Ickle Bubba Seren 3-in-1 Baby Carrier review

Our tester, Holly used the Ickle Bubba Seren 3-in-1 Baby Carrier for eight weeks with her son

How we tested the Ickle Bubba Seren 3-in-1 Baby Carrier

Holly tested the Seren with her five-month-old son over a period of around two months, continuing use as he grew to seven months old. She mainly used it at home while doing everyday tasks like making dinner, as well as for short trips out when she didn’t want to take the stroller.

She focused on how practical it was in real day-to-day life, including how easy it was to put on independently, how quickly it could be removed when needed and whether it felt manageable for short, frequent use rather than longer periods.

During testing, Holly scored the Seren on eight key criteria including performance, quality and durability, ease of use, value for money, safety features, ergonomic support, comfort and adjustability - to give a total score out of 100.

What’s in the box?

• The Ickle Bubba Seren 3-in-1 Baby Carrier

• Instruction booklet

• Removable storage pocket that attaches to the waist strap

How easy is the Ickle Bubba Seren 3-in-1 Baby Carrier to assemble and set up?

Very easy. Holly found it self-explanatory straight out of the box, with no complicated adjustments or setup needed before use.

“There aren’t many bells and whistles to this carrier, so you can easily figure it out without reading instructions which is great! My son was strapped in and ready to go within a minute,” she says.

The Ickle Bubba Seren 3-in1 Baby Carrier comes in Slate or Stone colours

How does the Ickle Bubba Seren 3-in-1 Baby Carrier look?

Holly found the design really simple and easy to use, with nothing overly complicated about it. It has padded shoulder straps, a waist strap and a fabric panel that supports your child in position, plus a central clip that brings the shoulder straps together. There’s also a head support panel that can be buttoned up or down depending on your child’s stage, although Holly didn’t need this as much once her son got a bit older.

“The design of the harness is fairly basic - it’s all one colour, with buckles and adjustable elements seamlessly fitting in with the overall piece,” she explains.

Made from mesh fabric, it feels lightweight and breathable, which also helps keep the look very simple and easy to wear. The straps and waistband are padded, but overall, it still feels slim rather than bulky, which is part of what makes it feel so easy to use day to day.

How sturdy and supportive is the Ickle Bubba Seren 3-in-1 Baby Carrier?

Whilst it might not be as supportive as the Carifit Core for more active use, the Seren still offers enough support for shorter walks and outings, thanks to its high-performance knit fabric that feels secure without being too rigid.

It offers three carry positions which Holly found simple enough to switch between including parent-facing and world-facing on your front, as well as a back carry option so you can switch things up depending on your child’s age and what you’re doing. The straps are easy to adjust, with extra length to suit different wearers, and any excess can be tucked away neatly so it doesn’t get in the way.

In everyday use, Holly found it easy to tweak the fit while wearing the Seren, helping keep her son in a comfortable, ergonomic position as she moved around. The padded shoulder straps and adjustable waistband also make it easier to get a secure fit without too much trial and error.

If you’re using the outward-facing position, it’s worth taking a bit more care with setup. Ickle Bubba recommends the following steps:

• Fasten the waistband securely around your waist until it clicks into place

• Tighten the waist straps so the carrier sits snugly

• Position the carrier at the front of your body

• Place one shoulder strap over your shoulder

• Carefully position your baby facing outwards, guiding their legs through the openings

• Bring the second shoulder strap over your other shoulder whilst supporting your child with your other hand

• Reach behind and fasten the back clip to secure the straps together

• Adjust the shoulder straps to get a close, supportive fit

• Fold the front support panel down and fasten it in place

• Set the seat width to a narrower position for outward-facing use

For the best fit, it’s also important to make sure your baby’s hips are well supported in the “M” position, their bottom is sitting comfortably in the seat, and their face is always visible with clear airways. Wearing the waistband slightly higher can help with positioning, and removing the storage pocket can give a closer fit if needed.

What's the Ickle Bubba Seren 3-in-1 Baby Carrier like to use day to day?

Day to day, the Seren is straightforward to use, though it can take a little getting used to at first, especially when you’re trying to fasten everything behind your back.

“[The Seren] is fairly easy to put [my son] in whilst securing the straps. It’s the back clip that I find the most difficult to do. [When my partner wears it] he also can’t reach the clips, and I often have to fumble about trying to align the straps that have got tangled up behind my back,” she says.

After a few uses, though, it becomes much more manageable to do on your own. “I couldn’t at the start, but once I got the swing of things I was then able to,” she adds.

One thing that really stands out in everyday use is how lightweight it is, which makes it easy to grab for quick trips or keep in the car as a backup. “[The Seren] is extremely lightweight! Love this about it,” she says.

Once everything is properly fastened, it feels secure and reassuring to use, and Holly found her son was happiest in the parent-facing position. “My son seems quite happy when facing me in it and sits properly in the M position,” she explains. “I felt confident and secure right away once all properly clipped in,” she adds.

How comfortable is the Ickle Bubba Seren 3-in-1 Baby Carrier?

Comfort is a bit more mixed with the Seren, particularly depending on how long it’s worn and your child’s size. Holly found it worked well in shorter bursts but was less suited to longer periods of use. “[My son] is okay in it for short periods, after which he tries to wriggle out of it,” she says.

She also noticed a difference depending on positioning, with the parent-facing option feeling more comfortable overall.

It’s worth noting that Holly’s son was already towards the upper end of the carrier’s weight range during testing, which may have played a part in how comfort levels felt over time for both of them. Over longer periods of wear, she found support felt less balanced, particularly around her shoulders and lower back, and needed to adjust the waist straps quite firmly to help improve weight distribution and ease pressure on her upper body.

When it comes to materials, the lightweight mesh fabric does help with airflow, especially in warmer weather. Holly didn’t experience any major issues with overheating, although she did note the padded waist strap can feel warm during use. The close-contact design also means you and your baby are likely to share body heat, which is fairly typical for this style of carrier.

Overall, it’s comfortable enough for shorter outings and quick trips, but in Holly’s opinion, it doesn’t quite offer the same level of long-wear support as more structured carriers like the BabyBjörn Harmony (which she also tested) or the Ergobaby Omni 360.

The Ickle Bubba Seren 3-in-1 Baby Carrier can be used three different ways on the front and back

How easy is the Ickle Bubba Seren 3-in-1 Baby Carrier to adjust?

Holly found the Seren worked well across different body types in her household, with both her and her partner able to use it comfortably once fitted correctly. At around 5ft5 and a UK size 8–10, she felt it suited her frame, while her taller partner (6ft) also found it comfortable for longer periods of wear.

In terms of setup, the main challenge wasn’t overall fit, but the finer adjustments once it was on. “The more subtle height and width adjustments that you then need to do are where I get a bit stuck. I am still not sure I’ve 100% figured out how to reliably and consistently adjust this carrier,” she says.

She also found that once the carrier had been used by someone else, it could take a bit of readjusting to get it back to her preferred fit, particularly when trying to make changes quickly with a baby ready to be picked up or put down.

While the carrier does allow for adjustment across different users, Holly felt some of the straps offered limited flexibility, particularly around the shoulders, where she would have preferred a slightly lower or tighter position for added support.

According to Ickle Bubba, the Seren is designed to be adjustable for different wearers, with multiple strap settings intended to help achieve a secure and comfortable fit.

What carrying positions does the carrier offer?

The Seren offers three carrying positions: inward-facing, outward-facing and back carry, giving a good range of options as your child grows.

In practice, Holly found the inward and outward-facing positions easiest to use as switching between them simply involves unclipping the rear fastening.

The back carry position is straightforward once the carrier is fitted, but Holly felt it’s not something she would realistically set up on her own, although she noted this is fairly common across most carriers of this style.

Does the Ickle Bubba Seren 3-in-1 Baby Carrier come with any extras?

The Seren comes with a removable storage pocket that attaches to the waistband, which Holly found particularly useful for short trips out.

“It comes with a removable storage pocket you can slide onto the waistband which I actually find super helpful as it means I can put my keys and phone in there and go out for short walks without a bag. It feels freeing as a mum to be able to go out with what feels like nothing, even if only for a short walk!” she says. Beyond this, there are no additional accessories included as standard.

How easy is the Ickle Bubba Seren 3-in-1 Baby Carrier to clean?

Cleaning is fairly straightforward, although it does require a bit more care than simply putting it in the washing machine. Ickle Bubba recommends regular spot cleaning using a damp cloth, warm water and mild soap, with a full clean done by hand washing in cool water and leaving it to line dry.

In everyday use, Holly found it easy enough to keep on top of, with marks and spills lifting without too much effort, making it manageable for regular use.

Is the Bubba Seren 3-in-1 Baby Carrier good value for money?

Holly felt the Seren offers strong value for money, particularly if you’re looking for something lightweight, simple and easy to keep on hand for everyday use. “It feels really easy to just bring it everywhere, even if it’s not your plan A for transporting your child, and there’s so little faff getting them in,” she says.

Part of that value comes from the thoughtful design. The extra-long straps can be adjusted to suit different wearers and stages as your baby grows, while any excess can be neatly tucked away for a cleaner, more streamlined finish. The soft knit fabric also adds to the overall comfort, helping it feel gentle and flexible to wear.

Holly has also tried carriers like the Ergobaby Omni 360 and BabyBjörn Harmony, which she found better suited to longer walks thanks to their more structured support and weight distribution. That said, they can feel bulkier, with thicker straps and more involved adjustments, and come at a higher price point.

At around £50, the Seren sits at a much more accessible price, especially when you consider it includes features like head support and a removable storage pocket - elements you’ll find on pricier models like the Nuna CUDL Clik baby carrier, which costs significantly more.

For that reason, the Seren works best as a fuss-free, everyday option. It may not replace a more structured carrier for long walks, but for quick trips, chores or as a lightweight backup, it represents very good value for money.

About the author

Tammy Jacks has over 20 years of experience in the publishing industry, holding key roles such as Managing Editor and Health & Beauty Editor for Woman & Home magazine in South Africa, and Assistant Editor for Living and Loving - a parenting title focused on children's health and development.

She has also contributed to various lifestyle publications (including magazines, journals, and newspapers) and edited books for fitness influencers and health professionals. As a researcher and writer, Tammy specialises in children's development, wellbeing, and safety. Over the years, she has reviewed countless toys and developmental aids for children as well as top baby travel options for busy families like baby carriers, child car seats and lightweight strollers, to name a few.