Baby Bjorn Baby Carrier One review

You can carry your baby in a newborn position, inward facing, outward facing and, a new feature for BabyBjörn, the back carry.

The Baby Carrier One, like many things Scandinavian, is stylish in an understated way. Even the packaging oozes Nordic cool.

At £119.99 it’s quite pricy, but it’s a quality product and has been extremely well manufactured with neat, precise stitching and top-notch materials. Compared to the baby carrier from the lower end of the market that I’ve been using for the past few months, it’s solidly constructed and is reassuringly simple and intuitive.

The instructions are easy to follow, but I quickly got the gist of how the carrier works just by looking at it. There’s also a handy quick guide attached to the inside of the carrier – a brilliant feature if you’re out and about and need a little refresher.

The Baby Carrier One comes in black, beige and silver. Personally I love the black. It suits the carrier’s chic, minimal look and gives it that all-important unisex appeal. My partner was more than happy to be seen wearing it. And you can also get the Baby Bjorn One Outdoors carrier, if you want a waterproof, more rugged version.

Is the Baby Bjorn One carrier suitable for newborns?

Yes, it is. The carrier is suitable from birth until when your baby weighs 15kg. My daughter Ava is just two months old, so we tested the newborn position.

Unlike other carriers, you don’t need to buy a newborn insert. Instead, a nifty zip system allows newborns to sit higher on your chest for an extra snuggly hold.

When your little one reaches four months, you simply move the zip to the baby position. At five months you can try the forward-facing option.

Then at 12 months, your child can be carried on your back. I found the safety and head support buckles a bit tricky to use at first, but after a few days I’d mastered them. You know they’re secure when you hear a confidence-inspiring ‘click’.

Can the Baby Bjorn One be used as a back carrier?

Yes, it can. In fact, a unique feature of the Baby Carrier One is the ability to single-handedly manoeuvre your baby from your front into a backpack position.

It’s a clever innovation which I can already see will be really useful when Ava’s old enough to be carried on our backs.

Another ingenious touch is a zip system that lets you adjust the leg settings. When these zips are open, your baby’s legs dangle. When they’re closed, your baby’s legs are splayed and supported – think little frog shape.

Not many carriers offer such a range of adjustments. And that’s the real beauty of the product. It offers versatility and gives you different options as your baby grows.

How comfortable is a Baby Bjorn One carrier for baby?

I love how safe and solid the carrier feels. It moulds to Ava’s body making her secure. Her head’s well supported and there’s padding in all the right places to keep her comfy. The proof is in the pudding – the first time I used the Baby Carrier One, Ava initially screamed, then gurgled and then promptly fell asleep.

She’s slept soundly whenever I’ve used it since. And it’s good to know that all the fabrics used are safe to chew or suck on and are free from health-hazardous substances and allergens.

How comfortable is the Baby Bjorn One carrier for mums?

Very! It’s not just Ava who found the Baby Carrier One comfy – my partner and I did too. It’s ergonomically designed, with a thick waist belt and shaped, padded shoulder straps to distribute weight and prevent rubbing.

We do lots of long walks and neither of us suffered any discomfort. In fact we loved the fact that we could take Ava on rambles across rougher terrain that the buggy can’t tackle.

Is it easy to put the Baby Bjorn One carrier on and take it off?

Yes, it is, the Baby Carrier One is easy to put on and take off unassisted and this is one of the stand-out features for me.

Like a lot of mums, I’m often at home on my own and need to feel confident that I can use the carrier safely without another pair of hands.

You pop the carrier over your head like a jumper, buckle the waist belt, place your baby in the carrier and fasten the safety and head support buckles. It’s super simple to adjust all the straps while the carrier is on so you can get a really snug fit. With a few tweaks, my partner quickly adjusted it to fit him, so we can share the carrier without too much hassle.

Can you put the Baby Bjorn One carrier in the washing machine?

Yes. Another big plus is that you can stick the whole thing in the washing machine, which is great for me as Ava is quite a dribbly baby. You can also buy a bib that protects the upper part of the baby carrier so that you won’t have to wash it so often.

What to watch out for

There are a couple of tiny niggles with the product. There’s no rain or sun shield, but that’s easily resolved with a sunhat or an umbrella. You can buy the BabyBjörn Baby Carrier Cover for extra protection. I also felt it lacked a zipped pocket.

It would be great to be able to store my phone and some cash in the carrier when I’m on the move. It’s also a little bulkier than some of the carriers on the market, but, having said that, it can be rolled up neatly for stashing under the pram.

MadeForMums verdict:

If you want a stylish, comfortable and versatile baby carrier, the BabyBjörn Baby Carrier One is an ideal buy. It has quite a high price tag, but is a sound investment for parents looking for one product to cover all their baby- and toddler-carrying needs.

Read more...

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