Front carriers
Which is the best front carrier for you and your baby? babyworld asked
parents to test eight popular carriers and give us their verdict.
What is a front carrier?
A front carrier is used for carrying a small baby close to your body. The carrier is
strapped to your body and the baby is positioned securely inside it to allow you to move
around with your arms free. They are suitable from birth until you find the weight too
great a strain on your back.
Do I need it?
Front carriers allow you to maintain the comfort a baby gets from being carried by its
mother, yet lets your hands remain free so you can get on with other things. They can be
useful if you go walking a lot in areas that are unsuitable for pushchairs or if you have
an older child who is still in a pushchair. Front carriers are especially useful for
babies that do not settle easily and seem to want to be carried constantly. Some carriers
also provide discreet cover for breastfeeding which may prove an added bonus.
What to look for
Some front carriers are adjustable so that the baby can either face its parent or face
forward. Newborn babies should always face the parent but, once the baby can support its
own head and becomes more interested in the outside world, a forward-facing carrier
becomes more useful. Some front carriers can be converted to back carriers, which adds to
their versatility and prolongs their useful life.
A top priority in looking for a suitable front carrier is comfort – to be a
success the carrier must be comfortable, for both you and your baby.
For the baby to be comfortable the carrier should give good support to his head, neck
and back and should ideally be adjustable so support is maintained as he grows. Leg holes
should be well padded.
For you to be comfortable the carrier should have wide, well padded shoulder and back
straps which distribute weight evenly and do not dig in. It should be easy to put on and
take off, and to adjust – and you should consider whether you will be able to put it
on and take it off easily without assistance. Avoid very fiddly fastenings – but
don't be put off by the number of straps and fastenings when you first look at carriers,
they all have quite a number and, once you are familiar with the way they work, you will
usually find that they are quite straightforward.
Test results in brief
Cuddle-Up
| Manufacturer |
Tomy |
| Price |
£20.99 |
| Age guide |
Suitable until baby weighs 12kg |
| Features |
Cushioned leg and arm holes, integral head
padding, removable bib, storage pocket, soother/toy holder, padded shoulder straps,
internal zip to allow easy access for feeding. Washable. |
| babyworld verdict |
Good value, well made carrier with some useful
features, but can only be used with the baby facing the parent. |
| Score |
8/10 |
Read full
test results >>
Turn-a-Round
Carrier
| Manufacturer |
Tomy |
| Price |
£20 |
| Age guide |
Suitable until baby weighs 9.5kg |
| Features |
Padded shoulder straps, adjustable seat depth,
partly cushioned leg holes, storage pocket, detachable bib. Internal zip allows easy
access for feeding. Can be used with baby forward-facing or parent-facing. Washable. |
| babyworld verdict |
Well priced, lightweight carrier which can be
used forward-facing or parent-facing and allows for discreet feeding. Fairly basic as a
parent-facing carrier, but snug and effective forward-facing. |
| Score |
7/10 |
Read full test results >>
Deluxe
Two-Way Baby Carrier
| Manufacturer |
Babies-R-Us |
| Price |
£19.99 |
| Age guide |
Suitable until baby is about nine months old |
| Features |
Cushioned leg holes, detachable head hugger,
zipped storage pocket, padded shoulder and waist straps, adjustable seat size, can be used
with baby facing the parent or facing forwards. Washable. |
| babyworld verdict |
Versatile carrier which works well both
parent-facing and forward-facing. Excellent price for a carrier with some useful added
features. We especially liked the head hugger for added support. |
| Score |
9/10 |
Read full test results >>
Baby
Carrier
| Manufacturer |
Baby Bjorn |
| Price |
£44.90 |
| Age guide |
Suitable until baby is about 10
months old |
| Features |
Padded, entirely detachable seat which clips onto wide
shoulder and waist straps, adjustable seat size. Can be used with the baby parent-facing
or forward-facing. Instructions printed on the carrier. Washable. |
| babyworld verdict |
Excellent, good quality product, well designed for fuss-free
use. Practical and straightforward for the parent, snug and comfortable for the baby. We
liked the detachable seat which allows you to remove a sleeping baby without waking it.
Only negative is the relatively high price. |
| Score |
9/10 |
Read full test results >>
Turnabout
Carrier
| Manufacturer |
Mothercare |
| Price |
£14.99 |
| Age guide |
Suitable until baby is about nine
months old or 9kg. |
| Features |
Cushioned leg holes, padded
shoulder straps and back support, detachable bib, storage pocket, internal zip to allow
easy access for feeding. Can be used with baby parent-facing or forward-facing. Washable. |
| babyworld verdict |
The cheapest carrier we tested and
excellent value. Versatile, easy to use and with some useful added features despite the
low price. Not the most plush, but it functions effectively both forward-facing and
parent-facing. |
| Score |
9/10 |
Read full test results >>
Sling-Easy
| Manufacturer |
Kids In Comfort |
| Price |
£26.99 to £36.99, depending on size and
fabric choice. |
| Age guide |
Suitable until child is about three years old
or 16kg. |
| Features |
Large swathe of fabric with padded edges and
integral padded support cushion, two-ringed securing buckle. Washable. |
| babyworld verdict |
No fiddly straps and fastenings but rather an
alternative, ethnic design which you will either love or hate. Those who use these from an
early age swear by them, but they are quite different and you have to like the style to
use it comfortably. |
| Score |
7/10 |
Read full test results >>
Heartbeat bis
| Manufacturer |
Kipling Baby |
| Price |
£59.99 |
| Age guide |
Suitable until child is about 18 months old. |
| Features |
Padded shoulder straps and well-padded seat
with integral head cushioning. Seat size is adjustable. Storage pocket and Kipling mascot
monkey toy. Can be worn with baby facing forwards or facing towards the parent and can
also be worn on the back. Washable. |
| babyworld verdict |
One for the style-conscious. Stylish-looking
carrier that is quite bulky but works well and is versatile enough to see you through
several stages of your child's development. Major negative point is the price. |
| Score |
9/10 |
Read full test results >>
The
Wilkinet Baby Carrier
| Manufacturer |
Wilkinet |
| Price |
£36.95 |
| Age guide |
Suitable until child weighs about 14kg |
| Features |
Well padded shoulder straps and seat tied onto
parent with supporting cloth ties. Can be worn in four positions. Optional showerproof
cape. Washable. |
| babyworld verdict |
This is a little daunting at first because it
has a lot of cloth ties but, once mastered, it is a versatile, comfortable and supportive
carrier. Designed by a mother of eight, it has the benefits of a sling but in a more
traditional carrier style. |
| Score |
9/10 |
Read full test results >>
December 1999
|
