Priced at £95, the Lascal M1 Carrier comes in five different colours and has been available in the UK since 2008. It is quite an expensive piece of kit, but the old adage “you get what you pay for” has never been truer.
I always love walking with my 6-month-old son Nathaniel in a baby carrier, especially when we go sightseeing and my husband also spends the time bonding with our boy. However, during the winter months of wearing lots of layers including a bulky coat, I found Nathaniel outgrew his first baby carrier pretty quickly. Also, some of the baby carriers on the market aren't really suitable for well-built men. The Lascal M1, however, sets the record pretty straight.
What we love
When I first saw the Lascal M1 Carrier I was impressed with the lightweight mesh material it was made from, while the soft, antibacterial bamboo covering used around the openings for the neck, arms and legs is a really good idea and prevents any reaction with your baby's skin. With a features list a mile long, including spinal support, width and length adjusters and a big padded support for your baby's head that doubles as a dribble bib, it is easy to see the M1 has been made to a very high spec.
Putting the carrier on and adjusting the harness was really easy and I found the best thing to do was sit down wearing the carrier, strap Nathaniel in with the clips and then adjust to get the correct fit. All of which I could do by myself. The lumbar bar was also an added support, as some carriers can give you backache.
The Lascal M1 Carrier is suitable from birth and states it can comfortably hold a baby of up to 30lbs. Nathaniel was about 17lb 7oz at the time of testing and I found it very quick to position him forward facing (he loved looking out as we walked along). It's also great if you want to get a few little jobs done around the house. One day Nathaniel was being quite clingy, so I just strapped him in and went out to bring the washing in from the line.
The carrier is also washable – a must for a baby product – and additional covers, which you use as dribble bibs, can be purchased for £15 each.
What to watch out for
My husband found the Lascal M1 a perfect fit, but I had to wear a coat or very big jumper as I couldn't get the straps small enough. This is fine in the winter months, but not very practical in the summer.
While Nathaniel is only just above the middle weight range for the carrier, both my husband and I couldn't do up the bottom loop fastening to give the ideal body contact. There are two other clips on each side, so he was perfectly secure, and I did wonder if his large reusable nappy gave him more than an average-size bottom!
Who is the Lascal M1 Carrier best for?
Parents, especially dads, after a carrier for frequent use.
The Lascal M1 Carrier is a very comfortable, well-thought-out baby carrier. However, the large harness fitting and bottom loop fastening that wouldn't attach let down an otherwise flawless design.
