Scootababy Baby Carrier Review

Scootababy offers convenience and comfort in a compact baby carrier. You won't get a wide range of carries, though. This carrier is designed to cart a baby or toddler on your hip only. Parents who want some structure in a carrier may like Scootababy because it offers adjustability and a shaped seat for baby with the added security of a waist strap that ensures baby can't slip out of the bottom of the carrier.

For older babies and toddlers, a hip carry is a fairly natural and convenient way to haul your little one around. Scootababy builds on that natural position with a baby carrier that holds baby over your hip but allows you to keep your hands free. Scootababy is not as easy to put on as simple sling baby carriers, but it's not terribly complicated, either. You just need to buckle the waist strap your self and situate the carrier so the seat is over your hip. Then you hold your baby on your hip and pull the shoulder loop over your head, get the fleece portion over your shoulder, and pull the tail to tighten it as needed.

To use Scootababy, your baby needs to be able to sit up already, so you'll need another carrier for the first few months. However, Scootababy can be used for toddlers up to 40 pounds, which is a pretty high weight limit for a baby carrier, so you get a reasonably long useful life out of it. Considering that Scootababy retails for about $120, a long-term use is something I'm looking for in that price range.

Scootababy doesn't offer much flexibility in carry styles. It's hip carry only. But it's easy enough to use for that one carry. For parents who want more structure than a sling but don't want to go all the way to a backpack style carrier, Scootababy is a nice compromise. The shaped seat and waist strap that keeps baby from slipping out of the bottom adds some security that some carriers lack. The fleece shoulder part really is very comfortable, even with a heavier child, because it doesn't allow pressure to build on one particular spot.

Scootababy folds up quite small for travel, which I like. It even comes with a little drawstring bag that you can toss in a diaper bag so the carrier is ready to go when you need it. The fabrics are luxuriously soft. You can machine wash Scootababy carriers, but spot cleaning is recommended.