MFM Awards 2024 Winners – Baby carriers, slings and wraps

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Independent babywearing consultant and midwife Katy Blundell (aka The Dancing Midwife) joined our editorial judges to further explore, examine and discuss the entries and identify the 2024 winners.

See the winners in:

Baby carrier
Sling/wrap
Back, hiking and toddler carrier

Baby carrier

Key features we tested/judged — Comfort for baby and parent, back support, safety, clear and easy-to-follow instructions, ease of use and putting it on, carrying positions, worth the money, quality of fabric, design and style.

Gold – Mamaruga Zebulo, £145

Mamaruga Zebulo lifestyle picture_Gold winner

Why it’s a winner: Thoughtfully made and impressively versatile, this beautiful organic cotton carrirt offers the perfect combination of support and softness, and can comfortably and ergonomically seat a baby weighing between 3 and 20kg on the wearer’s chest, back or hip thanks to adjustable fabric and padded seat and straps. "Every part of the carrier – from the panels to the straps – felt really robust and secure when carrying my newborn and then my toddler," said parent tester James, who found the sling easy and intuitive to fit and use. Our expert judge, Katy Blundell, especially liked how the sling ensures the baby's knees are kept higher than bottom in the optimum M-shape position.

In the words of parent tester Beth, who tested this with their 6 month old: "This carrier is worth the money as it makes baby wearing very easy and comfortable – the wide straps can be crossed over when front-wearing to protect your back. A huge bonus is it can carry a baby from birth to toddlerhood without any inserts and be worn by adults of different sizes."

Buy from: Mamaruga, Bundle of Love

Silver – Ergobaby Omni Breeze Baby Carrier, £184.90

Ergobaby Omni Breeze Baby Carrier product shot_Silver winner

Best for: Ergonomic outward-facing carrying.

In the words of parent tester Eloise, who tested this with their 2 month old: "The versatility and value for money this excellent quality carrier offers is second to none: inwards facing, outwards facing, hip carrying and back carrying for babies from 3.2kg (newborn) to 20.4kg (around 4 years). It safely supports the baby's hip development and gives total comfort and peace of mind."

Buy from: Natural Baby Shower, Boots, Mamas & Papas

Bronze – Izmi Baby Carrier, £75

Izmi Baby Carrier product shot_Bronze winner

Best for: Budget buy baby carrier.

In the words of parent tester Tanya, who tested this with their 1 year old: "The Izmi Baby Carrier combines the comfort of a stretchy wrap with the convenience of a buckled carrier in one simple design, for a fraction of the price of both. The sturdy and thick fabric is fantastic quality, keeping babies from 2.3kg to 16kg secure without being too bulky and allowing the carrier to fold up really small, making it perfect for travelling."

Buy from: Izmi

Shortlisted: Ergobaby Embrace Soft Knit Newborn Carrier | Izmi Breeze Baby Carrier

Sling/wrap

Gold – Izmi Essential Wrap, £39.99

Why it’s a winner: Amazingly easy to use once our parent testers had got the hang of tying it correctly, this wrap gained top marks for comfort, quality of fabric, design and fit and value for money. Our sling expert Katy Blundell praised the "lovely 95% cotton fabric with a good amount of 2-way stretch that keeps baby secure and comfortable in a hip-healthy position," while parent tester Chantelle loved how the "soft wrap keeps my son safe, supported and close to me, allowing him to sleep soundly while I get on with stuff."

In the words of parent tester Katherine, who tested this with their 3 month old: "This wrap is a life-saver. I keep it on all day, popping my baby in when he needs comforting or settling — or I need both hands free. Made from great quality, machine-washable material, the wrap fits all adult body shapes and babies from newborn to 9kg, representing good value for money."

Buy from: Amazon

Silver – Izmi Baby Wrap, £55

Best for: Breathable bamboo wrap.

In the words of parent tester Sophie, who tested this with their 2 month old: "Made of lovely soft, silky, breathable bamboo, this wonderful wrap is easy to use thanks to clear instructions, can be adjusted to fit different-size bodies and is comfortable and supportive for both wearer and child – my son stays asleep while I move around, free from back pain."

Buy from: Cheeky Rascals

Bronze – Gaia Baby Stretchy Baby Wrap – Organic Cotton, £39.99

Best for: Babywearing bigger babies.

In the words of parent tester Samantha, who tested this with their 3 month old: "Designed to hold heavier babies so it can be used for longer, this one-way stretch wrap is made from snuggly organic cotton and is perfect for new mums as the instructions are sewn into the material. Worn all day, it still feels secure even after taking my baby out and putting him back in several times."

Buy from: Natural Baby Shower, John Lewis

Back, hiking and toddler carrier

Gold – Izmi Breeze Toddler Carrier, £95

Why it’s a winner: Made from breathable soft mesh fabric and cotton, this carrier impressed thanks to its light weight and compact size – perfect for packing down small and throwing in your bag. It's just as useful on countryside walks as it is when you're pottering about at home and your toddler needs some cuddles, our parent testers and judges praised the carrier's versatility. Sling expert and judge Katy Blundell liked how it was ideal for carrying "a baby weighing from 8kg to 27kg in a safe and ergonomic position, with hips in the M-shape position," as well as offering "an excellent quality of fit for a wide range of sizes of both baby and wearer." Easy to adjust, even with your baby or toddler in the carrier, the Izmi Breeze offers a choice of 3 carry positions and even includes handy extras like a storage pocket and sleep/sun hood.

In the words of parent tester Rachel, who tested this with their 22 month old: "Easily adjustable straps ensure a perfect fit, taking the strain out of carrying my heavy toddler on my chest, hip or back. the breathable mesh keeps us both cool, the outer pocket is incredibly useful and the sling is lightweight and small enough to stow under a buggy or in a bag."

Buy from: Izmi

Silver – LittleLife Adventurer S3 Child Carrier, £159.99

Best for: Outdoorsy families and hiking trips.

In the words of parent tester Gemma, who tested this with their 20 month old: "Simple and intuitive to set up and adjust to fit different wearers mid-hike, this well-made, safe and durable carrier keeps my daughter secure and comfortable. It also gives us the freedom to go hiking in places where a pushchair would be impractical or impossible, to share the joy of the outdoors with our family."

Buy from: LittleLife, John Lewis

The MadeForMums Awards editorial team is led by Group Digital Editor Gemma Cartwright and Head of Consumer Content Christy McGhee and comprises Emily Longman Wall, Janet Mtima, Matt Trask, Olivia Garrett, Sarah Dawson, Catherine Ball, Gabrielle Nathan, Gillian Crawshaw and Claire Freed who have created, written and edited these pages after rigorous testing and judging by our panel of home testers, experts and editorial judges. Images by Jordan Edmonds-Moore and Graeme Guthrie, editorial support from Ed Mills. With thanks to Jenny Yu, Danielle Graph, Emma Onuma, Pranesha Patel and Helen Brown.

See all our MFM Award winners:

MadeForMums Consumer & Reviews Editor Christy McGhee

Christy McGheeHead of Consumer Content

Christy is MadeForMums’ Head of Consumer Content