The company SnugBaby is two years old and has become a firm feature in the babywearing industry. It’s a member of the Consortium of UK Sling Manufacturers and Retailers, and is also involved in promoting babywearing in the UK. SnugBaby was awarded “Best Online Business” at the Mumpreneur Awards last year and was shortlisted for the “Outstanding New Product” Award in the Women on Their Way awards earlier in 2010.
The SnugBaby sling is made from Oeko-Tex accredited 100% cotton, meaning that parents need not worry about any potentially harmful dyes. The sling is British manufactured and complies with the BSEN 13209-2:2005, the highest safety standard available. The sling comes in a matching small tote bag but unless I spent a long time neatly folding the sling up again I’m not convinced I’d be able to get it back into the bag! The bag is a nice touch and could come in use as a small handbag.
What we love
The first thing that struck me about the SnugBaby sling was the lovely dark red colour fabric with the black damask detail – I tried the Aphrodite Baby Sling. It is certainly a very stylish looking sling and the fact that it is reversible means that your partner can use it too. Other mums have commented that they love the wide range of slings in different colours on the website.
The best feature of all has to be the flexibility of size – the seat can be cinched to make it narrower for small babies or left wide to ensure it is comfortable for toddlers.
What with the recent furore over the recalled Infantino sling in the USA I was pleased to see that the principal position was an upright one, rather than a horizontal one. I took my 5-month-old daughter Beatrice to collect my son from nursery wearing it. At first I thought I better not let go of my daughter so I supported her in the sling with my hands but I didn’t need to worry, as the sling did its job.
My back felt supported and really rather comfortable. As someone who has suffered from lower back pain this was a real plus. I felt that my daughter’s weight was distributed more effectively and naturally than other carriers (even a big name one) I’ve tried.
What to watch out for
When I first saw the very long Mei Tai style straps my first thoughts were, “Oh no, this is going to be one of those useless hippy baby slings” but I was proved wrong. However, I did need some help from a friend putting it on. Although the instruction leaflet says it gets easier to fit after practice I’m not convinced I’d be able to put it on by myself. However, I do admit I am not very good at these sorts of things!
Once the SnugBaby sling was fitted, it was surprisingly sturdy. However I did find that Bea’s head bobbed around a bit leading me to conclude that it might work better for a slightly older baby. Though the sling supposedly carries toddlers, I only tested it on a 5-month-old baby. I’m not sure how comfortable I’d be carrying a heavier toddler in a SnugBaby sling but other mums who’ve used the SnugBaby sling have offer reassurance on this matter.
Who is the Snugbaby sling best for?
Mums of colicky babies after a sling that’s kind to the back
Most carriers on the market put form ahead of style, but the SnugBaby has filled a gap in the UK market for a comfortable yet stylish baby sling. It distributes your baby’s weight evenly, and is ideal for parents wanting to get on with tasks or settle a fractious baby. It’d work best for those who have someone to help them put the sling on.
