I would say that overall, for a budget baby carrier, I am pretty happy with the support it gives, but I think if I was baby carrying all of the time I would possibly consider investing in a more padded option or different design for my comfort. The strap around my waist is slightly softer and more flexible than the Infantino one I normally use, but therefore lacks a little of the support. The Ara is definitely more comfortable for baby and she seems much happier in this carrier, than the Infantino Flip, however I would say comfort wise for me, it isn’t quite as good for my back and supporting baby’s weight with the straps. The loops on the straps make it so much easier to adjust myself, compared to my Infantino Flip carrier, too. Looking at similarly priced carriers, such as the Chicco EasyFit, £30, and the Infantino Swift, £23, I feel the Ara is much more stylish. They have kept the design non-bulky, smart and neutral colours, which gets the thumbs up from me. I love that Red Kite have clearly thought about the person wearing this and not just baby. How does the Red Kite Ara compare to other carriers or wraps you have used? I find it better to fasten all buckles and then take them apart one by one as I fit the carrier on. If I have left all the carrier buckles unfastened from a previous use I can find myself getting frustrated trying to work out what’s what when setting it up the next time when straps/buckles are twisted. I often grab the wrong one and can’t work out why it isn’t fitting properly. I do find though, when trying to fasten baby in there are quite a few buckles that can easily be mixed up. I do wish they had a bit more padding for support, but they do the job and distribute the weight fine. The shoulder straps are quite nice and wide, similar to a normal backpack. What are the shoulder straps like on the Red Kite Ara? The loops made it much easier to find the straps needed to pull it tighter and provided a better grip.

I really liked the loops that are added on to the end of the straps, so you can adjust the carrier fit by yourself. Having said that, you do need another person to help you when wearing baby on your back. Yes, I can put the Are carrier on and take it off by myself fairly easily, although I struggle a bit when putting it on top of a jacket or coat. Can you put the carrier on and take it off by yourself? I am a size 14- 16, which is a pretty average size, and I think a couple of sizes bigger and this carrier would be on its widest setting.

You can adjust it in so many different ways, which really helped make it fit better for both baby and me, although I do think that the waist strap could have been a little longer. This carrier is so customisable when it comes to size. I have found in comparison to the Infantino Flip 4-in-1 convertible baby carrier for example, they aren’t as cushioned. I would have appreciated a little more padding on the straps, however. The buckles aren’t too big or in a bad place where they may cause discomfort. The carrier feels nice and comfortable and quite soft when wearing it. Is the Red Kite Ara baby carrier comfy for you? It gives baby support to stay in the correct upright position and close to parent without any restrictions to their breathing/airways. It definitely meets the TICKS guidelines when used correctly. Does the Ara carrier follow the TICKS guidelines? I did notice when I put my daughter in the carrier she was displaying the perfect ‘M’ shape. It is acknowledged as a ‘hip healthy’ product by the International Hip Dysplasia Institute. This carrier proudly advertises that it support’s little one’s hips and allows them to sit in the ‘M’ position. It is easy to forget about them and they can be quite fiddly to do due to placement and not being able to see them once you have baby there. I also had to remember to fasten the “secret” buttons on the inside of the carrier. The 4 buckles on the front mean easy access for putting baby in and out, but it also meant having to fasten and unfasten 5/6 clips including the one around my waist and on my back. I wouldn’t say the carrier is difficult to put on, but I would, however, say that it isn’t the kind of one you can fling on in a rush. How easy is the Ara carrier to put on and take off? I do wonder whether the buttons above the legs could still be fastened if baby’s thighs were much bigger however, as it seems to fit my little one’s legs just right when fastened.

It almost feels like something she is wearing rather than something she is sitting inside.īecause you can really customise the carrier when it comes to sizing, I think it would still work well with a bigger child.

I don’t feel like she could slump down or move in there at all. I find that my 7 month old fits nicely in the carrier and she seems very happy in there and well supported. The carrier is suitable from birth (3.5kg) up to 15kg.

Red kite walker instructions