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By Here’s our independent Close Caboo Review from our team of experts at Wear My Baby.
Love the idea of a snugly stretchy wrap, but daunted by tying and knotting? The Close Caboo has long been a favourite of parents who want a soft stretchy newborn sling, without the worries of a wrap.
As a company, Close are constantly updating their fabrics and tweaking their design to give the best in comfort and ease of use. The Caboo has won multiple awards over the years, but what do our Carrying Consultants really think of it?
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Suitable from Day One – and for Premature Babies
The Close Caboo really is suitable from Day 1; one of the few slings or carriers that is advertised as safe from only 5lb in weight, you really can use your Caboo from birth. It’s a great option for parents of low birth weight babies or twins who want a slightly more structured sling from newborn.
You Can Use the Caboo for Twins
Although not on the manufacturer’s instructions, we’ve helped many families to safely carry newborn twins in Close Caboos. There are many videos online showing how this may be done, but if you’re expecting or have newborn twins we’d strongly recommend getting some hands-on help from one of our team or an experienced, insured Carrying Consultant near you.
Super Snuggly Carrying
When correctly fitted in a Close Caboo your baby will be beautifully supported in the soft, stretchy fabric. There’s gentle padding to support behind their neck, and no buckles to dig into them.
Caboo really is genius when it comes to sourcing fabrics – both their Cotton Blend and Organic Cotton carriers offer a lovely level of support and stretch, without being too thick or hot to wear. The ‘Lite’ version has slightly less fabric so is even lighter to wear; but as the fabric pieces are narrower than the regular Caboo versions, they tend to be outgrown once your baby is around 3months+.
Quick and Easy to Use
The Close Caboo comes in two parts – the first you simply pop over your head like a t-shirt, before adjusting the size using the two sets of rings. You then pop your baby into the cross of fabric made by the sling on your front, and lastly tie the support band around you both.
For most people, the Close Caboo is simple to learn and feels quick and easy to get on. For the best support for you and your baby, the key is getting the whole thing tight enough to hold your baby snugly against your chest.
Great for Supporting Breastfeeding
The Close Caboo is also very simple to adjust to use as a breastfeeding aid – without needing to take off the sling you can reposition your baby into a reclined feeding position, using the rings to loosen the fabric appropriately.
Please note that this is not a hands-free breastfeeding position as you will still need to support your baby’s head with your hand or arm.
Once your baby can fully stabilise their head and latch unaided (about 4-5 months), you can simply loosen the Caboo and let them feed in an upright position.
Is it really simpler than a stretchy wrap?
We definitely agree that the Close Caboo is less daunting to most new sling users than a stretchy wrap. To a new parent, turning a long bit of fabric into a safe secure sling seems a bit like witchcraft, and the slightly more pre-done design of the Caboo is very reassuring.
However, the Caboo still requires the tying of one knot behind your back, so it doesn’t completely take away the need to tie. When we teach people how to use both a stretchy wrap and a Caboo we quite often find that they prefer a wrap.
It just depends on the individual – once you know how to tie a wrap it’s never as hard as you’d think, and sometimes the two-part design of the Caboo seems more complicated than a simple wrap.
Anything else to consider?
As with all stretchy slings, you’re unlikely to be using the Close Caboo as your only sling beyond 4-6 months. Your snugly newborn will love being carried in the Caboo, but once they get more aware and active they won’t appreciate the swaddled up carrying position as much.
Whilst many families do still use their Caboo very happily for naptimes or around the house with babies up to 9-12 months, most will find that a stretchy sling like the Caboo doesn’t feel sturdy enough for walking or days out past 6 months or so.
Compared to a stretchy wrap you may find that your baby starts to feel heavy sooner in the Caboo, because of the lower level of back support.
Hi is there a video to show how to adjust the carrier to get baby into a suitable position for breastfeeding?
Thanks