Ickle Bubba Seren 3-in-1 baby carrier review

The Ickle Bubba Seren 3-in-1 Baby Carrier is a structured, ergonomic carrier designed to grow with your child from around 10 weeks through to 24 months (or 15kg).

With three carrying options — parent-facing, world-facing, and back carry — it’s made to support different stages of babywearing while keeping both parent and baby comfortable.

Compact, lightweight and affordably priced at £59, the Seren is pitched as a practical everyday option for families looking for flexibility without the bulk of more rigid carriers or the learning curve of a sling.

How easy is the Ickle Bubba Seren 3-in-1 Baby Carrier to put on?

The Seren 3-in-1 is possible to put on solo, though initially I did recruit the help of my partner to get into it and set it up for first use. After I’d tried it out a couple of times with support, I found I was able to get into it myself and position baby in it, with a little prep.

The buckles were easy to understand initially and adjust, which I was grateful for as it can often be tricky to wrestle a baby into a carrier. However, I failed to understand that the shoulder straps should be ‘reset’ and loosened back to a start position upon each wear — if they aren’t long enough, it’s not possible to then connect the back/shoulder buckle together. I found this out on my second wear, when I spent a good 20 minutes trying to understand why it was impossible to reach this time around.

I read the instruction manual before putting the carrier on, which had step-by-step visual and written instructions for each carry position of baby. There is also a series of ‘how to wear’ videos which I watched too – I found these extremely useful, and they helped troubleshoot the issue I had fastening the back/shoulder buckle together.

What age range is the Ickle Bubba Seren suitable for?

I began to use this carrier when my baby was 10 weeks old, which is the youngest recommended age for the Seren. It can be used right through to 24 months/15kg, whichever comes first.

Though I used this at the youngest age for this carrier, I do think it would be comfortable at higher weights – the shoulder straps are quite chunky and robust (though very comfortable!) and seem like they will withstand well, as baby ages. The back/shoulder strap offers extra support and the range of carry positions mean you can choose a position that suits your baby, as they grow.

The sizing certainly felt accurate for ten weeks and beyond.

How supportive is the Ickle Bubba Seren for a newborn?

The seat felt lovely and secure for my 10 week old. It held her comfortably in a position that hugged me, while encasing her in all of the necessary places.

I felt baby’s hips and legs wrapped very nicely into me, so they felt nestled and supported. There is an adjustable support panel for the head in the inward carry position; I used this as my baby was little and needed the extra support. It is soft yet strong and did a great job of securing her in the days when her neck and head were still strengthening.

I wish I could say I’ve been blessed with a baby who loves a sling or a carrier, but sadly, this is not the case. Because of this, I tended to use this carrier once my baby had already fallen asleep and placed her in. However, once baby was in, they slept for much longer than they would in a pram and roused on a few occasions only to be lulled back to sleep in the carrier. I think this shows it's a very comfortable carrier, especially for naps on the go.

The panel height felt appropriate for this age — it covered and supported baby's head well. I loved how it was soft, snug and naturally seemed to move baby’s head to a safe side position when sleeping, where I could fully observe them.

How comfortable is it for you?

I really loved wearing this carrier. The back and shoulder straps felt like they distributed baby’s weight nicely across all the right areas, while supporting you as the wearer. The shoulder straps are padded too, so there’s no nasty ridging or digging. The waist belt sits nice and snug across your stomach, rather than the hips, which I really liked and can be adjusted as required.

I felt like I could keep baby close to my body, and it felt very natural to wear. I was amazed at how flexible and light everything felt while wearing it – it was very different and refreshing compared to some of the rigid carriers I’ve used before.

I used this carrier for both quick trips and longer walks. I felt like it covered most bases. Once mastered, it’s quick and easy to put on, so great for short trips, but it’s comfortable and supportive for anything longer too. The soft and snug material meant my baby was happy to stay sleeping in it for periods, which made life very easy.

I didn’t do chores in this carrier, but I did put my baby in it when sleeping and moved around the house, to get ready to leave for any trips. It was light and flexible, so it allowed me to move freely, which is a bonus. I didn’t feed in it and suspect I would have found that quite difficult as the positioning is quite high.

Did you find the weight well distributed?

I did – the large straps felt like they spread the weight across my shoulders and body and, crucially, didn’t cause my posture to slump or hunch.

How adjustable is the Ickle Bubba Seren carrier?

The carrier has three sets of adjustable clips which mean multiple people or parents could happily wear this with ease. The waist belt is the first point of wear and can be quickly adjusted to size. It can be adjusted from 57cm to 173cm, so there is substantial variation, depending on your size.

The straps are easy to tighten and loosen – they have quite a silky adjust, so there’s no wrestling with clips to customise the carrier to fit your size.

Is the seat width or panel size adjustable?

Yes, there is also an adjustable strap on the seat to tailor it depending on the carry positioning of the baby. It’s a small strap that’s quickly adjustable on the outside of the carrier, which is another quick adjust to tighten or loosen.

How breathable is it?

The Seren is made from a breathable, soft knit fabric. It feels airy, yet strong. It’s very flexible for a carrier. It is quite densely made, so it also provides warmth despite being lightweight.

The breathable fabric definitely allows for this to be worn over the warmer months if baby is dressed in lighter clothes, although in high summer or holiday season the lovely knit of this carrier might mean it’s a little too warm.

Which carry positions did you try?

The Seren offers three positions – inward carry, outward carry, and back carry.

My baby was ten weeks when I began using this carrier, so I only used the inward, parent facing carry, as outward carry is generally not recommended until later months, when babies have stronger head and neck control.

Would you feel confident progressing to world-facing or back carry in time?

Yes – I can see how the Seren would function nicely as world-facing, so in due course, I’d be happy to switch to this function. I suspect my carrier-averse baby may enjoy that position too!

How easy was it to switch positions?

Though I didn’t need to switch positions as I was only using the inward carry due to baby’s age, it appears it would be straightforward.

To switch outward, there is no change to the carrier – you simply change the direction of your baby and tighten the seat clip. Ditto for a back carry, you simply wear the carrier on your back like a backpack and set up in similar manner.

Is this a carrier you would use regularly?

Absolutely – I would use this carrier regularly. It is easy to sling on, adjust, and pop baby in very quickly. It is so light, it was a joy to wear.

How portable is the Ickle Bubba Seren carrier?

It’s a very portably carrier – by stretching out and rolling the shoulder straps inward, you can then wrap the waist belt around everything and clip together, which creates a nice little bundle you can stash, or shove in a bag so you have it for the moments you really need.

How practical is the Ickle Bubba Seren for everyday use and travel?

I used this for walks, errands and also took it on a holiday to Italy, which was a great alternative to trundling a pram around cobbled streets. I think it’s a great multi-purpose carrier that lends itself to lots of everyday uses and scenarios.

I used this to go the nursery run instead of taking the pram. It was a godsend as it meant I didn’t need to carry a pram up a flight of steps, while allowing me to be hands-free. It was so easy and quick to adjust and set up, that I could put it on in just a minute or so.

How easy is it to clean?

The knit-style fabric is a wipe-clean fabric that is hand-wash only. I haven’t washed this yet – I opted for the charcoal colour, which is slightly more forgiving with a little spewy baby like mine! I’ve spot washed the carrier where and when required, and it’s very easy to wipe clean.

What’s in the box?

• 1 x Seren baby carrier
• 1 x instruction manual

Is the packaging recyclable?

The carrier comes packaged in a cardboard box that could be recycled locally.

Would you consider reusing this for another baby or passing it on?

Yes, I would certainly reuse this carrier, or pass it on. I think it’s a really great all-rounder, and ticks so many boxes. I would use this again myself or pass it on with a recommendation. The fabric seems very durable so I think it will wear well and stand the test of time!

Is it worth the money?

I’ve previously used the classic BabyBjorn carrier, which felt very boxy and rigid, both for myself and baby. The Seren is far superior and felt so light and flexible in contrast. My BabyBjorn also felt like it placed a lot of stress on the upper back, whereas I didn’t experience any pain with the Seren, even when wearing for longer periods of time.

I think this is a great multipurpose carrier. I used it in multiple everyday scenarios, while travelling (it rolls up nicely to take with you to an airport and stash in hand luggage). As it’s light and breathable, it could be used over summer, but perhaps not anywhere too hot.

I much preferred this to a more structured carrier. I found it light, more flexible, and far easier to get on than a structured carrier. I also preferred it to a sling as it’s so easy to slip in and out of.

Where can I buy the Ickle Bubba Seren carrier?

Available from Ickle Bubba, Amazon

MadeForMums verdict:

The Ickle Bubba Seren is a strong all-round carrier.

It feels lightweight but sturdy, with padded straps that distribute weight well across shoulders and back — meaning I could wear it for both quick errands and longer stretches without discomfort. My baby felt well supported in the inward-facing position, with their hips, legs and head sitting snugly and securely.

The carrier is also refreshingly easy to adjust, meaning parents could swap it between them without fuss. The breathable knit fabric is soft and comfortable, though it may run warm in high summer.

Its portability — rolling up neatly into a compact bundle — was another huge plus, especially for travel. While I initially needed help setting it up, once I’d mastered the buckles it became quick to use solo.

Compared with more rigid carriers I’ve tried, the Seren felt much more natural, flexible, and baby-friendly.

Read more:

• 12 of the best baby carriers tried and tested by parents