CULT ITEM: Updated. The BabyBjorn Carrier

By Jenny Dalton

THERE AREN’T MANY BABY ITEMS I’d buy again with hindsight. But one of them would definitely be the Swedish BabyBjörn Carrier - which coincidentally was designed in the year of MY birth: 1973, by the original founders of BabyBjörn AB, Björn and Lillemor Jakobson. The design was based on the premise only ‘discovered’ in the late 1960s by paediatricians that babies (and parents) benefitted from close physical contact.

The design, meanwhile, was aimed in particular at fathers - a poignant reminder that 35 years ago it was practically unheard of for a dad to carry his baby around as nonchalently as most fathers do today. ”Both parents should feel comfortable carrying their babies,” says Lillemor Jakobson. “It feels good to have contributed so that fathers today are more involved with their baby.”

 Why is the BabyBjörn still the baby carrier leader? It works (carries baby comfortably forwards and backwards, though it’s up front carrying position works best for out and about rather than pottering at home), and it’s good looking. It’s easily stashed away, it’s unisex, it’s hardwearing and washable, and… now it’s available in lots of colours (actually, 8, including bright pink and orange) for those who are a bit less-than-in-love with the ‘Classic’ model’s limited colour choices.

Our favourites in the new Spirit range are the ‘Red Heart’ (above) and the all-black shown here right, but it would be tempting to buy the full range of colours (click here for more), to match all your outfits…

*RRP £54.99, stockist number 0844 8154813, or see www.thebabycatalogue.com

**See www.babybjorn.com for international stockists.