Hands-free baby carrying is something you can’t underestimate. Whether you’re juggling a toddler and a newborn, hopping on and off public transport, or just trying to do the weekly shop with a fussy baby, a high-quality, easy-to-wear baby carrier can change the game. The Baby Bjorn Hold carrier is the newest offering from the Swedish-born brand, and we tried it to see whether it ticks all those parenting boxes.

Pros:
+ Easy to put on and fully adjustable for the wearer, from XS to XXL
+ Provides a position for baby that is hip safe and comfortable

Cons:
– A little on the expensive side for parents on a tight budget
– Storage pocket is a little difficult to get to when carrying a bigger baby

Baby Bjorn Hold: What is it? 

Wearable baby carriers have evolved significantly since Baby Bjorn first released Close to Heart in 1973. This latest development, Hold, is designed to be easy to wear, adjust, and use, making it a great option from birth to around 18 months, or 7 to 30 lbs (3.17 to 13.6kg). 

The versatile design means that Hold can be used for a newborn, facing in or facing out. It’s made with machine-washable, breathable materials, which is essential, as wearing your child so close means combined body heat, which can get a little hot and sticky in the summer months. The wearable parent section has a mesh front to ensure plenty of airflow, and the carrier body comes in two materials: mesh or brushed woven fabric. The mesh maximises ventilation and airflow, and the brushed woven finish wicks moisture away from the skin to help things stay as cool as possible.

How does it adjust? 

Putting on the carrier is surprisingly simple. The clever design lets you put it on like a jacket, with all the fastenings within easy reach at the front. The waistbelt is initially held firm with a popper on one side, then wraps across the body and is secured with a slide-in clasp on the opposite side. 

You can quickly adjust the waistbelt and shoulder straps until they feel comfortable and secure, then add the child and attach the carrier body using the slide-in clasps, clipping the toggles into place. 

Baby Bjorn Hold Mini Jane in carrier

For the smallest passengers, attach the straps to reduce the size of the leg holes and hold them more securely in place. With the little one safely in situ, you can adjust the toggles on each side of the head support, if needed. As they grow, the extra leg straps are no longer needed, and from around 5 months (or when their head control and neck strength allow), you can turn the baby to face outwards. 

The beauty of the Baby Bjorn Hold carrier is that once you’ve set it up comfortably, you don’t need to adjust it again, because undoing it doesn’t mean releasing any of the adjusted straps. 

If there will be more than one person using the carrier – which can adjust for a range of sizes, from extra small through to XXL – it isn’t a difficult or fiddly process, so it should only take a moment to have it perfectly fitted again. What’s even better is that changing the fit for the caregiver doesn’t change the fit for the baby, as the adjustments are completely separate.

Is it comfortable to wear? 

During our testing, both our Average Jane and Mini Jane found Hold incredibly comfortable, whether facing inwards or outwards. The well-padded straps and wide, supportive waistband distributed the weight evenly, so there was no excess pressure or discomfort during extended wear. 

Baby Bjorn Hold facing inwards

Getting the baby positioned in the carrier single-handedly is also surprisingly simple. I found that for both forward- and inward-facing positions, attaching one of the lowest side buckles before introducing her made me feel more secure, since the fabric cupped her nicely as I attached the other buckles. 

With all the fastenings correctly attached, slide your hands into the leg holes, under the baby’s bottom, and tilt their hips slightly to ensure they are in a comfortable sitting position, with the mesh sides fully supporting them.

Are there any other features?

Baby Bjorn Hold has a couple of handy hidden features, too. First, there’s a pocket built into the waistband that can hold a phone (though larger phones may be a little tight), a wallet, or keys. As it’s located at the front and centre of the band, it can be a little tricky to get things in and out when you have a larger child in the carrier, but it’s a useful, secure space nevertheless.

The second hidden feature is the sunshade that’s tucked into a pocket in the shoulder strap. For older children, this feature is much less useful, but for smaller children carried facing inward, it could be very helpful during the summer months.

Baby Bjorn Hold sunshade

The sunshade is easy to deploy and attaches to the shoulder strap with buttons, so it isn’t easily lost or misplaced. Once unfurled, you can attach it securely to the buttons at the top of the carrier and, for full coverage, to the other concealed button on the opposite shoulder strap. 

Baby Bjorn carrier Hold: The verdict

With 65 years in the baby business, Baby Bjorn knows a thing or two about what parents are looking for, and its newest carrier, Hold, reflects that well. 

The jacket-style design removes the fuss of figuring out which straps go where. Just slip it on, and the rest is pretty intuitive. The buckles all click into place so you know they are firmly attached, and the seating position of the baby is approved as hip-healthy by the International Hip Dysplasia Institute, so you can wear them close for extended periods, confident that they are comfortable and happy. 

The £159 price tag isn’t an inconsiderable investment, but for fussy, unsettled babies, it could be worth its weight in gold. It’s fully washable, so keeping it free from those inevitable dribble marks isn’t a chore. 

Baby Bjorn Hold feels like a carrier designed for ease of use, with helpful, considered touches. During development, parents tested the carrier and shared feedback to ensure every detail was useful and practical. The Baby Bjorn Hold carrier reflects that, making everyday parenting just a little easier.

Tested: Baby Bjorn Hold carrier
How much: £158.90External link
Average Janes rating: ★★★★☆

Sam Huff
Latest posts by Sam Huff (see all)
Published On