Best Baby Carriers - do you agree?

[LauraEMumsnet]

Hi there!

We recently reviewed the best baby carriers on the market and would love to hear your feedback.

We put 18 top products to the test based on recommendations from the Talk boards and beyond and awarded the Boba X Best Baby Carrier 2019.

But do you agree? Would you find these reviews helpful? Is anything unclear? Is there something you think we've missed?

We'd love to hear your thoughts so that we can make our reviews as useful for parents as possible.

Thank you!
MNHQ

Mamaruga zensling. A stretchy soft one with buckles it’s just the best best best

When I was looking for DS2, the problem I found is that there didn't seem to be any for fatties 'plus size' mums - is that still the case?

Manduca is fab, we’re still using it now and DS is two. I’m short and the Ergo swamped me as well, the Manduca is adjustable to fit both me and 5’8 DH comfortably. And not as expensive either!

I did have trouble finding a raincover (less for DS’s benefit, he’s in a coat anyway, more to stop the sling itself getting soaked). I tracked one down eventually on the German Manduca site. Found a leg extender too which should allow him to stay in it up to age 4 (we use it on long walks etc when he gets tired instead of dragging a buggy out, or having to carry him).

Another vote for what was the connecta - bloody loved that thing, I literally used it till it broke - 2 years solid. I currently have a stretchy wrap for #2 and then will move to an integra once she’s a bit bigger. I’d estimate 3/4 months ish.

Have a baby bjorn - DH likes it but I hate it, they dangle in them, not great back support and I don’t know anyone who managed with it past 6 months with an average sized baby. Wouldn’t recommend at all. We bought it before I knew anything about slings!

I love our ergobaby Omni 360 for out and about and so does DH , I prefer the ergobaby aura fabric sling for in the house, DS loves both!

I've used various stretchy wraps with the Boba wrap being the best so I'm pleased to see it so high.

I haven't heard of the Boba X, sounds interesting. I'll have a look as I'm in the market for a structured carrier.

I think Ergo's name and ease of getting hold of them mean more people have tried them and they tend to dominate recommendations for that reason rather than because they are the best.

I'm a bit confused about the testing process though - you selected 18 to test and then listed them as the best 18? Why not top five or top ten? What if the ones near the bottom of the list sounded great in theory but weren't any good in reality?

I have scoliosis (mild) and have found the ergo 360 great and very easy to use alone - still carry (large) two year old in it

Forgot to add a key comment on this is that for slings I'm not sure other recommendations always work. I loved my connectas (now Integra), recommended to a friend and she wasn't a fan. A friend recommended the manduca to me, and though I thought it was ok for back carries o found the waistband very uncomfortable when carrying my baby on the front. As a woman who ran a sling library once said to me, slings are a bit like jeans - different brands and types suit different people so you have to try them first, hence why sling libraries are so great

Breadwidow I totally agree - I went to the sling library twice (when DS was newborn and six months old) and twice left with something totally different to what I’d intended to buy (and remain completely happy with the new slings). You don’t know how a sling will feel until you try it out.

I love my Manduca. Only prob is you can't wear a baby outwards facing so they either get a nice view of your chest or a nice view of your back! I've never known them mind but I would like to have the option to face them outwards (in a hip-healthy position) so they can see what's going on for strolls when they're awake and alert.

Connecta all the way. I carried my son for hours and we both loved it. Expecting no 2 and she'll also be a koala baby

I bought a second hand boba wrap on eBay and I love it. @ohholyfcuk I'm bigger than most and there was loooads of extra fabric on the boba wrap for me

Baby k'tan. I loved mine. So comfy to wear. No tying it so fast to put on and carried dd in it til she was 16 months on my front with no back pain.

Baby Bjorn bloody awful and terrible for hips
Manduca abd connecta great
Wraps - stretchy and woven - v versatile.
I love the baby hawk meitai- far and away my favourite