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Product Reviews

Wilkinet Baby Carrier

Number of reviews: 17
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Cross between a sling and a carrier
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"Genuinely, the best baby carrier on the market"
If I could only take one baby product with me to a desert island... the Wilkinet would be it.

Reasons why:

Comfort: baby is sat in a very natural sitting position (instead of hanging suspended on their crotch in a clip-fastening carrier). It's as if you've got them nestled snuggly in your arms. For me as a parent it was also very comfortable... the weight is distributed evenly accross the torso and doesn't drag anywhere.

Easy to use: I know the Wilkinet has a reputation for its long straps. It does take a few goes with it to get used to it. It's best to try first with a teddy or cushion so baby doesn't get fretful - but once you're used to it it's like tying your shoes... you just do it without thinking about it. I can be done and away while clip-fastening users are still fiddling with clips, buckles and adjusters.

Versatile: my partner and I are different sizes, but because of the tying design there's no need to adjust straps if you swap while out on a walk - just put it on and it fits. For baby it's also suitable for a wide range of ages (up to about 2 years).

Carrying baby in a Wilkinet feels so natural, comfortable, instinctive... truely the best on the market.
Member review by Alex - mother of three - review date 17 January 2009

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"Best sling I've tried."
This sling is soft and cosy for baby and very comfortable for you.

Especially good for long periods of time walking or for just milling around the house as baby can either see what's going on or be tucked in more depending on how you adjust the straps.

Was very comfortable straight from birth and you can carry on using it til they are toddling which is a bonus. looking forward to trying it on my back.

I found the long straps easy to use after just one trial run. I can see the benefits of having a perhaps less comfy sling that you can lift baby in and out of if you are only intending on using it for very short stints, otherwise this sling is the best I've tried for comfort, style and versatility.

You can usually pick one up for under 25 quid on Ebay as new, they are very high quality and incredibly hard wearing for such soft fabric. Funky colours too!
Member review by chloe - Mother of Digby since July 2007 - review date 12 September 2007

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"Brilliant!!!"
I found this sling very easy to use and only practised once on a teddy before my baby was born! My son loves being so close to me. He falls asleep instantly if facing in and laughs and kicks his legs if facing out. Much better than the tomy one i had for my first son. The only downside is that baby can occasionally slide down a bit but I just retie it and it's fine. Overall a brilliant,really easy to use sling
Member review by Natalie - mother of two - review date 18 January 2007

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"The only one I didn't send back!"
I have bought a vast number of baby carriers, and count myself lucky I bought them all from reputable suppliers so I could send them all back after one fitting. This is the only carrier I tried that has not hung the weight of the baby on my shoulders or neck, the only one where the baby was drawn to me rather than leaning back on the carrier and the only one where my baby has the choice of where to put her arms rather than be forced to put them through arm holes.

The only downside, and the reason I have been frantically trying other carriers, is that it is not a quick and easy job to put the baby in and out. Great when you are planning to go out for an extended trip with the baby in the carrier, but if you only want to quickly pop them in because the bus already has a pram on, or want to put a sleeping baby down in their pram without disturbing them it's not so easy. The long straps do also dangle in the wet on rainy days if you have to do it up in a car park.

Once you have practiced a few times the fitting is very easy, and the instructions are MUCH better than with other carriers I have had, with online video instructions also available as a backup. If you are sharing the carrier with a partner, etc. then this is much easier than adjusting one with clips and fasteners back and forth, and everything does up at the front. I'd think twice about this one if you have long hair, as it takes me twice as long to do up as it would if I had a short style.

As an extra bonus, you can load the baby in the back carry position without someone else holding the baby on whilst you do the carrier up.
Member review by Clara - Mother of one - review date 2 December 2006

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"Excellent once tying is mastered"
I love this. It took a while to get the tying right but now I can get my daughter tied in and on my chest as quickly I can get her into my Baby Bjorn. In terms of comfort and stress on your lower back, it is far far superior to the Baby Bjorn. If you go from one to the other you quickly notice the difference - it's easy to see why it's recommended by physiotherapists. It's really worth putting the effort in to learn how to tie it so that your baby is high on your chest - your back will thank you for it! Nice that it's British and very well made too.
Member review by Susy - review date 13 August 2006

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"Fantastic - wish I'd had one sooner!"
When my DD was born we were given a baby carrier but never used it, it didn't fit us properly as we're both 6 ft and both pretty well built. Once we'd got it on there was no room for a baby!! However my DD was a very contented baby so we didn't really need to carry her much.

DS, on the other hand, can be very clingy at times and seems to need his comfort. After 9 weeks of 'managing' and carrying him a lot in our arms I saw the wilkinet and thought I'd give it a go.

It's been an absolute godsend!!! I find it easy to get on and off (after a couple of practise runs) and DS LOVES being in it, he always dozes off and it is so comfortable, both for him and me, it's brilliant. It's very versatile and baby can be carried in different ways, ie facing in, facing out, on the hip or on the back and it also lasts a lot longer than other carriers.

DH has even given it a go, and although he doesn't quite have the right shape he has managed to use it comfortably a couple of times.

I wouldn't be without it now!!
Member review by Penny - mother of two - DD 22 months and DS 11 weeks - review date 18 April 2006

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"Hope its better next time"
I found this sling fine for a newborn, especially for walking round the shops. Very soon though my son decided he didn't like having the restricted movement, and when I tried to arrange him on my back he squirmed so much it was impossible. I found the sliding downward a tad annoying as well. For a small baby this product was great but after that it was rolled up in the wardrobe. I will try it again next time though.
Member review by Joanne - Mum of one - review date 15 February 2006

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"Really Disappointed"
I purchased a Wilkinet based on the recommendation from the physiotherapists at the hospital where i was giving birth. I refused to even consider another model of baby sling even though my partner urged me to look at other brands. The idea of an all fabric carrier that supported all the essential bits seemed too good to be true. My newborn hated it and the older he got the more uncomfortable the carrier became. The straps don't stay very secure and as a result, baby slides down. Not to mention that my baby could not see over the bulky shoulder straps and as a result became extremely agitated very quickly. It's great if your baby is patient, but I found that getting in and especially out of it to be a fiddley experience that I could do without.
Member review by danna - mother of 1 - review date 10 February 2006

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"SUPERB!!!"
We love the wilkinet, it is soooo comfy and my son just loved being snuggled up to me in it. It is definately worth taking your time to get used to putting it on, it only took me a couple of tries and it is so easy to adjust. It really does feel like an extension of us both. Can't wait to start using it from birth with number 2 in July!!!
Member review by Clarinda - review date 1 February 2006

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"Essential!"
I tried a classic style of sling with my son which I only ever wore once as it was uncomfortable for both of us. The Wilkinet on the other hand is wonderful, comfortable and comforting for both of us. I can cuddle my baby close and she sleeps for almost the entire time she is in it! I recommend this to everyone, even those with a weak back like myself. If you have any difficulty tying the sling then just watch the videos on www.wilkinet.co.uk and it'll sort you out. I even watched the videos over a very slow dial-up connection and they were fine. The Wilkinet is great quality, a lovely soft cord fabric and well padded where it should be. I am definately a baby-wearing convert!
Member review by Karen - Mum to Josh, 6 years & Charlotte, 6 weeks - review date 29 September 2005

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"Much more comfy than Baby Bjorn"
I found the Wilkinet great with my first son but I would agree that it is not that easy to get on properly on your own.

So for my second, I bought a Baby Bjorn carrier. I have only used it twice (son is only 2 weeks old) but I have found it really sore on my lower back and my little one seems to bob about a lot more than in the Wilkinet.

If you can put it on properly, I found the Wilkinet extremely comfortable for the carrier and very supportive for the baby. I will be going back to it for this little one!
Member review by Claire - mother of 2, aged 2 and 2 weeks - review date 29 September 2005

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"What a shame!"
I thought this was going to be great. I folded and unfolded it for weeks before DS was born. He hated it! It was a struggle to get him in it and he was always upset in it as a newborn. I revisited it at about 6 months when he tolerated it but I found it uncomfy. Once you've got all the straps sorted and tied up and let go of the baby he ends up around your pelvis! Not good. I have a slingeasy which is much easier. I loved the ethos surrounding the company and the fact that your child doesn't have to sit on their pelvic floor but sadly it was a hopeless waste of time. Good ebay value though!
Member review by di - Been a mum for 15 months. - review date 26 September 2005

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"Not as good as I thought it would be"
I expected this to be easier to use. I had no end of trouble trying to get my baby in it without help. I also didn't think it was very supportive when my son was very young and now at 9 months I can't keep him still enough to get him into it.
Member review by Samantha - review date 26 August 2005

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"Completely necessary!"
Having found out I was expecting again, I must admit that I am very excited about using my Wilkinet sling again.

My son was attached to this sling for around 18 months - I even shoved it in the bottom of the pushchair if we were going out so I could put him in it when he had had enough of the pushchair....or if I had got too much shopping to carry.

I used it every possible way - once you have had a play around it is as easy as pie and I was even able to breastfeed wearing it-which was a godsend.

My son really enjoyed being in the sling- when he was newborn it perfectly supported his bottom rather than being supported between his legs, which is much better for baby, and he was hauled up onto me at 18 months for a trip to London - very useful to have two free hands so you can carry the pushchair up and down underground steps.

I cannot rate this sling highly enough! It shows for itself - I have only seen one other sling which is still on sale now which was available at the time of my sons birth 8 years ago....it truly stands the test of time!
Member review by Jodie - Mother of one & expecting - review date 10 August 2005

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"A Godsend"
First we used a fabric sling, which worked well but cut into our shoulders. We've used the Wilkinet from about 13 weeks and it's been everywhere with us. Our son has been much better supported than most of the babies we see out and about in carriers and he's always seemed very comfortable - so have we!
Member review by Caroline - Mother of one, 12 months old - review date 7 August 2005

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"Sorry, prefer Babybjorn"
I really really wanted to love the Wilkinet. I just didn't. I found putting it on really tricky, and needed another person to help me. It never felt particularly secure on me. Worked well on my husband though, but with our second baby we bought a Babybjorn, and this worked better for both of us. I preferred the fact that I could put the BB on and then put the baby in it, rather than having to lie the baby on the Wilkinet and then somehow get it to my chest .... Not a fan. Sorry.
Member review by kate - mother of 2 boys - review date 5 August 2005

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"Better than Baby Bjorn!"
Having used my Baby Bjorn carrier for my first two daughters whilst eyeing up the Wilkinets I saw out and about, I was delighted when my sister said I could have hers for my 3rd daughter. She had borrowed my BB and found the Wilkinet much more comfy, even though she had twins who were not large boys.

Well, I couldn't believe it! I had my baby in it at around a week old and could I tell she was there? No! The was no shoulder or back ache and she loved being snuggled up close to me and as she has got older she likes the fact she is able to get her hands to her mouth in the "facing me" position which she couldn't have in the BB, and she loves the "facing out" position so she can watch her sisters running around. I love the fact I can kiss her fluffy head easily too!!

It says in the instructions that it can take a few goes to get the hang of tying the straps, but I have never had a problem - once you try it it is very straightforward. The shoulder straps are lovely and padded and my daughter loves to suck on them!

It is also available in a variety of colours, striped or plain, so even dads can wear their children, although it does say in the instructions that babies tend to fit round their mothers shape more easily.

I would choose this carrier rather than a Baby Bjorn every time.
Member review by Christa - mother of 3 girls aged 5, 3 and 5 months - review date 30 July 2005

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