Hippychick Hip Seat

I use this for my 6 month old and 3 year old and will probably use it for a very long time to come.

Baby sits well and has a cuddle. Toddler has face-to-face time while I push the buggy with baby in it.

I pretty much don't take it off!!

I recommend doing it up quite tight and wearing it quite tight to support the back. Great for walking and toning!

Can't recommend enough - should be on commission for the amount of friends I have recommended this to!

Fab product especially for keen to walk toddlers who just want the occasional rest.

Easy to use but would be easier still if it could be clipped up for both left and right handed use without spinning it around your waist.

A bit pricey for what it is but for the amount we have used it it has proved good value and still looks brand new.

I don't think I have fully 'utilise' its potential yet as my baby is only a year old. So she is a wee bit 'short' to sit on the hipseat.

As other reviewers commented, you still need a hand to wrap around the child's waist. I have used this and in combine with my babasling (great combination).

We were visiting a castle which we know pushchair is not allowed in. My daughter was 10 months old, just at the age that wants to be carried all the time, can't walk yet and drifts off to sleep when she is tired. I used the sling to carry her in my front and with the hipseat sitting much higher (above waist as the baby loves seeing over my shoulder). The combination of these two allow me to carry the baby for 3 hours before I feel the strain of her weight and with my hands free!

She didn't complain and quite happily being carry for such a long period of time!

I ll definitely look forward using this when she is older. But I have to agree this seat is really bulky, not something I would 'carry' in my handbag. I usually leave this in the car boot as my 'emergency' sling when I can't use my buggy!

Didn't use this much - rode up on my hip when child not on it, and sagged when he was. Not a good buy for me.

Too bulky and not as helpful as I'd expect!

Our toddler is a bumshuffler but not content to be strapped into her highchair for long periods so end up carrying her a lot.Really like this product as it takes the weight off, saves my back and for quick hops out , means we can avoid taking the pushchair. Most importantly my child likes it, she enjoys the contact and likes having the visibility from being higher up. Would recommend to all parents of older children who are reluctant walkers - makes life a lot easier all round!

I bought this thinking it would be handy when out to the shops as my daughter would get half way then want to be carried. However, I found it to be quite uncomfortable to use and too big to fit into my bag when I wasn't using it. Once on, you have to hold your child on it which can be annoying - I'd rather have them in a sling which leaves your hands free. I also found it to be a small fit for my size 18 frame and because I have a short body, it felt like it was too high up and would dig painfully into my hips. Overall, I wasn't too impressed but it might suit someone with a smaller/taller.

Ok for short 'hops' but you really need to hold on to your child all the time - for me not as useful as a 'proper' ring/wrap sling, which has much more longevity. And packs up smalle

I love this product - used it from about 4 mths (once DD had neck control) to just under 2 years. Easy to put on & off (unlike a lot slings).

Once she could walk, we would just take this & leave the buggy at home - meant I could help her walk (with the seat belted round my handbag strap) without having to wrestle a buggy aswell and could carry her easily when she got tired.

Also fab for shopping as she was up at eye level so shop assistants talked to her & she didn't get bored staring at people's knees & shop counters.

Can't rate this highly enough. My second baby did not want to be put down and from six months old I could plonk her on this and get on with what I was doing. Great for housework, short school runs and trips to the shops.

OK for very short trips and to help correct posture, especially for slim-hipped mums/dads. However, doesn't help with the 'burning arm' sensation when carrying an up/down baby or toddler. Also, not hands-free, which is always a definite plus with other little ones liable to suddenly dash off!!

Personally, prefer a comfortable and of course safe/secure, hands-free carrier.

Yes it does make you sweaty around the waste. But I would not be without mine! Had no problems due to a bigger bust. It claims to be suitable for all sizes, but velcro does not stretch past a size 20. Having experienced back problems in the past and having a slightly large baby was very conscious about carrying baby around. Baby hated the slings and papouses, but is quite keen on this seat as they can get a good look around. Strain has decreaed on back since using this and used it to visit a stately home where a pushchair was not suitable. EXCELLENT!!

I really couldn't get this to fit right, but I am fairly petite. Everytime I used it it gave me backache and after a few attempts I sold it to another mum at toddler group who got on with it much better.

18month old loves helping me cook, and this is such a comfy way for him to sit on my hip without me standing awkwardly. Quite comfy as a pregnancy support belt as well! Can't imagine using it for more than a 5minute walk though

I thought this was absolutely useless, the most pointless child related purchase I have ever made.

Made my back very sweaty as well.

Waste of money.

I loved my hippychic Hip Seat for a short while as it did give more relief from carrying my toddler. However, I did find it awkward to position correctly, especially when she was a little bit heavier again and found it slipped or dug in. I leant it to my sister to use for her toddler and she really hated it as it just didn't sit right with her hips despite plenty of adjusting and palying with it. It is great but doesn't suit all especially if you have a wriggler

i really wasn't comfortable with this - baby didn't feel very secure and no matter how tight i did it up, it still seemed to slip down and feel uncomfortable.

Found this useful as I had back problems. Used it a lot when my little girl was 8mths plus to about 18ths. Perhaps would be even better for older kids that want to be carried and can actually hold on to you themselves. Would say it's overpriced though bearing in mind it's a pretty basic structure.

It's a great idea, and I can see that it does work, but only if you use it, and to be honest I rarely did. I didn't PLAN to carry my children when they were this size, so I just never thought about taking it out with me. For someone more organised, who could face carrying even MORE kit aroud with them on the offchance, then it woud certainly be good idea. But I'm not one of those people.

And it is very expensive...

Good, but expensive for what you get. You end up still having to hold onto the child (unlike all the other ones that let you go 'hands free')

Great! Solved persistent neck problems from carrying DD2 around on my hip.

Doesnt make me sweat (?), fits well, recommend it.

Couldn't live with out it! I've worn mine constantly since my daughter was about five and a half months (she's now 14 months) - and she loves it as much as I do. The good things: a lifesaver if you've a bad back (as I do), and/or if your child wants to be picked up a lot (as mine does). I prefer this to using a sling because I can pick her up when she wants to be carried, but lay her down again easily without waking her if she falls asleep while sitting on it (which she used to do often - washing up one handed was very slow, but was worth it because it always sent her off to sleep) , and now that she's older I can put her down whenever she's willing to walk again for a bit. Agree with previous reviewers that it can get a bit sweaty on a hot day, and make your arm ache a bit after a while, but not half as much as carrying them on your hip without a hipseat! Also, have had great success at using the hipseat in conjunction with my wilkinet or kari-me sling. So far as I'm concerned, the only downside is that when you've put baby down you end up walking around with a wierd oversized bumbag attached to your hip, but I can live with that. Highly recommended!

Excellent, why oh why have I only got one for my third child who is already one?! If only I had know about this before. The only thing I am not sure about is whether they come left/right handed as I like to carry on my left hip and the one I have does up at the back which is not as convenient as at the front which it would do if I carried on the right hip.

A great way to relieve back strain from sticking one hip out to the side on those "clingy" days. The only thing it needs is a strap to harness your little one onto you to leave you hands free.

The easiest way to carry a child over 6 months by FAR. Once you put it on (nice and tight - just like a girdle!) there are no straps or anything else to consider you just sit your child on it and off you go. It's particularly easy for a child once they start crawling / walking as all you have to do is put them down / pick them up there is no fiddling around with straps. We've had one for 18 months and our two year old LOVES it. Because the baby is right beside you there is much more chance for chat. I've walked for four miles carrying her on this and it was no problem at all. I also have to give a big thumbs up to the hippychick company - we accidently broke the buckle on ours (not a design flaw, it was our fault) and we wrote to ask if we could buy a replacement buckle. They sent us a whole new hipseat free of charge. bonza!

Virtually useless.
May be ok if you are a large lady with large hips but we discarded ours double quick.
In my opinion all hype and no substance.
Also price for actual product should be maximum 9.99.
They charge an extortionate amount for what it is meant to be able to do.

Described as "a great big bumbag" it "clips around your waist and acts as a platform for the baby to sit on". "Quick and easy to put on" it "works well for older children as well as babies". Some moaned that "it's not hands free" and "can make your waist a bit sweaty" plus "it's quite pricey" but it's "very portable" and "great to use in conjunction with a buggy" or for trips to and from the car. Excellent for anyone with back problems. Overall: "after struggling to carry my toddler for months, this product was a godsend".

Really useful. My osteopath recommended it to me to help with recurrent back problems (mainly from holding my first 2 children on my hip without any support). Great for picking up and putting down my third child who wants to be carried a lot, and good for short trips - e.g. to school to pick up her older sister.

After reading how it was rec'd by back doctors, I rushed out to buy one, as I have a bad back anyway.

Unfortunately, I found it very sweaty round my waist, even after 15 mins and with a big-ish bust, I felt like I was squashing my daughter into me, just so that I could put my arm round her securely - even when she was 7 mths old. The seat is at a slight slant towards you so the child leans in, but didnt seem to stop my arm aching cause I had to support her at her upper back the whole time. Maybe because she is a cloth nappied baby, the bulk made the slant insignificant? Her wee bum always seemed to overhang the seat anyway.

Also, I found the inside pockets unusable, as you have to wear it so tight.

Some say that its great for running ito the shops quickly - dunno about them, but I cant open my handbag, and rifle through my purse for money with only one free hand (as the other has to support child at all times)

Would reccommend a ring sling instead of this seat - if its tight enough fitting, it can hold baby handsfree (although probably not highly reccommended for general use - but if they are secure, it shouldnt be a problem to take your arm away for a few seconds to do those 2 hand jobs.)

Although the concept is great, I would not recommend this seat - much better alternatives out there

BUY ONE! It is fantastic, I dont know what i did before i had mine!

It's quite expensive, but considering how much I use it for my extra large baby, it's worth every penny. My toddler also approves!

I couldn't live without it! Great for as soon as the baby is old enough to sit up and balance. You need to keep an arm round, but you can still carry shopping etc. Great for quick trips or places you dont want the hassle of a buggy. Makes even heavy toddlers feel light as a feather!

I picked mine up in Boots for

Its great, Takes all the weight of child away from your back and arms. The extra weight is directet to the legs and is evened out so you get a bit of a work out as you shop. My little one is 10kg and I find I can carry her around with ease thanks to the hip seat.

A fantastic product! Made life so much easier, especially as daughter in a hip spica for 6 months, very easy to carry her even in heavy plaster! Recommend it.

I don't know why as I'm not that small, but it feels too big on me at the tightest setting. I wear size 10-12 jeans, but have a smallish waist.

An excellent invention for those toddlers who want to walk all the time but still get tired. Just fasten it around your waste with the velcro wrap-around, and secure with the plastic catch. Has a great seat which is like an extension of your hip which saves the strain on your back. I haven't had backache since! I just find it a little pricey however.

With a one year old not yet walking and needing to be held quite often we thought this would be the perfect solution - easier to put on than the sling and better than just holding the baby. However my husband, my mum and I all found this uncomfortable - and it didn't prevent the problem of sticking your hip out to the side. It's only designed to hold baby on your right hip - almost impossible to put it on on your own the other way round. I prefer to carry on my left so I can use my right hand to do things. Overall it just didn't live up to its promises.

This is one of the best items I have purchased since having my daughter. It has saved me many a back ache! Great for those times when your little one just wont be put down, but they are now too heavy to hold up for long periods!

Makes life so much easier for short trips when you dont need to drag a buggy with you, and for older toddlers who want to walk a bit but still need a carry.Expensive, but worth it when I worked out how much use its been put to.

Great for toddlers who walk for a bit then want to be carried. Really saves your back and arms from aching. Fantastic for short trips if you don't want to take the buggy. I love it!

great for aching backs after carrying a miserable baby around for hours

It made carrying a toddler so much easieras she got older and heavier.

I have been using one for 8 years, brilliant for all ages, and for that quick dash into the bank when you don't want to get the pushchair out

This came into its own at the airport when I had to check in the buggy. I found it a lot more comfortable once I'd lost the pregnancy weight (sadly that took 10 months). My toddler was just as comfortable as she normally is when carried and it helped my lower back.