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By Tammy NissimThe Minimonkey Mini Sling is the world’s most lightweight and compact baby carrier!
With its airy mesh fabric, the Mini Sling is perfect for quick trips out, carrying your baby around the house – and is a real travel essential. It wins on convenience, compactness and price.
Here’s what you need to know…
FITS IN THE PALM OF YOUR HAND
The biggest selling point of the Mini Sling is just how compact and lightweight it is. It packs down into its own integrated storage pouch and is the same size and weight as a mobile phone.
QUICKER AND EASIER THAN A RING SLING
The Mini Sling is super speedy to put on! It’s a bit like a ring sling but easier to use with a ready-made pouch and just one buckle and one strap to adjust.
It’s simple, however, there is a bit of a knack to getting the most secure and comfy carry; so you will need to practice a few times.
Once you have it fitted to you and your baby you won’t need to make many adjustments between uses, so it really does become incredibly quick to use.
SHORT BUT (VERY) SWEET CARRIES
It’s important to keep expectations in check. As a one-shoulder carrier, it’s designed to be used for short durations, rather than long wears.
BUT the Mini Sling does an excellent job considering how lightweight the fabric is. It’s certainly a good deal more supportive and convenient than balancing a tired baby on your hip!
FEED ON THE GO
While you can potentially breastfeed in pretty much any sling or carrier, this is one of the simplest options to try. For an upright feed, simply loosen the strap to lower baby, and retighten and bring them back up to safe positioning when done.
Remember for younger babies you will need one hand or arm to support them during a feed.
BREATHABLE
Perfect for hot days, heat waves and holidays: The mesh fabric is soft, light, and most importantly breathable, which will help keep you and your baby cool.
FITS FROM NEWBORN
The Mini Sling is advertised as suitable from birth, but Minimonkey don’t actually give a minimum weight limit.
Realistically you’ll find it works best from about 4-8 weeks depending on your newborn’s size and level of head control (full head control is not needed).
IDEAL FROM 1 – 12 MONTHS (AND VERY SHORT “UPS” FOR OLDER TODDLERS)
The Mini Sling is weight tested to a mighty 15kg, but that doesn’t mean it is comfortable or suited to a 15kg (2-3 year old) child.
I’d say it’s ideal up to 12 months, where you will get enough coverage of fabric to support your baby.
Between 12-18 months you’ll still be able to get that secure seat, but you’re likely to find that the sling only covers baby’s bum and lower back, so for a wiggly toddler you’ll need to use an arm to support them and you won’t be completely hands-free.
Beyond 18 months we are talking very brief “ups” and emergency carries when little legs get tired on the way back from the playground.
SAFETY LOOP FEATURE
You have the option of using the safety loop around one of baby’s legs, which is reassuring if you’re struggling with creating a secure deep seat.
After a bit of practice you may find you don’t need the loop (and it’s also pretty challenging to get a long toddler leg through it!).
IT FITS (ALMOST) ALL PARENTS
The Mini Sling fits all mid-size sized parents. If you are petite (size 6-8) you will struggle to get a snug enough fit when your baby is very small (0-2 months)
At the opposite end, larger mums and dads (UK size 20/XXL+) may find it doesn’t offer enough space for toddler carrying. All this can be affected by your height and bra size too.
FINAL THOUGHTS
The Mini Sling is a gem of a carrier. It’s super quick and easy whether you are used to babywearing or not. I love that you can leave it on and just pop your baby in and out as needed.
At £39.95 it’s incredibly good value, even considering you will likely want one alongside a more conventional two shouldered carrier for longer wears.
