Baby carriers (view report contents)
Fastenings
No two carriers seem to have the same combination of fastenings. Here’s what we found and how disabled parents found them.
Most carriers have three or four different types – see the Summaries for details of those tested. Whatever the type, they need to fasten securely so check that you can use them easily. You need to know when they are secure even if you can’t see them. The visually impaired parents liked to hear catches that clicked home. People with poor grip had particular difficulty with small fastenings which were fiddly or needed force. They could be painful. The position of the fastenings is important too – things are harder to do when they are behind you or there’s cloth in the way. Bear in mind that a wriggling baby won’t help whatever you are trying to do up or undo.
BUCKLES
Traditional as used on belts, and on the straps of about half the carriers tested. They required some manual dexterity.
BUTTONS
Only on the Baby Bjorn and found to be fiddly. Replaced on the latest model by a buckle needing two finger pressure.
POPPERS
Varied in size and stiffness but if too easy there were concerns about their security.
RINGS
Ease of use depends on size and what has to be pushed through them. A Velcro’d strap though a D ring caused no problems, but pulling gathered material through two plastic rings to adjust the Huggababy was difficult for a lot of parents with disabilities.
SLIDERS
Only on the Baby Bjorn – colour coded and generally liked.
SNAP HOOKS
Clipping the hook over a ring was easier than unhooking, where finger pressure was needed.
SNAP-SHUTS
Most of the carriers had these. Sometimes called clasps or buckles, they are plastic with one part clicking into another – very common on rucksacks. Ease of use varied between models depending on their size, position and stiffness.
TYING
Not liked particularly by parents with weak or painful grip. They complained it took a lot of physical effort to tie tightly enough. The straps sometimes worked loose or the knots tightened with the baby’s weight and were very difficult to undo.
VELCRO
Easy even for the weakest hand and allowed adjustment to any size, but a few concerns about the security of the fastening when it has picked up fluff.
ZIPS
No problems where babies are zipped into dungaroo style bottoms, but one concern that the zip might break.
Unique slider on Baby Bjorn
Unusual buckle on Evenflo Snugli
Easy velcro on Baby Trekker
Zipping into Mothercare Aquarius
Report Contents
About this guide
Baby issues
How to choose a carrier
Ability
issues
Types and what to look for
Buying guideGuide to summaries
Front carriers
Slings
Framed back carriers
Keeping safeHelpful Organisations
Suppliers list
