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So I've been trying and using Infantino Baby Carriers since I had my second baby back in 2013. Mostly, because its an affordable brand that can be found in local stores. A couple of my mommy friends who had high end Mei Tais and other baby carriers were impressed that for 30 something dollars you could get a Mei Tai for an affordable price that worked decently. You could say it built my hope and confience in the Infantino brand.
This was great considering my first experience with Infantino in 2010 was purchasing the Infantino Sling Rider. Infantino's website states it was manufactuered from May 2003-March 2010. This item was thankfully recalled while I was still pregnant with my first baby before I used it. I had bought my carrier second hand. I was still able to mail in the recalled item and Infantino was supposed to give an alternative item. Mine never came, because they ran out of supplies. To see more information about the recall, click here.
I started with the Infantino Sash: Wrap & Tie Mei Tai (original), then the newer version, Infantino Sash Wrap & Tie Carrier. I also tried Infantino's Comfort Sync Wrap that is now discontinued. This particular carrier sounded and looked good in therory , and I wanted it to work. However, I agree with all complaints that this item just overall wasn't constructed well or safe. I didn't feel comfortable using it after several attempts at trying to find a safe way to wrap. I wrote a short review about it here.
From then I branched into their ergonomic baby carriers. When I had my 3rd baby, I bought the Infantino Unison Newborn Carrier. I believe this carrier has been updated in 2017 and is now called the Infantino Up Close Newborn Carrier. Now, I recently purchased the Infantino Cuddle Up Ergonomic Hoodie Carrier. I admit, the detatchable hoodie is really cute, yet I am debating bringing it back.
From then I branched into their ergonomic baby carriers. When I had my 3rd baby, I bought the Infantino Unison Newborn Carrier. I believe this carrier has been updated in 2017 and is now called the Infantino Up Close Newborn Carrier. Now, I recently purchased the Infantino Cuddle Up Ergonomic Hoodie Carrier. I admit, the detatchable hoodie is really cute, yet I am debating bringing it back.
Here's the thing with Infantino's baby carriers. This is my personal opinion and experience with them. I have a 20ish pound 12 month old baby. Just because baby falls into the appropiate age and weight limits for the carrier - doesn't mean the carrier can handle it.
With the original Mei Tai that I used with my second- I've had to retie the carrier several times, because over time it loosens from baby's weight. It does not stay in that initial tight position when you first tie it and sort of starts to droop. I accepted it because it was an affordable carrier that overall allowed me to run errands or do chores at home hands free. As baby got heavier and moved into being a toddler, the constant loosening due to a heaiver weight got old really quick. After that I began using the Ergo baby carrier (original 3 positions) all the time. I felt my child had outgrown the usefulness of the Infantino Sash: Wrap & Tie Mei Tai Carrier.
With my third baby, I was so excited to get my hands on the Unison Newborn Carrier. According to product, it says weight limit is 8-25 lbs. I felt my baby outgrew this carrier long before he was weighing 20 plus pounds. It says newborn and it is that exactly. Once baby grew bigger, I could not use it anymore. It's not a carrier that can grow with your baby. Overall, it did it's purpose. I wrote a short review here.
I was similarly excited to try The Cuddle Up Ergonomic Hoodie. Although it is loaded with cuteness, I felt my back start to hurt after awhile. When I put my baby who was under a year at the time in it the carrier would droop a little under baby's weight, and every so often needing to pull and retighten the straps to fit. It did not feel as comfortable as the Ergo. It felt like the straps were too thin and somewhat flimsy.
Last Edited: March 25, 2017
With the original Mei Tai that I used with my second- I've had to retie the carrier several times, because over time it loosens from baby's weight. It does not stay in that initial tight position when you first tie it and sort of starts to droop. I accepted it because it was an affordable carrier that overall allowed me to run errands or do chores at home hands free. As baby got heavier and moved into being a toddler, the constant loosening due to a heaiver weight got old really quick. After that I began using the Ergo baby carrier (original 3 positions) all the time. I felt my child had outgrown the usefulness of the Infantino Sash: Wrap & Tie Mei Tai Carrier.
With my third baby, I was so excited to get my hands on the Unison Newborn Carrier. According to product, it says weight limit is 8-25 lbs. I felt my baby outgrew this carrier long before he was weighing 20 plus pounds. It says newborn and it is that exactly. Once baby grew bigger, I could not use it anymore. It's not a carrier that can grow with your baby. Overall, it did it's purpose. I wrote a short review here.
I was similarly excited to try The Cuddle Up Ergonomic Hoodie. Although it is loaded with cuteness, I felt my back start to hurt after awhile. When I put my baby who was under a year at the time in it the carrier would droop a little under baby's weight, and every so often needing to pull and retighten the straps to fit. It did not feel as comfortable as the Ergo. It felt like the straps were too thin and somewhat flimsy.
What's working for this brand is their prices. I absoutely love the prices. As I mentioned before, this brand is affordable. It's great for parent(s) on a budget. What's not working is at times is the quality. Infantino cranks out alot of affordable carriers varying and styles in uses in cute designs, however, they've had to recall their their sling and discontinue their wrap (which was a cross between a ergonomic carrier and wrap). With a heavier baby or toddler, I do not feel their carriers can hold up the weight as well as the Ergo baby carrier and possibly other high end baby carriers can.
So out of all the carriers I've listed, I've only liked the newborn carrier and sort of the Mei Tais. In 2013, I would have recommended Infantino carriers as a chaper alternative to a higher end carrier for those who don't want to break the bank. My opinion has changed in 2017. After trying several Infantino carriers over the past several years (2013-2017), I'd invest for now in a higher end carrier that can be used from infant-toddler. If you add up all the cheap carriers I have tried and some that do not grow with a child - you're probably at the same price for a higher quality carrier.
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