Developed in conjunction with chiropractors, the Tomy Freestyle Premier Detachable baby carrier is a very clever carrier, offering great support for parents and babies alike. Get everything right and it’s a comfortable carrier that will take you anywhere.
This carrier’s main selling point is the unique baby bucket seat, which detaches from the main harness. The advantages of this are that you can get the harness fitted to you correctly before you add your baby into the equation – there’s a combination of Velcro and buckles to ensure that this is securely done – and it’s easy to see that your baby is fitted securely into the seat before attaching, again via Velcro and secondary buckles. Putting the two together is a simple operation: the S-lock system allows you to drop the seat onto the harness, then attach via clips at the shoulders. To remove, just unclip, tilt your baby to one side and use the S shape of the clip to slide it upwards – a little tricky at first but easy once you get the hang of it.
The bucket seat, designed in association with leading back and posture experts, the Anglo-European College of Chiropractic, is deep and wide, which means your baby will sit rather than ‘hang’ as happens with some other carriers and his back and bottom will be well supported. The newborn head hugger threads through a loop to keep it in place and is an excellent support for lolling heads. Dribble bibs will save your clothes, and as there are two you can have one on and one in the wash. When he’s old enough to face forwards (about 3 months). putting him this way round is just as easy.
The parent harness feels a little like a lifejacket as there’s lots of fabric and much padding. When correctly adjusted your baby’s weight feels well distributed so you could use it for long periods of time without aching. The cotton fabric gives it a nice sporty look – it’s not glamorous, but men will be more than willing to tote this around too.
What we love
The head hugger is a great idea, as is the detachable bucket seat, which is easy to use and supportive for your baby. It’s well padded so won’t rub and can therefore be worn for as long as necessary. The understated look of the black and grey fabric makes it a good choice for mums and dads alike. For all the research and development that’s gone into this, it comes at a very reasonable price.
What to watch out for
It’s vital that you get the harness attached properly before use, otherwise you will be uncomfortable – online people either love it or hate it, and I suspect this has much to do with whether people have got the fit right. Both you and your baby will be well swathed in fabric in this carrier, so don’t overdress or you’ll overheat. The Velcro plus buckles are really secure, but there’s so much fixing to do, it takes a while to put it on and take it off. The S-lock is a bit tricky at first although easy once you’ve mastered it.
Who is the Tomy Freestyle Premier Detachable baby carrier best for?
Parents looking for a supportive carrier to use regularly.
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MadeForMums verdict
A well-designed carrier with lots of useful features to make life more comfortable for both baby and parent. It’s easy to use and very supportive, but watch out as with so many fastenings you can get the fit wrong. Good looking and great value for money.
