Close Caboo Plus review: The perfect carrier for newborns and younger babies

If you love having your baby coddled up next to you, but hate having to negotiate yards and yards of fabric in complicated ties every time you want to strap them on, the Close Caboo Plus is what you’ve been looking for.

This soft fabric carrier comes already assembled, so there’s no need to faff around getting it ready before you use it. Instead, the cross-shouldered design means that you can just drop it over your head, tighten the straps by pulling the fabric through the ring buckles, and add a baby. It really couldn’t be easier.

The straps are nice and wide, spreading the weight evenly, and the soft but super-strong material is kind to your body as well as the baby’s. It gives natural support to the c-shaped spine of a baby, and their bottom sits perfectly in the recommended ‘frog-legged’ leg and hip position (read our Best baby carriers article below for details).

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Safe and discreet

There are only two safe positions in which you can carry a newborn baby: with their front facing yours, or breastfeeding. The latter is one of the biggest benefits of fabric carriers, whether they’re a ring sling or a stretchy wrap, because it means that when your little darling wakes up hungry, on cue, just as your dinner is on the table, you can just reposition them, latch them on and hey presto – you can eat with the rest of the family.

The design means you can even breastfeed while walking around and no-one will know what’s going on in there – although bear in mind that you should always leave your coat open to avoid the risk of overheating. And when your child gets a bit older, there’s an option for a hip carry position too, which comes in really handy for short carries – up and down stairs, to and from the car, around the house.

Which Close Caboo model is right for me?

The Close Carrier quickly became a favourite of parents since its launch by two mums in 2004. In 2011, Close decided to reinvent it as the Caboo Plus Organic, an eco-friendly version in a range of new colours and patterns. In 2015, it was given some updates, such as a bigger back panel and a padded cuff for extra head support, and a non-organic version was released – the Plus Cotton Blend – for those parents looking for something a little more affordable.

The Caboo DX+ is the latest addition to the range, designed for dads and those after something a bit more urban. It’s a 3-in-1 hybrid carrier that combines the soft stretchy original with a soft structured ‘pod’ that sits over the outside. For many people this will prove the best of both – well, all three – worlds.

Verdict

The standard Close Caboo Plus, however, is my favourite baby carrier by far. The simple design makes it easy to get to grips with, and the comfiness makes long carries much more bearable than with rival carriers. Factor in the versatility on offer, and Close is onto a winner here.