At a glance:
The Izmi Carrier looks beautiful – the colour scheme was simple and chic and the brand is endorsed by the International Hip Dysplasia Institute. It’s not as gentle on your hips as other carriers on the market though.
What they say:
"The new Izmi Carrier means that, for the first time, parents and babies can enjoy the soft intimacy of a fabric sling, with the support and comfort of a buckled carrier. Designed by an expert babywearing consultant, and approved by the International Hip Dysplasia Institute, the revolutionary Izmi carrier combines the best of slings and carriers, creating the perfect way for parents to keep baby comfy, safe, and close all day. Based on extensive research with both mums and dads, the Izmi carrier resolves issues parents reported. The unique straps spread to fit snugly across shoulders, and the back."
Tested by mum Amy O’Leary for the Mother & Baby awards 2018:
Would you recommend this to other mums?
It's quite a light carrier that is easy to put away and transport and it even comes with its own travel bag. It's very easy to use and the instructions are easy to follow. It is also easy to clean, as it is made from fabric and can just be put in the washing machine. There’s also a few different colours to choose from which is always nice!
How did this product make your life easier?
I feel that this product makes my life as a mum a bit easier as it means that I can get on with housework and cooking even when my baby is being fussy and doesn't want to be left alone. It is easier for me to go out without having to take the pushchair, especially as I live in a flat and find it difficult using the stairs. I also like that this carrier can be worn on the hip as this is sometimes a bit more comfortable for me.
Would you choose this product to win?
No I wouldn't choose this carrier above others, unlike my other carrier this one doesn't have a hip seat which seems to put all of my baby's weight onto my shoulders which makes my back ache after a while. I also feel like it doesn't give enough support to my baby, although she is only nine months old and quite petite, I feel as if the back doesn't come up high enough on her, although this would be good for a newborn. I also feel that the price is a bit high for what you get.
What changes would you make to this product?
Some more support on the hips to take pressure off of the shoulders and back would make the carrier more comfortable. Also a higher back would make me feel like my baby is more safe and secure. Another suggestion would be perhaps a hood or raincover for when it rains, as I feel this would add more value for money.
Tested by mum Charlotte Wright for the Mother & Baby awards 2018:
Would you recommend this to other mums?
The Izmi Carrier comes with a nice little drawstring bag where you can store the carrier neatly when not in use. The design is nice and lightweight and comes in three different colours – purple, teal and grey. I found the parent facing option very comfy for myself and easy to put on without help. The thick width shoulder straps made it very comfy when using the carrier, as they distribute the weight well and don't feel like it is pulling on your shoulders. It has different adjustments that can be made so it is suited to your baby's height and shape, such as a booster cushion to make sure your child is at the right height, head support for young babies and Velcro to make sure your child's hips are positioned correctly. The instruction booklet comes in different languages and has pictures to help guide you through the different positions.
How did this product make your life easier?
Using the Izmi baby carrier made it very helpful for me as a first time mum. It has a side carry feature which made it easier for me to get jobs done around the house on days when my baby was more clingy. I found it very useful to put on when popping into the supermarket, rather than having to get the pushchair out or having to sit her in a trolley. I found the drawstring bag useful to put little bits in such as a nappy, wipes and dummy whilst using the carrier to save me having to carry a heavy changing bag if I wasn't going far.
Would you choose this product to win?
I personally wouldn't choose this product after testing it. Whilst I found it was very comfy when my baby was younger and parent facing, as she got older she was not happy having her arms down and kept ending up with the carrier more around her lower back with her arms over the top rather than supporting her shoulders with her arms down. When forward facing it looked very uncomfortable for her and her arms looks as though she was being pinned back. Also, when trying to carry her on my back it was extremely hard for me to get her there by myself and wouldn't feel safe doing it out and about.
What changes would you make to this product?
Maybe have a thicker fabric and width hip strap as I felt that the strap dug into my hips and wasn't very comfy when using it for longer periods.
Tested by mum Gracie-drew Barber for the Mother & Baby awards 2018:
Would you recommend this to other mums?
I would recommend this product to a another mum because it's so easy to use and it's a lovely material so it doesn't rub. Not only that, it also comes in other colours so it can suit anyone's taste or sex of the baby, as all the colours are very unisex .
How did this product make your life easier?
I would definitely say it makes life easier as it is another option instead of always using a pushchair. It also comes with a bag and a head rest which is a big plus.
Would you choose this product to win?
I don't know if I would choose it over other products, but for the price it's very very good. The material age limit is good as it's from birth to one, so you don't really need to buy a bigger one as your baby grows. Also, the colours weren’t too over the top and patterned so it goes with a mums outfit - it's simple but lovely .
What changes would you make to this product?
The only real problem I seemed to have is I always had to have help from my partner with the straps. Also, I couldn't work out how or where the neck/head support pillow went when I attached it and baby just looked uncomfortable.
Tested by mum Helen Fawbert for the Mother & Baby awards 2018:
Would you recommend this to other mums?
I loved this product and have already recommended it to my friends. It’s lightweight which means there’s no extra weight when carrying baby and means it’s easy to take with you when going out. The Izmi baby carrier is very easy to fold away and store in the bag that comes with it. Straight out of the box, the carrier feels like it’s made from really good quality material, but it’s also really soft. The teal colour is really lovely and is great because it’s washable. The Izmi baby carrier is surprisingly comfortable for me to wear, especially on the shoulders. It is also endorsed by the International Hip Dysplasia Institute which is really important to me.
How did this product make your life easier?
The Izmi baby carrier makes my life as a mum easier because I can carry my baby around easily and simply, keeping her close to me whilst doing jobs around the house, walking the dog and running errands. It’s easy to wear and super comfortable and I can sit down with her in it if she’s fallen asleep, whereas I have found other carriers too bulky to do this comfortably with. For a soft carrier, it feels surprisingly durable and safe.
Would you choose this product to win?
I’ve used other baby carriers, both with more and less structure. I prefer the Izmi Baby Carrier to my loop sling because my baby feels so much more secure and I really do have two hands free. The Izmi retains the closeness to my baby that a loop/ring sling gives me, because there is no fabric between the baby and me when I am carrying her. I worry a little that the Izmi digs into my baby’s legs when she is front facing, but she seems comfortable. For comfort, ease of transport, quality of product and value for money I think the Izmi should win.
What changes would you make to this product?
Other carriers and baby products specify that they use fabric that is non-toxic. The information and website state that the sling is made from 100% cotton, but do not mention chemicals used in the production process etc. I would prefer the fabric to be certified to Oeko-Tex standard. It is also a little difficult to carry her on my back without the help of another adult. I'm not sure how this could be made easier, but the difficulty of it puts me off carrying her on my back.
Tested by mum Tracie Pointer for the Mother & Baby awards 2018:
Would you recommend this to other mums?
The Izmi carrier aims to bridge the gap between slings (which can have quite a steep learning curve) and structured carriers (which may not always be as comfortable or ergonomically correct for baby). While I found it much easier to get on and off than a sling, it wasn’t quite as straightforward as other structured carriers I have tried, and I think there could be improvements to be made in regards to how the straps are adjusted once the carrier is on. The Izmi also includes a booster cushion, which can be used to raise smaller babies up to safe baby-wearing height. Many brands of structured carrier require you to purchase a separate infant insert to achieve this. The Izmi carrier is also able to be folded very compactly, and comes with its own carry bag for transportation.
How did this product make your life easier?
Baby-wearing definitely makes my life easier as a mum! Being able to carry your baby while they have a nap and you get on with household chores can definitely make you feel more in control. Compared to other structured carriers, the Izmi carrier is very lightweight and surprisingly comfortable, so it’s possible to wear it for a couple of hours without getting too sweaty, or getting a strain in your shoulders and back. However, I didn’t find it particularly easy to put on, and it took me a few attempts to get my baby in a comfortable, safe position in it.
Would you choose this product to win?
The two things that make this product stand out from others on the market are the fact that it is very lightweight and compact, and that it includes a booster cushion for smaller babies. Its price tag, while not particularly cheap, is considerably less than other comparable structured carriers. I think the Izmi carrier would be ideal for occasional babywearing. For longer walks, I would recommend a structured carrier with more padding and support for the lower back. I found it took a few tries to get my baby in the right position in the Izmi carrier. Also, keeping your baby secure while fastening the straps required a fair amount of dexterity!
What changes would you make to this product?
The main thing that could be improved with the Izmi carrier is the straps. Once my baby was in the carrier, I found them very difficult to tighten. The first few times I wore it, I needed my husband’s help with getting the straps tight enough. Although it did become slightly easier over time, I still felt like I wasn’t able to get my baby secure enough on my own. The straps also had a tendency to twist and fold over in their adjustment clips, meaning that they would get stuck and the carrier would have to be removed to fix them. I also felt that the carrier's head support wasn’t structured enough to adequately support my baby’s head. Whenever she leaned her head back, the head support would bunch up behind her neck, making it impossible for her to nap in their carrier. In future incarnations of this product, the head support could be improved my making it more structured, or adding some elasticity to the fabric so there would be a bit of ‘give’ when your baby moves their head.
Product Information
Sutiable from birth - 15kg (approximately 3 years).