Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Shopping

From everyday essentials to big purchases, swap tips and recommendations. For the best deals without the hassle, sign up for Mumsnet Moneysaver emails.

Flip

Original poster

Anyone tried the CLOSE baby carrier

20 replies

ButterflyMcQueen · 30/04/2008 23:15

saw two in town today and one lady told me she loved it!

bit pricey - is it much better than baby bjorn?

OP posts:

Original poster

ButterflyMcQueen · 01/05/2008 11:24

dp says no but i trust musnetters more!

OP posts:

angel1976 · 01/05/2008 12:59

Hi,

I had one (just sold it to a fellow MNetter!) and it was invaluable for the first 2 months! DS couldn't be put down and DH would put him in it and play xbox while I had a rest. We mostly used it around the house TBH as DH refused to be seen out in it (minus point and one of the reasons I sold it for a more 'manly' Bjorn!). The cotton is really soft and it's organic. It was a bit tricky to figure out how to put it on but once you have sussed it (with the DVD AND instructions booklet!), it's really straightforward... The minus points are I found there was a bit too much cloth and also, it will be slightly tricky to take on and off in public. DS is a grumpy little git baby and not happy to stay in any position for long though he does love looking out (that busybody!) hence we got the Baby Bjorn for easy access and for the facing out option (which admittedly the Close does have as well though never tried it that way) and for DH!

PortAndLemon · 01/05/2008 13:10

I have one at the moment and love it. DH is quite happy to wear it too (clearly secure in his masculinity ). I don't find it hard to put on or take off (in fact that's the reason I got it this time -- I had a wrap-style sling last time which was just as comfortable, but more trouble to put on and needed readjusting when putting DS in or out, so knew with DD I wanted something just as comfortable but that was a bit less faff.

DD is only a month old so haven't tried the facing out option yet, but did that quite happily in the wrap sling with DS so don't envisage any problems with doing it in the Close carrier with DD.

You can get it in a nice manly sludge colour, if that helps (ours is the red one, which is frankly more like a burgundy colour).

Original poster

ButterflyMcQueen · 01/05/2008 14:18

i have sen the grey which is nice

wondering if it has a very short shelf life though...

OP posts:

PortAndLemon · 01/05/2008 15:18

I'd say you could easily use it up to a year or so. In theory you could use it longer, but I think I'd move onto a different carrier for a toddler.

meebles · 01/05/2008 16:18

Well, I've never tried a babybjorn but I like my close carrier a lot. It's easy to pop her in and out of, and DD loves facing out in it too. DH has a mothercare carrier which he prefers - he's a creature of habit and we had that one first.
DD doesn't seem to mind which one as long as she can see out! The Close may be more snuggly for a little baby, and it's very comfortable.

2point4kids · 01/05/2008 16:24

I've got it for DS2 (2 months) and love it. I found he just felt too small for it for the first couple of weeks though, but after that I practised a few times at home and now I use it every day when we go out and sometimes at home if he is clingy too.
I find it very easy to put on and take off and also very easy to put DS in it (for example I use it every day to collect DS1 from nursery... we park 2 mins away and I put the close sling on before we leave then just pop DS2 in it from the car and he is safely tucked away while I collect DS1, put his shoes on, chat to the nursery staff, then I pop him back in the car)
I had a bjorn with DS1 and find this one much better.
Havent tried the facing outwards carry yet though as he is still too little.

2point4kids · 01/05/2008 16:25

I will switch back to my peanut shell carrier when Ds2 is a toddler though as I loved that with Ds1!

fairibell · 01/05/2008 18:16

Just wondering how different this is to the Moby or the hug-a-bub??

thanks
xx

PeachyHas4BoysAndLovesIt · 01/05/2008 18:21

much better than baby bjorn imo- and I have both (bb for ds3).

plusi can use the close without back issues, which gor me is hugely important

CantSleepWontSleep · 01/05/2008 18:36

Can any of you (esp those with enormous norks) manage to breast feed in it?

PortAndLemon · 01/05/2008 19:09

fairbell -- the feel and comfort factor are similar, and it lets you do the same front carries, but it's quicker and easier to put on and doesn't need adjusting so often as I found the hug-a-bub did. It's basically one piece that's like a wrap sling but stitched into place at the back and with rings for adjustability and then a second piece to tie round.

Original poster

ButterflyMcQueen · 01/05/2008 21:01

id does look dreamy for newborn but my babies are always edging towards 9lb and so do not stay that way for long

wonder if it looks a bit flimsy for a frog leggying brute

OP posts:

PortAndLemon · 01/05/2008 21:05

DS was 10lb 5oz at birth and did fine in the hug-a-bub wrap, and DD was 8lb 15oz at birth and has chubbed up at a rate of knots and I can't see there being a problem with the CBC. It's not at all flimsy.

Piffle · 01/05/2008 21:05

ds2 13 mths very tall and still very happy in it.
Really rate it. Also use coorie for hip carrying sometimes

beansprout · 01/05/2008 21:10

Ds2 is still extremely happy in this at 14 weeks (and is pretty big by all accounts). Sooo much better than the Bjorn as it distributes the weight very well and he can stay in it for hours at a time. As he gets heavier it feels like my legs rather than my back and shoulders are taking the weight, which is great as I don't have the strongest back in the world.

PeachyHas4BoysAndLovesIt · 01/05/2008 21:19

The leaflet ahs special posiotions for over 12 months

haven't tried feeding in it, but there's a cradle position, I am looking forwards to giving it a go but DS4 currently settles nowhere except when carried. Sling works in upright but he won't let me try any other way yet.

meebles · 01/05/2008 21:40

Actually, in desperation in the longest post office queue ever I loosened one side a bit, and leaned DD over to the side to give her a quick feed to stop her getting too upset. It's not the recommended position to feed though, and I wouldn't do it without a hand to steady things a bit.

sushistar · 02/05/2008 00:53

I recomend the kari-me. I LOVE MINE - have used it from day 1, ds is 5 months and used it today to go on the tube. Comfyest sling ever imho.

northeastmummy · 02/05/2008 09:34

I've used both - and LOVE the close carrier. It's far far better than the baby bjorn IMHO.

Flip