Stokke MyCarrier Front and Back

upper or lower back pain after using the carrier—though one mom said both she and her husband experienced a bit of tension between the shoulder blades, which subsided around 15 minutes after taking the carrier off. The fact that all of the straps do up on the front or side means no awkward twisting or straining to reach behind you (a lifesaver if you’ve got back trouble).

EASE OF USE

Did we mention the Stokke MyCarrier has several straps and buckles? While they all serve an important purpose and help make the carrier safe, supportive and comfortable, figuring out what they all do and how to adjust them can be a bit intimidating (a few of our parents said that once you know what you’re doing, the adjustments are easy and intuitive). At more than 100 pages, the instruction manual is a little daunting at first, until you realize it’s that big because each step gets its own page with plenty of images in both close-up and full-body view. Most of our parent testers found the instructions clear enough that they didn’t need to refer to the manual after their first time using the carrier. The Stokke MyCarrier Front and Back comes with three components: the shoulder strap/back support, the front-carry pouch and the back-carry pouch. Switching from front to back carry means swapping the pouches, which is a somewhat involved process (you’ll have to keep track of a few parts that are only used for one mode or the other). This also means it might not be the most convenient for toting around a toddler who likes to switch positions mid-outing. However, our parent testers agreed that getting their babes in and out of the carrier facing in or out in the front-carry position was easy, and loved that all of the adjustments were within reach. Editors were impressed with the waistband pocket that allows users to roll up and tuck away the excess straps after adjusting. Using the back-carry position might be a bit scary at first—you secure your child in the carrier, then basically swing them over your shoulder as though you're putting on a backpack—but by the time kids are old enough to ride this way (at least nine months), they’ll probably find it fun.

CLEANING

Spit, as they say, happens. Optional accessories for the Stokke MyCarrier Front and Back include bibs that attach to the folded-down headrest when carrying front-forward facing, but you'll inevitably have to wash the carrier from time to time. Other than the metal bars that provide extra support in the back-carry position (and must be removed before washing), the whole carrier can be thrown into the washing machine on a cold-water gentle cycle using mild detergent, then air-dried. All that padding means it might take a while to dry thoroughly, and the cotton fabric, though of durable quality, might fade over time with repeated washing and sun exposure. Spot cleaning with mild soap and water is also recommended.

VALUE

The Stokke MyCarrier Front and Back is on the higher end of the price range of baby carriers. However, parent testers agreed that the comfort it provided, quality of materials and features all add to its value. Some testers said it’s well worth the money, especially if you’re an avid baby-wearer, and the majority said they’d purchase it if they were buying a carrier.

FINAL WORD

The majority of our parent testers felt that the Stokke MyCarrier Front and Back was a high-quality product that offers durable fabrics and great comfort for everyone involved—they also agreed that it was superior to other carriers they’ve tried in the past. Our editors would have liked to have seen a higher weight limit to maximize the length of time the carrier can be used, though most of our parents thought the three carrying options added to the value. Overall, our testers thought it would hold up well to prolonged use and the consensus was that if this is a carrier you'll use regularly, it's worth the price. None of our parent testers would hesitate to recommend this carrier to other parents, and the majority deemed it worthy of the Today’s Parent Approved seal.