Maker of toys, games, travel accessories, and at least six baby carriers that I was able to find and try during my research, Infantino Inc.
But in trying to be the jack of all trades, this sling-hip-backpack-front-carrier maker borders on being the master of none.
Buying a $30 carrier that you never use is a waste of money, but spending $80 for one you use all the time is a bargain. Bottom line: comfort and durability are non-negotiable. And after trying on six of their carriers and walking around the store in them, comfort didn’t seem to be central to their design process.
Why Consider Infantino?
So why would you consider one of the Infantino carrier models? Here are a few reasons:
- You’re going on a trip. You haven’t been wearing your baby and thus have no carrier. You think you’ll be using a carrier on the trip, but don’t want to spend a lot of money to acquire one.
- You’re trying Infantino because if it works, great, you’ll save money and if it doesn’t, there’s always the 30-day return policy. (Which is more difficult, by the way, when spit up or any micro-particle of dust or dirt has soiled the carrier you intend to return – trust me, I speak from experience.)
- You don’t regularly use a carrier and prefer a stroller, but want to have a functional, if not ideal, carrier around for occasional use.
- You want to buy a carrier for a caregiver other than yourself to have as an option for walks, park outings, and bonding.
For each model, I’ve listed the basic information including position, weight restrictions, fabric/construction, and several comments about comfort and ease of use based on my admittedly limited experience in the store.
Infantino makes four carriers for extended wear. I tried two of them in the store, wearing each for ten minutes, which is admittedly not extended wear. Not machine washable, these carriers are recommended for spot cleaning only. The TripleComfort Rider ($55.99) and the Comfort Rider ($22.99) will be reviewed on Thursday.
The Front2Back Carrier:
The name says it – it’s obviously a carrier allowing you to wear baby in front, facing in or out, and also as a backpack carrier. Good from 8 to 32 pounds (but remember that after 20ish pounds, the strain is usually on you, not the carrier). Made with breathable mesh and memory foam.
The upside for me in trying this carrier was the pocket for valuables and the wraps that fold over extra straps, so they weren’t dangling like they do when I wear my BabyBjorn. The downside was the difficulty in putting it on and adjusting it. It has more adjustable straps than most carriers and is less streamlined to use. I also could not put it on in the backpack position by myself.
The SideRider:
A hip carrier for larger kids, 14-36 pounds, made of mesh and memory foam. ($49.99) As comfortable as any other hip carrier, which is to say not very comfortable, in my experience. The upside is that if you’re going to buy a carrier for occasional use, this may be a good choice, as it replicates the position we mostly carry our kids in. The downside is that I felt I had to keep my baby too snug in order to feel she was secure.
Note: In Target, I did run into a mom using the SideRider. Nosy as I am, I asked her what she thought of it and she said she’d been using if for four years with both of her kids. She had it situated more to the front than I did, perhaps making it more comfortable to wear. Her baby’s legs were straddling her hip to one side and her belly button (child’s knee at mom’s bellybutton), so may this serve as a guide for wear, should you pick up a SideCarrier.
Infantino is not the big name in carriers, but it makes products worth the money they charge for them. My kids and I are very hard on our baby gear, and the thin quilted cotton on some of the products wouldn’t survive our wear and tear. But moms I know – and moms I strike up conversations with in stores – have good things to say about these two extended wear carriers. See the related review on what Infantino calls “Functional Fashion” Carriers (which I will write this Thursday).
You can follow any responses to this article through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
Amen. We love our Infantino. It makes it so much easier to take our little ones with us , when we travel.