Lifft Stretchy Wrap review

The nature of the Stretchy Wrap also means that baby’s weight is evenly distributed throughout, which prevents back ache and postural problems for the wearer that are so common with other types of slings. With an RRP of £39.95, the Lifft Stretchy Wrap sits alongside other baby slings like the Joy and Joe Organic Bamboo stretchy wrap, £40, and the Tag Togs Sa-Be baby wrap, £34.

Tested by

Georgia Day tested the Lift Stretchy Wrap with her 3-week-old baby, using it on the school run, dog walks and general errands, as well as wearing it around the house.

What were your first impressions of the Lifft Stretchy Wrap?

First impressions were “what on earth do I do with this?!” When I took the wrap out the box, the first thing that struck me was just how long the piece of material is and how simple a structure it is – no hooks or lips or buckles, which actually made it a more daunting prospect. I also worried that despite having instructions to follow, because the onus was on me to do the correct ties and loops and fastenings, that I might get it wrong and compromise my baby’s safety.

How easy is the Lifft Stretchy Wrap to put on with your baby?

To be totally honest this took a lot of practice, and I almost gave up on it! I tried several attempts to put it together without success. I did feel like the written description that came in the box was lacking and almost seemed to miss a couple of detailed steps, and despite several attempts, I couldn’t figure it out. It was only once I roped my husband in to help and we watched a video that we found online a few times, that we figured it out, so I would say you may need either an extra pair of hands go help, or a lot of time and patience to figure it out. MFM parent tester, Caralyn, agreed that it was a bit of a learning curve, commenting: “The instructions took a few reads to understand clearly, but I was grateful that there were photos to follow as well as the writing. After a few tries to perfect the tying method it is easy to remember and can be done very quickly.”

It’s also tricky at first to lift baby into the sling and the first few times I used it, and I didn’t feel confident putting him in without having my husband there to help. Once I had mastered it, it did get easier, and I did get more proficient at putting it on, but it’s definitely not as quick and easy an option as a traditional harness style sling carrier that you loop over your shoulders and click into place. Just always remember to follow the T.I.C.K.S guidelines for safe baby wearing.

How easy is it to take your baby out of the Lifft Stretchy Wrap?

Taking baby out of the Lifft sling is really easy. Because it’s so stretchy it’s easy to just manipulate and move the fabric around baby to unwrap them.

Is the Lifft Stretchy Wrap ergonomic?

One of the great things about the Lifft is just how ergonomic it is. Not only is that a plus from a physical point of view for baby – his hips sit correctly in it and it’s easy to get him into the correct position – but it’s lovely from a parent’s point of view to be able to be that close to baby when you’re carrying them; it really does feel like you’re holding them in a big cosy bear hug at all times and the warmth of the hold it allows you is really lovely.

How comfortable is your baby in the Lifft Stretchy Wrap?

Something I really liked about the Lifft is that baby’s head definitely feels supported. When they’re so little, I often worry that their head is left a little unsupported in other harness style slings, but in the Lifft, the idea is that baby’s head is as close to your chest as the rest of its body, which is reassuring.

Although it’s a bit of a mission to get baby in ­– I found it tricky to do so on my own for the first few times as it feels a bit of a wrangle – once I got the knack and baby was in, he seemed very comfortable and content, as well as secure.

How comfortable is the Lifft Stretchy Wrap for you?

The Lifft is a comfortable sling to wear and because it’s so ergonomic, it’s definitely a sling I found myself wearing for my baby’s naps during the day as much as I did for taking him out and about. With other harness slings, I usually reserve them for walking or trips out only, but I found myself using the Lifft a lot round the house too, almost as another alternative to the Moses basket.

I suffer from shoulder problems a lot, so was initially worried about the strain, but found it much less strain than a regular harness sling. I imagine that’s because of how baby’s weight is distributed and also the softness of material, which doesn’t cut in or feel jarring in any way.

MFM parent tester, Caralyn, also really rated this wrap for larger babies, adding: “My baby is 6kg at 2-and-a-half months, and I was wary about how well supported he would be and the pressure it would cause to my back. But I was pleasantly surprised to find no back pain at all wearing him for 30 minutes.”

How many different carry positions does the Lifft Stretchy Wrap offer?

As far as I can tell, it’s just designed to be used with baby in one position – front carrying, parent-facing – but for a newborn that’s fine.

How easy is the Lifft Stretchy Wrap to adjust?

Although I found it hard to put on at first, it’s pretty easy to loosen or tighten it, namely because there’s so much stretch in the fabric. In terms of repositioning, I think it would depend on how much/drastically you needed to do so, but if it’s just manoeuvring a leg a little or something small then you could easily do that without needing an extra pair of hands.

Is it easy for you to do other things while wearing the Lifft Stretchy Wrap?

The Lifft Stretchy Wrap is a great option for wearing round the house if you have a baby that doesn’t like to nap anywhere but on you. I used it around the house for nap times but also when I just needed to get things done. Because of how stretchy the fabric is, there is quite a bit of ‘bounce’ when you move and walk around. That did mean that I felt I needed an extra supportive hand under baby’s bottom the first few times I used it, until I got used to the different sensation, which means I didn’t go ‘hands-free’ with it right away.

Because of how snug the fit is, I didn’t find it easy to breastfeed in and it did require moving the baby around and loosening the fit quite a lot in order to be able to do so. One thing I did find it useful for though, was as a replacement for my large muslin which I use as a bit of a cover when I’m out and about and need to feed baby.

How well does the Lifft Stretchy Wrap fit?

What I liked about the Lifft is that it worked just as well on me as it did on my husband. He takes the baby out every morning on a dog walk so it’s important that any sling we have is a good fit for us both. The best aspect of this was that there was no adjustment needed between him using it and me using it, which is something we have to contend with when using traditional harness slings. The only downside I would say is the length of the fabric, which both of us found excessive and we are 5”8 and 6”1 respectively, so not short!

What age range is this wrap suitable for?

The Lifft Stretchy Wrap is suitable from birth up to 15kg/33lb which feels about right. I would say it’s the kind of sling I’d prefer to use on very young babies when all you want to do is keep them snuggled and close to you or sleeping. As soon as your baby starts to get more alert and engaged with the outside world, I’d probably opt for something else.

How would you rate the quality of the Lifft Stretchy Wrap’s materials?

The fabric is lovely – thick, stretchy and sturdy and feels substantial. It also seemed very comfortable for baby, which is important given that the style means they’re really pressed up against it. All our MFM Awards testers commented on the excellent quality of the fabric and love that it’s made in Yorkshire.

How easy is the Lifft Stretchy Wrap to clean and keep clean?

Because it’s made of cotton, the wrap is super easy to keep clean. We just dabbed off little spots as and when we needed to with a damp cloth, and it machine washed well with no colour fade or loss of stretch (although we did only wash it once). It does crease a bit but nothing too bad but cricially it dries really quickly, even indoors. I felt that was important as it’s something you’d use regularly and would want to hand without having to wait ages for it to be dry.

What are the safety features of the Lifft Stretchy Wrap?

Safety precautions were all written out clearly on the front page of the instruction manual. I’ve not worn this type of sling before so any nervousness about keeping my baby secure were down to that fact rather than anything else. Once I got the hang of putting it on, I felt perfectly confident in the safety of the wrap.

How well does the wrap work on public transport?

I didn’t take it on public transport, but I can’t imagine there would be any negative implications wearing it, as baby is kept so close to your body.

How does the Lifft Stretchy Wrap compare to other carriers or wraps you have used?

I’ve only ever used more substantial harness type carriers before, so this is a very different kind of thing. Overall, it felt a bit springier and more flexible than a harness carrier, but I preferred the idea that my baby’s head wasn’t bobbing around in the Lifft like it does in the harnesses. This is a better option if you like the idea of more closeness and maybe works better as a comforter or nap option than a traditional structured carrier.

What’s in the box?

• 2-way stretch cotton wrap
• Instruction sheet

Now you’ve tested it, what would you have wanted to know about the Lifft Stretchy Wrap before purchasing it?

I would have preferred video instructions over printed ones, which I didn’t find easy to follow at all. If I’d have bought this for myself, I think I would have possibly given up trying to figure it out with just the written instructions alone. Although there are pictures, it’s much easier to follow along to a video instruction guide.

Who would the Lifft Stretchy Wrap be most useful for?

Anyone who loves the idea of getting up close and cosy with their baby – so everyone! It’s great for mums and dads and provides a lot of comfort for baby too. It’s not only a good way to carry baby easily, it’s also a lovely extra option when you find yourself trying to calm a fussy baby down. It’s also great for grandparents or older people who may have previously struggled with traditional slings because of back issues as this doesn’t really present any postural problems.

Is the Lifft Stretchy Wrap worth the money?

I’d say it is worth the money as it’s relatively inexpensive and it’s the kind of thing that would last and last and could be reused for second and third babies etc. My only issue is that regardless of the money it costs, I think the packaging and instruction manual has been done a little cheaply.

How does it compare to similar baby wraps?

Where can I buy the Lifft Stretchy Wrap?

Available at Lifft.

MadeForMums Verdict:

Although it takes a little practise, this is a great multi-purpose baby carrier that works just as well outside the house as it does indoors. As well as providing comfort and security for baby, it allows the wearer to feel as close as possible to baby in its first couple of months. Once you’ve got the hang of it, it really helps make life easier with a little baby.