In a nutshell

A stylish low-cost option, but could be simpler to use

What we tested

  • Comfort for baby
    A star rating of 4.0 out of 5.
  • Comfort for you
    A star rating of 3.0 out of 5.
  • Ease of use
    A star rating of 3.5 out of 5.
  • Design
    A star rating of 4.0 out of 5.
  • Sturdiness
    A star rating of 3.5 out of 5.
  • Worth the money
    A star rating of 4.0 out of 5.
Overall Rating
A star rating of 3.7 out of 5.

Pros

  • Great value, good-looking carrier, snug and comfortable for newborns

Cons

  • Not the easiest to use, and less comfortable for larger babies

A smart-looking carrier at a great price, the Maclaren Techno Baby Carrier offers many useful features. Its unique design offers great comfort for newborns, if slightly less for older babies and their parents.

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With its neat combination of durable outer fabric, soft suedette inner fabric and cushioned mesh insert, this carrier makes a great first impression. It’s clever in that it adapts well to the needs of your growing child, giving extra head and body support when it’s needed at the newborn stage, thanks to the superbly cushioned infant insert pod, suitable for babies up to 6kg/12lb. This 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 slightly softer. Baby Charlie looked to be well cocooned, and inserting him was easy, but attaching him securely to the harness was fiddly, as all the straps need to be threaded through loops on the main carrier before fastening.

The harness itself is relatively simple to use, although the straps were a little stiff to pull as tight as was needed, something that will ease with prolonged use. It sits comfortably on the shoulders and crosses over between the shoulder blades for even weight distribution. The shoulder padding helps spread the load well, and carrying your baby is pretty comfortable considering there is no extra lumbar support.

Without the insert pod this carrier still looks good, especially as the soft sueded fabric is folded down in forward-facing mode, showing the colourways to their best advantage. It also becomes much more simple to use in this mode. Both the pod and the carrier itself have an extra strap to fasten around your baby’s waist for added security. 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.

What we love

The pod insert gives your newborn a softly cocooned ride and a great feeling of security. It’s a handsome-looking carrier that comes at a very attractive price.

What to watch out for

This carrier may look simple, but looks can be deceptive. There are lots of buckles to fasten before your baby is fully secured, and as some of these have to go through loops, it’s not the swiftest of operations. Without the pod, it’s a bit basic and not as cushioned for your baby as some others on the market. The polyester fabric left mum Sara feeling rather hot and bothered. The ‘one-handed-quick-release buckles’ are fine when undoing the carrier but a little stiff to do up (and best with two hands to avoid pinched fingers). While the weight is well distributed over the shoulders, there is no additional lumbar support, so you could feel the strain if you used this for long periods of time. It can’t go in the washing machine, which could cause problems if it needs a quick clean.

Who is the Maclaren Techno Baby Carrier best for?

Mums on a budget, families who don’t go for long walks and if you like to carry your baby about the house.

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MadeForMums verdict

This carrier offers good value for money, and it looks very smart. The pod insert makes it great for newborns but without it, it’s less comfy for bigger babies. There are too many buckles to make this a quick and easy carrier to put on.

Product Specifications

Product
BrandMaclaren
ModelTechno Baby Carrier
Price£40.00
Suitable for
Child age (approx)Birth to 12 months
Child weight3.6kg to 11.3kg
Features
Washing instructionsMachine washable
Number of carrying positions2
Features
  • Infant insert pod for newborns
  • Padded shoulder straps
  • Position adjustments for growing baby
Accessories
Head huggerNo
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