Nuna Cudl Carrier review

It’s a good-looking carrier, available in muted, neutral colours, with wide, comfy shoulder straps as well as some intuitive features such as magnetic hooks and an adjustable velcro strap which distributes your baby’s weight evenly. Other neat features include the built-in dribble bibs as well as a sunshade hood that you can pull over on a hot day.

The product is suitable for babies from birth due to an integrated infant booster seat that ensures they can ride at the appropriate height.

As with all Nuna products, it is priced at the top end of the market (£150) but it has 4 carrying positions so you should be able to use it right up until late toddlerhood.

Tested by

Joe tested this with his newborn daughter around the house and at the various activities his 3-and-a-half-year-old daughter enjoys.

What were your first impressions of the Nuna Cudl?

I’ve tested a few Nuna products recently – and as with all of them – the Cudl looks and feels like a high-end product. I love the fact the main body of the carrier is made from a soft and padded mesh fabric which feels more breathable than other carriers I’ve tried previously.

When you put it on it feels secure and comfortable and we were happy using it with our newborn due to the inbuilt infant booster seat.

It’s also great that you can alter the opening where your baby’s legs come out – we found this really useful as our baby is quite small and this ensures we can position her safely and comfortably.

I really like the magnetic buckles and sturdy velcro waistband and was impressed to find the carrier has built-in cotton bibs as well as a handy sun shade.

How easy is it to put the Nuna Cudl Carrier on?

The ease in which you can put the carrier on – and your baby in it – is a great selling point and probably the main reason to go for a Cudl over similarly-priced baby carriers.

What I like so much is the fact you can buckle the shoulder straps before you put the baby in and then just pull the sling over your head like a jumper – which means you don’t have to go through the precarious move of holding your baby to your chest while you fiddle with the buckle behind your neck to secure your child.

The straps have magnetic clasps so it’s really easy to get them fastened compared to standard release buckles – although it is slightly more tricky to unfasten the magnets, when you come to taking the carrier off. To undo them, you have to push a button on top of the buckle down and then pull the strap at the same time – initially it isn’t easy and it took me a while to master the manoeuvre.

Once you’ve done up the thick velcro waistband you’re ready to go, and you just pop your baby in.

What are the seating positions like on the carrier?

The Nuna Cudl Carrier is suitable from birth and for newborns there is a built-in infant booster, which raises the position of the baby to your chest. This ensures the carrier meets the TICKS guidelines and means your child is close enough to kiss.

You are also able to make the leg openings smaller so that your baby can be held in a more secure and comfortable position when they are little. The newborn position (which also benefits from an adjustable head support) is facing in towards you – but from about 6 months onwards you can have them facing out.

As they get even older, you can then switch to backpack mode– which is handy for long distance walking or when you are carrying lots of things.

Is the Cudl ergonomic?

My daughter seemed very comfortable in the carrier – the inbuilt booster seat and adjustable leg holes ensured she sat in an ergonomic position, supported in the ‘M’ position.

The position also provides ample support for the head and neck and there’s an adjustable head support too.

Does it follow the TICKS guidelines?

Yes it does follow the TICKS guidelines.

How comfortable does the Nuna Cudl Carrier feel to you?

In my opinion, this carrier is certainly built for comfort and not speed – it’s very comfortable in short bursts – but because it’s so heavily padded, I could imagine it’s quite difficult to wear it for longer than an hour or two.

The carrier is made from organic cotton and mesh fabric – which ensures that air can flow through the carrier, and it definitely felt cooler to wear than other carriers on a hot summer’s day. The straps and waistbelt are adjustable meaning they provide support to your whole body and ensure that the weight of your baby is distributed evenly.

I really liked the velcro waistband as it means there’s no plastic buckle digging into your sides when you sit down.

On top of that, the pocket is neatly positioned and means you can leave your house with just your keys and phone safely zipped away.

What is the Nuna Cudl Carrier's sizing like?

The Cudl has adjustable shoulder straps and an adjustable hook and loop waistband up to 145cm.

How comfortable are the shoulder straps?

These are padded, comfy and adjustable.

What kind of buckles does the Nuna Cudl Carrier have?

These are the best, but also the fiddliest, part of the carrier. The buckles are magnetic, so there are no buttons or clips to deal with and this means fastening them is slick and simple and the carrier feels instantly secure for your child.

Unfastening them is slightly more tricky – although I imagine this is the sort of thing that gets easier with practice.

To undo them you have to push a button and pull the buckle at the same time (using two hands) and the ones positioned by your stomach are particularly tricky to release.

Is it easy to put your baby into the carrier?

Yes – it’s great that you do the carrier up and then pull it over your head like a jumper, before putting your baby in it.

Is it comfy for your baby?

It looks and feels very secure, padded, safe and comfortable for my newborn daughter.

What age can the carrier be used for?

The carrier can be used from birth through to 3 years.

How does it compare to other carriers you have used?

It’s far more padded and therefore comfortable than other carriers I’ve used. I also think the magnetic buckles are a modern, intuitive touch.

Is the Nuna Cudl Carrier durable?

It is very well made from top quality materials and easy to maintain (washing machine-friendly) so I believe that it would last the distance if you wanted to use it for a couple of years.

Is it easy to clean?

The sling is machine machine-washable on a cool setting and the Cudl also comes with two detachable bibs (made of soft organic cotton) which can go in the washing machine too.

Is the Nuna Cudl Carrier good value for money?

The carrier is at the top end of the market and it’s robust, well-made and comfortable for both you and your baby – it just depends whether you want to spend over £150 on a baby sling.

If you’re not the sort of person who uses one regularly then perhaps you won’t feel able to justify the cost – but if you’re someone who likes using a sling, then it makes sense to get one that is built to last.

Where can you buy the Nuna Cudl?

It's available from Boots.

What’s included in the box?

• Nuna CUDL carrier
• Two organic infant bibs
• Integrated infant booster

Who would the product be most useful for?

Someone looking to invest in a carrier to use through from birth to toddler.

How does the Cudl compare to its competitors?

If I were looking in this price range, I’d consider the ErgoBaby Omni 360 or the Baby Bjorn Baby Carrier One – out of both these competitors, the Nuna Cudl looks the nicest and is potentially the most comfortable, considering how padded it is.

Ultimately, the Cudl has some intuitive features – such as the magnetic buckles and the built in dribble bibs – that I think just about sets it apart from its competitors.

MadeForMums verdict

This is a chic, comfortable carrier for both parent and baby. It has a range of features that set it apart from other carriers in a similar price point – such as the intuitive velcro waistband, magnetic buckles, a sunshade hood for the baby as well as 2 washable dribble bibs.

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