Baby carrier and sling reviews: Features explained
Types of baby slings
Pouch slings
Pouch slings such as the Hotslings are easy to take on and off
Starting from as little as £15, a pouch sling is a piece of fabric sewn together at the ends and folded to form a pocket in which your baby nestles. They go over one shoulder like a sash, and the baby sits in the pouch on the front or back.
These slings are usually quick to get on and off and compact enough to fit easily into a changing bag. They can be used from birth to around two years or 14kg, but because the weight of your baby is concentrated mostly on one shoulder, you might not want to use it as they get larger.
Most aren't adjustable, which can make it difficult to get a snug carrying position. Make sure you choose the right size – mums and dads will probably need one each.
Ring sling
A piece of fabric which threads through two rings, forming a loop
This is a piece of fabric that threads through two rings, forming a loop. The sling goes over one shoulder and is fastened by pulling the fabric through the rings. Once you've mastered how to adjust the rings and thread the fabric through, these are among the easiest slings to use.
Ring slings are quick to get on and off and one sling should fit both parents. They're ideal for breastfeeding, as the tail of extra material can be used to discreetly cover you and your baby.
Some rings have padding in the shoulder and edges for comfort – but very padded versions can be more difficult to adjust and may be bulky. Ring slings can become uncomfortable over long periods of time when used with heavier children. They also don't distribute your baby’s weight evenly between both shoulders, so wearers with bad backs should be careful to alternate sides.
They are suitable to use from birth to around two years (or up to 14 kg) and usually cost £30-£60.
Wrap sling
A piece of fabric that you wrap and tie round your body so your baby is held securely
A wrap sling is simply a piece of woven or stretchy jersey-type fabric that you wrap and tie around your body so your baby is held securely. These are suitable from birth to around two years (or up to 14 kg) and cost around £40-£50.
By wrapping the fabric around the waist and shoulders, you can distribute your baby’s weight, which makes these slings comfortable to wear over long periods of time – even with a heavy toddler.
Stretchy materials make it possible to tie the wrap on first, then slip the baby into place – great for a newborn. Woven materials are better for heavier weights as they have less give and hold the toddler close to you. There are numerous different sizes, tying methods and carrying positions, and excess fabric can be used for discreet breastfeeding.
They're the most versatile but also probably the most difficult type of sling to get the hang of, so follow the instructions carefully until you're sure what you're doing. The wrap can also be folded up and used as a blanket or changing mat.
Types of baby carrier
Soft baby carriers
The Baby Bjorn is probably the best-known soft carrier
Soft baby carriers are the simplest, most widely available type of carrier. Most are two-way carriers: you can carry your baby on your front, either facing you (most suited to very young babies) or facing outwards. In our test, babies who were old enough to hold their heads up loved being able to face forwards and interact with the world around them.
The baby is held in an upright position, so for very young babies unable to support their heads the carrier needs to be used with a padded headrest, which is usually built into the body of the carrier. These can normally be folded down for an older baby, but a word of warning – babies love to chew on them, so make sure you have a dribble bib to hand.
They're easy to learn to use and are adjustable, so they can be used by more than one parent. This type of carrier is also better for your back as it distributes the baby's weight evenly over two shoulders. On the downside, it can be harder to breastfeed than with other sling types.
Look for baby carriers marked with the BS EN 13209 Part 2:2005 safety mark, to show they adequately meet safety standards.
Most are suitable from birth to 12 kg (around 18 months), but they can go up to 20kg depending on the brand.
Multi-way baby carriers
Carriers such as the Bush Baby have a rucksack-style appearance
Multi-way carriers give you three or four options for carrying your baby and are suitable from birth to 10kg (12 months), 12kg (18 months) or 14kg (toddlers) depending on the style. They can cost up to £100.
Most multi-way carrier models offer three positions: carrying your baby on your front, back or in a 'nursing' position suited to breastfeeding. Four-way carriers offer an additional hip position, suitable for when your child is able to sit up by him- or herself. Those with back problems should use this position with care and swap sides regularly.
Multi-way carriers offer a longer lifespan than two-way models, but they tend to be more expensive than soft carriers and can take some practice to use correctly.
Features to look for
Built-in storage bags
Parents in our user trial liked the fabric slings with a built-in storage bag, as long as this does not add extra weight.
Certified fabrics
Some slings and carriers claim to conform to a testing standard called Oeko-Tex 100 O 00-91 Swerea IVF. This is a globally uniform testing and certification system for textiles from raw material to finished product.
It tests for harmful substances that are prohibited by law, chemicals that are known to be harmful to health and parameters that are included as a precautionary measure to safeguard health.
Checking that the fabrics do indeed conform to the standard was not part of our testing.
Dribble bibs
Babies love to chew on the straps or fabric of baby carriers, so it’s wise to have a dribble bib or bit of muslin to hand. They can also help you protect your clothing and tidy up more quickly if the baby is sick while in the carrier.
Some carriers are provided with them and you can buy branded ones to go with some carriers. Overall we did not see much advantage in buying a carrier simply because it includes a dribble bib.
Lumbar support
A padded lumber support or waist belt can help to transfer some of the weight of your baby from your shoulders to your hips and provide more even weight distribution when you carry them, reducing lower back pain and making it easy to carry your baby for longer.
Mums in our user trial also joked that some of the waist belts on the baby carriers were slimming, which gave them a much-needed confidence boost.
Weight limit
You can expect a baby carrier to add between 0.4kg and 1kg to the amount of paraphernalia that you will carry around for your baby – you might reasonably expect only a sling to fit into your normal nappy bag.
The slings we tested weighed about 0.3kg to 0.7kg.
