Road-test: Carriers and Slings

BushBaby Cocoon - Best in test

This carrier looks built for outdoors types, with its hardwearing, rucksack-style fabric, and it was deemed “comfortable enough to wear all day” by mum Sara. There are lots of little details that add up to make this a great carrier, and it’s one of the easiest to use.

Of those that have a detachable ‘pod’ this was the simplest, and it opens out flat to make a handy changing mat or can even be used as an insert for a car seat (there are slots for the straps to go through).

Your baby’s weight is evenly distributed through the shoulders and back so it doesn’t pull anywhere and won’t lead to aching back or shoulders, while the strap that goes around the lower back has a vent so you don’t get too hot. Pulling the straps at the back and waist to fit the harness correctly was a breeze and great that this can be done before attaching your baby – you then pick up baby and pod and clip into place. It’s easy to put on – and difficult to get wrong! Elastic straps under the arms hug the carrier closer and help give a ‘bouncier’ feel than others. This can also be adjusted to a sideways position for discreet breastfeeding. The fiddliest thing about this carrier is that you have to rethread the side straps to a new position as your baby grows bigger (and then remember to readjust when you have the next baby!). A small quibble for a great carrier though.

The straps that go over the adult’s chest have fleecy padding so that if your baby’s face rubs against them he won’t get sore, there’s a dribble wipe for those inevitable possets and, uniquely, a pull-out rain and sun shield which I wouldn’t want to use in torrential rain but would be very glad of if out without a brolly or a hat for my baby.

Because Charlie didn’t need to be moved too much, he stayed asleep throughout. The pockets for mobile phones and keys are also handy. The colours are all pretty unisex, so there’s no excuse for dad not to do his fair share of the baby-toting – and adjusting the fit is easy.

The ThinkBaby verdict

Wilkinet

This has a reputation for being complicated, but I have to state here and now that it’s thoroughly undeserved. You may feel that you’re going to tie yourself in knots when you see the lengths of fabric, but once you’ve mastered putting this on, it’s really easy. Mum Sara had used one of these before, so was able to put it on in a flash.

There are clear instructions in the box and if you feel you want to see it in action there’s a video on the website (www.wilkinet.co.uk/videos).

Because it’s all in one piece, and entirely without catches, buckles or poppers, there’s nothing to break or lose (or accidentally pinch your baby on), and you adjust to fit as you pull it on, without really thinking about it. As a result, this is one of the most comfortable carriers, although the straps lack the padding of some of the others, so they can dig in after a while. However, the weight is evenly distributed and your baby will feel snug and secure, as he is naturally pulled in close. He will also be sitting inside the carrier rather than hanging, which his better for his posture.

Where this wins over many others is that it can be used as more than just a front carrier: you can sit your baby on your hip or even strap him onto your back after 5 months, so you can carry on toting him about for longer than in other carriers. There’s a great choice of colours and fabrics, so it’s easy to find one to suit you and your partner’s style.

This packs up smaller than all the others, so it’s easy to put in your bag should you want to carry him for a bit and put him in his pushchair for a while too – particularly useful if your older child wants a rest in the buggy while you carry baby close to you. The only real drawback is when you want to put the carrier on straight from the car when the ground is wet, as the straps may drag on the ground while you’re putting it on.

The ThinkBaby verdict

Baby Björn Baby Carrier Original

Having used one of these for both my babies, I’d happily recommend it. The design hasn’t changed greatly over the years, just a few tweaks that have made it even easier to use, such as the colour coded fasteners, which mean it’s near impossible to put on the wrong way round. All adjustments are made to the front, so there’s no awkward twisting and turning while your baby’s attached to make sure he’s safe and secure. Mum Sara was impressed by the fact that the instructions are also printed on the inside of the carrier, just in case you get confused.

She found it easy to adjust for both herself and baby Charlie – this is one carrier that can be adjusted according to the height of your baby so his head is in the correct position, just pull the slider at the bottom. And because the front section is completely detachable from the straps, removing a sleeping Charlie was a doddle.

With everything clipped in place and pulled in correctly, this is comfortable to wear, even with a bigger baby, and you’ll not feel the need to hold your baby (if you do, it’s not done up right!). The straps are well padded and cross over between the shoulder blades, giving good weight distribution, and they’re easy to pull in for a snug fit, but even so they do dig into the shoulders after a while. If you’re likely to want to carry your baby for long periods, the Baby Björn Active carrier, which offers extra back support, may be a better option.

The ThinkBaby verdict

Tomy Freestyle Premier Detachable

Tomy’s Freestyle range of carriers has been developed alongside leading back and posture experts, the Anglo-European College of Chiropractic, and once you’ve got it on, it feels comfortable and supportive. The secret, say Tomy, is in the revolutionary lumbar support and harness design, which spreads the baby’s weight evenly across your body. Your baby’s comfort has also been considered, and the deep, wide ‘bucket seat’ design means your baby will sit rather than hang, thus offering good back and bottom support. Your newborn’s head, meanwhile, can rest on the detachable headhugger.

The bucket seat is detachable, making it possible to load and unload your baby while she sleeps undisturbed, and it fastens onto the parent harness via the S-lock system. This falls into place nicely when attaching your baby, however, you have to twist it slightly to undo, which can be a little fiddly.

Attaching the parent harness feels a little like putting on a life jacket as it is well padded and there’s a lot of fabric, especially at the front. Despite this, the fact that the fabric is cotton means you don’t feel too hot with it on. (Your baby will also be well covered, so don’t put on too many layers of clothing.)

Mum Sara liked the understated look of this carrier, and was sure her husband would be happy to wear it too. The biggest drawback to this carrier is the sheer number of Velcro straps, buckles and other fastenings – it all adds up to being a secure and comfortable carrier, but it’s a fiddle to get it on.

The ThinkBaby verdict

Maclaren Techno Baby Carrier

This rather handsome carrier is slightly deceptive, but not in a good way. It looks simple at first, then as you read the instructions and attempt to fathom out how to use it, you realise there’s more to it than meets the eye. This is good and bad. Good in that it adapts well to the needs of your growing child, giving extra head and body support when it’s needed; bad in that there are eight buckles (count ’em!) to secure before you can get on the move with your baby.

The harness is relatively simple to use, although the straps were a little stiff to pull as tight as was needed; hopefully this will ease with increased use. It sits comfortably on the shoulders and crosses over between the shoulder blades. The shoulder padding helps distribute the load well, and toting your baby is pretty comfortable considering there is no extra lumbar support. On the downside, the polyester fabric, complete with padding, left Sara feeling rather hot and bothered.

The pod insert is a great idea, enabling you to attach and detach your baby while he sleeps. The mesh fabric is great for ventilation, but could be softer. Charlie looked to be well cocooned, and inserting him was easy, but fastening securely was fiddly, as all the straps need to be threaded through loops on the main carrier before fastening – he may have been safe, but the shops were shutting soon!

For older babies who want to look out and see the world, the pod is dispensed with, leaving you with a pretty basic carrier that doesn’t look as cushioned and comfortable as most of the others tested. That said, it becomes less complicated, which is definitely a good thing.

The detachable dribble bib and bottle holder are useful extras, but be aware that you can’t have both attached at the same time, as there aren’t enough poppers.

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Cybex i.GO

This was the one carrier I really needed the instructions for – it’s impossible to get right without referring to them constantly. Just putting on the harness was hard – there’s so much Velcro, which kept catching on my jumper and making it difficult to do up the hook! The hook was really stiff too, but at least you know it’s not going to come undone.

The side straps were easy to pull tight, but the fabric seemed to slip, so they came loose with use. There are lots of poppers to ensure the correct fit, but the instructions could be clearer. The pod clips on to the harness via a grey clip, which is easy to use, and was probably the easiest bit of the carrier to undo again when removing the baby.

Once Charlie was in place, the carrier felt OK but in the slightly slanted position (which could be used for breastfeeding) the strap pulls against the neck. You can also feel the baby’s weight pulling on your shoulders, so would not want to carry like this for too long.

The other thing to bear in mind is that, while your baby is in the best position, he is sticking out further in front of you than he would be in a traditional carrier, so beware of bumping into things and think about what you’re going to do while carrying him. Using the carrier in the upright position is much simpler, but there are still too many adjustments to make.

Unlike all the other carriers, a flat surface is absolutely essential for attaching the pod to you, and while baby Charlie was secure (and probably very hot!) in the pod, Sara and I felt a bit awkward when attaching this to the harness for fear of dropping him. The head support insert is very rigid, which means this carrier is the bulkiest we tested.

The ThinkBaby verdict