Introducing the baby carrier you can trust to care for your back and your baby

With so many options for you and your baby how do you know what choices are right?

Getting advice from health professionals can help you feel confident in the choices you are making.

Sally Wilkins designed the Wilkinet baby carrier because she was unhappy with the uncomfortable alternatives. Here is just some of the feedback she got from antenatal teachers, osteopaths, chiropractors and hospital physiotherapists once they had tried the Wilkinet themselves:

"I am a huge fan - as both an osteopath and a parent. Sally's genius was in devising a "contraption" that:
  •  is good for the baby - weight carried on the thighs and buttocks instead of the perineum;
  •  is good for the parent - the shoulder straps only stop the baby falling forward and all the weight is transferred directly to the pelvis, while, providing the waist straps are fitted low enough, it also acts as a sacro-iliac belt, helping to stabilise the sacro-iliac joints (especially important for a nursing mother, whose ligaments will tend to be lax);
  •  has NO moving parts - an engineering tour-de-force. (I was an engineer before I became an osteopath) That means guaranteed 100% reliability with NO maintenance!

    The terrible thing about many clip fastening type carriers is that the baby's weight is all taken on your shoulders, which means it is all transmitted down your entire spine. In addition, the weight is in front of you so your shoulders are pulled forward and your back muscles have to work overtime keeping you upright. I managed less than 10 minutes using a clip fastening baby carrier before getting backache.

    The Wilkinet transfers the weight directly onto the pelvic bones (your hips) and from there to the legs, so none of the baby's weight has to be carried through the spine, so there is hardly any load placed on the spinal column at all."

Martin Grundy
Osteopath (specialist in pregnancy and postnatal treatments)
 
"As a physiotherapist working in Women's Health and a relatively new Mum, I have tried out several slings/baby carriers and I can say without doubt that the Wilkinet was the one that I felt provided the best support and comfort for both mother and baby."

Katie Peters
Physiotherapist
 
"I THINK IT IS SPLENDID - MUCH THE BEST ON THE MARKET - I recommend the WILKINET in preference to other baby carriers currently available (that is upright carriers) because of its design. I like the way the shoulder straps stop the baby’s head lolling sideways. Some baby carriers have no side protection, if the baby goes to sleep its head just ‘falls out’. The straps are well padded so do not press into the (parent’s) shoulder girdle and, most importantly of all, the baby does not hang on its pelvic floor. The base strap supports under its thighs and under its bottom. The tie straps hold the baby’s lower spine snug against its (parent’s) body, no other carrier that I have seen fulfils these latter essentials."

Deirdre Mackay
Physiotherapist and Antenatal Teacher.
Former Chairwoman of the NCT (National Childbirth Trust) Technical Committee.
 
I have encouraged the use of a sling or baby carrier... To provide a gentle transition to the world for the new babies, helping to keep them near to their parents... the Wilkinet is extremely comfortable... the baby does not feel as heavy as in other baby carriers... the weight is mostly carried around the adult's waist... near the centre of gravity... due to the very clever design of the Wilkinet tying up around the waist... It is so important that the weight of the baby is distibuted in the best possible way for a new mother's body which is a little vulnerable straight after the birth... The phsiotherapists at the University College Hospital, London have encouraged this particular baby carrier as the support under the baby's bottom properly supports the baby's pelvic floor."

Yvonne Moore
Prenatal Yoga and Childbirth Teacher.
 
"Excellent... the weight is carried across the pelvis - there's no slouching. The baby's well supported with a head rest"

Marcia Harewood
Osteopath and Chiropracter.

So what is it about the design of the Wilkinet that makes it work so well?

  1. The straps wrap around you and your baby.  This distributes their weight more evenly and stops it dragging painfully on your shoulders and neck 
  2. There are no buckles or clips to dig into you or your baby (that also means you won't have to fiddle around readjusting it every time it passes between you and your partner)
  3. Leg, back, neck and head support and protection for your baby keeps them snug and safe
  4. Your baby is held in a natural sitting position with their legs and pelvis supported by the padded base strap
  5. Using long straps instead of buckles means the carrier adapts simply to parents of all sizes (great for sharing with a partner or friends)
  6. Most of your baby's weight is transferred to your hips and legs (not shoulders and neck) so it's more comfortable for you and avoids neck ache.
  7. The Wilkinet baby carrier adapts from birth to toddler allowing you to comfortably carry your child for many months:
Facing in 
on the front: 
0-6 months		 Facing out 
on the front:
4-8 months		 Carrying on 
your hip:
5-18+ months		 Carrying on 
your back:
5-18+ months

And over the years it's not just health professionals who have enjoyed using a Wilkinet:

"I love my Wilkinet! Godsend in first few weeks when she couldn't be put down, took her to California at 4 months, spent holiday facing out from Wilkinet & loved it! Didn't think I would be able to use it for months as I had c-section & had bad back. Didn't trouble my tummy or back at all, was using it by time daughter was about 7 weeks old.
Looking forward to using it with her on my back!"

Amy Holt
 
"I have been given a Wilkinet by a friend. Little did I know that I'd been given the best product to carry Delilah around in. I rarely bother with the pushchair as the Wilkinet is so comfortable and convenient to use. Also Madam much prefers to ride high! Now that she is facing outwards she loves it and squawks with excitement while I'm putting her in it - usually facing the mirror so I can see her happy reaction. We have people stopping us in the streets of Edinburgh asking what sort of sling it is and we end up having all sorts of chat. That never happens with the pram!"

Katherine Scott (received by e-mail)
 
"Dear Heroine of many mothers, I have used a Wilkinet for my two most recent children, with wonderful results. Your wonderful creation has soothed both me and my babies. Allowed me to shop, cook, garden and get all manner of jobs done. To be able to keep my babies close to me, where they are comforted and reassured of my love is truly a godsend."

Mrs Louise Howe, Essex
 
"A huge thankyou! I was extremely impressed that the wilkinet carrier I ordered arrived the next day - fabulous service. And it is so easy to use and SO COMFORTABLE compared to the previous sling I had been using (of the one shoulder hammock variety). This is without doubt one of the best baby accessories on the market, not sure how I ever lived without one!"

Harriet Mattinson, London

Discover the comfort of using a Wilkinet baby carrier for yourself  with the peace of mind that comes with our iron-clad guarantee.

Take time to experience the comfort or carrying your baby in a Wilkinet baby carrier. Because many parents order in advance of the arrival of their baby we give you:

4 months to test it, try it and cuddle your baby in comfort.  If you aren't completely satisfied you can return it in re-saleable condition for a refund.

To get started just click on your favourite colour: 

 Aubergine Soft Cord

Ivory Soft Cord

Black Twill Cotton

Navy Twill Cotton

Redcurrant Twill Cotton

Olive Canvas Cotton
 
Shop for Wilkinet baby carrier Available colours:

Aubergine Soft Cord

Ivory Soft Cord

Black Twill Cotton

Navy Twill Cotton

Redcurrant Twill Cotton

Olive Canvas Cotton

Click here to go to the Wilkinet shopping page