Infantino Hug & Cuddle Adjustable Hybrid Wrap baby carrier review

It is suitable for babies weighing 7lbs to 26lbs (around 2 years old) and is designed for your child to be held parent-facing only. It boasts features of a more structured carrier, such as a padded waist belt, adjustable straps and being ‘easy’ to put on, while the stretchy mesh fabric wrap, support panel and cuddle cover enable you to keep baby close and snug in the way traditional wrap carriers do.

What were your first impressions of the Infantino Hug & Cuddle Adjustable Hybrid Wrap Carrier?

Opening the box, the Hug & Cuddle baby carrier is made from soft, stretchy material which feels nice to the touch and looks to be of good quality. The dark grey design is gender-neutral both for the baby and the wearer. As someone who has not used baby carriers very often before, it initially looked quite complicated to put on, with various components to fit and adjust. It left me wondering how I would be able to put it on with my baby without any help.

How easy was the Infantino Hug & Cuddle Adjustable Hybrid Wrap Carrier to put on with your baby?

The Hug & Cuddle baby carrier comes with picture-led instructions which I did not find very easy to follow by themselves, although admittedly, this could be due to my lack of wrap wearing experience. I had to watch a video on the Infantino website which demonstrated how to put the carrier on, and this made the instructions much clearer.

With the instructions in front of me, video fresh in my mind and using a mirror, I managed to get the carrier on and my baby inside without assistance from anyone else, even on my first time of trying. It was much easier to put the carrier on for future occasions and soon became second nature.

How do you fit the Infantino Hug & Cuddle Adjustable Hybrid Wrap Carrier?

The main points for fitting the carrier are:

• Place the carrier over your head.
• Wrap Velcro waist belt around you and secure with the clasp.
• Pull down back support.
• Put your baby in the wrap, left side first, then the right, then do up the buttons.
• Pull up the panel, making sure baby’s legs are not trapped inside, then pull the straps on either side tight.
• Adjust the seat to ensure your baby is in the ergonomic ‘M shape’ position.

How easy is it to take your baby out of the Hug & Cuddle Carrier?

The trickiest part of putting on the Hug & Cuddle baby carrier is ensuring your baby is in the correct position in the wrap, but taking my baby out was much easier. After loosening the front panel and pulling the fabric wrap down a bit, I could lift my baby out easily and safely.

Is the Infantino Hug & Cuddle Adjustable Hybrid Wrap Carrier ergonomic?

One of the best features of the Hug & Cuddle baby carrier is how ergonomic it is. The wrap and panel sections enable your baby to be carried in the recommended C shape position, as per TICKS guidelines, while you can also adjust the fabric seat along the waistband to allow them to have their hips and legs in the M position, no matter how big or small they are.

With my newborn, I found it easier to pull the seat fabric inwards to make the seat narrower while not wearing the carrier and then adjust as needed once he was snug inside. The adjustable belt and straps mean that your baby is held close and tight to you, while the wrap parts and cuddle cover offer head support where needed.

How comfortable is the Infantino Hug & Cuddle Adjustable Hybrid Wrap Carrier for your baby?

My baby seemed to find the carrier both comfortable and comforting. He soon nodded off every time I had him in the carrier, both when wearing it inside and outside the house. He was even kept snug even at the side of a football pitch. His head was supported by the wrap sections, and I could easily ensure he was safe by seeing that his mouth and nose were not covered or obscured by the fabric.

Would you say the Infantino Hug & Cuddle Carrier was comfortable to wear?

Finding it difficult to carry my baby’s weight has put me off baby-wearing in the past, but I found the Hug & Cuddle baby carrier’s design very effective in this respect. At the time of testing, my baby was still very young at around the 10/11lb mark, but it was very comfortable to carry him in, even for more than an hour at a time. I could walk to school and back and stand on the sidelines watching my eldest play football with no problems.

The belt takes much of the pressure and weight so that your back and shoulders do not get tired or achy, while the extra lumbar support and adjustable back support helps to distribute the weight and pressure more evenly. These features made such a difference compared to carriers which just have shoulder straps. The only thing that I had any issue with was how the wrap fits around your shoulders. It is supposed to cap your shoulders according to the photos, but I found that it wouldn’t always stay in place unless I made a conscious effort to keep pulling it down over my shoulders.

How many different positions does the Infantino Hug & Cuddle Adjustable Hybrid Wrap Carrier offer?

Unfortunately, the Hug & Cuddle baby carrier is only designed for your baby to face you on your chest. Unlike other carriers, a baby cannot be world-facing, which might be an issue for older children who are more aware of their surroundings.

How easy is the baby carrier adjust?

The Hug & Cuddle baby carrier is very easy to adjust once you are familiar with it and know which bit does what. The waistbelt has a Velcro fastening and adjustable clasp so it will fit a range of sizes easily, from petite to plus size. The back support is very easy to position by simply pulling down on the tab, while the straps on the seat panel are easy to both tighten and loosen as required by pulling and adjusting.

How well would you say the Infantino Hug & Cuddle Adjustable Hybrid Wrap Carrier fits?

As well as fitting my frame quite comfortably, my husband – who is substantially taller and wider than me – also tried out the Hug & Cuddle baby carrier and, thanks to how easy it is to adjust, he also found the carrier comfortable to wear. Minus the issue with how the wrap wouldn't always stay in place on my shoulders, overall I’d say it fitted well.

Is it easy to do other things while wearing the Infantino Hug & Cuddle Adjustable Hybrid Wrap Carrier?

Due to the secure way the Hug & Cuddle baby carrier holds your baby close to you, I found it easy to do other things while wearing it. I did a supermarket shop and had no problem reaching or bending to get things from shelves and could also manoeuvre my vacuum cleaner around the house no problem.

The Infantino website states that the carrier can also be used while nursing, but I did not breastfeed while wearing it – not only do you need accessible clothing for this, but it seemed easier to just take it off and take your baby out if he needed feeding. I am not entirely sure how they envisage that you can feed while wearing it, as it seemed to me that your baby is held too high on your chest for this anyway.

According to Infantino, what age range is the Hug & Cuddle Adjustable Hybrid Wrap Carrier suitable for?

Infantino states that the Hug & Cuddle Adjustable Hybrid Wrap Carrier is suitable for babies weighing from 7lbs up to 26lbs, from newborn to between 1 to 2 years old – depending on the size of your baby. However, I feel that this style of carrier is more suited to younger babies due to the fact your baby can only face you and is held so close. I am not sure a wrigglier, more active nearly 1 year old would be as easy to carry as my newborn or would tolerate being parent-facing and relatively restricted in their movements for long.

How would you rate the fastenings on the baby carrier?

The clasp, buttons and buckles of the Hug & Cuddle baby carrier are made of good quality plastic and are easy to use. They are a contrasting coral colour which also makes them easy to see and be aware of when you are getting to know the features of the carrier.

What are the key safety features of the Infantino Hug & Cuddle Adjustable Hybrid Wrap Carrier?

The ergonomic design and the fact the Hug & Cuddle baby carrier can be easily adjusted to your baby’s size gave me confidence that I could carry my baby without causing him discomfort or harm. In particular, the adjustable seat to support the 'M' positioning is a great feature which addresses one of the main concerns of babywearing – that of causing any potential or inadvertent damage to your baby’s hips. It is an excellent design in this aspect.

Would you say the fabric is high quality and durable?

The Hug & Cuddle Adjustable Hybrid Wrap Carrier is made from a 100% polyester fabric which is soft, stretchy and breathable – offering your baby ultimate comfort. It seems to be durable and of a good quality. The grey colour is nice and neutral, giving it a unisex appearance and making it comfortable for both mums and dads to wear.

How easy is the Infantino Hug & Cuddle Adjustable Hybrid Wrap Carrier to clean and keep clean?

The Hug & Cuddle baby carrier is made from easy-to-clean material and is machine washable which is handy for any milk spit ups etc. While my son did not throw up any milk on the carrier while he was in it, the fabric also seems easy to wipe clean. The washing instructions are to machine wash cold on a gentle cycle and drip dry. I washed it on a short ‘refresh’ wash at 20° and it washed up well.

Is the baby carrier easy to transport?

Yes, the Infantino Hug & Cuddle Adjustable Hybrid Wrap Carrier folds up into a little built-in pouch that can be stored in a changing bag. The instructions also detail how to fold the carrier and insert into the storage bag, which is useful for travel e.g. in your suitcase or car, or for keeping it clean and tidy at home.

How does the Infantino Hug & Cuddle Adjustable Hybrid Wrap Carrier compare to other baby carriers you have used?

I found the Hug & Cuddle baby carrier much easier to put on and wear, plus it felt more secure for both myself and my baby than a ring sling. It was also more comfortable than our classic BabyBjörn carrier thanks to the support offered by the waist belt, which vastly reduces the pressure from your baby’s weight on your shoulders. As its ‘hybrid’ name suggests, the Hug & Cuddle baby carrier takes the best elements of both traditional baby carriers and slings, and amalgamates them in its design.

What’s in the box?

• Infantino Hug & Cuddle Adjustable Hybrid Wrap Carrier
• Carrier storage bag
• Instruction booklet

Now you’ve tested it, what would you have wanted to know before purchasing the Infantino Hug & Cuddle Adjustable Hybrid Wrap Carrier?

It’s important to note that the Hug & Cuddle baby carrier can only be used parent-facing. Despite the maximum child weight recommended at 26lbs (approx. 2 years old), the fact it can not be used in different positions such as world-facing or on your back could put a time limit on how long your baby will use the carrier for.

Who would the Infantino Hug & Cuddle Adjustable Hybrid Wrap Carrier be most useful for?

As the Hug & Cuddle baby carrier can be used for a baby weighing just 7lbs, this is a good product for parents of newborns and young babies, particularly those who require being held for a large proportion of the time, because it keeps them nice and close to you. I am not sure it is the most suitable carrier for older babies because you cannot wear it with your baby facing outwards, which as they grow up, many children prefer.

Is the Infantino Hug & Cuddle Adjustable Hybrid Wrap Carrier worth the money?

The Hug & Cuddle baby carrier has an RRP of £69.99, putting it in the mid-price range of baby carriers. I think this is a fair price for what is a good quality and easy to use product, especially if you have a newborn and are planning on doing a fair amount of babywearing in their first year.

However, this product does not offer the longevity or versatility that other similar baby carriers on the market have, meaning that if your child no longer wants to be parent facing, you’ll have to invest in another carrier in the near future. That being said, the baby carrier seems to be on sale at a very discounted price of £14, which does make it excellent value for money.

Where can I buy the Infantino Hug & Cuddle Adjustable Hybrid Wrap Carrier?

It is available from Amazon.

MadeForMums verdict

The Infantino Hug & Cuddle Adjustable Hybrid Wrap Carrier takes elements from both structured baby carriers and fabric wraps to create a baby carrier that is easy to put on and adjust, comfortable to wear and is ergonomic. In my mind, it encompasses the best of both worlds, being quite stylish in appearance, while enabling me to carry my baby close and securely – exactly like a hug. It is a good choice for parents with a newborn or young baby, at a price that makes it affordable for many. However, it might not be the best option for babies over 1 year old due to the fact it’s parent-facing only and doesn’t offer any further carry positions.