Baby carrier and sling reviews: FAQs
Do I need to spend more than £50 on a baby sling or carrier?
You don't need to pay over the odds for a Best Buy baby carrier or sling
Our tests suggest that when it comes to slings and baby carriers, you do need to pay a little bit more for the best product. None of our Best Buys are generally available for less than £50, but buying a Best Buy baby sling or baby carrier won't cost you more than most of the other carriers that we tested either.
I’ve tried a carrier before and I didn’t get on with it, why should I bother again?
Most of the parents who took part in our user trial had already used at least one type of sling or baby carrier, and some already owned several. Some were devoted carrier wearers and others had given up in dismay.
By taking part in our test, they frequently found a carrier that was more suitable for them than the one they already owned. The parents we spoke to agreed that they were really happy they had taken part in a trial because it gave them the opportunity to try so many different types.
This emphasises how important it is to try a carrier before you buy it, and to try several different types before you choose the one you'll go for.
Mums also found that using a carrier was actually more convenient if they had another young child to cope with at the same time as their baby.
What can I do with my baby in a sling or carrier?
We asked all of the parents who took part in our user trial to tell us what activities they carried out while wearing their baby. Walking was the most popular activity, and mums appreciated the fact that a sling or carrier gives them the freedom to go to places that are less accessible with a pushchair, such as woods and playgrounds.
Slings and carriers turned out to be a real boon for walking the kids to school in comparison to a pushchair, because parents were able to take their little one along without having to worry about not having a spare hand for their older children to hold.
A baby carrier can make travelling with a baby and toddler easier than a pushchair
Parents mentioned that they liked using a sling or carrier at the supermarkets rather than the baby seats provided in supermarket trolleys because those seats are hard and cold plastic, so a carrier is more comfy.
How long will I be able to wear a sling or baby carrier for?
This very much depends on the type of carrier or sling, how heavy your baby is and the design you choose.
All the slings and carriers that we tested gave some of the parents that wore them some aches and pains, usually in the shoulders, lower neck and lower back. Frequently they would put this down to the weight of the baby, but sometimes it was because straps or buckles were rubbing or digging in.
In most cases, 10 out of 12 of the mums who tested the slings and carriers felt discomfort after a while. The amount of time they were able to wear one for before they felt discomfort was between 10 and 40 minutes, but some people were able to wear some of the slings or carriers for more than an hour without feeling any discomfort.
Choosing a carrier with good lumbar support helps to reduce lower back pain and enable you to carry a child for longer, but our tests show you can't just assume that a lumbar support will automatically make a carrier good - we found both comfy and uncomfortable examples of carriers with lumbar support.
Are babies happier in a baby carrier?
Most of the feedback we received on the contentment of babies in the slings and carriers shows that babies are happy in them unless it’s so much of a kerfuffle to get the baby into the sling in the first place that they have a chance to become upset first.
The parents we talked to said that the extra closeness they got from wearing their baby made them more aware of the subtle cues that their baby might give that everything was less than perfect in their little world. They said that they were able to respond to their baby before he or she had a chance to begin crying about a dirty nappy, for instance.
Walks in the woods were one thing our parents tried while testing our baby carriers and slings
A few parents who had babies that suffered from colic said that their babies were happier in a carrier than lying down in a pushchair.
Being able to deal with babies before they got upset led to happier babies and happier parents.
How long can my baby stay in the carrier for?
Advice from our lab ergonomics expert is that nobody, particularly small babies, should remain motionless or with their limbs in the same position for long periods of time.
You can carry your child in a sling or baby carrier for as long as he/she is content there, but remember that babies are heavy and it will take its toll on you if you are not used to carrying her and you try to carry her for several hours on the first go.
Start with a short 10-minute carry to let your baby get used to the carrier and gently extend this to longer periods.
Always pay close attention to your child’s needs and switch between the baby carrier and, for example, a pushchair or crib.
Your reviews mention following ‘the standard advice for using a baby carrier safely’. What is this?
These basic principles, referred to as the TICKS list, are particularly applicable to younger babies who are unable to hold their heads unassisted. You will not be able to follow them with your baby in a back carry position, but this position is not recommended until a baby is able to hold her head up anyway.
Tight
Baby slings should be tight enough to keep your baby close to your body.
In view at all times
Your baby's face should be visible simply by glancing down.
Close enough to kiss
Position your baby as close to your chin as possible – a good test is to see whether you can bend down to kiss your baby's head or forehead.
Keep chin off the chest
Ensure there's always a space of at least a finger width between your baby's chin and chest, allowing your baby to breathe easily.
Supported back
A baby should be held comfortably close to the baby sling wearer so their back is supported in its natural position, with their tummy and chest against you.
