this has put me off!

I haven't found another mei tai that you can change to coordinate with your outfits, so if the look is just as important as the comfort for your wee one then I'd heartily recommend this one!

 

[Rebaby]

Make: Close Baby Carrier

Url: https://www.closeparent.com/

Type: SSC?! It's soft and stretchy but structured, and with rings!...

Positives: I loved it when Tobias was teeny tiny, he seemed very comfy and snug and would fall asleep instantly. I was able to get on with anything and everything (i even vacuumed the stairs with him in it once ) I think it's a good beginner carrier because it is easy to get to grips with

Negatives: If you don't pull the fabric through the rings tight enough baby slowly but surely slides down...they start out high up on your chest and the next thing you know they're staring at your bellybutton! You really need to pull it TIGHT, so tight that it is tricky to actually get baby in!

The bigger Toby got, the less i liked it. The fabric had too much stretch (i felt) and once he was no longer a newborn and was moving about a bit more in the carrier it would come loose pretty quickly. I had a couple of nightmare incidents of it slackening quite severely whilst out walking the dog and needing both hands free to sort it out (but only having one free because of the dog obviously!)

I don't think they should be able to advertise it as suitable for FFO because i tried it once and even though i followed the DVD and instructions to the letter, no matter what i did it just didn't seem safe

Marks out of 10: 7/10
A good soft carrier for newborns
Lovely and soft
Washable
Easy to use

Baby slides down easily
Pulls on your back a bit as baby gets bigger
Plain colours

 

[Rebaby]

Make: Connecta

Url: https://www.connectababycarrier.com/index.php

Type: SSC?! I'm no good at this! It's like a Mei Tai with buckles!

Positives: Incredibly easy to use
Wide range of colours and fabrics
Custom made
You can choose to have a sleep hood (or not)

Negatives: OH finds that it rides up a lot on his shoulders (towards his neck) which then pulls on his shoulders/back. We've tried adjusting, taking it off and starting again etc but it keeps happening

Marks out of 10: 9/10
Very easy to use
Looks fab
Really comfy for both wearer and LO
It's the carrier i wish we'd had from birth as i think we'd have both done more BW, especially out and about in public if we'd had this.

 

[Heidi]

Make: Beco Gemini

Url:
*https://slumber-roo.co.uk/product/96/beco-gemini/beco/buckle-amp-hip4
*https://www.becobabycarrier.com/cat-13/beco-Gemini

Type: Buckled SSC

Positives:

*Its just so comfy and ultra padded!!
*4 different wearing combinations-My LO is nosey and loves to see what's going on so she can be front facing outwards by just adjusting the poppers on the waist band so her legs are more comfortable, or she can be front facing inwards, on the hip or on your back.
*It distributes the weight evenly, and makes LO feel so much lighter then when i'm normally carrying her
*head support can be up or popped down.
*lasts up until they are 35 lbs


Negatives: To start with i found it quite tricky to get the clips undone but i guess thats why there called safety clips! you need both hands to undo them, i got the hang of it after a few go's.
I wanted a really comfy looking carrier but found with that you have to pay the price! Not cheep.


Marks out of 10 10! We love it even DH

 

[Xinola]

Make: Beco Butterfly II

Url: https://www.trulybumptious.com/Soft-Structured-Carriers(1823898).htm
https://www.becobabycarrier.co.uk/features-description.asp

Type: Buckled SSC (soft structured carrier)

Positives:

• It is very comfortable for use hours on (well padded and good hip support)
• My baby likes it (can see what goes around and takes naps)
• Detachable hood shelters the baby's head and provides extra support for when she naps
• Adjustable, so me and my husband and anyone else can carry the baby
• Would take a toddler, so it can be used for few years
• Feels very safe and baby feels very light (especially when carried on the back)

Negatives:

• It's not cheap, but if it's going to be used for years, then it's worth the price
• It's a bit of a hassle to adjust the buckles every time me and my husband swap. We are very different in size

Marks out of 10: 10 It's ticked all our boxes!

 

[AFC84]

Make: Kanga

Url:https://www.bloo-kangaroo.com/

Type: SSC (I have the smallest, the Kanga J)

Positives:

* Makes my LO (18lb or so) feel completely weightless, I can't actually feel any pressure on my shoulders, you seem to carry with your hips.

* Structured waist

* Removable sleep hood, with straps that are easy enough to reach when back carrying.

* They make three different sizes, rather than just standard and toddler like some.

*Gorgeous prints!

Negatives:

* I think it would be good if they made different strap lengths as I'm having to wear them as short as they go and I'm not exactly tiny (5ft9 and usually size 12 on top), so they may be too long for someone really petite.

Not the cheapest carrier but after trying one I'd say it's definitely worth the money.

Marks out of 10: 9...would give it a 10 if it weren't for the strap thing.